In August, Oulu comes alive in a way that attracts both locals and visitors from near and far. Oulu Festival Weeks is a diverse urban festival that brings together various fields of culture: music, literature, contemporary circus, video art, and community-driven experiences. The 2025 festival will take place from July 31 to August 29, with events spreading from central city parks to small villages and surprising venues like boat sheds and old drying barns.
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The whole city as a stage: The main festivals of Oulu Festival Weeks
Oulu Festival Weeks consist of six main festivals that together create a unique cultural month. Throughout August, the city comes alive with jazz, chamber music, spoken word, media art, contemporary circus, and free city events – all taking place in surprising and intimate settings.
Elojazz (July 31 – August 2) brings top international and Finnish jazz and rhythm music artists to the stage at Hupisaari Summer Theatre.
Oulunsalo Soi (August 6–10) presents chamber music in unexpected spaces – such as village grain dryers and boathouses – offering an intimate and refined acoustic atmosphere amidst everyday surroundings and nature.
Oulu Muusajuhlat (August 13–17) is a festival for lovers of the literary arts. Poetry, literature, and discussions take over the city in low-threshold club nights that bring energy to Oulu’s cultural scene.
The Night of the Arts (August 14) spreads across city streets and squares for one intense evening and night – with free performances, exhibitions, and performance art that reimagine the use of urban space.
Oulu Music Video Festival (August 21–24) blends moving image and sound – showcasing internationally acclaimed music videos and media art. The 2025 theme is Hyperreality, with screenings held in various cultural venues across the city.
Flow Productions presents the contemporary circus piece A Study of Losses (August 26–29), which blurs the boundaries between magic, dance, and visual art – a unique fusion of manipulation, movement, and music.
The festival weeks culminate in Choir Day on Thursday, August 29. Choirs of different ages and styles take the stage at City Hall to celebrate the diversity and community spirit of Oulu’s choir culture – united in song. Choir Day is also part of the Night of the Arts.
Air Guitar World Championships – Turning air into music on the rotuaari stage
One of the undisputed highlights of the Oulu Festival Weeks is the Air Guitar World Championships, held on the Rotuaari stage on Friday, August 22, 2025, from 8 PM to 10 PM. This is not just a competition – it’s a full-scale performance, where participants from around the world take over the stage with nothing but imagination, charisma, and the spirit of rock.
No real guitar is needed – just a burning passion for music and the courage to throw yourself into the moment, winning over the crowd with pure energy. The event is free and open to all ages, and culminates in a massive group performance, where the entire audience is invited to play their invisible instruments together – for world peace.
This year’s stage will feature competitors from around 15 different countries, including the reigning world champion, Zachary “Ichabod Fame” Knowles. On the evening before the final, the Dark Horses Qualifier gives aspiring contenders the chance to rise directly to the championship spotlight and surprise both audience and judges.
Rotuaari Square offers accessible viewing areas, but early arrival is recommended to avoid the crowd. Expect a live broadcast, all-ages side programming, and surprise acts – all part of this unique event where air becomes music.
More informationWhy are the Oulu Festival Weeks unique?
The Oulu Festival Weeks stand out in the Finnish festival scene through their diversity, strong sense of community, and element of surprise. They are not just a series of events – they are a cultural month in August that spreads throughout the city and brings art into everyday life and shared public spaces.
The whole month of August is full of life in Oulu – and the Oulu Festival Weeks are its beating heart. Whether you’re into jazz, performance art, literature, experimental music, or simply relaxed urban culture, the Oulu Festival Weeks and the Air Guitar World Championships offer something unforgettable. This is a city where freedom resonates in the air – and where a world championship can be won with an imaginary guitar.