School lunches take part in the European Capital of Culture year on January 16, 2026

The European Capital of Culture year starts in the schools and daycare centres in Oulu and Kajaani with the finest vegetarian food in Europe. Oulu’s youth got the chance to design an environmentally friendly vegetarian recipe that is served in the city’s schools and daycare centres on January 16, 2026. 

School lunches are a part of Finnish cultural heritage. And now, children and young people got the opportunity to implement their wishes as a school lunch competition was held in the spring of 2025. The winning recipe is coconut curry, and the winning dessert is blackcurrant white chocolate cream.  

“All the recipes made by the youth were delicious, and three recipes will be served next year. The winning food, coconut curry, and the runner-up, tofu-limonello, represent international flavors. The recipe that came in third was soy-potato stew which represents traditional Finnish food”, Service Specialist Merja Taipaleenmäki from the Property and Facilities Management Services of Oulu explains.  

The finest vegetarian food in Europe is part of the official European Capital of Culture programme. The programme has been created in cooperation by the cities of Oulu and Kajaani. Recipes created in Kajaani will be served in both cities on Europe Day, May 8, 2026.