Festivals & Events in Stockholm- Spring Summer Fall 2014

Photo by Jeppe Wikström, Stockholm Visitors Board.

Please keep in mind that this calendar is a work in progress... I will be adding new events as they are announced or I stumble upon them. Summer is a busy time in Stockholm with lots of different festivals, happenings, concerts and sporting events. I have added some happenings in April, May & September as well. Hopefully this calendar will help you plan your trip. Not all events are listed! I try to list events that the average Rival Hotel international guest would find of interest... but if you will be staying at the hotel and are interested in other, perhaps more obscure events, contact me and I will see what I can find! While some events that are going on while you are here might not be of interest to you personally, it is smart to keep in mind that the event might still affect your visit (lots of people in the city, bank holidays, traffic problems, etc;). The Stockholm Marathon is a good example of this. As I write this, a few of the festival websites aren't up and running yet or haven't been adjusted for 2014.

April

• 12-13th- Medieval Market in Kungsträdgården.
• 17th-21st- Easter holiday. Keep in mind that both Friday and Monday are bank holidays in Sweden.
• 22nd- Street Food fair in Kungsträdgården.
• 26th- Stockholm Culture Night. Over 300 free events throughout the city.
• 26th- Season premiere for the amusement park Gröna Lund (weekends only in the beginning).
• 26th- Cherry Blossoms Day in Kungsträdgården.
• 30th- Walpurgis Eve (Valborgmässoafton) is celebrated throughout the city with bonfires. Skansen is a good place to go this evening.

May

• 1st- International Workers' Day (bank holiday). Political demonstrations in the city.
• 6th- Concert with New Kids on the Block at Annexet.
• 7th & 8th- Bocuse d'Or Europe. The culinary olympics! At Stockholmsmässan.
• 10th- Concert with Nine Inch Nails at Hovet.
• 10th- Concert with Justin Timberlake at Tele2 Arena.
• 15th- Concert with Robbie Williams at Ericsson Globe.
• 17th- Size in the Park. Free electronic music festival with Steve Angello (& friends) from Swedish House Maffia. In Kungsträdgården (7pm to midnight).
• 22nd- Concert with Peter Gabriel at Ericsson Globe.
• 23rd to 25th- Elitloppet. Harness racing with horses at Solvalla.
• 29th- Ascension Day (bank holiday). 
• 30th- Concert with Miley Cyrus at Ericsson Globe.
• 30th- Sthlm Fields Festival (heavy metal music) at Gärdet. 
• 31st- The Stockholm Marathon. 

Photo: Peter Backman, Smaka på Stockholm (Taste of Stockholm)

June

• 1st- Sweden vs Belgium football(soccer) match at Friends Arena.
• 1st- Concert with Aerosmith at Tele2 Arena.
• 4th to 8th- A Taste of Stockholm. Restaurant/food festival in Kungsträdgården. 
• 4th to 8th- Early Music Festival in Gamla Stan. Renaissance, Baroque and Medieval music concerts.
• 6th- Swedish National Holiday (bank holiday). Once again, Skansen is a good place to go to celebrate.
• 8th- Baptism ceremony for Princess Leonore at Drottningholm Palace.
• 11th- Concert with Tom Jones at Gröna Lund.
• 12th- Concert with John Mayer at Ericsson Globe.
• 13th & 14th- Concerts with One Direction at Friends Arena.
• 13th & 14th- Summerburst Festival (club/electronic music) in Gärdet.
• 16th- Concert with ZZ Top at Gröna Lund.
• 20th to 22nd- Midsummer celebrations. Arguably, the biggest holiday in Sweden (bank holiday on Friday). The best place to celebrate? Skansen! 
• 26th to 29th: AF Offshore Race. Sailing race w/ festival at Skeppsholmen.
• 28th- Concert with Pearl Jam at Friends Arena.

July (generally a slower month, event-wise, because many Swedes have vacation and leave the city)

• 1st- Concert with the Rolling Stones at Tele2 Arena.
• 11th- Concert with Dolly Parton at Ericsson Globe.
• 28th to Aug 2nd- Stockholm Gay Pride Festival.

August

• 1st & 2nd- continuation of Stockholm Gay Pride.
• 1st to 3rd- Stockholm Music & Arts Festival. On Skeppsholmen. Big names this year include Neil Young and Jill Johnson.
• 9th- Stockholm Ultra Marathon. 50k or 100k around Djurgården.
• 12th to 16th- We Are Sthlm- Youth Festival in Kungsträdgården.
• 12th to 17th- Stockholm Culture Festival. Free, free, free! Everything "cultural".
• 13th to 17th- Free evening movies in Rålambshovs park put on by the Stockholm Film Festival.
• 16th- Midnight Race (Midnattsloppet) around Södermalm island.
• 21st- DN Galan. Track & Field meet with the world's top atheletes.
• 22nd to 30th- Baltic Sea Festival. Classic music.
• 23rd & 24th- Stockholm Triatholon.
• 29th & 30th- Popaganda festival (pop music) at Eriksdalsbadet.

September

• 4th- Sweden vs Estonia football(soccer) match at Friends Arena.
• 6th- Women's 10k run (Tjejmilen).
• 13th- Stockholm Half Marathon.
• 25th to 27th- Beer & Whiskey Festival Pretty self explanatory, no?
• 26th- Last day of the season for the amusement park Gröna Lund. 
• 26th to 28th- Taste of Stockholm. Fine-dining restaurant festival.
• 30th- Concert with Lady Gaga at Ericsson Globe.

October

• 2nd to 4th- Beer & Whisky Festival Pretty self explanatory, no?
• 10th to 19th- Stockholm Jazz Festival Jazz performances at venues spread throughout the city.
• 11th to 19th- Stockholm Open Tennis Tournament at Royal Tennis Hall.
• 18th & 19th- Winter Show at Kungsträdgården.

November

• 1st- Shockholm Halloween Parade- starts at 5pm from the park Kungsträdgården (pre and post parade party in the park).
• 5th to 16th- 25th annual Stockholm International Film Festival.
• 27th to 30th- Sweden Horse Show at Friends Arena.

December- I will be doing special articles about all of the Christmas and New Year events in the city, but here are some other dates to keep an eye on.

• 10th- Nobel Prize Ceremony at Konserthuset and Banquet at Stadshuset.
• 13th- St Lucia celebrations.

Click here for December dates om importance as well as here for Christmas markets dates. 

Stockholm Marathon. Photo: Martin Ekequist