The Polar Night Light Festival illuminates the slopes of Ruka during the darkness of the polar night – Aurora and polar night tourism has a significant impact on the region
Published on 9 January 2026
The world’s northernmost light art festival, the Polar Night Light Festival, begins on Friday and lights up the slopes of Ruka in the heart of the polar night. According to a recently published study, Aurora and polar night tourism has a significant impact on the regional economy of Ruka–Kuusamo. The Polar Night Light Festival takes place from 9 January to 2 February 2026, and this year’s theme is the Northern Lights.
– The darkness of midwinter in Ruka is a truly unique experience when the light installations of the Polar Night Light Festival illuminate the Kuru slopes, the Front Slopes and the village of Ruka with stunning colours, says Otto Lintunen, Director of Slope and Experience Product Development at Rukakeskus.
The world’s northernmost light art festival, the Polar Night Light Festival, will be held in Ruka from 9 January to 2 February 2026. The event is organised by Sun Effects, Rukakeskus and Ruka-Kuusamo Tourism Association. The festival is now being held for the tenth time, and this year’s theme is Aurora Glow – Northern Lights.
– At last year’s event, we conducted a study on the impacts of twilight and Northern Lights tourism on the regional economy. The impacts are significant. The Polar Night Light Festival alone brings 5.3 million euros to the area. One third of the event’s visitors come from abroad, says Niina Kukka, Event Manager at Ruka-Kuusamo Tourism.
In addition to light installations, the festival also features works by Rovaniemi-based media artist Arttu Nieminen. Light art can also be enjoyed on a guided or self-guided snowshoe hike that leads from the summit of Saarua to a forest covered in snow-laden trees.
– We bring the mysterious natural light phenomenon of Lapland to life in many different ways. Light artworks can be experienced while skiing, kick sledding, riding the gondola from above, or walking through the village and along marked routes. The lights are best seen early in the morning or later in the afternoon, says Lintunen.
This year, the Polar Night Light Festival is also part of the European Capital of Culture Oulu2026 programme.
Polar Night Light Festival
- The world’s northernmost light art festival, the Polar Night Light Festival, will be held in Ruka from 9 January to 2 February 2026.
- Light installations and light art works illuminate the Kuru slopes, the Front Slopes and the village of Ruka in stunning colours. In addition to light installations, the festival features works by Rovaniemi-based media artist Arttu Nieminen.
- This year’s theme of the event is Aurora Glow – Northern Lights.
- The Polar Night Light Festival is also part of the European Capital of Culture Oulu2026 programme.
The festival can be experienced while skiing, stiga racing, riding the gondola from above, or walking through the village and along marked routes. Many events are also organised during the festival:
- Polar Night Light Festival Aurora Glow guided snowshoe hikes, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 13–29 January 2026
- Polar Night Light Festival night skiing with lights every Friday at 7:00 PM on the Kuru slopes.
- Night slopes on Fridays from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
- In the evenings, kick sledding is available on the slopes on Saturdays and Sundays from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM after the slopes have closed to skiers.
- On the opening day, Kuusamo Women’s Gymnastics Club will perform an Aurora-themed dance performance at 7:15 PM, after the joint light ski run.
- The scenic restaurant BASE Eat&Heat, located at the summit of Saarua, presents Aurora Glow–themed dishes where northern flavours are combined with visual experiences.
