LUCI Cities & Lighting Summit
Oulu
OPTIONAL PROGRAMME
Thursday 26 February 2026 – Oulu Polar Bear Pitching Event
Visit the Polar Bear Pitching Website
- From 17:00 to 18:00 Avanto Competition
Location: Sauna Village, Oulu Market Square, Kauppatori, 90100 Oulu
Before the LUCI Cities & Lighiting Summit evening reception:
Get to watch the selected contestants show their determination to the whole world by getting into the Avanto (fin. ”ice hole”) and pitching their startup.
Avanto Competition is an outdoor program broadcasted worldwide, which will be exclusively open for the public of Oulu in 2026 in honour of the Oulu European Capital of Culture.
- From 21:45 to 00:00 Polar Bear Pitching Afterparty
Location: Radisson Blu Oulu, Hallituskatu 1, 90100 Oulu
Mandatory registration on Polar Bear Pitching website: 29€ per ticket
After the LUCI Cities & Lighting Summit evening reception:
The Polar Bear Pitching Afterparty is the culmination of the competition, where you get to celebrate the most innovative projects. Music, karaoke and entertainment will warm you up after the freezing experience of the Avanto competition, and set you up for good networking to wrap up the day.
Saturday 28 February 2026 – Extend your Stay
Optional programme
Open to all Summit delegates, LUCI members and guests – registration required. A dedicated registration link will be shared closer to the date for those who wish to go in groups.
Extend your stay in Oulu for the weekend to fully embrace the Nordic experience!
- 08:30 – 12:00 Experience a typical Nordic Sauna at Pehkola
Only 50 slots available! Additional registration required.
A bus will pick you up early from the Lapland Hotel to go to the Pehkola Sauna (departure at 8:30am sharp).
Sauna from 9:00 to 11:00. Early lunch included at Pehkola from 11am to 12pm.
Departure from Pekhola Sauna to Oulu Airport at 12pm with 3 stops:
- 1. stop at Oulu Airport
- 2. stop at Oulu railway station
- 3. stop at Lapland Hotel
The bus will first drive to the airport, then to the railway station and to the hotel for people staying longer in Oulu.
- Attend the one and only Frozen People Festival, over Nallikari in Oulu
17:30 Departure from Lapland Hotel to Frozen People Festival by bus
19:00 Bus shuttle depart from Frozen People Festival back to the Lapland Hotel / city centre. Alternatively, delegates can get their own taxi / Bolt / bus back to city centre.
All participants attending must be prepared for an outdoor experience with their own winter gear and equipment.
Food and drinks at delegates own expense.
Frozen People is a winter festival of electronic music and northern art, held on the frozen sea. The event features a bold and eclectic programme of local and international artists, blending electronic, music light art, interactive installations, performances, and participatory acts.
Frozen People offers brutal and unique arctic conditions for the world’s most chilling dances and art experiences. It’s an experience you don’t want to miss!The Festival is part of the Oulu2026 Capital of Culture program.
- Check out everything there is to do in Oulu, European Capital of Culture 2026!
26-28 February 2026 – Exhibition access for LUCI delegates
By showing your LUCI conference badge, you are entitled to one (1) complimentary entry per person any of the following exhibitions in Oulu.
The benefit is personal and valid for one visit per exhibition, from Thursday to Saturday included.
1) Eanangiella – Voice of the Land (Oulu Art Museum)
What it is: A major exhibition taking over the entire Oulu Art Museum, focusing on Sámi art and culture, Sámi languages, spirituality, and the relationship to land—highlighting resilience and contemporary voices after centuries of colonisation.
Address: Oulu Art Museum, Kasarmintie 9, Oulu.
Opening hours (Feb 2026): Tue–Thu 09:00–18:00, Fri 11:00–19:00, Sat–Sun 11:00–18:00 (Mon closed).
2) PLAY – Fotografiska Tallinn x Oulu2026 (Photography exhibition)
What it is: An international group photography exhibition (Fotografiska Tallinn’s first exhibition in Finland), inviting visitors to “play” and see beyond the ordinary — linked to Oulu2026’s Cultural Climate Change theme.
Address: Kauppakortteli Pekuri, 2nd floor, Kauppurienkatu 10, 90100 Oulu.
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 11:00–19:00, Sun 11:00–18:00.
3) The Layers of the Peace Machine – Ekho Collective
What it is: A large-scale interactive installation combining art and technology, inspired by Timo Honkela’s “Peace Machine” idea. It explores peace as an active, continuous process—visitors also shape the work through interaction.
Address: Oulu City Hall, Kirkkokatu 2A (entrance from the Hallituskatu side).
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 13 – 19 and Saturday 11 – 17 Free entry, with free time-slot booking in advance: Book a ticket to the exhibition – Oulu2026 Store
4) Korvamato – Mediataidetta Kiasmasta (Earworm – Media Art from Kiasma)
What it is: A Kiasma-curated media art exhibition featuring video works where music and sound play a key role in atmosphere and storytelling. Free and accessible.
Address: Oulu City Hall, entrance from Hallituskatu
Opening / access: Opens in January 2026 and runs through 2026. free advance ticket/time-slot booking is used for access: Tuesday to Friday 13 – 19 and Saturday 11 – 17. Free entry, with free time-slot booking in advance: Book a ticket to the exhibition – Oulu2026 Store
Photo credits
©Polar Bear Pitching – Kota Collective; ©Visit Oulu; ©Matti Aikio, Oulu Art Museum