20 Music Festivals in Norway in 2020
It is no secret that Norway is one of my favorite countries, and that jazz is one of my favorite music genres. Last year, I decided to combine the two and I traveled to Trondheim for the JazzFest. This year, I hope I go back to Norway for a music festival. To help me decide, I have made a list of upcoming music festivals in Norway (mostly, but not exclusively, jazz).
In chronological order, here are 20 upcoming music festivals in Norway:
Nordlysfestivalen (Tromsø, from 23 January to 2 February 2020)
Nordlysfestivalen (also known as the Northern Lights Music Festival) offers a perfect opportunity to listen to different genres, such as classical, jazz and folk music. Out of all the music festivals in Norway, this is the one that provides the best opportunity to see the Northern Lights. It takes place in Tromsø from the 23rd of January to the 2nd of February 2020. Some concerts are ticketed, but there are also quite a few free to attend. Whilst there, make sure you visit the Arctic Cathedral, then take the cable car to the top of Mt Storsteinen.
Before you go, check out my tips for Tromsø.
Polarjazz (Longyearbyen, from 30 January to 2 February 2020)
Polarjazz is the northernmost jazz festival in the world. It is held in Longyearbyen, a small town in the subpolar archipelago of Svalbard in the Arctic Ocean. Midway between continental Norway and the North Pole, Longyearbyen is three hours on the plane from Oslo or an hour and a half from Tromsø. Since more than half of Svalbard is covered by glaciers and one-sixth of the world’s polar bears live there, the backdrop is simply unique. Polarjazz takes place from the 30th of January to the 2nd of February 2020, when Longyearbyen enjoys zero hours of daylight. The festival pass costs 900 NOK (about £90). The line-up includes Bugge Wesseltoft performing on the 31st of January.
Vinterjazz (Bodø, from 31 January to 1 February 2020)
Bodø is a small city above the Arctic Circle in northern Norway, about an hour and a half on the plane from Oslo. It is also where the very first Norwegian jazz band, the Bodø Jazz Band, was established. Nowadays, Bodø is home to this small jazz festival (not to be confused with the Vinterjazz taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark), and to Bodø Jazz Open, due in May (see below). Vinterjazz is due on the 31st of January and the 1st of February.
Vossajazz (Voss, from 3 to 5 April 2020)
Vossajazz takes place in the town of Voss the week before Easter (late March/early April). In 2020, it is due from the 3rd to the 5th of April. Since the ski season lasts from December until April, this jazz festival can easily be combined with a ski holiday, as well as with a fjord cruise to the Hardangerfjord and the Sognefjord. Voss is an hour on the train from Bergen, or five hours and a half from Oslo.
Maijazz (Stavanger, from 4 to 10 May 2020)
As the name suggests, this is another jazz festival taking place in May. It is held in Stavanger, one of the largest cities in the country. Located in south-western Norway, this coastal city is only 50 minutes on the plane from Oslo. Stavanger is also the gateway to two famous Norwegian attractions, the Lysefjorden (Light Fjord) and the Preikestolen (commonly known as the Pulpit Rock). Maijazz is scheduled to take place between the 4th and 10th of May 2020. Thomas Dybdahl will perform on the 7th of May 2020.
AnJazz (Hamar, from 6 to 9 May 2020)
Also known as Hamar Jazz Festival, AnJazz takes place in Hamar in early May. This year, it is scheduled to take place from the 6th to the 9th of May. Located on the shores of Mjøsa, Norway’s largest lake, Hamar is a medium-sized town in eastern-central Norway; it is about an hour and a half away from Oslo either by car or train. Bugge Wesseltoft will perform here on the 9th of May 2020.
Bodø Jazz Open (Bodø, from 6 to 9 May 2020)
Bodø Jazz Open is the second (as well as the largest) jazz festival taking place in Bodø. In 2020, this annually held festival will take place at the same time as Anjazz, between the 6th and the 9th of May. The line-up includes Jan Garbarek, performing on the 7th of May 2020. The festival pass costs 1795 NOK (about £180).
