On the Night of the Arts, Thursday 20 August 2026, the OAF programme runs at four venues from Hakaniemi to Töölönlahti. Entry to all events is free, and you are welcome to drop in wherever and whenever you like during the evening. The theme is hope: what gives us hope right now, and what might the world look like from an outsider artist’s point of view? The full evening: OAF x Night of the Arts.
You can also experience the evening together with others. The OAF art walk begins at 14.00 with a guided tour of the Forest of Hope exhibition at Pertin Valinta X Tiketti Gallery and continues from there towards the city centre. Its stops along the way are Oodi at 16, the National Opera at 17 and Lavaklubi at the National Theatre at 19. Along the way the audience meets artists and the festival team, with Kalevi Helvetti — guitarist Pertti Kurikka’s satanic alter ego — among the company. The walk runs in Finnish and English.
Pertin Valinta X Tiketti Gallery, 14–18
The Forest of Hope group exhibition brings together seven artists and is on show 20–30 August. The exhibition has been curated inclusively. Hakaniemenkuja 2. Read more about the exhibition.
Oodi Central Library, 16–20.30
The participatory sound horn installation MegOAFone takes over Oodi’s canopy from 16 to 18, with shout poet EJH, MC Harakka and an open mic for everyone. In the Cube, Natalia Tong-Ochoa’s interactive installation Sauna of Hope is open 17–20.30. At 17.30 Dash Che’s performance One Day of Pekka’s Life sets off from the Cube and crosses Töölönlahti to the Opera. Töölönlahdenkatu 4. Read more about the Oodi programme.
Finnish National Opera and Ballet, 16–20
In the main foyer, OAF Encounters of Hope runs from 16 to 20, inviting audiences and artists to share their thoughts at low-threshold meeting points. In the Amphitheatre, a tribute to Park Drummer Jarmo takes place from 18 to 20: 100 drummers and Stara’s waste bins — bring your drumsticks and join in! At 18.45 Javier Torres and Heini Merkkiniemi are in conversation. Read more about the Opera programme.
Lavaklubi, Finnish National Theatre, 19–22.30
The OAF literature programme is produced in collaboration with WSOY. At 19.30 DuvTeatern’s Ragnar Bengtström performs his poetry piece Ut genom väggen!, at 20 the OAF Poetry Stage begins, and at 21.30 the evening culminates in a gig by the band Nykypost. Finnish Sign Language interpretation from 20.00. Itäinen Teatterikuja 2 A, accessible entrance. Read more about the literature programme.