We have put together a pretty amazing music festival guide for your convenience – so you don’t have to look anywhere else to get ideas and make plans for your festival year. 

In this list you will find all major music festivals in a variety of styles taking place in Stockholm this year – as an extra bonus we’ve added a couple of non-music but all-about-fun festivals the city has to offer.

The list also includes some Swedish festivals outside of Stockholm. You should definitely drop by at least one of them!

And if you’re an adventurous soul who loves music just as much as traveling, we have included some of the best city music festivals from nine European countries.

This is your 2017 year-round Festival guide that lets you enjoy the best of your city through music and more.

FESTIVALS IN STOCKHOLM

• KULTURNATT / April 29, Central Stockholm

On 29th of April, Stockholm Culture Night rolls out its purple carpet and the creators of all types of culture throughout the city stand united offering a galaxy studded with stellar cultural events!

Dance, music, art, fashion, literature and crafts – these are just a few of the art forms you’ll be able to enjoy during the evening. Visit some of the city’s many museums at Gärdet and Djurgården; feel the touch of history and see modern art in Gamla Stan; enjoy beautiful architecture, performances and concerts in Östermalm and Vasastan, or feel the city’s heartbeat in the City district and Norrmalm. In Hammarby Sjöstad you’ll find a melting pot of art and music; on Södermalm you can improve your crafting skills with exhibitions and workshops, and on Skeppsholmen and Kungsholmen you can trigger all your senses – sight, hearing and touch.

All participating venues are open from 6 pm to 12 am, and admission is free.

WEBSITE: kulturnattstockholm.se

• DEPARTMENT FESTIVAL / June 3-4, Stora Skorstensgatan.

This is the first edition of an intimate two-day warehouse block party in Stockholm. On June 3rd and 4th you’ll be able to see some of the finest artists and DJ’s the electronic scene has to offer. Department will be an intimate party in an industrial area built in 1912, in Art Noveau style, and the main stage will be in a beautiful warehouse creating a great atmosphere for concerts and clubbing, but nonetheless with a limited capacity. Curious fact, ebeb though the festival will take place in the Stockholm’s meatpacking district, Department’s food options will be 100% vegetarian.

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS:

Paul Kalkbrenner, Tale Of Us, Dixon, Joris Voorn, Axel Boman, Âme (Live), S U R V I V E, Johanna Knutsson, HVOB, Nadja Chatti, Y+M, Sthlm Murder Girls, Mirja.

WEBSITE: departmentfestival.se

 

• STOCKHOLM EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL / June 1-6, Gamla Stan.

An intense amorous encounter between audience and music, carried by the wings of history where Eurpe approaches Sweden during six days! SEMF is the largest festival in the Nordic countries of music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque periods and is taking place for the sixteenth time. Under the soft early summer light of the Old Town (Gamla Stan), an unbounded music celebration under the sign of longing, where you can be reassured that all things old are becoming new.

Watch our video form one of the concerts at last year’s Stockholm Early Music Festival, to have a taste of what to expect!

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS:

Aksel Rykkvin, Huelgas Ensemble, Ensemble Organum, Swingle Singers, Barokkanerne, Ale Möller, Capella de la Torre – Dir. Katharina Bäuml, Sankt Eriksolisterna.

WEBSITE: semf.se

 

• SMAKA PÅ STOCKHOLM / June 1-6, Kungsträdgården.

This early summer festival takes place in the heart of Stockholm, at Kungsträdgården to be precise. It’s actually a feast packed with a wide array of culinary options to awake your taste sensations and your ears as there are also performances by well-known artists. Different restaurants, about 25 of them provide everything from simple dishes to the exotic from your favourite corners of the world.

WEBSITE: smakapastockholm.se

• 

  SUMMERBURST FESTIVAL STOCKHOLM / June 9-10, Greve von Essens väg 35. 

• SUMMERBURST FESTIVAL GOTHENBURG / May 2-3, Nya Ullevi, Ullevigatan Gothenburg, Sweden.

