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CULTURE

Eight festivals you shouldn’t miss in Sweden this summer

Planning a trip to Sweden, or just looking for something to do in your four-week summer holidays this year? Here's a list of eight events and festivals to give you some ideas.

Published: 19 April 2024 15:12 CEST
Updated: 28 April 2024 08:42 CEST
Eight festivals you shouldn't miss in Sweden this summer
Swedish artist Cleo performing at Way Out West in 2023. Photo: Björn Larsson Rosvall/TT

Sweden Rock

The Sweden Rock Festival has been a fixture of the Swedish summer for more than 30 years, and returns to its site in the city of Sölverborg once again this June.

It will feature classic rock, hard rock, metal and some blues, with a lineup including Megadeth, Evanescence, The Hives, Alice Cooper and The Darkness. The festival, which attracts around 40,000 visitors, offers camping for caravans and motorhomes. Additional camping areas for tents are available but are operated by private companies.

There will also be around 100 different food stalls, 23 bars, a wine garden and a coffee lounge at the festival.

Day tickets start at 1,598 kronor and a basic four-day ticket is priced at 3,898 kronor.

Where: Sölvesborg, Blekinge

When: June 5th-8th 

Sthlm Fields

Sthlm Fields festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year. The event will see top artists, both national and international, play at Gärdet in Stockholm. The performers will include Toto, Doja Cat and Molly Sandén. Bars, food stalls and merchandise stands will be located within the grounds, too.

There are no spaces for camping on the festival grounds, so you’ll have to find somewhere to stay in Stockholm during the festival.

Daily tickets start from 795 kronor and the full access ticket starts at 2,595 kronor.

Where: Central Stockholm

When: June 28th-July 7th

Dansbandsveckan

If you want to really experience Swedish culture, consider visiting Dansbandsveckan. This festival of the hugely popular Dansband genre attracts nearly 100,000 visitors over seven evenings, with six dance floors and 82 dance bands.

The festival will include dance classes, a musical summer evening, a fairground, axe throwing, a car exhibition and much more.

Camping and private accommodation is available, but must be booked in advance.

Evening tickets are priced at 350 kronor and a weekly ticket costs 2,300 kronor.

Where: Malung, Dalarna County

When: July 14th- 20th

Classic cars cruising through Rättvik during Classic Car Week 2022. Photo: Lisa Abrahamsson/TT

Classic Car Week

The long-running Classic Car Week event will take place in Rättvik. The week will include music, events for children, a vintage market, a demolition derby, classic car parade and much more.

Private accommodation is available and should be booked independently.

Tickets for the event cost 900 kronor if booked before April 30th, or 1,000 kronor after May 1st.

Where: Rättvik, Dalarna County

When: July 26th-August 1st

Medieval Week Gotland

Gotland’s Medieval Week is Sweden’s largest historical festival. As well as taking you back in time so you can experience the Middle Ages, the eight-day event will include knights dressed in authentic armour competing in jousting, sword fighting, a horse parade, archery and falconry. Along with all those, there will be concerts, theatre performances and medieval folk dancing, and if you get peckish you can enjoy a selection of medieval themed treats.

You’ll need to book a camping spot beforehand through the event website.

A one-day ticket starts from 159 kronor and the eight-day ticket starts at 689 kronor.

Where: Gotland

When: August 4th-11th

Way Out West

The Way Out West (WOW) festival is running for its 17th year in Gothenburg. The three-day event has seen artists such as Prince, Kendrick Lamar and Stormzy play throughout its history, and the lineup this year includes André 3000, Queens of the Stone Age, Pulp, PJ Harvey and The National, as well as Sweden’s own Benjamin Ingrosso.

The festival will have five stages, a range of vegetarian and vegan food stalls, and also hosts Sweden’s third largest film festival.

Accommodation will need to be booked separately.

Adult tickets start from 1,245 kronor, with the three-day ticket costing 2,595 kronor. There are also premium, VIP and youth tickets available.

Where: Slottsskogen, Gothenburg

When: August 8th-10th 

Malmöfestivalen

Sweden’s oldest city festival transforms the streets of Malmö into a party, with dance, music, street food and more. The eight-day festival will take place in August and it will include 1,000 programme items.

The event is free to attend.

Where: Malmö

When: August 9th-16th

Crowds in Malmö during Malmöfestivalen last year. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

Street Food Festivalen

With over 200,000 visitors and 200 participating food and drink vendors across Sweden’s three largest cities, this food festival is one of the largest festivals of its kind in the country. Along with food stalls, the event will host the Swedish championships in street food. The runners up from around the world, who will take part in the food festival in Malmö, Stockholm and Gothenburg, will be selected before the final that will take place at the Gothenburg festival at the end of the summer.

The event is free to attend, although you’ll obviously have to pay for food.

When: Malmö: June 28th and 29th, Stockholm: July 26th and 27th, Gothenburg: August 29th to September 1st

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For members

EUROVISION

Eight unmissable free events in Malmö during Eurovision

As the Eurovision Song Contest gets closer, how will people who don’t have tickets to the actual shows be able to celebrate in the host city, Malmö?

