Norway Festivals

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Norway Festivals
2011
www.norwayfestivals.com

Front image:
Stamsund International Theatre Festival
Photo: Kjell Stenhaug
● TROMSØ
● HARSTAD
BODØ ●
Norway Festival offers you detailed information
on the festivals and events you can be a part of during
your visit to this country.
TRONDHEIM ●
Norway is a country packed with traditions and festivals.
The high season for festivals is during the summer, but
you can also find exciting events throughout the year.
● BERGEN
● STAVANGER
● OSLO
Many festivals in Norway exploit the country’s
spectacular and fantastic nature as both a backdrop
and an enhancement to the scenery. You can find
festivals up in the mountains, by the sea,
by the fjord and waterfalls.
We hope that this brochure will give an overview
of some of the festival activities in Norway,
and wish you an enjoyable festival experience in 2011!
● KRISTIANSAND
Colours on map correspond
with coloured dots.

Norway Festivals members:
3
Arts Festivals
Arts Festival of North Norway
www.festspilnn.no
18.06. - 25.06.2011
The Arts Festival of North Norway is in many ways
an upper shelf musical venue, featuring some of
the best musical artists and acts in the world.
But it is also a true festival of the arts, presenting
a selection of music, stage performances and
visual arts.
Bergen International Festival
www.fib.no
25.05. - 08.06. 2011
Bergen International Festival presents art in all its
guises: music, theatre, dance, opera and visual art.
It is the largest festival of its kind in the Nordic
countries, with more than 150 events in 15 days.
The festival is set in Bergen, which is situated
on the west coast of Norway.
Elverum Music Festival
www.fie.no
03.08. - 13.08.2011
A variety of orchestral concerts and a chamber
music festival on a high international level.The
international recognized Vertavo string Quartet are
the artistic directors of the festival.Set in Elverum.
Finnsnes i Fest
www.fif.no
25.07. - 31.07.2011
A multicultural festival with an emphasis on visual
art, music, performing arts and local and regional
productions. Set in Finnsnes, north of Norway.
Nordland Music Festival
www.musikkfestuka.no
06.08. - 15.08.2011
Concerts and plays through the day and into the
night. Most of the 50 events take place in the city
of Bodø.
Norsk Revyfestival
www.revy.no
06.07. - 10.07.2011
The revue festival is arranged every second year,
and was established in 1987. Set in Høylandet.
Oslo Mela Festival
www.melafestivalen.no
28.07. - 31.07. 2011
Multicultural event in Oslo, with participating
artists from more than 20 countries. Set in Oslo.
Saami Easterfestival
www.samieasterfestival.com
18.04. - 24.04.2011
Concerts, art exhibitions, theatre performances,
the Saami film festival and the reindeer racingcup.
Set in Kautokeino, north of Norway.
Sommer-Melbu
www.nordland-akademi.no
01.07. - 09.07. 2011
Set in in the Lofoten/Vesterålen archipelago
in North Norway. The overall theme for
Summer-Melbu 2011 is: «Reality as seen through
artists’ eyes». Contains seminars, exhibitions,
performances and concerts.
St. Olav Festival
www.olavsfestdagene.no
28.07. - 03.08.2011
St. Olav Festival presents church services,
concerts (classical music, pop, rock, jazz),
lectures, exhibitions, pilgrimages, jousting
tournaments, historical marked, activities for
children and master classes (classical and early
music). Set in Trondheim.
Sunndal Culture Festival
www.sunndalkulturfestival.no
16.06. - 26.06. 2011
A popular cultural event in the region. The
successful musical Lady Arbuthnott is played
every year. Set in Sunndal.