Scandinavia’s premier contemporary music event! It’s a two-day live house extravaganza that mirrors in both Gothenburg & Stockholm.
2017 means that the festival enters its seventh year in Stockholm and the sixth year in Gothenburg. Festival management has spared no expense, and many of the acts are world class.

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS:

Axwell /\ Ingrosso, David Guetta, Deadmau5, Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman, Justin Bieber, Nervo, R3HAB, Sebjak, Steve Aoki, Mike Perry, Seeb, Zedd, TooManyLeftHands

WEBSITE: summerburst.se

 

• STOCKHOLM STREET FESTIVAL / June 30 – July 2, Kungsträdgården.

Stockholm Street Festival is one of Sweden’s top two international festivals for street performers. Each summer – starting seven years ago – Stockholmers and tourists alike are welcomed to experience three days filled with some of the biggest names in street performing. You can expect to find jugglers, clowns, illusionists, acrobats, magicians, trapeze artists, comedians and many other types of virtuosos!
There will also be street art, a circus school, delicious food trucks, a street art challenge and a lot more to discover.
Don’t forget to tip the performers when they’re done. They depend on it. Stockholm Street Festival is an important institution proving once and for all that the streets belong to everyone! Enjoy!

WEBSITE: stockholmstreetfestival.com

 

• VI SOM ÄLSKAR 90-TALET (WE WHO LOVE THE 90s) / July 8-9, Zinkensdamms IP.

Expect a cavalcade of the most and best of 90s music heroes where nostalgia is at the center. There will be major international bookings mixed with Swedish talents, around 20 artists bringing the imprint and choruses that have been etched in everyone’s head. This is a festival that awaken memories, shiver and emotional storms and 90s taste again as new and fresh as when they first hit you.

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Aqua, DJ Sash!, E-Type, Vengaboys, Pandora, Snap!, Culture Beat, 2 Unlimited, Basic Element, Rob N Raz feat. D-Flex, Dr. Alban Vs. Haddaway, Toy-Box, Captain Hollywood, Brooklyn Bounce, Whigfield.

WEBSITE: 90talet.party/

 

 

• KULTURFESTIVALEN & WE ARE STOCKHOLM /August 15-20, 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 six 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.

WEBSITE: kulturfestivalen.stockholm.se

 

• POPAGANDA / September 1-2, Eriksdalsbadet

As usual, the Popaganda festival marks the end of the summer festivals with peace and love, a laid-back athmosphere, dancing and the very best pop music. The line-up is always very up-to-date with the up’n’coming artists as well as some of the biggest Swedish stars, with a few interesting international names thrown in for good measure.

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Tove Lo, alt-J, Two Door Cinema Club, Säkert!, Oskar Linnros, The Radio Dept., Sabina Ddumba, Léon, Skott, Ana Diaz, Astrid S.

There’s also a big after party, or the Popaganda Efterfestival, at Nobelberget from 11pm to 4am on both evenings, with DJs and artists yet to be announced.

WEBSITE: popaganda.se

 

• STOCKHOLM FRINGE FESTIVAL / October (dates to be confirmed), Central Stockholm.

Stockholm Fringe Festival (Stoff) is a six 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 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 work, and get inspired by many different creative expressions.

WEBSITE: stockholmfringe.com

• STOCKHOLM JAZZ FESTIVAL / October (dates to be confirmed), Central Stockholm.

Stockholm Jazz Festival is one of Sweden’s oldest festivals. It is a festival with a solid reputation in the music world and considered one of Europe’s most well-kept and pleasant festivals which for a while has had its home on the island of Skeppsholmen. Since 2012, the festival is housed indoors, on the best stages around Stockholm. In 2014 the festival expanded to 10 full days. Last year the festival hosted 169 concerts on 39 different scenes with an attendance of 26,300 and some of the notable highlights included Steve Gadd, Abdullah Ibrahim, Gigi Bridgewater and Avishai Cohen Trio.

WEBSITE: stockholmjazz.com

 

• STOCKHOLM FILM FESTIVAL / August and November 9-20, 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 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, 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 organization has expanded until it reached its current state of an all-year-round festival. In August the Festival organizes 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 8 – 11,  Sölvesborg.