From Bodø, you can continue your journey to the picture-perfect Lofoten islands.
Trondheim Jazz Festival (Trondheim, from 6 to 10 May 2020)
Jazzfest, as it is also known, provides a perfect excuse to visit the beautiful city of Trondheim on the western coast of the country, once Norway’s capital, now the third-largest city. The flight from Oslo lasts only 50 minutes. Jazzfest is due to take place between the 6th and the 10th of May 2020. The concerts take place in various venues around the city, including the impressive Nidaros Domkirke (Cathedral). Jan Garbarek will perform at the Olavshallen Concert Hall on the 6th of May 2020.
Before you go, check out my tips for Trondheim.
Nattjazz (Bergen, from 22 to 30 May 2020)
Also known as Bergen International Jazz Festival, this is one of the largest jazz music festivals in Norway. It is held annually in late May/early June and takes place in a converted sardine factory at USF Verftet, in a beautiful location not too far from the city center. Doors open in the evening; so you can combine it with sightseeing in the country’s second-largest city. Or you can go on a day trip to the fjords; the Hardangerfjord and the Sognefjord are of outstanding beauty and only a couple of hours from Bergen. This year, Nattjazz takes place from the 22nd to the 30th of May and the line-up includes Thomas Dybdahl performing on the 30th of May. The festival pass costs 1980 NOK (about £200). When the music stops (not before midnight), wander around in the twilight – it will soon turn into full daylight.
Before you go, check out my tips for Bergen.
Bergenfest (Bergen, from 10 to 13 June 2020)
If you’re not as a big fan of jazz like me, I have some recommendations that may appeal to you more. Bergenfest is a pop/rock festival taking place in Bergen. It is due from the 10th to the 13th of June 2020. The line-up includes Norwegian artists, such as Astrid S, Emilie Nicolas and Sondre Lerche, as well as international ones, such as Robyn and Zara Larsson, from Sweden.
Before you go, check out my tips for Bergen.
Kongsberg Jazzfestival (Kongsberg, from 1 to 4 July 2020)
Kongsberg Jazzfestival is due to take place between the 1st to the 4th of July 2020. Even though Kongsberg is a small town in southern Norway (less than an hour and a half away from Oslo either by car or train), this festival features some of the biggest names in the international and Norwegian jazz scene (such as Gregory Porter in 2018, and Cecile McLorin Salvant, Lizz Wright and Angelique Kidjo in 2019). This year, Rymden will perform on the 1st of July. The motto of the festival is ‘Jazz Is More’; yet, it should have been ‘Jazz And More’, as this festival’s program also features pop artists, such as Astrid S performing on the 3rd of July 2020. You can buy a festival pass (in 2019, it cost 3395 NOK), day passes, or even tickets for individual concerts.
Moldejazz (Molde, from 13 to 18 July 2020)
Molde International Jazz Festival, or simply Moldejazz, is one of the oldest jazz music festivals in Norway, as well as in Europe. Molde, on the west coast of the country, is known as ‘Town of Roses’; yet most people know this town because of Moldejazz. Due to take place between the 13th and the 18th of July 2020, it will be hosted at various venues of the town, including the Cathedral, the Romsdalsmuseet (an open-air museum worth visiting anyway) and several squares. To get to Molde, you will have to fly to Ålesund (55 minutes from Oslo); from there, it is a 2-hour drive.
If you stop in Ålesund, go for a walk around the art nouveau town center; then climb the 418 steps to Aksla and admire the spectacular view of the town, the surrounding mountains and the nearby islands.
Before you go, check out my tips for Ålesund.
Bukta Festival (Tromsø, from 16 to 18 July 2020)
Bukta Tromsø Open Air Festival is a rock music festival that takes place in Tromsø. It is due from the 16th to the 18th of July 2020.
Before you go, check out my tips for Tromsø.
