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What’s on in Norway: Ten unmissable events this June

Music and food festivals, Pride parades, and Sankthans are among the many events to look forward to in June in Norway. 

Published: 23 May 2024 12:38 CEST
Updated: 2 June 2024 05:39 CEST
Pictured is a person at a festival.
Plenty of Norway's biggest festivals take place in June. Pictured is a person at a festival. Photo by Maxime Bhm on Unsplash

National Music Day, June 1st 

The Norwegian capital of Oslo will host its free annual music festival at the start of June. More than 50 outdoor stages will be spread across the city, and hundreds of performers will treat Oslo’s residents to all kinds of musical performances. 

Free music will be available everywhere, from pub patios to large stages in parks. The festival’s website provides more information on where the various stages are and who will be performing. 

NEON, June 7th – June 8th 

The NEON music festival in Trondheim has quickly become one of the hottest summer kick-off festivals in Norway since launching in 2022. 

The 2024 edition of NEON will take place on June 7th and 8th in Trondheim’s Bryggeribyen E.C. Dahls Arena. 

2024 festival goers will be able to see Tom Odell, Matoma, Lost Frequencies, Jason Derulo, Benson Boone, Emma Steinbakken, Roc Boyz and many more.

Tickets are already available, and you can choose between a festival pass, daily tickets, or premium ticket options.

Miniøya, June 8th – June 9th 

Since its first edition in 2010, Miniøya has become Norway’s largest music and cultural festival for children. 

The festival is aimed at children up to the age of 12, and its program includes music, theatre, literature, disco, dance, and activities. 

Tickets are still available at the time of writing, and OBOS members receive 100 kroner off the 430 kroner ticket price. 

Oslo Food Festival, June 8th – June 9th

The second weekend in June and the final weekend of August will see the Oslo Food Festival held in trendy Grünerløkka. 

The festival focuses on foods from around the world. A mix of established and lesser-known restaurants, as well as plenty of home cooks, will be offering up fantastic food. 

For that reason, the event is much a cultural exchange as it is a gathering for foodies. 

Bergenfest, June 12th – June 15th 

It’s not just the capital that will be treated to music festivals in June. Artists such as PJ Harvey, Stormzy, Kaiser’s Orchestra, Jungle and Gabrielle will all take to the stage. 

The festival is being held in Bergenhus Fortress, one of Norway’s oldest and best preserved fortress areas. 

Day passes, weekend passes, and festival passes are all still available at the time of writing. 

Mablis, June 14th – June 15th 

The music festival, near the centre of Stavanger, aims to blend established acts with new and emerging talent. 

Mablis aims to be an inclusive and sustainable festival, and plenty of local, short-travelled food will be served. 

The festival wants to include the whole family, so there is no age limit. Children under 14 also get to enter the festival free of charge when with an adult. 

OverOslo, June 19th – June 22nd 

Four nights of festival music from acts such as Jungle, Chaka Kahn, Billy Ocean, and plenty of Norway’s biggest funk and pop artists await festivalgoers at the top of Grefsenkollen. 

Tickets for some days are still available at the festival held in the forests above Oslo.  

Sankthans, June 24th 

Sankthans or Jonsok, translated as “John’s wake”, is a Midsummer celebration with both religious and secular roots.

Along with the rest of Scandinavia, it is popular to celebrate with bonfires. In major cities and small towns, the bonfires are typically made along the coastline or in a body of water, and the locals watch from boats or from along the shoreline and bring drinks and snacks. The atmosphere is festive yet relaxed. 

Many Norwegians say that if you sleep with a sankthansblomst or a “red campion flower” underneath your pillow on the night of sankthans, then your future spouse will appear in your dreams.

Pride events 

Norway’s two biggest cities will celebrate Pride in June. Bergen Pride begins at the start of June, and events will continue until the city’s Pride parade on June 8th. 

A number of different events will be held across different venues to mark this year’s celebrations. 

Meanwhile, Norway’s biggest LGBTQ+ celebration, Oslo Pride, will begin on June 19th and end on June 29th. The parade will be held on June 29th.

