Get to know Ultima's four U-s!

'Four U’s?' Not as in unexpected, unconventional, unexpected and uncharted (although we are all of these), but as four parts of a whole:

Ultima Festival, Ultima Extra, ultiMATE – and the Ultima Foundation, which keeps everything running.

A lot happens throughout the year in contemporary music and the festival world. New works. New names. New formats. Some ideas are tested, while others find new life elsewhere. Behind it all are many people. At Ultima, it does not stop with the performances. They spark conversations, collaborations and processes that extend far beyond the stage.

The Ultima Festival is the core

Since 1991, Ultima has been a leading Nordic platform for contemporary music.

For ten days each September, we fill Oslo with music you have not heard before – reflecting our time and challenging what music can be. We think of it as sound experiences that push boundaries.

The programme includes around 50 events and several hundred national and international artists. It spans everything from noise and improvisation to opera, dance, music theatre, film, installations and talks.

Many festivals stay in the concert hall. We move between clubs, churches, museums, parks, vaults, metro stations, ruins – and sometimes, as in 2026, private homes.

Jørgen Knudsen, Artistic Director of Black Box teater, highlights what sets Ultima apart:

— Ultima stands out for its breadth and its ability to use the whole city. While many stay within the concert format, Ultima is clearly thematic and interdisciplinary, bringing together dance, visual art, technology and performance.

We welcome curious listeners, whether experienced or new to the festival. Free installations, open events and a wide-ranging programme invite people in – and they come. In 2025, nearly 16,000 people attended.

The name refers to Ultima Thule (the furthest outpost) – where the map ends and unknown territory begins. For us, this means exploring new ground as a deliberate practice.

The Ultima Foundation is the engine

The festival is built on a collaboration between 18 key institutions in Norwegian cultural life and education, which together form the Ultima Foundation. Several have been involved since the festival began more than 35 years ago.

Working together allows us to achieve more. Artistic practices, production resources and expertise are shared across institutions. Encounters that would otherwise not happen – between artists, formats and venues – become possible through this collaboration.

See who Ultima consists of

— Collaborating with Ultima is an opportunity to support development and innovation in the music field in Oslo. It is also a platform where the ensemble can present itself and promote Norwegian and international composers at one of the world’s leading contemporary music festivals, says Sarah Ludwig-Simkin, Director of Oslo Sinfonietta & Cikada (Cikos).

We keep you updated on what is happening across this network. We regularly share our partners’ activities using the hashtag #hvaskjeriultimastiftelsen on Ultima’s Facebook and Instagram.

Ultima Extra runs all year

When the festival ends in September, the year-round programme continues.

Through Ultima Extra, you can attend concerts, film screenings, listening sessions, talks and pop-up events throughout the year, produced with our partners. As an ultiMATE member, you get free entry to these events.

Coming up:

• Friday 24 April: Kangding Ray live. The award-winning film composer and existential rave pioneer visits Oslo for a post-screening talk and concert.
• Saturday 30 May: Oslo Sinfonietta celebrates its 40th anniversary with a full-day programme at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter.

See the year-round programme

ultiMATE – more than a membership

As an ultiMATE member, you get more than discounts, free entry to selected events and advance information.

You gain closer access to the processes, artists and ideas behind the festival. You are not just part of the audience, but part of a community where you can share experiences and perspectives. We hope this makes it easier to explore widely and discover something new.

Read more and see all member benefits

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Our newsletter keeps you informed about upcoming projects, special events, artistic insights and open calls, alongside key festival announcements.

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Ultima is an artistic ecosystem of projects, partners and audiences. Together, this creates a continuous experience for you – all year round.