Oulu will be the European Reading Capital of Culture

The City of Oulu is planning to become the European Reading Capital of Culture in 2026. We will start our journey towards the shared goal with the Lukevin kaupunni (Fin. Reading Capital) campaign. 

Mayor Ari Alatossava opened the campaign on Saturday October 19, 2024, at the Oulu Book Fair. The campaign will be visible in the cityscape, libraries, schools and the city’s different communication channels in the coming years. The City of Oulu’s reading and library cooperation control group is responsible for the Reading Capital campaign.  

One of the Reading Capital campaign’s most significant goals is to make strong literacy available for all citizens of Oulu. The intention of the campaign is to inspire people to read more and develop and diversify their literacy. The goal is to encourage communities and individuals to pick up a book and notice how reading brings joy and increases wellbeing. The Reading Capital campaign is implemented as a part of the national literacy strategy.  

The campaign makes Oulu’s literacy work visible as well.  

“Literacy work is active, diverse and lively in Oulu. We have especially improved in the cooperation between different operators and cross-organizational activities. Library cooperation is extensive from early childhood education to upper secondary education. In Oulu, literacy work is being invested in also with staff resources in the libraries and the field of education,” the Oulu City Library’s Chief Infromation Specialist Elina Kauppila explains. 

Ready – Set – Read! Reading Challenges 

The heart of the Reading Capital campaign are the Ready – Set – Read! reading challenges by the City of Oulu’s literacy promoting Development Teacher Tanja Salo. Readers of different ages are encouraged to practice their reading skills before the celebratory reading year 2026. The Ready – Set – Read! challenge develops reading interest and skills with accessible challenges. There are four reading challenges: for adults, for students, for families and early childhood education, and for workplaces. The challenges were published during the Oulu Book Fair on October 19. 

Oulu’s school libraries and early childhood education institutions are actively participating in the campaign.

“Oulu’s schools and early childhood education institutions have taken an early start at the Reading Capital campaign as part of the national Lokakuu on lukukuu (Fin. Reading Month) campaign and the Anniversary of Oulu’s Schools,” Tanja Salo celebrates.  

“The reading challenges have been introduced and in recent days, the units have been figuring out where their students’ library cards are and what the school adults’ favourite books are, among other things.” 

All citizens of Oulu are invited to take on the Ready – Set – Read! Challenges. By encouraging our friends, loved ones, and coworkers, we will make Oulu into the European Reading Capital of Culture together.  

Reading challenge materials in English: ouka.fi/lukevinkaupunni