ULTIMA Oslo Contemporary Music Festival is Norway's largest contemporary music festival. It grew out of the Nordlyd Festival, which was arranged annually in Oslo from 1976. The festival is a unique initiative within Norwegian cultural life, an event in which 16 of the largest institutions and organisations within the professional musical sphere co-ordinate their resources and contribute their expertise towards the attainment of a common goal. The festival was founded on the initiative of the composer John Persen, who also acted as festival director for the first three years. Her Royal Highness Princess Märtha Louise is the Patron of the Ultima Festival.

Each year at the festival the Arne Nordheim Prize is awarded to a distinguished Norwegian composer.