Stockholm Events and Festivals

(Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden)

Sweden's capital city of Stockholm is where many of the countries biggest and brashest festivals are held, at venues such as Cirkus Arena (Circus Arena) on the Djurgardsslätten, a historic exhibition space dating back to the early 1890s, regularly hosting rock concerts and similar events. Sport fans will find a range of sporting events taking place in the Stockholm Olympiastadion (Olympia Stadium) in the Lidingövägen area, where the Swedish Olympic Games took place in 1912.

For information about the latest cultural festivals, events, things to do and happenings during your stay in Stockholm, pay a visit to the Kulturhuset (House of Culture). Located on the Sergels Torg, the Kulturhuset also hosts a series of art exhibitions and is hard to miss, being an imposing glass structure and brightly illuminated in red.


During the summer, the Mosebacke Etablissement in the Södermalm area of Stockholm boasts a theatre, seasonal festivals and also stunning views across the sea and the Djurgarden.

In the winter months, the outdoor ice skating rink in the Kungsträdgarden is the place to be and is always busy, regularly featuring live music and hot snacks.

Stockholm Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Streetstar Festival - late January, live music and local Swedish bands compete in front of large crowds

February

• Nordic Shoe and Bag Fair - throughout February, true paradise for many women, with an exhibition of shoes dating back more than 200 years, right up to the present styles of today

March

• Easter Celebrations - late March / early April, religious services at various churches, including the Storkyrkan (Stockholm Cathedral

April

• Valborgsmassoafton (Walpurgis Night) - late April, celebrating the arrival of spring, with bonfires, choirs, music and many student-based events

May

• Popcorn Film Festival - May and June, young up-and-coming Swedish filmmakers get a chance to screen their very own films, at cinemas such as the Cosmonova, Rival and Zita
• Tjejtrampet - throughout May, the biggest women-only cycling event on the planet, featuring both a 25-km / 15.5-mile race and a longer 48-km / 30-mile race, attracting almost 50,000 spectators each year
• Stockholm Marathon - late May, a race around the city, attracting some 15,000 athletes and finishing at the Olympic Stadium. The course passes many of the city's most notable sights along the way

June

• Gärdesloppet - early June, a large group of vintage cars dating back almost 100 years compete for this short race through the city and starting at the Prins Bertil Memorial
• Festival of the Orient - throughout June, a taste of India arrives in the Södermalm area of Stockholm, with live Indian music and dancing at the Södra Teatern
• Gärdet Race - throughout June, a much-loved box cart race for children and families. Plenty of street entertainment and hot food is never far from hand
• Mayo Boule Festival / Boule Pétanque - throughout June, an international boule festival known as the Mayonnaise Open, with playoffs held in prominent cities worldwide and culminating every year at Stockholm's Kungsträdgarden
• Midsummer's Eve Festivities - throughout June, a favourite with local Stockholmers, who gather to enjoy partying, maypole dancing and tasty Scandinavian fare. Expect to see many decorated houses at this time of the year
• Stockholm Early Music Festival - throughout June, featuring music from as far back as the Middle ages and based within the historic Gamla Stan district

July

• DN Galan - throughout July, track and field athletics events within the Södermalm district and always attracting large crowds
• Skokloster Castle Games - throughout July, aimed at families and children, with fun games, plenty of tasty food and medieval-style jousting
• The Tall Ships' Races - late July, an international sailing event held around the Ports of Stockholm and boasting some of the largest sailing boasts currently in existence, lasting around four days
• Stockholm Jazz Festival - throughout July, a truly world-class jazz event, attended by musicians from far and wide, with the main concerts taking place at the Museum of Modern Art on Skeppsholmen
• SWEA Reggae Festival - late July, held at venues in both Stockholm and nearby Malmo, with many leading Swedish reggae artists and a definite Jamaican flavour