Published: 30 April 2024 05:47 CEST
Eight unmissable free events in Malmö during Eurovision

First off, the city’s main park, Folkets Park, will host the Eurovision Village, which will have a packed schedule of events during Eurovision week. Friisgatan, which runs along the route to Folkets Park from Triangeln train station, will also turn into Eurovision Street, where guests will be able to get into the Eurovision spirit.

All of the events in this article are free.

Art Workshop with Bästa Biennalen

One of the events during the week is an art workshop in Eurovision Village in collaboration with Bästa Biennalen, an art network made up of a whopping 90 venues in southern Sweden. This is a great activity for children and young people, where they will be able to transform and repurpose recycled materials into art pieces.

Where: Eurovision Village in Folkets Park

When: May 4th from 2pm to 7pm, May 5th from 3pm to 7pm

More information available here.

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Circus with Cirkus Syd

Cirkus Syd, an international non-profit who offer circus training in Skåne, will perform for three days in the Eurovision Village, offering people of all ages the opportunity to try out juggling, acrobatics and other circus related activities.

Where: Eurovision Village in Folkets Park

When: May 4th from 2pm to 7pm, May 6th from 4pm-7pm.

More information available here.

Roller Disco

If you want to try dancing with a twist, then this is your chance. The Eurovision-themed roller disco offers the chance to dance with rollerblades on the Dancing Queen stage in the Eurovision Village, better known to locals as the Brändan dance hall.

You can borrow skates (European sizes 36-46 available), helmets and wrist guards for an hour, but be aware that the equipment is limited.

If you choose to bring your own skates (roller or inline both permitted), you’ll need to wear them when you pass security on your way into the park.

Where: Dancing Queen Stage, Eurovision Village (Brändan, Folkets Park)

When: May 4th-11th 4pm-10pm 

Over The Water Show Choir

All the way from last year’s host city Liverpool, where they performed during Eurovision 2023, Over The Water Show Choir will be coming to Malmö this year to share their repertoire of Eurovision songs with Sweden (apparently last year’s winner Loreen is a fan!)

Where: Multiple locations

When: May 10th. Malmö C at noon and Dag Hammarskjölds torg at 1pm, before doing a full set at the Euphoria Stage at Eurovision Village from 3pm. 

Dance Workshop with Choreographer Nick Hvidfelt

Fancy learning how to dance like a Eurovision performer? Danish choreographer Nick Hvidfelt will be teaching two dances at the Eurovision Village next week.

The first dance on May 9th will be to Greece’s 2004 Eurovision Song My Number One by Helena Paparizou, while the second will be to Spain’s 2022 Eurovision song SloMo by Chanel.

Where: Tattoo Stage, Eurovision Village

When: May 9th 4-5pm, May 10th 2-3pm

Eurovision Village Drag Night

Performing on the Euphoria Stage, four drag queens will headline the event. First up is Skåne’s own Elecktra, who those of us living in Sweden may recognise from this year’s Melodifestivalen, where she performed Banne maj, as well as Drag Race Sverige.

She will be joined by French drag queen Nicky Doll – the host of Drag Race France, who also appeared on season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race – as well as Danish drag queen DQ, who performed in Eurovision 2007 with her song Drama Queen, and Swedish Miss Tobi, winner of Drag Factor Sweden vs Finland in 2022, the same year she celebrated 20 years on stage.

Where: Euphoria Stage, Eurovision Village

When: May 10th from 9-9.45pm

MALMÖ NIGHTLIFE:

Abba Music on Fire

Malmö’s own fire brigade orchestra will perform some of Abba’s songs in honour of the band’s 50th anniversary since winning Eurovision. Expect to hear classics like Waterloo, Take a Chance On Me, Dancing Queen and Thank You for the Music.

Where: Multiple locations

When: May 11th, Malmö C 4:30-4:50pm, Dag Hammarskjölds torg 5.30-5.50pm

The Eurovision final on the big screen

Perhaps the most important event for tourists in Malmö for the contest, the Eurovision final will be broadcast live to two stages in Folkets Park – the Euphoria Stage and the Tattoo Stage.

People from over 80 different countries are expected to visit Malmö for Eurovision, so this is a perfect opportunity to feel the Eurovision fever with fans from all over the world.

Where: Euphoria Stage and the Tattoo Stage in the Eurovision Village.

When: May 11th, 9pm. Expected to end around 1am on May 12th

Is there anything else I should be aware of?

Be aware that there will be extra security measures in place in Folkets Park during the week, with visitors subject to checks when entering the park. The usual entrance on Amiralsgatan will be exit only, with guests able to enter the park via Norra Parkgatan and Falsterbogatan.

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There will also be a bag ban in place for all events, with the exception of bags used to carry medical equipment, changing bags for those with children, and journalists who can show a valid press card. These will need to be checked before entry.

Buggies and prams will also be allowed.

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