The Norwegian Youth Festivals of Art
www.ukm.no
24.06. - 28.06. 2011
UKM is a nationwide organization with 400
separate festivals for youth between 13 and 20,
all culminating in Trondheim for a national festival.
The Winter Festival Narvik
www.vinterfestuka.no
26.03. - 03.04. 2011
The Winter Festival Narvik is based on Narvik`s
cultural history and presents music, dance, theater,
litterature, parades and a variety of workshops
and conferances.
Valdres International Festival & Academy
www.sommersymfoni.no
22.06. - 02.07. 2011
Valdres International Festival & Academy is one
of Norway’s most exciting international chamber
music festivals, where the communication between
musicians across generations and national borders
adds a dynamic dimension. More than 40 concerts
will take place in Valdres in beautiful surroundings
and with an enthusiastic atmosphere.
Vestfold International Festival
www.vestfoldfestspillene.no
24.06. - 03.07. 2011
Early and classical music, jazz and world music.
Set in the city of Tønsberg and other places
in Vestfold county.
Viser ved kanalen -
Folk songs on the banks of the Canal
www.viservedkanalen.no
17.06. - 19.06. 2011
With the Telemark as a backdrop, folksongs will
be performed during the weekend, from Skien
to Dalen.
Church Music Festivals
Oslo International Church Music Festival
www.oicmf.no
25.03. - 03.04. 2011
The festival explores encountters between
traditional and innovation in music. Set in Oslo
The International Church Music Festival
in Kristiansand
www.kirkefestspill.no
14.08. - 21.08.2011
Mainly classical, but also contemporary church
music worldwide.
Classical & Opera Festivals
Gloger Festival
26.01. - 30.01. 2011
www.glogerfestspillene.no
Classical highlights in Norways finest baroque
arena, Kongsberg church. Artistic directors:
Isa Katharina Gericke, soprano, Olof Borman,
conductor. Set in Kongsberg.
Hardanger Musikkfest
www.hardangermusikkfest.no
01.06. - 05.06. 2011
Hardanger Musikkfest is a classic music festival
in Hardanger, Norway.
ILIOS festival of contemporary music
www.ilios.no
03.02. - 06.02.2011
ILIOS festival of new music, is one of the country’s
most established contemporary music festivals.
The name refers to the sun god Ilios and starts
on weekend week 5, when the sun comes back
to Harstad.
International Chamber Music Festival
Stavanger
www.icmf.no
08.08. - 14.08. 2011
Experience magnificent chamber music concerts
in beautiful settings in and around Stavanger.
Kirsten Flagstad Festival, The Voice
www.flagstad-festival.no
16.06. - 19.06. 2011
Classical music Festival in honour of the world
famous Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad,
who has been called “the Voice of the Century”.
The Festival takes place in the city of Hamar where
she was born in 1895.

viser ved kanalen, photo: tom reiersen
Classical & Opera Festivals cont’d.
Kristiansund Opera Festival
www.oik.no
09.02. - 19.02.2011
The oldest Opera in Norway presents Kristiansund
Opera Festival. Full operas and high light form
operas and operettas. Opera Gala. Opera all over
the city for more than 14 days!
Lofoten International
Chamber Music Festival
www.lofotenfestival.com
10.02. - 13.02. 2011 and 11.07 - 16.07. 2011
Chamber music with artists from the international
arena in the midst of spectacular sceneries of the
Lofoten Islands. Winter edition in February.
Norwegian Youth Chamber Music Festival L
www.nycmf.com
26.09. - 02.10.2011
The Norwegian Youth Chamber Music Festival
is a festival where renowned artists and young
musicians from all over Europe perform in diverse
combinations.The Festival is spread over the west
coast of Norway (Stavanger region) and has also
concerts in Oslo.
Oslo Chamber Music Festival
www.oslokammermusikkfestival.no
12.08. - 20.08. 2011
Oslo Chamber Music Festival presents music from
the Medieval times to the present day performed
by some of the world’s greatest musicians.
Jan Garbarek and The Hilliards will be among
the artists in 2011. Artistic Director is the
internationally acclaimed violinist Arve Tellefsen.
Oslo Opera Festival
2012.
Oslo Opera Festival aims to be the country’s premier
festival of opera and musical theater. Oslo Opera
Festival wants to create enthusiasm and interest in
opera and musical theater at a wide audience.
Risør Festival of Chamber Music
www.kammermusikkfest.no
28.06. - 03.07. 2011
Chamber music festival on a high international
level. The internationally acclaimed violinist
Henning Kraggerud and viola player Lars Anders
Tomter are the artistic directors of the festival.
Set in Risør.

