Kuopio Media Art Festival 19.9.–25.10.2026

The first Kuopio Media Art Festival takes place from 19 September to 25 October 2026 across Kuopio. The festival brings together Finnish media artists in a varied programme of exhibitions, video works, installations, animation, sound, light, interactive art, media art screenings, events and workshops. Throughout the festival, media art moves from KUMMA and other exhibition spaces into the city, onto public screens, into event venues and into shared encounters across Kuopio.

During the festival, KUMMA, GalleriA and Gallery Ars Libera will be filled with light, sound, installations, videos, animations and interactive works that invite visitors to experience their surroundings from new perspectives. The festival programme will also take place in other venues such as Kuntolaakso, Luola, Matkus, Kulttuuriareena 44 and Kino Kuvakukko. The programme also includes media art screenings, events and workshops, as well as works encountered in everyday settings around the city.

Kuopio Media Art Festival is organised in collaboration by KUMMA, Kuopio Artists’ Association Ars Libera, Muu ry and the Photography and Media Art Association Valmed ry. The festival is supported by the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation through its Partner Museum Programme. The festival has received an exhibition fee grant from the Finnish Heritage Agency.

Kuopio’s first media art festival brings together exhibitions, media art screenings, workshops and events. Explore the programme below.

Exhibitions

The exhibition programme of the Kuopio Media Art Festival is presented at KUMMA, GalleriA and Gallery Ars Libera. The festival features media art in a variety of forms, including video works, installations, animations, and sound and light-based artworks.

KUMMA

Kauppakatu 35

Jan Anderzén: MKE (KUMMA)
Juha Forsander: Reflections on Wood
Riikka Gröndahl: Silent Video Portrait
Unski Immonen: A Paradise Built in Hell
Jan Jämsén: Infinity
Anne Järvi: In the Distance Time Changed Its Form
Tatu Rönkkö: Luminance
Ilkka Pitkänen: UP’L
Alexander Salvesen & Walter Sallinen: Metropolitan Blinds
Antti Tolvi: Blue
Pihla Väisänen: Electronic Riga Choir
Sirpa Päivinen: Reverse

KUMMA’s Courtyard

Kauppakatu 35

Juan Kasari: Absence

GalleriA

Kauppakatu 35

Alisa Javits: On Fear and Evil
Sirpa Päivinen: Reverse

Gallery Ars Libera

Maaherrankatu 9

Maippi Ketola & Meri Hietala: Maippi and Meri Are Playing

Media Art on Screens

Media artworks from the Kuopio Media Art Festival can also be experienced beyond the exhibition venues. Throughout the festival, selected works are presented on public screens across Kuopio and the surrounding region, bringing media art into everyday urban environments.

Screen locations

Kuopio City Council Building, the lower lobby of Kuopio Main Library, Kuopio Market Square (near Vihtori and Carlson), Apaja, S-market in Karttula, Nilsiä main street, Juankoski Library, S-market in Juankoski, K-market in Riistavesi and OP in Riistavesi.

14 Sep – 4 Oct

Veera Launonen: The Crack
Jani Petteri Virta: A Playful Performance With and Without a Stuffed Cat FF

5 Oct– 25 Oct

Hannele Romppanen: Domestic Dance Band
Topi Ruotsalainen: Daddy Was a Dancing Man

Gallery 44 (15 Sep–25 Oct 2026)

Emmi Kairenius: Subarctic Urban Play
Vappu Rossi: Generatio Spontanea

Throughout the festival

Kuntolaakso Swimming Pool

Johanna Rossi & Aki Lintumäki: Moving Pigments
Merle Karp: Glow

Savilahti Sports and Events Centre Luola

Yu-Hsuan Yao: Lagoon

Matkus

Maiju Ruuskanen: Game of Art

Kuopio Museum

Jukka Silokunnas: Respiration

Kuopio Music Centre

Topi Ruotsalainen: Paper Dove

Media Art Screenings

The Kuopio Media Art Festival programme includes media art screenings presented at Kino Kuvakukko and Kulttuuriareena 44. The screenings feature works by Finnish and international artists, as well as a special programme highlighting the history of video art in Kuopio.

Kino Kuvakukko

Vuorikatu 27

18 Sep, 20:00–21:00 Opening Screening

Risto-Pekka Blom
Fanni Niemi-Junkola
Ilkka Paloniemi
Sepideh Rahaa
Kristina & Albert Laine
Sanna Liljander
Sami Ala

26 Sep, 10:30–12:30 RETRO KUOPIO – Archival Gems from Video Workshops

More information (in Finnish): Vilimit (vilimit.fi)

15 Oct, 17:30–18:15

Nastja Säde Rönkkö
Jani Heikkinen
Elina Lehtoranta
Jenni-Juulia Wallinheimo-Heimonen
Juho Rahikka
Nikolai Azariah

15 Oct, 19:00–20:00

Teemu Mäki

Kulttuuriareena 44

Kauppakatu 44

17 Oc, 14:00–15:30 Where Do You Come From, Where Do You Belong?

Elisa Alaluusua
Valentina Gelain
Maja Jantar
Leena Kela
Ninni Kaminen
Leena Pukki
Irina Raski & Teemu Heikkinen
Anna Rikkinen
Hanna Ryynänen
Jukka Silokunnas
Nelli Tanner
Heli Valkama

Events

Events offer opportunities to experience media art through participation, discussion and shared experiences. The programme includes community events, performances and an evening exploring the history of video art in Kuopio.

Maippi and Meri Are Playing

Matkus Shopping Centre, Matkuksentie 60

19 Sep 2026

Performances at 11:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:00

View Details

KMTF Rave

In front of KUMMA, Kauppakatu 35

19 Sep 2026, 14:00–18:00

Let’s rave the Kauppakatu hill smaller to the rhythm of a good dnz dnz-dnz. Everyone join in! In collaboration with K0ntro.

Video Activists – Kuopio Video Workshop 1985–1995

Kino Kuvakukko, Vuorikatu 27

16 Oct 2026, 18:00–21:00

The evening features two curated screening programmes showcasing works produced at the Kuopio Video Workshop between 1985 and 1995. A discussion led by Perttu Rastas and media artist Sami van Ingen takes place between the screenings.

Välke Light Festival at KUMMA

16–18 Oct 2026

Juan Kasari’s artwork Absence is presented in KUMMA’s courtyard as part of the Välke Light Festival.

Free Admission to KUMMA

17 Oct 2026, 10:00–19:00

Free admission throughout the day.

Workshops

The festival workshops offer opportunities to explore media art phenomena together with artists. All workshops take place in the KUMMA Olotila lounge (Kauppakatu 35, 2nd floor).