Gladmat, June 26th – June 29th 

Billing itself as the world’s coolest food festival is Gladmat in Stavanger. The event is Scandinavia’s biggest food festival, and 250,000 visitors will have the opportunity to sample the best flavours from the Stavanger region. 

The festival brings together local food producers, great restaurants and delicious street food. 

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PROPERTY

Why do all homes in Norway seem to look the same?

Of course not every home in Norway is identical but there are several major trends that are easily identifiable in most cities that might give you the impression that they all look the same.

Published: 25 June 2024 12:47 CEST
Why do all homes in Norway seem to look the same?

Before we explain the similarities there is plenty of variety among homes in Norway.

Different regions in Norway have their own styles, and people’s personal tastes and modern trends also play a role.

Furthermore, urban areas are way more eclectic compared to rural and more isolated regions, and at the same time, the biggest cities need to deal with population pressure.

READ MORE: What you need to know about the Norwegian housing model

However, it is undeniable that a few significant trends dominate the landscape in most of Norway’s towns and cities.

The traditional wooden house

The first trend is the traditional wooden house, which is often medium-sized and square.

These homes, painted in classic colours such as white, dark red, ochre yellow, or brown, are omnipresent across Norway.

While you will easily spot them in any smaller town, even the two largest cities – Oslo and Bergen – still boast many traditional wooden houses.

READ MORE: Oslo versus Bergen: Five big differences between Norway’s two largest cities

If you take a walk to Bergen’s Old Town, you’ll find an array of traditional wooden houses in the area behind the UNESCO-protected Bryggen Wharf. Many wooden houses can also be found in the centrally located Verftet neighbourhood on the Nordnes peninsula.

Their uniform appearance stems from historical building practices and the practicality of using wood as a primary construction material in a forest-rich country.

These homes not only serve as a testament to Norway’s architectural heritage but also adapt well to the country’s climate, providing insulation against the cold.

Additionally, local building regulations often dictate specific architectural styles to preserve the cultural heritage of Norwegian towns and villages – especially in neighbourhoods with a rich past.

Lofoten houses

Wooden houses in Reine, Lofoten Islands, northern Norway. Photo by Jonas Geschke on Unsplash

Modern Norwegian housing

The second trend includes more modern housing solutions, such as terraced houses, new builds, and apartment blocks.

These structures are increasingly common in urban areas where space is at a premium. Many construction projects in the outskirts of Bergen feature this kind of development as the city expands to accommodate its growing population.

This trend reflects contemporary architectural styles and is often designed with energy efficiency and sustainability in mind.

The uniformity here is driven by modern urban planning in cities like Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger.

Aker Brygge

The Aker Brygge wharf area in central Oslo. Photo by Meriç Dağlı on Unsplash

Traditional vs modern: What advocates of the two styles say

Supporters of traditional Norwegian homes argue that these old structures are very durable. They point out that the wood used in homes from 40 to over 80 years ago comes from slow-growing trees, making it dense and rot-resistant.

Compared to modern building materials, which they often view as inferior, they claim that wood in these older homes ensures longevity – as long as the house has been adequately maintained.

READ MORE: What you should know before buying a house in rural Norway

Furthermore, the longevity of old wooden houses in Norway is well-documented. Many homes built in the early 20th century still retain their original structure despite multiple renovations.

As long as the wood remains dry, it can last for decades – or even centuries.

On the other hand, with advancements in building technology, modern houses are designed to minimise heat loss, reduce energy consumption, and lower utility bills – particularly relevant in the cost-of-living crisis plaguing Norway and Europe in recent years.

These homes often feature high-level insulation, double or triple-glazed windows, and advanced heating systems, which make them more environmentally friendly and cost-effective in the long run.

Another key advantage of modern homes is their adherence to strict building codes and standards.

Today, Norwegian houses are built to high specifications, ensuring safety, comfort, and durability. Mandated ventilation systems improve indoor air quality and prevent issues like mould and dampness.

In addition to technical improvements, modern homes are also designed with contemporary lifestyles in mind. Open floor plans and larger windows create bright and adaptable living spaces.

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