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BERGEN

The most unmissable events in Bergen this summer

Bergen is gearing up for another summer season packed with festivities and events. Here are the key events you won't want to miss.

Published: 6 May 2024 13:50 CEST
Bergen KODE
This summer, Bergen will host over 20 major fevents. Photo by Kenneth Coffie on Unsplash

With around 60 diverse festivals and large concerts each year, Bergen has a reputation as a cultural hub.

This summer, between June 25th and September 22nd, Bergen will host over 20 major festivals, concerts, and significant events, alongside more than 150 smaller gatherings.

READ MORE: A weekend in Bergen: Everything you should see and do

As the days grow longer and the temperatures rise, the city will come alive with a rich array of events, drawing crowds from near and far, all eager to enjoy the eclectic music, theatre, art, and culture on offer.

To ensure that our readers don’t miss out on the key events, we’ve curated a list of our favourite festivals, concerts, and happenings that promise to make this summer in Bergen unforgettable.

June

In mid-June, the city’s iconic Bergenfest will set the stage for an unforgettable experience within the historic grounds of Bergenhus Fortress.

Over four days, from June 12th to June 15th, visitors will be treated to a diverse lineup of musical performances by renowned artists, including Stormzy, Kaizers Orchestra, and Gabrielle. The full lineup can be found here.

June will also see the Grieg Recital at Troldhaugen, a concert held amidst the serene beauty of Troldsalen, which is located right next to Troldhaugen, the former home of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg and his wife, Nina Grieg. On June 25th, guests will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the timeless melodies of Grieg’s compositions, performed by a new generation of artists.

Bergen will host Bryan Adams, one of the world’s biggest rock artists, on June 26th as part of his “So Happy It Hurts” Tour. This concert will also take place at the Bergenhus Fortress area.

Between June 28th and June 30th, the Thalassic festival will gather lovers of experimental music and showcase a captivating fusion of local and international talent at Smien in Bergen’s Laksevåg borough.

On June 29th, the Håsong art festival will offer attendees a unique opportunity to delve into the rich tapestry of cultural history, art, and music in the village of Hosanger on Osterøy. The program features outdoor yoga sessions, performances of 13 artists, and exhibitions.

July

If you’re looking for laughs and a good time, Stand Up Bergen’s Summer standup program will have you covered throughout July. Every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in July, visitors will be able to enjoy stand-up performances at the Lille Ole Bull venue.

Tysnesfest, a family-friendly music festival in idyllic Tysnes, an hour south of Bergen, will take place from July 10th to July 14th this year, with performances by MODS, Sondre Justan, Matoma, and many others.

UTKANT 2024, another music festival, will run from July 25th to July 27th at the picturesque Skjerjehamn in the Gulen municipality. As Utkant’s website notes, festivalgoers can expect a “mix of lead-heavy riffs, cheerful pop tunes, and lively funky beats.” For more information on artists and the program, visit the festival’s website.

Concert

Beyond The Gates, Bergen’s premier metal festival, will take place from July 31st to August 3rd. Photo by Vishnu R Nair on Unsplash

Closing off July and early into August, metalheads will have the chance to visit Beyond The Gates, a renowned metal festival that emerged from the remnants of the cult festival Hole in the Sky in 2012.

Widely acclaimed for showcasing the finest offerings of the extreme metal genre, Beyond the Gates has swiftly become a beloved summer event for metal enthusiasts worldwide. From July 31st to August 3rd, it will take place at various iconic concert venues in the city, including USF Verftet, Kulturhuset, and Grieghallen.

The 2024 lineup includes Behemoth, Satyricon, Venom, The True Mayhem, Enslaved, Death SS, and others.

READ MORE: Five great restaurants for a dinner date in Bergen

August

Much like July, August is also packed with festivals.

Stølsfestivalen, nestled in the surroundings of Kallestad, combines music and outdoor life in a unique cultural experience. Spanning two days, from August 16th to August 18th, the festival also provides camping opportunities.

If you’re looking for an event that puts a lot of emphasis on socialising opportunities, visit Flytfestivalen 2024 at Rossland 32, scheduled for August 17th-18th. The festival promises a delightful opportunity to enjoy music, barbecues, and games and is very popular with the locals.

As one of Northern Europe’s largest quayside festivals, the Byfjord Festival at Kleppestø kai offers a late summer celebration featuring leading Norwegian artists, an enticing variety of food and drinks, and convenient transportation connections to the heart of Bergen. Here’s the full program for 2024.

If you’re a fan of chamber music, don’t miss out on the 28th Grieg in Bergen festival, held at Håkonshallen. Over three weeks, between August 19th and August 31st, the festival will showcase concerts by high-level artists and ensembles, including world premieres.

Street food enthusiasts also have something to look forward to in August when the city’s Street Food Festival takes place. Between August 23rd and 25th, the festival will transform the Bergenhus Fortress area into a haven for foodies.