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, Ozzy Osbourne, Guns ’n’ Roses, Def Leppard, Judas Priest and Whitesnake have 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:

Aerosmith, Scorpions, In Flames, Running Wild, Kansas, Sweden Rock Symphony Orchestra, Ratt, Apocalyptica, Primus, Venom, Ministry, Carcass, Alter Bridge, Steel Panther, Rival Sons, Clutch, Iced Earth, Kix, Candle Mass.

WEBSITE: swedenrock.com

 

• BRÅVALLA FESTIVAL / June 28 – July 1, Bråvalla Flygfält, Norrköping.

  

Since the start in 2013, Bråvalla has been the biggest music festival in Sweden bringing out some of the biggest and brightest bands and artists in Sweden as well as the world.

Bråvalla is one of few camping festivals in Sweden. Aside from all the amazing music you’ll enjoy great food and drinks, loads of different activities all over the festival site, and you’ll make tons of new friends.

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS:

Alesso, The Chainsmokers, The Killers, Laleh, Linkin Park, Martin Garrix, Prophets of Rage, Savaton, System of a Down, Ane Brun, Danko Jones, Die Antwoord, Ellie Goulding, Lost Kings, Mando Diao, Mastodon, Miriam Bryant, Miss Li, Rebecca & Fiona, Sabina Ddumba, Salvatore Ganacci, Stormzy, Yung Lean.

WEBSITE: bravallafestival.se

 

• INTO THE FACTORY / August 10-12, Vikavägen 5, Stora Vica.

  

Into the Factory is a totally new festival where the musical focus will be on the thriving advanced electronic music scene. Just like the sister festivals, nothing has been left to chance when it comes to the whole experience. Music, art, technology, food and beverage are very important components here, and this rustic venue will definitely influence the conception.

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS:

Abdulla Rashim, Adam Beyer, Dax J, Dj Nobu, Fabio Scali & Stef Gregory, The Field (live), Jessie Granqvist, Karenn (live), La Fleur, Paula Temple, Rødhåd, SHXCXCHCXSH (live), Sebastian Mullaert (live), Sonja Moonear, Spacetravel, Studio Barnhus.

WEBSITE: intothevalley.se/festival/into-the-factory

 

• WAY OUT WEST / August 10-12, Slottsskogen, Gothenburg.

This has to be one of our favourite music festivals outside Stockholm, it takes place in the beautiful Slottsskogen park with all its greenery and freshness of the forest without even leaving the city of Gothenburg. It holds a promise of great acts, fun to remember for a lifetime. An occasion to approach new amazing music as well as legends and to make friends from every corner of Sweden.

Check out below our video ¨The Way Out West Look¨ that we made at last year’s edition of Way Out West.

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS:

Band of Horses, Cashmere Cat, Chance the Rapper, Diplo, Fatima Yamaha, Feist, Frank Ocean, John Hopkings (DJ Set), Lana del Rey, León, London Grammar, Marc DeMarco, Major Lazer, Perfume Genius, Pixies, Regina Spektor, Ryan Adams, The Black Madonna, The Shins, The XX, Thee Oh Sees, Young M.A, Young Thug, Yung Sherman.

WEBSITE: wayoutwest.se

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 this year.

• PRIMAVERA SOUND / May 31 – June 4, Barcelona, SPAIN

For more than sixteen years now Primavera Sound has been consistently offering successful musical events. The Barcelona-based music promotion company has, since its modest beginnings, developed a strong commitment to music so that spectators from different generations can enjoy the experience of live music to the full. This is clearly reflected in the innovative quality of its events, that exude coherence, eclecticism and the love of risk taking and are characterised by its unmistakeable artistic line strongly influenced by rock, pop and the most underground tendencies of dance music.

The festival is held at Parc del Fòrum on the waterfront at the northernmost end of the city, which is an incredible site for the festival, nothing beats having a cold beer in warm Barcelona, listening to your favourite band, facing the sea as the sun sets.

