SmilingOulu26
Hymyilevä Oulu 26
Hymyilevä Oulu 26 is a year-long photography project that is part of
Oulu 2026 European Capital of Culture program in Finland.
Its goal is to highlight the stories of minorities, lonely and different people
and to create a discussion about community and being seen.
We are organizing Oulu's largest photography competition , which is intended for everyone.
The photography competition and photography courses will be held in January–March 2026 .
The celebration gala will be held on June 10, 2026 in the auditorium and lower lobby of Pohjankartano.
The gala will award the winners of the photo competition and open an exhibition, which will later
expand to different parts of Oulu.
The project also includes the village of Riogordo in southern Spain, where it will organize its own photography competition and exhibition in collaboration with the local museum and the Augmenters cultural association .
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Free photography courses and competitions, a gala and exhibitions await your participation.
Take free online courses to learn how to see and capture the stories around you. The courses are open to everyone and available in multiple languages.
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Competition
Oulu's largest photography competition invites you to share touching moments.
Send a smiling black and white portrait and become part of the Hymyilevä Oulu 26 project with us.
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On June 10, 2026, we will celebrate
the Hymyilevä Oulu 26 project at Pohjankartano.
The program includes the opening of the photography exhibition, the awarding of the competition winners, and a straightforward panel discussion about loneliness, marginalization, and community.
The evening will be crowned with live music and performances by performers from minority backgrounds.
The best photos will be shown in exhibitions around Oulu for six months.
The aim is to publish all participants' photos that follow the theme of the competition, for example on social media channels or in a video produced for the Lumo festival.
Come and experience the kind of insightful and touching images people have created.
Multilingual greeting from project leader Kristian Kaarna
Send us a picture of yourself smiling!
Join us in creating the Hymyilevä Oulu 26 campaign! We want to fill our social media channels with genuine joy and warmth – and right now we need your help.
Send a selfie of yourself smiling – or take a picture of your friend, buddy or loved one .
There are no restrictions whatsoever – everyone is welcome to join, regardless of age, background, or experience.
The most important thing is a genuine smile and a desire to be part of a common campaign.
The images are used as part of the visibility of the Hymyilevä Oulu 26 project.
and a feel-good campaign on various platforms and events.
Our goal is to build a safe, positive and open environment for everyone.
We have a zero tolerance policy for hate speech and discrimination: all negative comments will be removed, and those who behave in a disruptive manner will be blocked from our platforms.
So send a smile – it can change your day, maybe even more.
Send your photo by email to:
hymyilevaoulu26@gmail.com
Or alternatively via WhatsApp to:
+34 631 859 904
Our story
Hymyilevä Oulu 26 was born from photographer Kristian Kaarna's dream of combining art, community and cultural diversity. The idea was born in the vibrant and international atmosphere of the mountain town of Riogordo in southern Spain, where Kaarna lives and works as a cultural activist.
Kristian founded the Augmenters cultural association with his artist friends, with the aim of promoting art and culture both in Spain and internationally. The association supports creative projects, connects people from different backgrounds and encourages participation in the arts – regardless of age, background or skills. A passion for photography, visual storytelling and collaboration has been at the heart of the association since its inception.
In Riogordo, the association has organized several photography competitions and exhibitions in collaboration with the city and the Ethnographic Museum. These events have created a strong community where art acts as a bridge between people.
Hymyilevä Oulu 26 continues this story now in Finland – uniting the city of Oulu, local communities and international actors around a common theme.
In addition, Augmenters has implemented EU-funded projects that strengthen intercultural cooperation and inclusion through art.
Why Hymyilevä Oulu 26?
Why right now?
A smile is a universal gesture. It transcends words, cultures, and differences. A smile can convey kindness, hope, warmth, or a simple sense of connection. At the same time, it is often something we don’t see in those we look past – minorities, the lonely, people who are not usually the center of images.
Photographing a minority or a lonely person is an invitation to look again. It is not a picture of pity or outsiderness, but a moment in which someone is seen for who they are. Photography can then be an act – a small but powerful step towards a more empathetic society.
Hymyilevä Oulu 26 was born because the world needs more kindness now. And because each of us deserves to be met – at least once through the lens of a camera.
Together we create visibility and understanding
Smiling Oulu 26 is implemented in collaboration with committed partners who share our desire to build a more empathetic and inclusive society. Without their support and expertise, the project would not be possible.
Villa Victor, the multicultural center of the City of Oulu, is the most important partner of the Smiling Oulu 26 project in Finland. Villa Victor supports the project in all its phases, provides facilities, connections and expertise, and acts as an important bridge between local communities.
The city of Riogordo in southern Spain is involved in supporting intercultural dialogue and is organizing its own photo competition as part of the project.
The Museo Etnográfico de Riogordo provides a historical setting for the exhibition and supports visual storytelling as part of the region's cultural heritage.
Together with these partners, we bring to light the stories that often go unnoticed – and build bridges that span borders.