Sildajazz (Haugesund, from 5 to 9 August 2020)
Named after the Norwegian word for herring (sild), Sildajazz takes place in Haugesund, a small coastal town in south-western Norway. It will be held between the 5th and the 9th of August 2020. The flight from Oslo to Haugsund lasts only 50 minutes.
Øyafestivalen (Oslo, from 11 to 15 August 2020)
If jazz is not your cup of tea, there’s Øyafestivalen in Oslo (at Tøyenparken). This is one of the largest outdoor music festivals in Norway. This year it takes place between the 11th and the 15th of August and the festival pass costs 3054 NOK (about £300). The line-up includes Norwegian artists, such as Aurora, Emilie Nicolas and Sondre Lerche, as well as international ones, such as Bon Iver, FKA Twigs and Floating Points.
Before you go, check out my tips for Oslo.
Tromsø Jazzfestival (Tromsø, August 2020)
Tromsø is the largest town in northern Norway, lying 400km north of the Arctic Circle; the flight from Oslo takes about an hour and 50 minutes. Tromsø Jazzfestival takes place every August; the exact dates for 2020 are yet to be announced.
Before you go, check out my tips for Tromsø.
Oslo Jazz Festival (Oslo, from 9 to 15 August 2020)
The Norwegian capital is home to the last summer jazz music festival in Norway, which takes place every August, when the city enjoys 16 hours of daylight and 8 hours of twilight. This year it will be held between the 9th and the 15th of August. Oslo Jazz Festival is hosted at various venues around the city: the Opera House, Oslo Konserthus (Concert House) (very close to the Royal Palace), Rockefeller Music Hall (also in the city center), Nasjonal Jazzscene Victoria and Universitetets Aula (both on Karl Johans gate). You can buy day passes or tickets for individual concerts.
Before you go, check out my tips for Oslo.
Dølajazz (Lillehammer, from 15 to 18 October 2020)
This annual jazz festival takes place in the town of Lillehammer about 2 hours on the train from Oslo. It is due to take place between the 15th and the 18th of October 2020.
Insomnia (Tromsø, October 2020)
Insomnia Festival is an electronic music festival taking place in Tromsø. It is held annually in October; the exact dates for 2020 are yet to be announced.
Before you go, check out my tips for Tromsø.
Julejazz (Trondheim, December 2020)
Last but not least, there’s Julejazz, an one-day festival taking place in Trondheim at the end of the year. Its name literally means ‘Christmas Jazz’.
Before you go, check out my tips for Trondheim.
In addition to the 20 aforementioned music festivals in Norway, there’s also a film festival I’d like to add to my list:
Tromsø International Film Festival (Tromsø, from 13 to 19 January 2020)
Taking place every January, Tromsø International Film Festival is just about to turn 30. It is due from the 13th to the 19th of January 2020. The program features films from Norwegian and international filmmakers, including ‘Everything that could have been’ (‘Alt som kunne ha vært’) by Norwegian director Trond Kvig Andreassen, and ‘Aurora’ by Finnish director Miia Tervo. Not all screenings take place indoors; there is also an outdoor cinema located in the heart of Tromsø. This festival provides the perfect opportunity to see the Northern Lights (or the Green Lady, as they’re often called).
Before you go, check out my tips for Tromsø.
Further reading
My trip to Trondheim in May 2019 was the first time I traveled solo from start to finish. Reflecting on my experience, I realize that jazz festivals are a great opportunity for solo traveling, especially if you’re not accustomed to it. To read more about my experience, check out my post ‘Traveling solo and jazz festivals in Norway’.
If you want to combine one of these festivals with sightseeing in Norway, make sure you read my post ‘Fjords and Jazz: Norway in 9 days’.
To better prepare for my trips to Norway, I use the Lonely Planet Travel Guide.
If you’d like to listen to some of my favorite Norwegian musicians, check out my post ‘A musical journey to Norway‘.
To follow my travels around the world, simply subscribe to the Traveling Psychiatrist (just click on the menu on the left-hand side).
God Tur (*)
Alex
(the Traveling Psychiatrist)
(*) Norwegian for ‘have a nice trip’
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