Calendar of Festivals and Events in Stockholm 2020

Stockholm view
Photo by Visit Stockholm

I am starting to get a lot of questions from guests coming this spring and summer, asking what is happening in Stockholm while they are here. That means it is time to post my annual calendar of events and festivals! This will be an ongoing process as I will add more and more events as they are announced. Keep in mind that even if the events going on while you are here aren't your cup of tea, they might still impact your visit. For example, the marathon and other races will close off many roads and cause traffic disruptions. Popular events will cause many hotels and restaurants in the city to be fully booked. Holidays will mean some business closures. And so on. These are just the main events and festivals (I can't list them all), but if you will be staying at the Hotel Rival, contact me directly to see what else might be going on while you are here. A good calendar to check out for different happenings is at Visit Stockholm.

March

• 6th & 7th- Melodifestivalen (selecting the Swedish representative for Eurovision) at Friends Arena.
• 14th- Bryan Adams concert at Globe Arena.
• 28th- Sweden vs Russia football/soocer match at Friends Arena.
• 29th- Clocks "spring forward" one hour (Daylight Savings Time starts).

April (EDIT: several of the upcoming events may have been canceled or delayed due to the Corona virus, check links below)

• 3th- Santana concert at Globe Arena. POSTPONED
• 9th to the 13th- Easter holidays. The 10th and the 13th are bank holidays in Sweden. 
• 18th- Stockholm Culture Night. All things cultural, all free. CANCELLED
• 25th- The amusement park Gröna Lund opens for the season. POSTPONED
• 30th- Valborgmässoafton (Walpurgis Eve). Bonfires and singing!

Cherry Trees in Kungsträdgården
Photo by Henrik Trygg/mediabank.visitstockholm.com

May (EDIT: several of the upcoming events may have been canceled or delayed due to the Corona virus, check links below)

• 1st- International Workers' Day (Labour Day). Bank holiday. Parades and marches in the city.
• 2nd- Harry Styles concert at Globe Arena. POSTPONED
• 12th- Dua Lipa concert at Globe Arena. CANCELLED
• 21st- Kristi Himmelfärdsdag (Ascension Day). Bank holiday.
• 23rd- Nick Cave concert at Globe Arena. POSTPONED
• 24th- Stockholm Bauhaus Athletics. International track & field competition at Stadion. POSTPONED
• 29th- Green Day concert at Tele2 Arena. POSTPONED
• 29th to 31st- Elitloppet. Popular (harness) horse racing at Solvalla. NO PUBLIC
• 30th- Keith Urban concert at Annexet. CANCELLED
• 30th- Stockholm Marathon. Major city-wide sporting event. MOVED TO SEPTEMBER

June (EDIT: several of the upcoming events may have been canceled or delayed due to the Corona virus, check links below)

• 2nd to 7th- Stockholm Early Music Festival. Renaissance, Baroque and Medieval music at various venues in the old town. MOVED TO SEPTEMBER!
• 4th to 7th- Taste of Stockholm food festival in Kungsträdgården. Food, music, shows. Free entrance! MOVED TO SEPTEMBER!
• 6th- Swedish National Day. Bank holiday. 
• 6th- Stockholm Swim-Run. CANCELLED
• 9th- Polar Music Prize (international music awards).
• 12th to 14th- Logines Global Champions Tour (equestrian competition) at Stadion. CANCELLED
• 16th- Alicia Keys concert at Globe Arena.
• 17th- Pet Shop Boys concert at Globe Arena. POSTPONED
• 19th to 21st- Midsummer Holiday weekend. Major holiday in Sweden, rivaling Christmas.
• 25th- KISS concert at Tele2 Arena.
• 26th to 28th- Lollapalooza. Music festival in Gärdet. CANCELLED
• 27th & 28th- ÅF Offshore race. Major regatta in Stockholm harbor, archipelago and Baltic.

Summer in Stockholm
Photo by Visit Stockholm

July- Generally a slow time in Stockholm for events and festivals as it is when most locals have their summer holiday and leave the city for summer homes. But there will be concerts and entertainment at Gröna Lund and Skansen.

August

• July 27th to Aug 2nd- Stockholm Pride Week. CANCELLED
• 1st- Stockholm Gay Pride parade through the city with thousands of participants and ½ million spectators. CANCELLED
• 11th to 15th- Stockholm Cultural Festival. All things cultural, free admission.
• 11th to 15th- We Are Sthlm youth festival. 
• 12th to 16th- Outdoor cinema put on by the Stockholm International Film Festival in Rålambshovs Park. 
• 15th- Midnattsloppet (Midnight Race). Evening 10k race on Södermalm with a festival atmosphere.
• 18th to 21st- Formex. Largest fair for Scandinavian design at the Stockholm International Fairs. 
• 22nd- Celine Dion concert at Friends Arena.
• 29th- Tjejmilen. Women's 10k race (largest of its kind in the world) around Djurgården. 
• 30th- Sthlm Bike. Bike race in the city. 

September

• 5th- Stockholm Half Marathon. City-wide race. 
• 5th- Stockholm Marathon. Major city-wide sporting event. (moved from May). Will take place on same day as the above Half Marathon. 
• 8th to 13th- Stockholm Early Music Festival. Renaissance, Baroque and Medieval music at various venues in the old town. 
• 10th to 13th- Taste of Stockholm food festival in Kungsträdgården. Food, music, shows. Free entrance!
• 15th to 19th- Stockholm Fringe Festival (performance art and experimental theatre)
• 18th & 19th- Elton John concerts at Tele2 Arena.
• 24th to 26th- Stockholm Beer & Whisky festival (part 1) at Nackastrandsmässan.
• 26th- Deep Purple concert at Hovet.
• 26th & 27th- Autumn market at Skansen.

Old Town at Night
Photo by Jeppe Wikström/mediabank.visitstockholm.com

October

• 2nd & 3rd- Stockholm Beer & Whisky festival (part 2) at Nackastrandsmässan.
• 9th to 18th- Stockholm Jazz Festival. 9 day long festival held at different venues throughout the city.
• 17th to 25th- Stockholm Open tennis tournament.
• 25th- Clocks "fall back" one hour (Daylight Savings Time ends).
• 31st- Shockholm. Scandinavian's largets Halloween parade (not 100% set date).

November

• 1st- All Saints' Day. Bank holiday. 
• 6th to 8th- Stockholm Food & Wine Fair at Stockholm International Fairs.
• 11th to 22nd- Stockholm International Film Festival.
• 26th to 29th- Sweden International Horse Show at Friends Arena.
• End of the month- Christmas Season starts in Stockholm with light displays, markets and more. Click here to see last year's calendar. 

Winter in Stockholm
Photo by Henrik Trygg/mediabank.visitstockholm.com

December - a month filled with Christmas themed events and happenings. More info when the season approaches. 

• 10th- Nobel Prize Ceremony.
• 13th- Lucia Day (traditional celebrations).
• 24th & 25th- Christmas (the 26th is also a bank holiday here).
• 31st- New Year's Eve.