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WHAT CHANGES IN NORWAY

Seven things to do in Norway in February 2024

Festivals on the west coast, Oslo locals’ favourite event of the year and the launch of the European Capital of Culture in the north are among the best events in Norway during February 2024. 

Published: 26 January 2024 11:23 CET
Updated: 2 February 2024 13:59 CET
Pictured is Holmenkollen
These are the best events happening in Norway in February. Pictured is Holmenkollen Photo by Michael Ankes on Unsplash

Trondheim Calling, February 1st

Central Norway will see a showcase of the best unsigned talent in the country during the Trondheim Calling Festival. 

Many local and national acts will be under the spotlight across the city’s various stages during the three-day festival. 

More than 90 different concerts will be held across the three-day festival. 

Festival passes and day passes are available on the event website. 

Bodø 2024 launch, February 3rd

Life above the Arctic Circle in Norway will see an exciting start to the month. On February 3rd, the opening ceremony for Bodø 2024, the European Capital of Culture will be held. The ceremony will be held on a floating stage in the city’s harbour. 

The city is the first above the Arctic Circle to be chosen as the European Capital of Culture. 

For those who can’t make it to the opening ceremony, it will be broadcast live on NRK. 

More than 1,000 cultural events are planned for 2024 in Bodø, meaning there should be something going on in the city in whichever month you manage to visit. 

READ MORE: Arctic Norway’s European Capital of Culture

Sami Day/ Sami Week 

February 6th is Sami Day across all of Norway. Typically, many workshops, exhibitions and showcases of Sami culture and food are planned nationwide. The largest cities and the north will generally host the largest selection of events. 

The same week will also see Tromsø celebrate a Sami week. The yearly festival showcases many traditional Sami sports and events. This is in addition to other events like the Sami winter market. 

Bergen International Literary Festival, February 7th 

Literature from around the globe will be celebrated in Bergen between February 7th and 11th. 

The event is characterised by its literary, linguistic, cultural and geographic diversity. Attendees will enjoy events hosted by authors from across Norway and the world. 

The festival is being held at the House of Culture in Bergen. 

An overview of all the individual events is available on the festival’s website. 

Bergen Seafood Festival February 17th

Home to some of the best seafood in the world is Bergen on the west coast.

Events celebrating the city’s seafood will be held across the city between February 12th and February 17th. The headline event will be the transformation of Bergen’s famous seafood market into a family-friendly food festival venue on February 17th.

This is certainly one event that foodies in the city won’t want to miss. 

Winter Holidays

Kids in Oslo, Akershus, Østfold, Vestfold, Telemark, Agder, Møre and Romsdal, Trøndelag and some parts of Vestland will be off school for the winter holidays between February 19th and February 23rd.

After that, students in Innlandet, Buskerud, Rogaland, parts of Vestland, Nordland, Troms and Finnmark will be off from school the following week.

The winter holidays in Norway are a great time to go on ski and cabin trips. Those who don’t like crowds might want to save any such trips for after the kids return to school, though. 

Holmenkollen Ski Festival, February 29th

Thousands will make their way to Oslo’s winter sports mecca at Holmenkollen between February 29th and March 10th. 

Both FIS World Cup and ski jumping events will be held at the ski festival, known for its lively atmosphere.

The event is one of the highlights of the winter social calendar in Oslo. 

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DISCOVER NORWAY

Eight unmissable events happening in Norway in May 2024 

A trio of jazz festivals, a new museum opening, and the seven mountain hike in Bergen are among the best things happening in Norway in May. 

Published: 25 April 2024 12:09 CEST
Eight unmissable events happening in Norway in May 2024 

Three different jazz festivals 

May is looking to be a good month for music lovers in Norway, as three different festivals will be held throughout the country.

First up, is Maijazz Stavanger. The festival started in 1989 and is one of the largest events in the Stavanger region. 

The festival begins on May 3rd and runs until May 8th. Tickets are available for individual concerts and shows. 

This is followed by Jazzfest Trondheim, which commences on May 6th. The festival will run through to the 11th. Jazzfest places a focus on jazz music and musicians from Norway, the Nordics and northern Europe. 

The festival also includes workshops and jam sessions. 

Bergen Jazz Festival then closes out a month of concerts. The week-long festival begins on May 24th and extends into the beginning of June.

New museum in Kristiansand 

A grain silo from 1935 will get a new lease of life when Kunstsilo opens in Kristiansand on May 11th. 

The museum will combine three permanent collections, the Tangen collection, the Sørlands collection and the Christianssands Picture Gallery.

The museum’s collection will comprise the world’s largest collection of Nordic modernism. Visitors can also enjoy international digital contemporary art, temporary exhibitions, lectures, concerts, dining experiences, workshops, function rooms, and events.

May 17th and public holiday galore 

It doesn’t matter where you are in the country. May 17th promises to be a special day across Norway. 

The country’s national day will see the public dressed in folk costumes and attend parades with marching bands. 

Oslo is set to have the largest parade, which makes its way up Karl Johan Street to the Royal Palace. 

Wednesday, May 1st will see workers off for Labour Day, this is followed by Ascension day on May 9th. 

This is followed by Whit Monday on May 20th, meaning workers in Norway will have a long weekend between Constitution Day and Whit Monday. 

Bergen International Festival 

Norway’s oldest cultural festival (established in 1953), the Bergen International Festival (Festspillene i Bergen), is scheduled to take place between May 22nd and June 5th.

The festival usually offers visitors a blend of theatre, dance, music, opera, and visual art, showcasing both Norwegian and international talent.

Each year, the Bergen International Festival captivates audiences with hundreds of live performances staged both indoors and outdoors.

Seven mountain hike in Bergen 

The annual seven mountain hike in Bergen will see residents and visitors scramble across the seven peaks that sit above the city. The whole day can be used to complete the 30 km-long route.

You can also opt to do just five or three mountains instead. The event begins on May 26th. 

Oslo medieval festival 

The Oslo Medieval Festival is at Akershus Fortress in the capital. Each day promises fun events for the whole family, with the fortress, which dates back to the 1200s, providing plenty of authentic medieval atmosphere. 

Wandering jugglers, jesters, musicians, beggars, historical plays, longbow shooting, and concerts with medieval songs and instruments are all on the itinerary. All this is in addition to the market selling goods from Norway and abroad. 

The festival takes place between May 26th and May 29th. 

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