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS:

Fatima Yamaha, Run the Jewels, SURVIVE, Flying Lotus, Mac DeMarco, Saint Etienne, The Afghan Whigs, Frank Ocean, Glass Animals, Grace Jones, Grandaddy, Aphex Twin, Henrik Schwarz, Metronomy, Arcade Fire, Miguel, Solange, Swans, BADBADNOTGOOD, Japandroids, Talaboman, Bon Iver, Joy Orbison, Tycho, Cigarettes After Sex, CLUBZ, Van Morrizon, King Krule, The XX.

WEBSITE: primaverasound.com

 

• FIELD DAY / JUNE 3, London, ENGLAND

The festival takes place over two days at Victoria Park in London’s east end.

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS

Aphex Twin, Áine Cahill, Clams Casino, Flying Lotus, Fatima Yamaha, Flamingods, John Hopkins dj, Machinedrum, Moderat, Nicolas Jaar, Nina Kraviz, Run the Jewels, Silver Apples, Slowdive, SURVIVE, Thee Oh Sees.

WEBSITE: fielddayfestivals.com

 

• WE LOVE GREEN / June 10-11, Bois de Vincennes, Paris, FRANCE

Summon your flower power for this eco-friendly rock festival, an annual two-day jamboree that places equal emphasis on musical quality and eco credentials. As ever, the bins will be recyclable, the stages built from 100% natural material and the site dotted with the stands of tree-hugging NGOs, while the summery setting means that the beautiful young partiers can recharge their rave juice by basking in the sun. Tacky merchandising is replaced with organic food and wine stalls, and kids are catered for with a range of games and workshops.

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS

A Tribe Called Quest, Solange, Richie Hawtin, Benjamin Clementine, Flying Lotus, Jon Hopkins dj, DJ Koze, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Nicolas Jaar, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Moderat, Action Bronson, Seu Jorge presents “The Life Aquatic”, A tribute to David Bowie, Maceo Plex.

WEBSITE: welovegreen.fr

 

• SÓNAR / June 16-18, 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:

Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Andy Stott, Beautiful Swimmers, Cashmere Cat, CERRONE, Clams Casino, Clara 3000, Clark, Crystal / Sparrows, DAWN, Damian Lazarus, De La Soul, DJ Shadow, Dubfire, Eric Prydz, Etyen, Joe Goddard (live), Jon Hopkins (dj), Justice, Little Dragon, Moderat, Nicolas Jaar, Nina Kraviz, Sandro Jeeawock, Seth Troxler & Tiga (6h set), The Black Madonna, Thundercat, Vitalic.

WEBSITE: sonar.es/en/2017

 

• ROSKILDE / JUNE 24 — JULY 1, Rosklide, DENMARK

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:

The XX, Anthrax, Future Islands, Icona Pop, Nicolas Jaar, The Savage Rose, Slowdive, Foo Fighters, A Tribe Called Quest, Arcade Fire, Justice, Moderat/Modeselektor, Solange, Trentemøler, The Weekend, The Avalanches, Blink-182, Bonobo, Carl Emil Petersen, Erasure, Father John Misty, Lorde, Møme, Residente, Royal Blood.

WEBSITE: roskilde-festival.dk

 

• EXIT / July 5-9, Petrovaradin Fortress, Petrovaradin, SERBIA

After record-breaking edition this year, EXIT Festival 2017 will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love! Next year, EXIT will mark the events from 1967 when the revolutionary hippie movement changed the world forever, and from 6th to 9th July EXIT Summer of Love can change your life.

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS:

The Killers, Liam Gallagher, Paul Kalkbrenner, Alan Walker, Lost Frequencies, Years & Years, Solomun B2B Dixon, Jamie Jones, The Dammed, Duke Dumont, Robin Schulz, Faithles DJ set, Rüfüs, Hardwell, Rag’n’bone Mn, The Black Dahlia Murder, Armada.

