Nordic summers are a fairly short and intense affair. Unsurprisingly, the arrival of autumn is rarely a popular affair, as the sunlit days give way to dark, rainy spells. As the trees shed their leaves and the wind speeds up a notch, here is a selection of Nordic autumn festivals to ease you into the season.
Sweden
Stockholm Jazz Festival, Stockholm
Live music at Stockholm Jazz Festival. © Sven Tupits
Stockholm in October is a brisk affair. This means that jumpers and scarves return from their summer hiatus to horde the top spot in the city’s storefront window displays. The annual Stockholm Jazz Festival, established in 1980 and billed as one of the oldest festivals in Sweden, also makes a triumphant return.
Over the years, revered musicians such as Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie and Angelique Kidjo have played at the festival. This year features acts such as Dianne Reeves, The Souljazz Orchestra and Horncraft. With numerous stages hosting countless concerts spread over 10 days, there is something for everybody to indulge in here.
When: October 6 – 15
Stockholm International Film Festival, Stockholm
Eager moviegoers at the Stockholm Film Festival. © Emmanuel Castro Skott
Having shown some 2,000 films from all over the world since its humble beginnings in 1990, Stockholm Film Festival is nothing short of overwhelming. But true cinephiles would have it no other way – take a deep breath and plunge right into the listings. And while this year’s lineup has yet to be released, it is fair to say one can expect a rich selection to cater for all tastes.
In addition to the screenings, film quizzes, parties, seminars and face-to-face talks with actors and filmmakers typically take place.
When: November 8 – 19
Denmark
Culture Night, Copenhagen
Culture Night illuminates the dark autumn night © Sattrup & Høst
In a city where shops and museums close relatively early, and where at this time of year, the inhabitants tend to stay indoors, seeking refuge from early autumn storms, the annual Culture Night (Kulturnatten) stands out as something rather special.
On this one night, shops and museums are open until late, many institutions normally closed to the public open their doors, and one-night-only performances take place all over Copenhagen.
From tours in submarines to architecture and design exhibitions, there is an activity for everyone on culture night. Make the most of the evening by buying an event pass (on sale from 2 October).
In addition to providing you with free entry to all official culture night events, the pass also gives you free access to public transport during the night.
When: October 13
Read More: All genres on display – our guide to Copenhagen’s museums
Define Festival, Sønderborg
Performers warm up before going on stage at one of the venues of Sønderborg’s Define Festival @Patricio Soto
Define Festival brings the avant-garde to the southern Danish town of Sønderborg (and to a lesser extent, the German border town of Flensburg). A short but sweet festival at the crossroads between classical and electronic music, the apex of styles is a tribute to the musical heritage of the past and a rallying call for new, experimental productions that challenge the existing music landscape.
Befittingly, in addition to numerous performances, Define also stages workshops, installations, lectures, and other activities, in an effort to build an engaging dialogue around new forms of musical production.
When: November 10 – 12
Find a flight to nearby Hamburg
Norway
DølaJazz – Lillehammer Jazz festival, Lillehammer
If it’s jazz you’re after, you’ll find plenty of it in Lillehammer this autumn @hannekjersti / Hanne Kjersti S. Iversen
Dølajazz – Lillehammer Jazz Festival is one of Norway’s festival greats, stretching all the way back to 1978. Known for its intimacy, the event targets a broad audience and focuses on bridging the gap between performer and listener. Beyond the music, you’ll find seminars such as Jazzincubator – a talent development platform that connects established performers with upcoming ones in an effort to develop the genre.
When: October 19 – 20
Oslo World Music Festival, Oslo
You’ll find the best of all worlds at the eclectic Oslo World Music Festival. © Bilge Öner
Warm tunes and sensual rhythms help heat up Oslo in October during the annual World Music Festival. The festival presents music from all corners of the world, with genres such as South African house, Oriental hip hop beat sampling and electric cumbia battling for their share of the headlines.
This year’s selection of artists is, in true Oslo World Music Festival tradition, a hearty mix of eclectic troubadours from far and wide. Have your fill at this cornucopia of styles.
When: October 31 – November 4
Rakfiskfestival, Fagernes
Tasty finger food at Oslo’s Rakfisk fish festival. © Norsk Rakfisk Festival
If Rakfish (a Norwegian fish dish, usually made with trout that’s been salted and fermented for somewhere between two months and a year, and then eaten without cooking) is your thing, or if it’s something you just have to try, then fly to Oslo in November. From there, make your way three hours north to the town of Fagernes for two days of fermented fish frenzy.
Fagernes in Eastern Norway is the birthplace of Rakfish and from 3-5 November, the town hosts a Rakfestival dedicated to this acquired delicacy. 500 tonnes of Rakfish are consumed every year in Norway, with thousands of enthusiasts heading to the festival to enjoy the salty fish and its best friends – dark beer and strong aquavit. After all, you need something to wash it down.
When: November 3 – 5
Finland
Tampere Jazz Happening, Tampere
The Bad Ass Brass Band entertain the crowd at Tampere Jazz Happening © Ville . fi
Contemporary jazz aficionados will find an enthralling appreciation of the genre at Tampere Jazz Happening.
A high profile lineup composed of both local as well as international artists will keep you warm as the Finnish autumn wind howls and scowls outside. Such is the level of experimentation in the schedule – the festival organisers received a European Jazz Network (EJN) award for Adventurous Programming early in 2017.
When: November 2 – 5
PianoEspoo, Espoo & Helsinki
PianoEspoo showcases the work of a selection of local and international prodigies @ Maarit Kytöharju / PianoEspoo Festival
Piano lovers can treat themselves to a festival that is focused entirely on piano music this November in Helsinki and Espoo – Finland’s second-largest city. This biennial event, open to maestros of the trade and newcomers alike, provides a relaxing forum through which piano classics from the past and the future can gain a new lease of life.
Held in different venues in both cities, PianoEspoo is a great opportunity to explore several revered cultural institutions, some of which (like Helsinki’s Ritarihuone – the House of Nobility) are only open to the public during events such as this.
When: November 3 – 19
Read more: Here are 14 facts you probably didn’t know about Finland
Find a flight to nearby Helsinki
Iceland
Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavik
Yoko Ono Plastic Band is one of many vivid acts to have performed at Iceland Airwaves © Þorgils Völundarson
Iceland Airwaves is the country’s marquee music festival, spread across multiple venues in Reykjavík for 5 days of festive shenanigans. A devout focus on new Icelandic and international music and the intimate feel of the event gives it a distinctive edge as a breeding ground for new talent that is yet to make it on the grand stage. Hatari, Bistro Boy and Pink Street Boys are but a few of the acts on this year’s billing.
When: November 1 – 5
Read more: Indulge in the best of Iceland’s natural attractions and picturesque scenery with our 10-day Iceland road trip.