Røros Winter Chamber Music Festival
www.vinterfestspill.no
10.03. - 13.03. 2011
An intimate chamber music festival in the
winter-clad Røros Bergstad. Around 25 events
with music, poetry, art, theater, dance, etc.
Artistic Director’s violinist and professor
Marianne Thorsen.
The Fartein Valen Music Festival
www.farteinvalen.no
15.09. - 18.09.2011
The program is varied and exciting and strives to
enhance the understanding of Fartein Valen as a
composer and human being. Set in Haugesund.
The Midnight Opera «Olav Engelbrektsson»
and «The Magic Flute»
www.steinvikopera.no
04.08. - 19.08. 2011
«Olav Engelbrektsson»: Experience one of
Norway’s largest and most magic outdoor operas
in breathtaking surroundings. Each August
Norway’s most attractive operasingers and 150
local actors recreates the dramatic event from the
16th century. «The Magic Flute»: Experience an
spellbounding opera in a beautiful garden among
ancient oaktrees nearby th middelaged Værnes
Church. Suitable for families.
The Northern Lights Festival
www.nordlysfestivalen.no
28.01. - 05.02. 2011
The Northern Lights Festival presents top artists
from a wide variety of genres ranging from early
music to modern, from opera to jazz, from
chamber music to symphonic orchestras.
Trondheim Chamber Music Festival
www.kamfest.no http://kamfest.no
19.09. - 25.09. 2011
Based on the philosophy that chamber music
is an expression of musical collaboration at a high
professional level, and hence inherent in most
music genres. Set in Trondheim.
Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival
www.ultima.no
07.09. - 17.09.2011
Ultima is the foremost festival for contemporary
music and related art forms in Scandicavia.
Set in Oslo.
Electronic Music Festival
Numusic
www.numusic.no
22.09. - 02.10.2011
Stavanger’s Numusic Festival is Norway’s leading
festival dedicated to providing an annual festival
platform for regional, national and international
electronic music and associated genres.
Film Festivals
Amandus Film Festival
www.amandusfestivalen.no
12.04. - 14.04.2011
National film festival and competition for young
filmmakers. Set in Lillehammer.
Kosmorama Trondheim International Film
Festival
www.kosmorama.no
04.04. - 10.04. 2011
The best films from the international scene in 2010
presented in the Kosmorama Best Film Award.
A festival that stimulates and contributes as a
showcase for the filmmakers of tomorrow.
Set in Trondheim.
The Norwegian Int. Film Festival
Haugesund
www.filmfestivalen.no
17.08. - 25.08.2011
Norway`s major festival for film and cinema,
including the Norwegian Film Award, Amanda.
The New Nordic Films market ensembles around
300 film professionals from all over the world.
Set in Haugesund.

KOSMORAMA. photo: bjørn tore økland
Film Festivals cont’d.
The Norwegian Short Film Festival
www.shortfilm.no
16.06. - 21.06.2011
International and Norwegian short documentary
films in comptetition. The festival attracts
Norwegian film community as well as filmmakers
from all over the world. Set in Grimstad.
Tromsø Int. Film Festival
www.tiff.no
18.01. - 23.01. 2011
Norway`s largest film festival that shows the best
of current international art cinema. Set in Tromsø.
Wt Os International Film Festival
www.wt-festivalen.no
05.11. - 12.11. 2011. Set in Os, south of Bergen.
Folk Music Festivals
Førde Folk Music Festival
www.fordefestival.no
07.07. - 10.07. 2011
Scandinavia`s largest festival for accoustic trad/
world/folk. Established in 1990 in Førde, in the
Norwegian fjord region.
Joern Hilme Festival
www.hilme.no
24.07. - 31.07. 2011
The largest Festival for Norwegian folk music
and folk dance. Located in the Valdres valley,
in Eastern Norway.
Norwegian Country music Festival
www.norskcountrytreff.no
14.07. - 17.07. 2011
NCT presents country music from all over the
world. Everything from countryrock to bluegrass,
cajun and traditional country music. It takes place
on the beautifull west coast of Norway in a small
village called Breim.
Norwegian Festival
for Old-time Dance Music
www.landsfestivalen.no
20.07. - 24.07.2011

