Arctic Arts Summit 2026

Discover the Arctic Arts Summit

On June 15–18, Ubmeje/Umeå will host the international cultural-political summit, the Arctic Arts Summit, featuring participants from the world's Arctic nations. The summit brings together artists, Indigenous representatives, researchers, and policymakers. During these days, the city will come alive with discussions, exhibitions, performing arts, concerts, and film screenings centered around the theme Land, Power, and Art. Below is a selection of the public program, which is open to everyone.

Three Highlights of the Week

The Many Ways We Love

During the week, several tents, Sjadduo, will be set up at Rådhustorget, surrounded by the 60-meter-long outdoor artwork The Many Ways We Love. This unique banner installation brings together queer, trans, non-binary, and Two-Spirit artists from across the Arctic region.

Location: Rådhustorget
Date: June 16 - June 17, 10:00 am - 3 pm

RANOR

The artist duo Johdet Pirak presents an outdoor exhibition at Rådhusesplanaden, weaving together Sámi and Tornedalian cultural heritage with urban subcultures. Through traditionally woven wool blankets placed in new settings, they explore nature and storytelling. The opening will feature an exclusive artist talk.

Location: The photo board exhibition at Rådhusesplanaden.
Artist Talk: Lavvu, Rådhustorget. June 16, 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm

Read more here about Ranor.

A River Runs Beneath, AR-project

A River Runs Beneath is an international AR (Augmented Reality) project making its world premiere during the Arctic Arts Summit in Umeå. By scanning QR codes scattered around the city, visitors can experience interactive works by Indigenous artists exploring shared history, language, and land.

Location: Various locations around Umeå city center.
Date: June 13 - june 20

This is happening at Väven

Samiska flaggan

Duodju Market

Duodju market temporarily moves to Umeå during the Arctic Arts Summit for an exclusive early-summer edition. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the market's fantastic crafts, culture, and flavors in the lovely early-summer warmth.

Location: Väven
Date: June 16 - June 17, 10:00 am - 5:00 am

ARcTIc: Art, Land, Power utställning konstverk

ARcTIc: Art, Land, Power exhibition

Umeå Konsthall explores the summit's core themes—art, land, and power—in an exhibition featuring artists connected to Sápmi. Created in close collaboration with Aejlies in Tärnaby, the exhibition weaves history with the present through a diversity of voices and traditional duodji (Sámi handicraft).

Location: Väven, Umeå Konsthall, 3rd Floor
Date: June 15 - September 6

Real Arctic

Real. Arctic

Real. Arctic. by Jérémie McGowan and Amund Sjølie Sveen is an ongoing art and archival project exhibited at Väven and Tráhppie. Through an installation, a souvenir shop, and performances, it explores how the Arctic is marketed and lived at the intersection of geopolitics and commercialization.

Location: Kommunhörnan, Väven
Date: June 15 - June 18, 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

Read more about the pop-up here.

Art exhibitions during Arctic Arts

This Is Arctic Land

This Is Arctic Land by Jérémie McGowan and Amund Sjølie Sveen is a series of public artworks in Umeå, taking the form of signs and banners. Inspired by the slogan ”This Is Sámi Land,” the project honors the struggle for Indigenous rights and questions the commercial marketing of northern regions.

Location: Tráhppie, UmArts Studio
Date: June 12 - June 18

Future Cartographies

Future Cartographies by Rúrí and Elena Mazzi is an exhibition examining the rapid and complex geographical changes within and beyond the Arctic. Through art and architecture, the project scrutinizes infrastructure and resource extraction, created in a collaboration between the Umeå School of Architecture, UmArts, and Galleri Verkligheten.

Location: Galleri Verkligheten
Date: June 10 - June 18

Soejvene

Soejvene by Tomas Colbengtson is an exhibition at Västerbottens museum that comments on colonial history and questions the historical collection of Sámi human remains and cultural artifacts. By combining museum collections with new sculptures and installations, the exhibition creates a dialogue about identity, lost language, and the right to one's own history.

Location: Västerbottens museum
Date: On display until August 30

Read more about Soejvene here.

Norrlandsoperan

Vita kuben Norrlandsoperan

Guhte gullá / Here to hear

Outi Pieski presents the work Guhte gullá / Here to hear together with her daughters Biret and Gáddjá Haarla Pieski. Through dance, traditional handicraft (duodji), ritual electronic music, and joik, they explore the generational connection to the earth and the voices of Sámi foremothers.

Location: Vita Kuben
Date: June 17 – October 30
Öppet: Tuesday–Friday, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM. Extended opening hours on June 17, 12:00 PM – 9:30 PM.

Avant Joik konsert två kvinnor på scen

Avant Joik

Avant Joik creates an expressive fusion of traditional joik, electronic music, avant-garde vocal expressions, and visual experiments. The ensemble offers an improvisational concert experience that highlights the Ume Sámi language and brings the reality of northern Indigenous peoples into focus.

Location: Stora scenen (the main stage)
Date: June 17, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Avus konsert grupp på fem personer

Ávus

Ávus is a concert collaboration named after the Ume Sámi word for space and happiness, where electronic music and Sámi joik meet. Together with percussion and synthesizers, Jonas Knutsson, Ingá-Máret Gaup-Juuso, and Jörgen Stenberg create an emotional experience with the joik at its absolute center.

Location: Stora scenen (the main stage)
Date: June 17, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Tickets are required for the performances on the main stage. Read more and book your tickets here.

Till toppen

Arctic Arts Summit hemsida