No rain, no muddy puddles, no blasting sun will ever stop the die-hard music festival lovers, who year after year look for the biggest festivals and the most impressive line-ups and this is where we come into the picture. Like every year, we bring you a round-up of the newest music festivals and the good old classics of the festival season
Our Ultimate Music Festival Guide includes all the festivals in Stockholm, the most outstanding festivals in Sweden and for those adventurous souls who like to combine traveling with music, we have included some festivals from 10 very much loved European cities.
Let the music festival season begin in style!
FESTIVALS IN STOCKHOLM
GRÖNAN LIVE / May 2 – Sep 13, Gröna Lund
The longest lasting festival in Sweden, extending over 4 months with concerts every week and featuring both national and international favourites to please and tease audiences of all tastes and preferences. And the best thing is, you just need one single ticket and you can attend each and every concert that takes place on both Gröna Lund’s big and small stages.
This year Gröna Lund is also introducing Grönan Live Confirmed, which means you can get guaranteed entry to a concert (plus a drink ticket) by paying 95kr extra on top of your Green Card – a great new feature for those who want to take no chances of getting left out when the park gets full and the gates are closed.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: KAJ, Natalie Imbruglia, Garbage, Empire Of The Sun, Jack White, Anthrax, The Warning, A Perfect Circle, The Cardigans, Audrey Nuna, Counting Crows, Danko Jones, Daniela Rathana
WEBSITE: https://www.gronalund.com/en/concerts#filter=Stora%20Scen,Lilla%20Scen
ADMISSION: 440kr
STOCKHOLM EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL / June 3-7, Gamla Stan
Stockholm Early Music Festival is the largest international event in the Nordic countries for baroque, renaissance and medieval music. With variety and quality as its motto, the festival highlights the diversity of early music and offers every year a rich selection of known and unknown music from all over the world, with both Swedish and international artists of the highest repute.
WEBSITE: https://www.earlymusicsweden.se/en/event/stockholm-early-music-festival/
ADMISSION: Different prices for different concerts, see website.
ROSENDAL GARDEN PARTY / June 12-14, Rosendal
Rosendal Garden Party brings you the most magical evenings of the summer. Three days of great acts, nice food & beverages, art, activities & experiences. Each day has it’s own unique identity – a headliner accompanied by handpicked newcomers and timeless favourites. All brought together in the beautiful surroundings of Rosendal on the Djurgården island.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Faithless, Agnes, TLC, Kaytranada, De La Soul, Sasha Keable, David Byrne, Slowdive, José González, Sienna Spiro
WEBSITE: https://www.rosendal.com/en/
ADMISSION: 995kr per day
WHAT A VIEW / July 12-13 – Münchenbryggeriet
The techno-house music festival What A View takes place at Münchenbryggeriet, with Stockholm’s best views overlooking the City Hall. The festival presents the best artists and DJs of the techno-house scene.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Ben Böhmer, Moontalk, Monolink
WEBSITE: https://wav.nu/
ADMISSION: 735kr
Vi älskar 90- och 00-talet / July 5 – Gärdet
Expect a cavalcade of the best of the 90s and 00s music heroes, when the summer’s big party comes to Stockholm. Join up with all your friends and acquaintances, it will be a nostalgia party of a rarely seen kind.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: ATB, Armand Van Helden, Cascada, Lasgo, Mr. President, Scooter, Stereo Mc’s, 2 Unlimited
WEBSITE: https://www.vialskar.se/
ADMISSION: 995kr
Nynäskalaset / August 7-8 – Nynäshamn
Less than 60 km from Stockholm you will find Nynäshamn, and the Nynäskalaset festival in its comeback year. The Friday is filled with 10 rock acts ready to bring the noise, and the Saturday brings a summer party with a total of 15 artists ranging from Swedish pop royalty like Molly Sandén and Petra Marklund to crowd pleasers like Hoffmaestro and Medina.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: The Hellacopters, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Smash Into Pieces, Molly Sandén, Petra Marklund, Orup, Medina, Greczula
WEBSITE: https://www.nynaskalaset.se/
ADMISSION: 995kr Friday, 1095kr Saturday, 1695kr both days (cheaper for children and teens)
KULTURFESTIVALEN / August 13-17, Central Stockholm
Stockholm Culture Festival fills the streets and squares with all kinds of culture in all genres, for all ages. 600 program items during five vibrant days in August. All in the middle of the city center and with free admission. From Sergels Torg to Gustav Adolfs Torg, all the way over the Norrbro bridge and finally to Skeppsbron with treats and samples of all the culture that Stockholm has to offer all year round, with performers and guests from all corners of the world.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS:
WEBSITE: kulturfestivalen.stockholm.se
ADMISSION: Free.
