Air Guitar World Championships 2026 — World Final in Oulu

Air Guitar World Championships 2026 takes place in Oulu on 26–29 August. The World Final will be held on 28–29 August at Delta Stage in Pokkinen Park with free entry.

Air Guitar World Championships 2026 is an international world championship of playing the imaginary guitar, taking place in Oulu from 26 to 29 August 2026. It is one of Finland’s most unusual and recognisable summer events, where competitors from different countries step onto the stage without real instruments and compete in performance, attitude, energy, musicality and the ability to create a true rock show using only imagination. The championship has been organised in Oulu since 1996 and is known for its slogan Make Air, Not War. The idea behind the event is to promote peace, joy and international unity through humour, music and performance. According to the spirit of the event, you cannot hold a weapon while playing the air guitar. In 2026, Oulu is the European Capital of Culture, and the Air Guitar World Championships will be part of the large final event Delta Life. The World Final will be held over two evenings for the first time: the first round takes place on Friday 28 August and the second round on Saturday 29 August. The performances will take place on the Delta Stage in Pokkinen Park, a waterside stage in the historic centre of Oulu. The final brings together national champions and winners of the Dark Horses qualification round. Competitors will battle for the world championship title and the main trophy. In 2026, they will also challenge the reigning world champion, Aapo “The Angus” Rautio from Finland. The event is suitable for visitors who enjoy unusual festivals, music, performance, humour, city events and an international festival atmosphere. The final is open to everyone with free entry, and an online livestream will also be available. The event has no age limit, but the organisers recommend that small children attend only with adults, as the venue may become very crowded. The Air Guitar World Championships 2026 final on 28–29 August has free entry. Some separate events during the championship week, such as Airientation, may require a paid ticket.