Christmas concerts and events in Stockholm 2024
Publish date: 22 October 2024
Whether you prefer a traditional or a contemporary Christmas, Stockholm has something to offer! These are the 2024 Stockholm Christmas highlights.
The warm smell of gingerbread cookies and glögg, bright Christmas lights in every window. There's something magic about the weeks leading up to Christmas in Stockholm.
The season to be jolly might also be hectic, with lots to do at home and work, before the holidays. Unwinding with a soothing concert or cozy Christmas show is a great way to kindle the Christmas spirit.
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- Stockholm starts getting into the Christmas spirit on November 12. This is when the #Stockholmsjul Christmas Lights are lit; over 40 streets and squares around central Stockholm are decorated with some 1 million LED lights and mini-bulb-strands in the shape of reindeer, angels, and mistletoes.
- Another telltale sign that it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas is the department store Nordiska Kompaniet's Christmas display. Since 1902, NK has gone all-out with imaginative dioramas in the store windows, with a new theme every year.
- During the Santa Run, central Stockholm is filled with hundreds of joggers with one thing in common; they're all dressed as Santa. The fun run's 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.
- Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol is arguably the quintessential Christmas saga. The classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge's ghostly meetings has been set up in Stockholm as a musical theater since 2009. In 2017, the production moved to Folkoperan on Södermalm, where it's become an annual tradition since. The production is in English.
- There are plenty of cozy concerts to choose from. The Stockholm Cathedral has several in its December programming, from traditional carols and songs to classical music; Berwaldhallen has an annual Christmas concert; and the Christmas Night revue mixes beloved pop songs and humor.
- ArkDes popular gingerbread house exhibition returns in 2024, after having been postponed due to renovations at the museum. See (and smell!) innovative and sweet constructions made by both professionals and amateurs, adults and children. Each year, winners are chosen in several categories, as voted by the exhibition visitors.
Speaking of Christmas markets, there are quite a few around Stockholm starting mid-November. From traditional ones to contemporary Christmas markets with a twist, our guide to Stockholm's Christmas markets has up-to-date information.
As in many countries, food is a big part of Swedish Christmas. Meatballs, kale, Christmas ham, and glögg (mulled wine) are staples of traditional Swedish holiday cuisine, and many restaurants serve seasonal buffets or have a traditional menu in December. But you'll also find restaurants taking inspiration from other parts of the world or serving holiday food with a contemporary twist.
Check out our guide on Christmas dinners in Stockholm for more suggestions.