Baltic Sea Festival / August 21-29, Berwaldhallen, Finlandsinstitutet, Fasching
The Baltic Sea Festival – Östersjöfestivalen – returns to Stockholm from 21–29 August 2026, filling the city with music that spans the intimate to the monumental. Taking place in the heart of Stockholm – with Berwaldhallen as its central hub – the festival also extends into other venues across the city, inviting audiences to explore both vibrant concert venues and their stunning surroundings.
The Baltic Sea Festival is known for its wide-ranging, imaginative programming, and 2026 is no exception. Audiences can expect a rich mix of orchestral concerts, chamber music, choral works, jazz explorations, contemporary premieres and boundarypushing collaborations. The festival brings together everything from virtuoso soloists like Yunchan Lim, Jakub Józef Orliński, Daniel Lozakovich and Asya Fateyeva, chamber ensembles like Opus13 and exciting contemporary composers like Jacob Mühlrad and Molly Kien, to international orchestras like the Czech Philharmonics and worldrenowned conductors like Semyon Bychkov and festival co-founder Esa-Pekka Salonen. Alongside established names, the festival proudly showcases emerging voices and new talent, creating a dynamic and forward-looking musical experience.
WEBSITE: https://www.berwaldhallen.se/en/the-baltic-sea-festival
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Yunchan Lim, Jakub Józef Orliński, Daniel Lozakovich, Asya Fateyeva, Opus 13, Jacob Mühlrad, Molly Kien, Czech Philharmonics, Semyon Bychkov, Esa-Pekka Salonen
ADMISSION: 80-650kr per event
STOCKHOLM FRINGE FESTIVAL / August 25-29, various venues around Stockholm
Stockholm Fringe Festival (Stoff) is a multi-day multidisciplinary arts festival, acting as a ‘stage’ for local and international artists to present their innovative work ranging from performance to installation art and absolutely anything in-between. The festival stands for artistic freedom and focuses on out-of-the-box and “alternative” works that may not fit into mainstream performance or exhibition spaces. Stoff is a chance for arts practitioners to test new ideas, network and collaborate with other artists, develop their work, and get inspired by many different creative expressions.
WEBSITE: stockholmfringe.com
ADMISSION: Prices vary depending on the event.
STOCKHOLM JAZZ FESTIVAL / October 9-18, various venues in Stockholm
Stockholm Jazz Festival has been run since 2009 by Stockholm International Jazz & Blues Festival AB. Through a cooperation agreement, the company appoints Fasching to be responsible for the implementation of the festival. The festival functions as an umbrella organization for around 50 participating jazz clubs in and around Stockholm.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Jason Moran, Richard Bona, Céline Dessberg, Danny Grisset Trio, Judith Hill, Lakecia Benjamin, Mica Millar, Rymden, The Sorceress
WEBSITE: stockholmjazz.se/
ADMISSION: Prices vary depending on the concert from 325kr – 695kr.
STOCKHOLM FILM FESTIVAL / August and November 11-22, Central Stockholm
Ok, this is not a MUSIC festival, but we wanted to mention it since it’s a festival that YLC never misses out on and you shouldn’t either.
The aim for Stockholm International Film Festival is to broaden the selection of films in Sweden with creative new films of high quality and to offer the visitor an orientation within modern film to stimulate a continuing debate. With seminars and opportunities to meet actors and filmmakers during Face2Faces, along with the extensive catalogue, all means are used to make the film experience come full circle. Each year the festival’s organisation has expanded until it reached its current state of an all-year-round festival. In August the Festival also organises free outdoor screenings in Rålambshovsparken for five nights. And it also runs monthly membership screenings.
