Lumo Art & Tech Festival begins on Friday – University of Oulu presents a programme full of science, technology and art
Kaitera talks sparks discussion with leading experts in culture, technology and science
The four-part Kaitera Talks speaker series will bring an inspiring line-up of Finnish experts in science and culture to Oulun Lyseon lukio. Author and visual artist Rosa Liksom, geneticist Aarno Palotie, Professor of Aquatic Ecology Timo Muotka, and Matti Latva-aho, Vice Rector for Research at the University of Oulu and Professor of Wireless Communications, will explore the question: How can creativity, culture and research help save humanity and restore our relationship with our home planet?
Kaitera Talks 16–19 November, 6–7 pm at the Assembly Hall in Oulun Lyseon lukio. The talks will also be streamed live on Yle Areena.
Brown Bag Seminar explores the relationship between technology and creativity
The Brown Bag Seminar, held at Saari Central Library, will bring together researchers and experts to discuss how technological advances are transforming creative thinking and practice. Speakers include Assistant Professor Ella Peltonen, Fab Lab Director Jani Ylioja, and Professor Marianne Kinnula. Topics include immersive environments, digital fabrication, and the participation of children and young people in developing future technologies.
LuovAIn! Roadshow examines collaboration between humans and AI
As part of the festival, the LuovAIn! Roadshow arrives in Oulu for the final stop of its tour at Tarkastamo. The afternoon programme explores the impact of artificial intelligence on the creative industries, the ethical use of AI, and the future of creative work. Visitors can also take part in a community art workshop, where participants will collectively create a real-time artwork enhanced by artificial intelligence.
6G Flagship showcases the technologies of tomorrow
The University of Oulu’s 6G Flagship will participate in the festival as part of the Lumo Talks programme at Tarkastamo, highlighting emerging opportunities in research and technology through practical demonstrations. The main stage programme includes keynote talks on the future of 6G research and sustainability. In the demo area, visitors can explore light-based wireless communications, networked robotics, and an AI application that predicts train delays in Finnish winter conditions.
“We want to demonstrate that the 6G research conducted at the university can can help shape the future in concrete ways and lead to new practical technologies. The Lumo Art & Tech Festival provides us with an excellent opportunity to take research beyond the laboratory and engage with people in a way that makes future technologies understandable and accessible. At the same time, it is valuable for researchers to hear the public’s thoughts and questions, as this interaction can open up entirely new perspectives for research as well,” says Marcos Katz, Professor at the Centre for Wireless Communications, who curated the 6G Flagship programme for the Lumo Art & Tech Festival.
University of Oulu’s 6G Flagship Programme 18–19 November at Tarkastamo.
Josefina Nelimarkka’s Arctic Clouds exhibition transforms climate data into an immersive art experience
One of the festival’s first highlights is Arctic Clouds, an immersive exhibition by artist Josefina Nelimarkka, opening on Friday, 13 November, at the Valve Cultural Centre. The exhibition examines the atmosphere through fog, water, ice, glass and real-time climate data. The research data used in the work was collected at the Pallas Research Station in collaboration with the University of Oulu’s Arctic Ecology and Biogeochemistry Research Group.
Light and Shadows exhibition illuminates the Linnanmaa Campus
The Light and Shadows art lightning exhibition, displayed in the F Corridor of the Linnanmaa campus, brings light art into everyday university life. The exhibition presents laser-cut artistic lights designed by students, whose shifting patterns of light and shadow create an evolving installation to the campus corridor. The exhibition is part of the Lumo Art & Tech Festival and the Lumo Light Festival regional programme.
Children's animation premiere at Tellus
Festival week will also feature the premiere of an animation created by children's groups from the Open Early Education LASTU. Based on a children's research project, the animation has been developed using the multi-stage methods of STEAM pedagogy, combining Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. The premiere offers audiences of all ages the opportunity to explore children's creativity and experience a story created through collaboration
The Lumo Art & Tech Festival offers a unique opportunity to experience how research, art and technology come together in Oulu. The festival opens on 13 November and continues until 22 November. Most events are free of charge and open to the public. The full festival programme is available on the Oulu2026 website.