Norway is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing and stunning places on earth! The Oslo region has a ton of incredible spots to discover, as well as fantastic music events to check out, despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of travelers arrive there each year to see the stunning nation. The region’s motto is “where city and nature unite,” and it truly enthralls visitors with breathtaking landscapes for thrill-seekers and a thriving nightlife / live music scene.
Top Music Festivals In Oslo & Norway
Despite having a reputation for being relatively pricey, Norway has some of the most affordable flights in all of Europe. If you’ve never heard of the outrageous discounts that Norwegian Air provides between well-known U.S. cities and Oslo, you’re in for a perfect treat!
Being so far north, summer festivals in Norway can become fairly warm, but you should always have some warm clothing on hand in case it gets chilly at night. Because of this, the majority of Norwegian music festivals take place during the height of summer, when the climate is the warmest. Let’s check out a few such music festivals in Norway.
Inferno Metal Festival
- Location: Oslo.
- Time: Mid-April.
For more than 20 years, there has been an Inferno Metal Festival. They frequently include top metal performers like Russian Circles, who are renowned for their distinctive sound, which was created by lead guitarist Mike Sullivan.
At one of the best rock music events in Norway this year, many metal legends are also anticipated to perform. This festival is held in a variety of locations throughout Oslo, including major concert halls and even tiny taverns.
Oya Festival
- Location: Toyenparken, Oslo.
- Time: August.
Over 60,000 people visit this all-ages festival, one of the biggest and greatest in the nation, to take in the remarkable lineup of artists from a wide range of genres.
All music fans can expect a great festival in 2023 with international acts like FKA Twigs, Sigrid, Devo, and many more performing there. You’ll love spending four days touring all the stages, and food stalls, and meeting tourists from all over the world at this festival, which is held in Oslo’s lovely and expansive Toyenparken.
One of Norway’s oldest music festivals, the Oya Music Festival, started in 1999 and has hosted artists including Sonic Youth, the Arctic Monkeys, the Gorillaz, Morrissey, and St. Vincent.
The four-day festival is hosted every year in Oslo’s Tyen Park. As it brings together the top local and worldwide acts for a celebration of music and culture in a lovely Oslo Park, it is one of Norway’s most significant music festivals.
By: Larm
- Location: Oslo
- Time: Mid-September.
The By: Larm festival, frequently referred to as Norway’s South by Southwest, is both a gathering of the Nordic music industry and a music festival. This event combines seminars with musical performances by the best musicians in Norway.
The event takes place in the heart of Oslo, the capital of Norway. With a wide variety of genres and exciting events going alongside the music, it’s a beautiful meeting of talent and culture. For this event, the majority of guests choose to stay at some of the top hotels in Oslo in order to be near the action!
Bergen Fest
- Location: Bergen
- Time: June.
A showcase of Norway’s vibrant and diversified music industry has subsequently developed from what first began as a blues and Americana festival. Bergen Fest is the perfect example of this because it brings the top musicians from every genre together for an unforgettable musical experience.
Expect performers like Royksopp, Two Door Cinema Club, and Swedish pop star Zara Larsson. Due to the festival’s location in the Bergenhus Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is even more distinctive. Take in both your music and your history at once!
Tons of Rock
- Location: Oslo
- Time: End of June.
Here’s another illustration of Norway’s unwavering devotion to rock. Tons of Rock Festival began in 2014 but has already made a name for itself. The festival has performed with legends like Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, and KISS on the same stage over the years.
It happens in the lovely park of Ekebergsletta, which is located above Oslo. As you headbang to some strong metal and rock, you’ll think you’re miles away from the city!
Palmesus Festival
- Location: Kristiansand
- Time: Early July.
The largest beach celebration in Norway is called the Palmesus Festival. Every year, thousands of people congregate at Bystranda Beach for two nights of dancing and music.
International artists travel in for a single spectacular evening. The likes of David Guetta, A$AP Rocky, and Armin van Buuren have performed as headliners in the past, making it one of Norway’s finest electronic music events.