WEBSITE: stockholmfilmfestival.se
FESTIVALS IN SWEDEN OUTSIDE OF STOCKHOLM
SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL / June 3-6, Sölvesborg, Blekinge
A rock & metal festival established in 1992 and one of the most important festivals in Europe in the genre. During the years, names like Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Guns’n’Roses, Def Leppard, Judas Priest and Whitesnake have all played there. Classic rock, hard rock, metal and even some blues – something for all tastes. Clean and neat, safe and secure. Ocean-near location, cozy grass hillsides, real lavatories and a minimum of lines. But most of all, a really friendly and good-natured atmosphere. Like one big family, with members from over 50 countries. The best audience in the world, quite frankly.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Iron Maiden, Bring Me The Horizon, The Offspring, Helloween, The Hellacopters, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
WEBSITE: swedenrock.com
ADMISSION: 1798kr
BRÄNNBOLLSYRAN / June 5 – 7, Umeå
Brännbollsyran is a unique festival experience with the World Cup in brännboll during the day and northern Scandinavia’s largest music festival in the evening. The festival takes place at the central and beautiful Hedlunda in Umeå. The cup takes place at Mariehemsängarna close to Umeå University.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Black Eyed Peas, Clean Bandit, Roc Boyz, Rebecca & Fiona
WEBSITE: brannbollsyran.com
ADMISSION: 1799kr
SUMMER ON / June 12-13, Båstad
Mix a small, charming town and a beach with electronic and pop acts, the result is a celebration of all the cool things that Sweden has to offer.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Sebastian Ingrosso, Bolaget, Clean Bandit, Roc Boyz, Molly Sandén, BLASTERJAXX
WEBSITE: summeron.se
ADMISSION: 1095kr
ÖLAND ROOTS / July 8-11, Sandbergen, Öland
The biggest reggae festival in Sweden takes place on the island of Öland. Everyone will spread their reggae-dusting tones over Öland. Öland Roots is a youth initiative, and to this day the work around the festival, both planning and implementation, is done by young adults on the board together with their many friends around the country.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Luciano, Labyrint, Nadia McAnuff, Jah Mason, Natural Rockers
WEBSITE: olandroots.com
ADMISSION: 1295kr
ÖSTERSJÖFESTIVALEN / July 15-18, Karlshamn
During a few magical summer days in July, the city of Karlshamn, off the Stockholm archipelago, shows all its charm. The city offers a folk festival in colossal format – always Wednesday to Saturday of week 29. The Baltic Sea Festival in Karlshamn is one of the largest and oldest city festivals in Sweden and this year the festival turns 57!
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Thomas Stenström
WEBSITE: ostersjofestivalen.se
ADMISSION: Most events are free.
WAY OUT WEST / August 13-15, Gothenburg
This three-day, multi-genre festival is located in the idyllic park of Slottsskogen, the leafy and lush heart of Gothenburg. From there, pretty much everything in the city is within walking distance, and if your legs are tired there’s always trams, buses and boats to get you where you want in no time. When the Slottsskogen area closes down for the night, the festivities continue in venues around the city as a part of the unique club concept, Stay Out West (which is included in the 18+ festival ticket).
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Lorde, Zara Larsson, The Cure, Gorillaz, The Hives, Lykke Li, Moby, Lily Allen, The XX
WEBSITE: www.wayoutwest.se
ADMISSION: 1895kr
FESTIVALS IN EUROPE
And now let us take you abroad with our extension to our year round music festival list. Here are our picks of the best festivals to visit around Europe’s main cities this year.
PRIMAVERA SOUND / June 3-7, Barcelona, June 11-14, Porto, Portugal
Once again, Primavera Sound Barcelona will open the doors to its inimitable parallel reality from 4th to 8th June in the Parc del Fòrum. However, committed to ensuring that this bubble should only refer to everything musical, the festival continues to strengthen its ties with the UN SDG Action Campaign for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the aim of ensuring a total connection with its surroundings in social and environmental issues. An extraordinary and pioneering relationship in the world of music festivals that began to take shape in 2019.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Doja Cat, Massive Attack, Addison Rae, Pink Pantheress, Mac DeMarco, Father John Misty, The Cure, Skrillex, The XX, Gorillaz, My Bloody Valentine, Peggy Gou
WEBSITE: primaverasound.com/en
ADMISSION: 135€
WE LOVE GREEN / June 5-7, Bois de Vincennes, Paris, France
Every year, We Love Green invites wild and exciting artists who represent the music of our time. An eclectic program that crosses the bridges between indie and electro, merging pop and hip hop on the same stages. The music programming flourishes on two large stages: those of La Prairie, solar, open to the outside, feet in the grass, the head in the stars … and the scene of La Clairère, a half-marquee, like a bubble, ideal for meticulous stage design, resting as much on the light as the video to welcome the most innovative artists, and it becomes a real dive into their universe
From the artistic line-up to their innovative, eco-friendly scenography, the whole We Love Green package is in keeping with their green commitments which underlie the festival’s beliefs, and they’re always on the lookout for new ways of working and evolving.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Marina, Hailey Williams, Gorillaz, Little Simz, Sébastien Tellier, Theodora, Addison Rae, The XX, Charlotte Cardin, Deki Alem
WEBSITE: welovegreen.fr
ADMISSION: 74€
SÓNAR / June 18-20, Barcelona, Spain
Sónar’s founding values have defined the festival since its inception: the link between creativity and technology, its commitment to being a global event and a meeting point for creative people from different disciplines and communities.