Also taking place close to the Bergenhus Fortress is the Feelings Festival, slated for August 25th-26th, with performances by acclaimed artists like TIËSTO, Alan Walker, and Zara Larsson.

August will end with two more festivals worth visiting: Villahagefesten in the heart of the city and Høydenfestivalen 2024 at Nygårdsparken, both scheduled to run between August 30th and 31st.

September

As summer draws to a close, Bergen will bid farewell to the season of nice weather with multiple festivities.

The Bergen Food Festival will showcase local ingredients and dishes between September 6th and 7th, while the first edition of ÅsaneFest will offer a night of musical celebration on September 21st.

READ MORE: The most unmissable events in Bergen in 2024

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BERGEN

How Bergen puts its own spin on Norway’s May 17th traditions

Throughout Norway, May 17th is a highlight of the year, with millions celebrating Constitution Day. However, Bergen likes to do things a bit differently.

Published: 14 May 2024 13:08 CEST
How Bergen puts its own spin on Norway's May 17th traditions

Bergen in western Norway, the country’s second-largest city, takes on an especially festive atmosphere for the May 17th celebrations.

Streets and houses are dotted with Norwegian flags as far as the eye can see, and the city, known for its rich cultural scene, transforms into a bustling hub of national pride and joyous celebrations. 

READ MORE: Why does Norway celebrate May 17th?

This sort of approach to celebrating Norway’s big day isn’t unique to Bergen – most cities in the country have a special program in place to mark the occasion.

However, Bergen puts its own unique spin on this special occasion, featuring an air show, fireworks, parades with organisations unique to Bergen, and much more.

How the festivities start

Bergen celebrates Norway’s Constitution Day with several distinct local traditions.

The festivities kick off bright and early, with an opening ceremony, followed by a festive salute fired from Skansen, a historic site in the Bergenhus district.

Simultaneously, the morning procession, featuring the Sandviken’s Youth Corps and Lungegaarden’s Music Corps, starts from Dreggen and concludes at Festplassen Square in the city centre.

A highlight of this procession is the inclusion of the buekorps – traditional neighbourhood youth organisations that march through the streets, a feature unique to Bergen.

READ MORE: How Norway’s biggest cities will celebrate May 17th this year

As the city awakens, main procession attendees gather around 10am at Koengen, an open-air concert venue in the city centre.

The main procession begins between 10 and 11am. It is central to the day’s celebrations, and the fact that Bergen natives call this parade a prosesjon instead of tog (a word used in the rest of Norway), just goes to show how important having a distinct tradition is to Bergen. 

At the same time, a flag parade departs from Festplassen. While the main procession makes its way through the streets, the flag parade heads in the opposite direction. Having two parades heading in opposite directions is something that sets Bergen apart from other parts of the country, like Oslo. 

Furthermore, a boat parade also embarks from Hilleren at a similar time.

Norway flag 1

Flags are a central feature of Norway’s May 17th celebrations, symbolizing national unity – you’ll see them everywhere you turn. Photo by Peter Hansen on Unsplash

Midday: Continued processions, speeches, music performances – and the Viking Ship stage

Midday brings a flurry of activities, including a race rowing procession from Kaigaten close to noon, followed by speeches and musical performances on the Viking Ship stage at Festplassen – a special stage used for this occasion – featuring the Krohnengen Brass Band and the Bergen Opera Choir.

There, you’ll likely be able to hear Nystemten (Udsigter fra Ulrikken), Bergen’s own city anthem, alongside Norway’s national anthem – a tradition that isn’t that common outside of Bergen, where people tend to stick to the national anthem.

Around 1pm, dancing livens up Torgallmenningen and Ole Bull squares, complemented by concerts at nearby landmarks like Den blau steinen and Musikpaviljongen.

Later in the afternoon, a spectacular air show takes place over Vågen/Byfjorden, which always attracts a crowd.

The air show is also a special experience that doesn’t take place in all cities.

Evening: Gospel, torch parade, and fireworks

As evening sets in, a gospel night organised by local congregations offers a musical pause in St. John’s Church.

The celebrations conclude with a torch parade from Bergenhus leading to Festplassen between 10 and 11pm, capped off by a grand fireworks display.

READ MORE: Key things you absolutely shouldn’t do on May 17th in Norway

Locals and visitors alike converge on Festplassen and other key viewing spots around the city to see the fireworks.

Families, friends, and neighbours come together, many having spent the day enjoying the various parades and performances (as well as a glass or two of alcohol) to watch the sky light up in a dazzling array of colours.

And there you have it! If you’re planning to spend May 17th in Bergen, you now know what to expect and the must-see activities to catch throughout the day that are exclusive to the city.

To learn more about how Norway celebrates the signing of its constitution in 1814, which declared the country’s independence, be sure to check out The Local’s in-depth guide to May 17th.

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