WEBSITE: exitfest.org/en

 

• NOS ALIVE FESTIVAL / July 6-8, Passeio Marítimo de Algés, PORTUGAL

  

After ten memorable editions, NOS Alive returns to Passeio Marítimo de Algés, with a line-up filled with heavy weight talents. If you’re going to make a move and go to just one of the European festivals on this list, we think it should be this one!

LINEUP HIGHTLIGHTS:

The Weekend, The XX, Phoenix, Royal Blood, alt-J, Bonobo, Ryan Adams, Glass Animals, Rhye, Blossoms, Foo Fighters, The Kills, The Cult, Local Natives, Tiago Bettencourt, Warpaint, Savages, Wild Beasts, Depeche Mode, Imagine Dragons, Fleet Foxes, Kodaline, Cage the Elephant, Spoon, Peaches, Floating Points, Benjamin Booker, The Avalanches.

WEBSITE: nosalive.com/en/

 

• SZIGET / August 9-16 Budapest, HUNGARY

Sziget is a weeklong festival in Budapest. It takes place on Óbudai Island, which is dubbed “Island of Freedom.”

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS:

Kasabian, Major Lazer, Pink, Wiz Khalifa, Dimitri Vegas, PJ Harvey, alt-J, Interpol, Twoo Door Cinema Club, Charlie XCX, The Kills, Tom Odell, Clean bandit, Metronomy, Steve Aoki, White Lies, The Vaccines, Mando Diao, Pauls VanDyk, Bad Religion, Nervo, Dj Shadow, Mac DeMarco, Danny Brown, Crystal Fighters.

WEBSITE: szigetfestival.com

• FLOW / August 11-13, Parrukatu, Helsinki, FINLAND

The Flow Festival is a leading urban music and arts boutique festival taking place in a historic power plant area in Helsinki. The music presented at Flow Festival is a varied selection of artists from indie rock to soul and jazz and from folk to contemporary club sounds – from both the Finnish and the international scene. In addition to music, Flow Festival is about urban spaces, visual arts, film screenings, talks, design as well as food and drinks.

This year the festival will offer a real club music treat at its new Resident Advisor Front Yard outdoor venue. The Flow Festival area will grow further to feature new sections of Suvilahti this coming summer. Flow Festival’s Backyard concept will move to a new area this year. The lush new Resident Advisor Front Yard offers an even larger venue to see the top names in electronic music. Organized in collaboration with the world’s leading online media for electronic music Resident Advisor.

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS:

Lana Del Rey, Aphex Twin, London Grammar, Young Thug, Car Seat Headrest, Maceo Plex, Vladimir Ickovic B2B Lauri Soini, Model 500, Femme En Fourrure, The XX, Flume, Goldfrapp, Death Grips, Sampha, Alma, Frank Ocean, Ryan Adams, Moderat, Angel Olsen, Astrid Swan.

WEBSITE: flowfestival.com/en/

 

• LOLLAPALOOZA / September 9-10, Rennbahn Hoppergarten, Berlin, GERMANY

Like any smart Berliner, Lollapalooza is always open to new experiences with the next adventure already waiting around the corner. Together with 45,000 festival-goers daily, the festival’s premiere landed on the airfield of the former Tempelhof Airport and took off with waves of cheers in 2015. Last year, it took over Treptower Park and transformed it into a colourful playground with 70,000 visitors daily. As the third instalment of Lolla Berlin is beginning to take shape, it most certainly seems like they’re trying to become the vastest travelling circus in festival history. Once again, Lollapalooza will set up shop at a new location which will no doubt have plenty of surprises in store for you.

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS:

Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons, The XX, Hardwell, Beatsteaks, Marteria, Annenmaykantereit, CRO, Marshmello, Two Door Cinema Club, London Grammar, George Ezra, Galantis, Rudimental, Metronomy, Michael Kiwanuka, Oliver Heldens, Wanda, Django Django, Kungs, The Vaccines, Bomba Estéreo, Bear’s Den.

WEBSITE: lollapaloozade.com

 

We know you’re just as crazy about music as we are, so we’re pretty sure we’ll be coming across each other at a festival or two. See you on the festival fields!