What's on in Stockholm this season
Publish date: 19 November 2024
Late fall and winter mean light, warmth, and traditional holiday celebrations. Here are some of the season's highlights!
November
Comic Con Winter November 1-3
At Comic Con Winter you can take part in activities inspired by TV & film, try new games before anyone else, and meet popular actors, comic artists, and digital creators. You can also experience world-class cosplay listen to interesting panels, and see breath-taking performances on the stages. Special guests this year include Mark Williams (actor; The Harry Potter films), Don Rosa (comic book writer and artist; Disney's Scrooge McDuck), and Agnes Garbowska (author and comic book artist; My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic).
Stockholm Food & Wine + Bak & Chokladfestivalen November 8–10
The annual Stockholm Food & Wine is Stockholm's largest convention for both foodies and professionals. Taste the latest delicacies, get inspired by unusual flavors, and learn about the latest food and beverage trends. Bak- & Chokladfestivalen, a public fair focusing on chocolate and baking, is held in conjunction with Food & Wine.
Stockholm International Film Festival November 7–17
Stockholm's premiere film festival usually occurs in early/mid-November. Primarily focusing on young filmmakers (who have directed no more than one previous feature) in the competition, the festival features several other categories screening everything from new Asian cinema, American independents, documentaries, and short films. The festival's top honor is The Bronze Horse.
Concerts, festivals, and performing arts this season
Concert highlights this season include 10cc (November 26, Cirkus), Sigur Rós (November 30 - December 1, Stockholm Waterfront), Amanda Ginsburg (November 30 - December 1, Fashing), Albin Lee Meldau (November 30, Tele2 Arena), Rhys (December 4, Musikaliska Kvarteret), The Tarantula Waltz (December 5, Debaser), Freak Kitchen (December 14, Kollektivet Livet), Lars Demian (December 21, Fasching), Tremonti (January 16, Debaser), JPEGMAFIA (January 17, Fållan), Pantera (January 23, Hovet), Manowar (January 29, Circus), and Becca Stevens (January 29, Fasching).
Many of December's highlights are naturally Christmas-oriented. Classic venues like Berwaldhallen, The Stockholm Cathedral, and The Stockholm Concert Hall have programs full of Christmas concerts ranging from traditional carols to pop-song sing-alongs. Folkoperan is once again visited by Ebenezer Scrooge (himself haunted by the ghosts of Christmases past, present, and future) in an English production of A Christmas Carol (December 7-22), and Christmas Night 2024 blends traditional carols and songs with modern classics in a variety show.
Find more Christmas events in our guide here!
Find more music in Stockholm
#Stockholmsjul Christmas Lights November 16 – January 15, 2025
Stockholmsjul decorates more than 40 streets, locations, and squares with Christmas LED lights in Stockholm. The opening ceremony is usually in the middle of November, and the lights will illuminate the city until mid-January. Read more about Stockholmsjul on their website.
DreamHack Stockholm November 22-24
The Swedish LAN festival phenomenon comes home, as Dreamhack takes over Stockholmsmässan Conventions Center for a weekend. Imagine a magical realm where gamers from all walks of life unite under one gigantic roof, armed with their trusty keyboard and fueled by an insatiable passion for pixels and polygons.
Sweden International Horse Show November 29 – December 1
SIHS presents international equestrian competitions in five disciplines - jumping, dressage, 4-in-hand driving, eventing, and Icelandic horses/tölt. Besides world-class competitions, there are thrilling show performances, presented by a mix of international and Swedish equestrian artists.
Museum highlights this season
Some exhibition highlights this season are:
- Andy Warhol – Money of the Wall (October 18 - April 27, Spritmuseum) focuses on one of the pop artist’s most recurring themes: money. Visitors will get a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Warhol’s artistry and its connection to economics and society.
- Katalin Ladik has been using her body and voice as tools and materials in her poetry, sound, and performance art since the 1960s, becoming one of Hungary's and Eastern Europe's most prominent contemporary artists. Ooooooooo-pus (November 9 – April 20, 2025, Moderna Museet) is the first exhibition in the Nordic region to present a large overview of her body of work.
- A beloved Christmas tradition is back in 2024: the Gingerbread House competitive exhibition (November 29 - January 12, 2025, ArkDes). See, and smell the fragrance, of innovative gingerbread houses built by children and adults; amateurs and professionals.
