Last updated on October 2nd, 2023 at 11:23 am
Planning a trip to Stockholm? Well, then you should check out some of these festivals. Ranging from music to cheese, there is always something going on in the Swedish capital!
Music festivals
Lollapalooza Stockholm
Where: Gärdet, Stockholm
When: June/July
The name Lollapalooza should resonate with any festival goer, and the event in Stockholm is strong in star power, just like the original in Chicago and the other Lollapalooza festivals across the globe.
In 2023, the festival was headlined by amongst others Travis Scott, Lizzo, Lil Nas X and Zara Larsson, as 70 000 people headed to the Gärdet area in Stockholm.
Website: https://www.lollastockholm.com/
Stockholm Jazz Festival
Where: Skeppsholmen and other venues in Stockholm
When: October
Stockholm Jazz Festival is one of the oldest festivals in Sweden, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023. The festival takes place across the city, with the main stage at Skeppsholmen. It has seen big names like B.B. King, Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie take the stage, and it features a mix of the finest in Swedish and international jazz.
Website: https://stockholmjazz.se/
The Baltic Sea Festival
Where: Berwaldhallen
When: August/September
The Baltic Sea Festival takes place at Berwaldhallen in Östermalm, and is a fantastic concert hall. The festival is one of the most important classic music festivals in Europe, and has for 20 years seen some of the finest orchestras known to man perform.
In addition to music, it has a goal of contributing to a sustainable Baltic Region, and features discussions on culture, the environment, politics, democracy and science.
Website: https://www.berwaldhallen.se/en/balticseafestival/
Rosendal Garden Party
Where: Rosendal
When: June
The Rosendal Garden Party is a three day single-stage concert, which takes place in Rosendal on Djurgården island. As the name implies, this is a different type of music festival, as it takes place in a garden, close to an old castle.
Here you will find Sweden’s finest artists, and the cosy atmosphere makes this a very attractive place to go to.
Website: https://www.rosendal.com/
Hosoi Festival
Where: Slakthusområdet
When: August
Hosoi Festival is a laid-back festival with focus on electronic music, taking place in the former industrial area Slakthusområdet in Söderstaden, which is seeing a lot of rejuvenation. And in the middle of this rebuild, you will find the Hosoi Festival. It’s different, and much calmer in some ways, and wilder in others. You will understand when you go!
Website: https://www.hosoifestival.com/
Other Festivals
Stockholm International Film Festival
Where: Multiple Cinemas across Stockholm
When: November
Stockholm International Film Festival has been held yearly since 1990, and while it is not one of the larger in Europe, it is still a well-respected festival in its own right. The winner of the international competition at the festival wins the Bronze Horse, inspired by the iconic Swedish Dala horse.
Filmmakers such as Roman Polanski, David Cronenberg, Francis Ford Coppola and David Lynch have visited the film festival throughout the years. And maybe next time it will be you?
Website: http://www.stockholmfilmfestival.se/en
Stockholm Culture Festival
Where: All over Stockholm
When: August
Stockholm Culture Festival, or Kulturfestivalen, is Stockholm’s largest festival, and provides free entry to an incredible array of events across 5 days at the end of summer. Established in 2006, Stockholm Culture Festival features between 500 and 600 unique events each year, with a unique theme each year. You will find something for all ages here, as there are areas for kids, youth and adults alike.
This truly takes over the city, and is something everyone visiting Sweden around this time should enjoy.
Website: https://kulturfestivalen.stockholm.se/
Kulturnatt Stockholm
Where: All over Stockholm
When: April
Kulturnatt Stockholm, or Culture Night Stockholm in English, is a massive culture festival taking place all over Stockholm during one night in April. You’ll find dancing, music, theater, literature and loads more, and is meant to be a taster for people to discover the rich cultural life of the Swedish capital.
Website: https://kulturnattstockholm.se/?lang=en
Stockholm Pride
Where: All over Stockholm
When: July/August
Like most other cities these days, Stockholm has a Pride festival, which celebrates LGBT culture, and hosts plenty of events across the city. In addition, there is a parade which attracts hundreds of thousands watching.
There are film exhibitions, theatre, workshops, seminars, debates and plenty of other events and performances taking place across a week at the end of July and beginning of August.
Website: https://www.stockholmpride.org/en/
Outdoor Festival STHLM
Where: Djurgården
When: May
Outdoor Festival STHLM is, as the name implies, an outdoor festival taking place in Djurgården, celebrating outdoor life. The festival is free to everyone, and takes place in the daytime on a Saturday and a Sunday. It features everything from classes in fly tying to courses in mountainbiking technique.
If you’re looking to connect with nature in a relatively urban environment, this is for you.
Website: https://www.outdoorfestival.se/
Stockholm Burger Fest
Where: Smålandstorget, Norrmalm
When: May/June
Stockholm Burger Fest is Stockholm’s first and only burger festival. It was started in 2016, and has been running ever since at Smålandstorget. Burger Dudes is the company behind it, and they invite legendary burger joints from around the world to serve the people of Stockholm the finest food you can get your hands on.
Website: https://www.burgerdudes.se/stockholm-burger-fest/
Street Food Festival
Where: Grönsakstorget
When: July
200,000 people made their way to the Street Food Festival across Göteborg, Stockholm and Malmö in 2022, with over 200 different food trucks serving the people. In addition you’ll find craft beer, sweets, grafitti, DJs and bars setting the atmosphere.
It’s an extremely cool experience with tastes from around the world, and one that should not be missed if you’re in the area at the time.
Website: https://streetfoodfestivalen.se/
Ostfestivalen – Swedish Cheese Festival
Where: Münchenbryggeriet
When: February
The Swedish Cheese Festival, or Ostfestivalen to locals, is the biggest cheese festival in Sweden and a great place to taste some good cheese. Of course this is accompanied with something good to drink!
It takes place in Münchenbryggeriet in Södermalm, which until 1971 hosted a brewery, and today it’s a conference center hosting, among other things, this festival
Website: https://www.ostfestivalen.se/