Ärjä Art Festival

LIGHT AND RESISTANCE
Ecological themes and performing arts in Ärjänsaari, Oulujärvi, 24-26 July 2026

The sixth Ärjän Art Festival will feature international and domestic art, from theatre and dance to music and contemporary art. The theme of the festival this year is “Light and Resistance”.

The Ärjän Art Festival is a travelling and litter-free contemporary art event, which will be held under the conditions of the Ärjänsaari nature reserve and entirely outdoors. The future of the planet is at the heart of the festival. Art and the festival’s practices are intertwined around ecological themes.

The 2026 festival is part of the Oulu2026 Capital of Culture year, for which the Ärjän Art Festival has been selected. Living boldly on the edge and combining art and nature are the main themes of Oulu2026.

The Ärjän Art Festival, which revolves around ecological themes and performing arts, is held every other year on Ärjänsaari in Oulujärvi. Welcome! The event aims to find fresh communal forms to face the changes that are testing our planet.

The festival is organized by the Vaara collective from Kajaani.