August

• Stockholm Gay Pride - throughout August, one of Sweden's biggest and most notable gay and lesbian events, with a procession of more than 30,000 people celebrating gay rights. Pride Park (Tantolunden) is central to many of the gay related activities at the pride event, such as live music, trade stands and even gay weddings
• Gärdesfesten - mid-August, with some 50 different bands participating in this outstanding alternative music festival
• Midnattsloppet - mid-August, literally thousands of athletes race through Stockholm's Södermalm area at midnight, enjoying a rather unusual party atmosphere and hot food at the finish line
• Stockholm's Kulturfestival (Festival of Culture) - mid-August, held around the Norrmalm district and offering live Swedish bands, dancing, operatic singing and theatrical performances, attended by literally thousands
• Baltic Sea Festival - late August, various Swedish orchestras perform well-known classical pieces at the Berwaldhallen venue
• Tjejmilen - late August, a race for women runners only, lasting for 10 km / 6 miles and taking in the sights around Djurgarden
• Tumba Familje Festival - late August, summer fun for all of the family, with fairground rides, a thrilling roller coaster and plenty of Swedish food and drink
• Drakbatsfestival (Dragon Boat Festival) - late August, a true Viking event lasting for almost an entire week and including boat racing, a carnival procession and many authentic Viking costumes celebrating the city's rich heritage

September

• Pop Dakar - early September, a huge music festival known for its live atmosphere and high numbers of students
• Bellmanstafetten (Bellman Relay) - throughout September, a speedy race just 5 km / 3 miles long, through the streets of Frescati, near to Stockholm's university campus
• Stockholm Yoga Festival - throughout September, the chance to appreciate everything to do with yoga and meditation, with plenty of classes for everyone
• Panterloppet - throughout September, runners aged more than 55 years old race around Djurgarden
• Lidingöloppet - late September, the world's very longest cross-country racing competition, based outside of Stockholm and around the countryside of Lidingö
• Beer and Whisky Festival - late September to early October, with around 30,000 people attending this two-week long event and sampling some of the best Swedish beers, ales and spirits, along with many international favourites
• Excellent Swedish Design - September to November, showcasing Swedish design in various styles, both simple and elaborate, at the Svensk Form in the Södermalm area of Stockholm

October

• Stockholm Open - mid-October, an event for tennis lovers everywhere, expect to see many of the world's leading tennis players competing for the title at the Kungliga Tennishallen
• Modern Autumn Sale at Bukowskis - late October to early November, a rare opportunity to pick up some drastically discounted antiques
• Tjur Ruset - late October, a 10-km / 60-mile bull run with a long Swedish history, always watched by crowds of spectators

November

• Stockholm's Belly Dance Festival - early November, a taste of the Middle East and the Egyptiskt Kulturcentrum, at various central venues
• Det Goda Koket (Stockholm Food and Beverage Show) - mid-November, for foodies everywhere, this festival offers Scandinavian food and drink. More than 20,000 visitors attend and taste the local delicacies
• Scandinavian Boat Show - mid-November, with a huge selection of yachts, sailing boats and powerful speedboats. Many trade stands gather to sell an array of boat-related merchandise
• Stockholm's Poesifestival (Poetry Festival) - late November, performances of poetry at the Royal Dramatic Theatre on the Sergels Tor
• Stockholm International Film Festival (Internationella Filmfestival) - late November, with Swedish and international movies, documentaries and many subtitled Nordic films, one of Europe's leading film fests
• Christmas Fair in the Rosendal Garden - late November to mid-December, a festive market lasting around four weeks and based at the spreading gardens of the Rosendal Palace

December

• International Horse Show - early December, crowds of equestrian lovers delight at the Stockholm Globe Arena each year, enjoying dressage, show jumping and more
• Nobelfesten - mid-December, the world-famous Nobel Prize ceremony, when the much-coveted awards are presented during a lavish evening at the Stockholm Concert Hall
• Lucia Day - mid-December, a procession of young girls lead by a girl wearing a crown of candles, along with plenty of Swedish gingerbread and saffron buns for everyone
• Skansen Christmas Market - mid-December, seasonal festivities abound as crowds head to the Skansen Christmas Market for last-minute stocking fillers. Look out for the warming mulled wine and hot food