Ranua Resort in Oulu2026 events

Ranua Resort at the Oulu2026 Opening Festival, 16–18 January 2026 – meet us at Pekuri!

Ranua Resort is taking part in the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture opening weekend in Oulu on 16–18 January 2026. You can meet us in the city centre at the shopping centre Kauppakortteli Pekuri, where we’ll be present at the joint Ranua–Kemi–Tornio showcase stand.

The stand theme is “Don’t hold you horses”. Visitors can stop by to leave greetings, explore eye-catching stand visuals and take part in interactive fun — including a wheel of fortune with prize draws featuring experiences from Ranua (including tickets to Ranua Wildlife Park).

You’ll also get ideas on how to extend your Oulu2026 visit with a day trip or a longer stay in Ranua, where culture begins in nature, quiet moments and northern light.

And keep your eyes open: Jonne the Polar Bear, Ranua Resort’s mascot, will be making surprise visits at the stand and around Pekuri throughout the weekend. If you spot Jonne, come say hi — and feel free to take a photo!

Practical information: where and when?

Oulu2026 Opening Festival

• Date: 16.-18.1.2026
• Place: Oulu, Pekuri shopping centre, 2nd floor (joint show stand of Ranua, Kemi and Tornio)
• The full opening festival programme can be found here: Oulu 2026 Opening Festival (opens in a new tab)
• Tip: Come and say hello, spin the wheel of fortune, enter the raffle and keep your eyes open – Jonne the Polar Bear might turn up as a surprise!

Check out the full European Capital of Culture year offering on the Oulu2026 website (opens in a new tab). The events calendar will be updated throughout the year, so it’s worth keeping an eye on.

Why is Ranua Resort participating in the Oulu2026 programme?

The municipality of Ranua participates in the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture year. Ranua organises themed cultural events throughout the year.

The Oulu2026 year highlights the diversity of northern culture. For Ranua, it’s an invitation to experience Lapland and Arctic nature as culture – for us it’s often felt in the silence, observations and stories that follow in the footsteps of animals.

At Ranua Resort, this is reflected above all in the way everyday life and holidays are given room to breathe: the surrounding forest, the changing light and the rhythm of the seasons elevate the experience to more than ‘just staying overnight’ or ‘just visiting the zoo’.

Ranua Resort serves as a natural base for your stay if you want to add a day or more to your Oulu2026 trip: to relax, walk in nature and see the life of Lapland and Arctic animals up close.