Traena Music Festival
- Location: Nordland County
- Time: Early July.
The islands of Husya and Sanna host the Traena Music Festival every year. Due to its amazing music venues, which include an old cave and a cathedral with blacked-out windows to protect festival-goers from the midnight sun, this festival has earned a spot on the list.
It is therefore not surprising that the BBC named the Traena Music Festival as one of the most beautiful venues for musical performances. This fishing hamlet island hosts the festival at a few different locations in a stunning setting—it’s truly spectacular!
Stavern Music Festival
- Location Stavern
- Time: Early July.
One of Norway’s largest and best camping events, Stavern Festival manages to pull audiences of about 75,000 people each year, a long cry from the festival’s first 175 guests back in 2001.
This is one of the music festivals in Norway with the widest range of genres and the greatest camping festival ambiance, with gorgeous vast fields for days. The festival showcases a diverse bag of performers, with past and prospective headliners including Martin Garrix, 1975, Carbi B, Major Lazer, and more.
Bukta Tromso Open-Air Festival
- Location: Tromso
- Time: Mid-July.
Since its inception in 2004, the Bukta festival has become a popular destination for music lovers. Each year, thousands of people visit this event in Troms because of the lineups that have been arranged by the organizers.
In 2017, the festival was successful in re-booking Alice Cooper. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Nita Strauss hit the stage, and the crowd got to watch her shred on her famous Ibanez JIVA10. Today, numerous national and international performers perform on a stunning coastline.
Findings Festival
- Location: Oslo
- Time: Mid-August.
The top electronic music musicians from across the world come to Norway for two nights of dancing and music as part of the Findings Festival, which takes place every year at the Bislett Stadium. It takes place in the heart of Oslo and fills the stadium to capacity for an authentic epic rave.
Artists like Alan Walker, Astrid S, Stave Aoki, Jason Derulo, and Tiesto have performed as headliners in the past. Every year, come here to see well-known and lively electronic performers.
Oslo World Festival
- Location: Oslo
- Time: October-November.
Oslo World, while some would refer to it as a music festival, is actually much more with numerous activities, lectures, and concerts taking place all around the city. You can choose from a variety of free activities in Oslo throughout the day, then each evening determine which event catches your eye!
It’s one of the finest times to visit the Oslo area since you can do a ton of exploring and attend one of the best live music conferences the area has to offer.
Mela Festival
- Location: Radhusplassen
- Time: August.
Exorbitant ticket fees can be one of the most annoying aspects of visiting a music festival, but at Mela Festival, you won’t have to worry about that! Who could refuse a festival that is entirely free and conveniently located in City Hall Square?
The main stage is the arena where you can hear the well-known Pakistani singers and the freshest underground acts, including rappers from Sandvika or Stovner, international Grammy winners, and performers who are utterly unknown to some but who mean the world to others.
Granittrock Festival
- Location: Grorudparken, Oslo.
Another music festival that is both free and smoke-free is finally taking place in Oslo’s stunning Grorudparken.
This occasion serves as an excellent illustration of how the city has “shaped itself as one of Europe’s best places for live music – of almost any imaginable genre.” Even though there aren’t many top-tier DJs or well-known bands on the lineup, the event is well-produced and features talented performers.
Slottsfjell Music Festival
- Location: Tonsberg, Norway
- Time: July.
Slottsfjell has been one of Norway’s most well-known and significant events ever since it was founded in 2003. After a brief hiatus, we are prepared to reintroduce the festival of the ages, this time updated for the new millennium. Simply put July 12 and July 13 on your calendar and don your trendiest festival attire. You won’t want to miss the ultimate party in Norway’s hippest summer town, that much is certain.
Peer Gynt Festival
- Location: Gala Lake, Norway
- Time: August.
This festival is hailed as one of “Norway’s leading cultural festivals” and is unquestionably something that should be crossed off your bucket list. There are a ton of incredible events to check out during the course of the nine-day event, even though it may not necessarily be a music festival.