Sónar Barcelona’s activities are divided into two main locations: Sónar by Day, located in Fira Montjuïc, concerts and dj’s, showcases and Sónar+D; the international congress focused on the digital creative industries and dedicated to creating professional, business and networking opportunities.
Sónar by Night is located at the Fira Gran Via de L’Hospitalet, and hosts live shows and dj sets from the biggest names in international music.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Amelie Lens presents AURA, ANNĒ & Sera J, Joy Orbison, Nia Archives, The Prodigy, Kelis, Skepta
WEBSITE: sonar.es
ADMISSION: 184€
ROSKILDE FESTIVAL / June 27 — July 4, Roskilde, Denmark
With the slogan ‘Music, activism, arts, camps and freedom’, Roskilde Festival is the largest music and arts festival in Northern Europe. It’s also one of the oldest, dating back to 1971. With equality and sustainability in focus, it includes 8 days of music, art, food, co-creation and freedom. At Roskilde Festival you can experience over 170 acts – in all sizes and genres. Join 129,999 fellow Roskilde-goers for a week-long international celebration of music, art, co-creation and freedom.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Gorillaz, The Cure, Zara Larsson, Adisson Rae, David Byrne, Lily Allen, Little Simz, Wolf Alice, Lykke Li, Aphaca, Clipse, Esdeekid, Ethel Cain
WEBSITE: roskilde-festival.dk
ADMISSION: 1430DKK
RUISROCK / July 3-5, Turku, Finland
Ruisrock is one of the oldest and leading cultural events in Finland. During three days Ruisrock takes its audience to another world filled with joy, friendship, and freedom.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Swedish House Mafia, Lily Allen, Gunna, EsDeeKid, Audrey Nuna, Electric Callboy, Käärijä, Behm, Ellinoora
WEBSITE: ruisrock.fi
ADMISSION: 120€
Spiral Festival / July 31 – August 2, Malta
Spiral Festival takes place in Malta, a Mediterranean island where natural beauty, vibrant coastal life, and thousands of years of history exist side by side. Surrounded by clear blue waters, sunlit limestone towns, and intimate bays that effortlessly transition from daytime escape to nighttime energy, Malta offers a setting that feels both relaxed and alive, inviting you to move at your own rhythm.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Fatboy Slim, LP Giobbi, Nina Kraviz, Lilly Palmer, Argy, Layla Benitez, Kasia
WEBSITE: https://spiral-festival.com/
ADMISSION: 35€
SYD FOR SOLEN / August 13-15, Valbyparken, Copenhagen, Denmark
SYD FOR SOLEN is a 3-day concert, atmosphere and community right in the heart of your village. Every day, a new line-up: music, people, food and moments of international class, ready to go to – and cycle home again. To be experienced live in really good company, one day at a time and up to three days in a row.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: The XX, Lorde, SOMBR, Turnstile, Medina, Amyl and The Sniffers, Anna von Hausswolf, Blood Orange, Dijon, Wilko, Tash Sultana, Iceage, Ravyn Lenae, Paris Paloma
WEBSITE: sydforsolen.dk/
ADMISSION: DKK 1050
FLOW FESTIVAL / August 14-16, Helsinki, Finland
Flow Festival, the truly unique city festival, has been organised in Helsinki annually since 2004. Flow Festival was born out of the founders’ passion for culture. Feeling that Finland and Helsinki, in particular, were lacking a high-quality alternative music festival. In 20 years, Flow Festival has grown from a small club event to the trailblazing European music and arts festival it is today.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Florence + The Machine, Zara Larsson, SOMBR, Turnstile, Pink Pantheress, Clipse, Lykke Li, Geese, Oklou, Cabaret Voltaire
WEBSITE: flowfestival.com/en/
ADMISSION: 159€
ALL POINTS EAST / August 21 – 23 & August 28-30, Victoria Park, London, England
All Points East is a festival in Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, London. Major headline shows with curated, credible lineups bookend free activities, In The NBHD, during the week. All Points East is more than just about the music and are passionate about making a positive impact on the local community, and leading the way with sustainability policies.
LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Jorja Smith + Tems, KWN, Lorde, Pink Pantheress, Zara Larsson, Deftones, Idles, Interpol, Tyler, The Creator, Rex Orange County, Twenty One Pilots, Wunderhorse, Turnstile
WEBSITE: allpointseastfestival.com
ADMISSION: Prices vary depending on the concert.
