Swedes return to work – and the school and university year starts

Swedes start heading back to the office after their summer holidays, with Monday July 29th and Monday August 5th likely to be the big return days this year. The majority of workers take at least a couple of weeks off during July, with many taking three or even four. This means that replies to all those unanswered emails you’ve sent over the last month will start ticking into your inbox as Sweden’s workers return to their desks.

Schools are back for the autumn term in Gothenburg on August 15th, in Malmö on August 17th, in Stockholm and Lund on August 19th, and in Uppsala on August 20th. 

Sweden’s universities usually start their autumn semester at the end of August or the start of September, which means for this year Monday September 2nd is the start date for Lund, Uppsala, and Stockholm University (and probably most others).  

Sweden’s Riksdag committees begin to meet again

While parliament doesn’t have its official opening until September 10th, there are a series of debates where ministers answer MPs’ questions starting from August 20th, with some parliamentary committees also starting to meet that week.

Riksbank expected to sink interest rates 

The directors of Sweden’s central bank, the Riksbank, will hold a meeting on August 19th when they are expected to reduce the key interest rate from the current 3.75 percent to 3.5 percent. 

Government inquiry on increased information exchange between agencies

An inquiry into how to reduce confidentiality rules for various government agencies is set to publish the first part of its conclusions by August 30th. The purpose of relaxing the rules would be to prevent young people being drawn into crime and combat welfare fraud and other crimes, through better information sharing. The second and final parts of the inquiry are due on February 28th next year. 

Crime agency to present report on preventing violent extremism

The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå) is due to present its proposals for how to enhance collaboration between government agencies and other relevant actors to prevent radicalisation and the spread of violent extremism. 

The council was given the project in September last year and is set to publish its proposals on August 29th. 

Meeting of EU foreign and defence ministers in Budapest 

Sweden’s foreign minister Tobias Billström will travel to Budapest on August 28th and 29th for an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers held as part of Hungary’s EU presidency, with defence minister Pål Jonson in Budapest on August 30th for a defence ministers’ meeting. 

SJ to end suspension of trains between Malmö and Copenhagen 

Sweden’s national train company SJ will on August 4th end the one-month suspension of train services between Malmö and Copenhagen, which was imposed on July 3rd to help deal with a shortage of drivers. 

This suspension affected over 20,000 travellers, who instead had to rely on the regional Öresund trains. 

Bonus for scrapping petrol and diesel cars and buying electric 

From August 20th, anyone who scraps an old petrol or diesel car and switches to an electric vehicle can receive a government subsidy of 10,000 kronor.

The subsidy will be managed by Boverket, Sweden’s housing agency, which already handles a long list of subsidies for improving energy efficiency in Sweden’s housing stock. 

FESTIVALS

Crayfish parties

Unfortunately there are no public holidays in August, although this doesn’t mean there’s nothing to celebrate. The crayfish season officially starts on August 4th this year, so be prepared for crayfish-themed decorations to start popping up in your local supermarket, and find some friends (preferably with access to a summer house) to hold your very own kräftskiva (crayfish party).

As with most Swedish celebrations, expect drinking songs, lots of snaps, crispbread, cheese, and most likely some sort of västerbottenpaj – a quiche featuring Sweden’s favourite cheese, västerbottensost.

Here’s our guide to six essential Swedish drinking songs for crayfish party season.

Stockholm Pride

Pride is also kicking off in Stockholm this month. Celebrations begin on July 29th and end on August 3rd. This year the festival is celebrating its 26th year with a country-themed opening festival in Pride Park (Östermalms IP) from Wednesday July 31st.

Here’s a link to the programme (in Swedish).

Malmöfestivalen

For those based in the south of the country, Malmöfestivalen will be taking place from August 9th-16th. The festival will include music, activities for children, dance and art, as well as food stalls.

Way Out West

Not to leave Gothenburg off the list, Way Out West music festival will also be taking place in August, between the 8th and 10th. Unlike Pride and Malmöfestivalen, this festival isn’t free, but at the time of writing there are still tickets available.

Artists performing at the festival this year include the Swedish stars like Benjamin Ingrosso, Sarah Klang, and Fever Ray, and international acts like Fred Again, Chase & Status, Queens of the Stone Age, PJ Harvey, Pulp, The National and James Blake. See the full line-up here.

Visby Medieval Week 

If jousting is more your thing, then head to Visby, the historic hanseatic city on the island of Gotland between August 4th and August 11th, when the city’s medieval battlements become the site for Visby Medieval Week, with medieval reenactors dressing up as knights, monks and peasants and putting on displays of jousting, music and traditional crafts.  

Surströmming Festival

On the third Thursday in August, the island of Ulvön on Sweden’s Höga Kusten, or High Coast, celebrates the fermented herring delicacy with a dedicated festival.