- The turn of the previous century, 1800 to 1900, was an exciting time for Stockholm. New Stockholm (November 30 - August 30, 2026, The City Museum of Stockholm) shows how Stockholm transitioned from a small archipelago town to a modern city through never-before-seen objects, photos, and eyewitness accounts.
- Witches (December 5 - May 11, 2025, The Swedish History Museum) examines a dark chapter in Swedish history. Who were the women accused of witchcraft, and why were they burned at the stake? The exhibition illustrates how mean-spirited gossip was distorted into facts with horrific consequences.
Museum highlights in Stockholm
December
Stockholm Santa Run December 1
The fun run Santa Run dresses its runners up as Santa and turns them loose in central Stockholm. The starting line is in Kungsträdgården Park and runners have two tracks to choose from, 3K or 6K (roughly: 1.8 or 3.7 miles). All proceeds go to charity.
Nobel celebrations in Stockholm 7-15 December
The Nobel Week is the highlight of the scientific year in Sweden. The week culminates with the Nobel Award Ceremony in Stockholm Concert Hall and the Nobel banquet in the City Hall on December 10! The banquet itself is prepared by famous Swedish chefs, most of whom have their restaurants in town. Read more about Nobel meals in our guide.
One of the more visible events during the week is the Nobel Week Lights festival during which several Stockholm buildings and landmarks are decorated by light installations celebrating science and research. Don’t miss our guide to Nobel ways to discover Stockholm.
Get prepped for the Holidays
Lucia Day December 13
Alongside Midsummer, the Lucia celebration is one of the most beloved cultural traditions in Sweden, with its clear connection to life in the peasant communities of before darkness and light, cold and warmth. Today Lucia, the bearer of light, is celebrated all around Sweden with candle processions and Lucia choirs, saffron buns, and glögg (mulled wine)! Learn more about the tradition and how to experience the celebrations in Stockholm in our Lucia guide.
Christmas and New Year in Stockholm December 24-31
Late November and December are in large part a lead-up to the Christmas Holidays.
- There are many Christmas markets to pick from, where you can find delicacies to serve on your Christmas dinner table or unique gifts. Skansen (November 29 - December 22), Kungsträdgården (November 30), and Stor Torget's (November 23 - December 23) markets are among the most well-known traditional markets. Konstfack's Christmas Market (The University of Arts, Crafts, and Design) is a great alternative if you're looking for unique presents and gifts.
- Many restaurants offer seasonal Christmas menus. A typical Swedish Christmas dinner includes meatballs, roasted Christmas Ham, pickled herring, glögg, potatoes, and julmust served buffet-style. But there are alternatives like Italian and Japanese Holiday menus or vegan -and vegetarian-oriented ones. Read our Christmas dinner guide to find out more.
- At the tail end of the holiday week is of course New Year's Eve, with rowdy parties and glitzy concerts. How about a burlesque New Year's Masquerade at Nalen, a concert in the Stockholm Cathedral, or a five-course dinner with jazz music and a magical view? Find more suggestions on how to spend the year's evening in our New Year's guide.
Stockholm's schools are closed from December 21st to January 7th, giving schoolchildren a well-deserved break. As is the case with most holidays, many attractions and museums will host special activities and events.
January
Formex January 14-16
Formex started in 1960 and is organized twice a year, at the beginning of January and at the end of August. It's Sweden's biggest design convention for professionals, touching on areas such as interior design, gardening and mixed living, packaging and paper, toys, and much more. Pick up on the latest trends, meet future talent, and find many great designs to bring home. Note: Only the final day of the convention is open to non-professionals.
P3 Guld January 22
The P3 Guld Awards have celebrated Swedish music since 2003. Every year, music fans themselves get their say in categories like "Artist of the Year", "Song of the Year", and the Golden Mic for the best live act. In 2025 the show moves to Cirkus, in Stockholm, and will be hosted by radio -and TV-personality Christopher Garplind. Nominees will be revealed in December, and live performances during the show announced as it draws closer.
Avicii Arena re-opens late January
Avicii Arena opens up for the public again, having been closed in 2024 due to renovations. The world's largest spherical building, and one of Stockholm's most popular concert -and sports venues, has been modernized with new seats, a new ceiling for better acoustics, and a new lighting rig, among other things. The first booking at the new Avicii Arena is an arena production of the classic musical Les Misérables (January 23-26).
