International artists illuminate the connections between creativity, freedom and coexistence.
OSLO, Norway. Norway’s capital transformed its waterfront into an open-air gallery of illuminated artworks as the fifth edition of Fjord Oslo invited residents and international visitors to reconsider what peace means in an increasingly divided world.
Held from November 5 to 8, 2026, the free festival brought together artists from several countries, using monumental projections, interactive installations and public spaces to explore themes of resilience, freedom and coexistence.
This year’s edition adopted IMAGINE PEACE as its central theme, forming part of a European Union co-funded cultural initiative connecting five light festivals in Norway, Denmark, Germany, Italy and Croatia.
The installations extended across Oslo’s Harbour Promenade, including Tjuvholmen, Aker Brygge, Rådhusplassen and Akershusstranda.
The Nobel Peace Center provided a particularly symbolic setting for the exhibition, connecting contemporary artistic expression with the city’s longstanding association with international peace efforts.
Festival co-founder and artistic director Anastasia Isachsen explained that the initiative sought to encourage reflection on peace at different levels, from international relations to personal experiences.
Rather than approaching peace exclusively as the absence of armed conflict, the participating artists explored its relationship with dignity, belonging, memory and human relationships.
Croatian artist Marko Bolkovic contributed to a collaborative project asking people across six countries to describe peace using a single word.
The responses highlighted familiar aspects of everyday life, including family, friendship and personal security, illustrating how individual experiences can shape broader understandings of peace.
Among the installations, German artist Claudia Reh presented FRACTIONS at the Nobel Peace Center.
Inspired by the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics while preserving their visible fractures, the work used layered light projections to examine the enduring consequences of conflict.
Visitors were invited to contribute visual reflections, transforming the installation into an evolving collective expression.
Another work, HELIOTROPE, created by French studio Luminariste, drew inspiration from sunflowers turning toward sunlight. Its illuminated forms explored renewal and the human tendency to seek hope during difficult periods.
The festival also encouraged visitors to consider the relationship between artistic experiences and social awareness.
Although art cannot independently resolve geopolitical conflicts, public cultural initiatives can create opportunities for dialogue, empathy and shared reflection.
Fjord Oslo’s accessibility was central to that ambition. By offering free admission and displaying installations throughout public areas, organizers sought to make contemporary art available beyond conventional galleries and museums.
The 2026 edition demonstrated how urban spaces can become temporary platforms for collective reflection.
In Oslo, light served not only as an artistic medium but also as an invitation to imagine how peace might be understood, protected and sustained.
Behind Every Creation, a Deeper Human Story.