A competition in recent traditional forms of folk
music such as vals, reinlender and polka. Own
classes for different kind of groups and solo artist.
About 500 musicians participate every year in this
festival which is arranged in various places
in Norway. In 2011 the festival will be arranged
in Oppdal, South-Trøndelag county.
Norwegian Traditional
Music and Dance Competition
www.landskappleiken.no
29.06. - 03.07.2011
A nearly 100 year old competition presents the
oldest forms of fiddling, singing and dancing in
Norway. In addition to the competitions there are
also concerts arranged. The competition is divided
into different classes dependent on the number of
members in the groups, both amateurs and
professionals compete. For both folk musicians
and folk dancers. About 1500 participants. The
2011 festival will be held in Seljord, Telemark.
Riddu Riddu Festival
20.07. - 24.07. 2011
Riddu Riddu is an international indigenous festival
set in the North of Norway, Kåfjord/Manndalen.
The program encompasses music,stage art,
litterature, art exhibitions, childrens program,
Northen People program,Indigenous Youth
Gathering, courses,indigenous houses and much
more. Riddu Riddu celebrates 20 year anniversary
in 2011.
The Folk Dance Festival
www.folkedansfestivalen.no
07.07. - 10.07.2011
A lot of good music, from early morning till late
night. The festival will in 2011 be held in Bodø,
north of Norway.
The Norwegian Folk Music Week
www.folkemusikkveka.no
22.05. - 29.05.2011
Norway`s oldest folk music festival. The festival
offers a variety of high-quality artistic and popular
types of entertainment. Set in Ål.
The Telemark International Folk Music
Festival
www.telemarkfestivalen.no
21.07. - 24.07. 2011
The annual Telemark International Folk Music
Festival presents folk music from various parts
of the world. On a solid base of Nordic and
Norwegian folk traditions, the festival creates an
enjoyable and intimate atmosphere. The festival
has become an important arena for the renewing
of folk music.
Jazz and Rock Festivals
Hamar Music Festival
www.musicfest.no
23.06. - 26.06. 2011
HMF - always a various program, about 30
concerts. All the concerts are within 5 min. walk
from the festival area. Hamar is a small city, 120
km north of Oslo, or 50 min. by car from the Oslo
Gardermoen Airport (OSL). Placed by the biggest
lake in Norway - Mjøsa.
Kongsberg Jazzfestival
www.kongsberg-jazzfestival.no
06.07. - 09.07. 2011
The program of Kongsberg Jazz Festival has a
strong focus on contemporary jazz and innovative
sound, and is generally regarded as one of
Scandinavia’s most innovative jazz festivals,
presenting a mix of internationally acclaimed
artists and some of the finest Norwegian artists.
The festival motto is to give the audience both
what they have longed to hear – and what they
didn’t know they would love to hear.
Lillehammer Jazzfestival
www.dolajazz.no
13.10. - 16.10. 2011
Intimate, contemporary jazz festival, with main
focus on young Nordic talents. Set in Lillehammer.
MaiJazz - Stavanger International Jazz
Festival
www.maijazz.no
10.05. - 15.05. 2011

MAIJAZZ, JAGA JAZZIST. photo: john rodger
Jazz and Rock Festivals cont’d.
Stavangers oldest festival presenting international
jazz stars and the best in national and local jazz.
Set in Stavanger.
Molde International Jazz Festival
www.moldejazz.no
18.06. - 23.06.2011
Innovating and challenging. Moldejazz is one
of Europes most important jazz festivals. A wide
range of jazz and related music combined with
special projects initiated by the festival makes
Moldejazz an unique event. Set in Molde.
Sildajazz - Haugesund International
Jazzfestival
www.sildajazz.no
10.08. - 14.08.2011
The festival presents outstanding national and
international artists in addition to a festival
exhibition, street parades and outdoor concerts.
Seaside Music & Mission Festival
www.sginfo.no
05.07. - 10.07. 2011
Seaside M&M Festival is the largest Christian
Youth Festival in Northern Europe. With
contemporary international and national christian
artists the festival finds place in one of the most
beautiful regions in the south of Norway.
The Big Band Festival
www.storbandfestivalen.no
Concerts with national and international artists.
Set in Tønsberg and Nøtterøy, Vestfold county.
Trondheim Jazz Festival
www.jazzfest.no
11.05. - 14.05. 2011
The festival is built around the exciting environment
of the jazz courses, offered by NTNU, Department
of music. The festivals has a Norwegian and
Nordic main profile. Set in Trondheim.

Varanger Festival
www.varangerfestivalen.no
10.08. - 14.08. 2011
Vadsø International jazz festival -
Varangerfestivalen, was established in 1982. The
festival is set in the town of Vadso by the beautiful
Varanger fjord in the north-eastern part of Norway.
The festival is the most important jazz event in the
Barents region, covering the northern parts of
Norway, Finland, and Russia.
Vossa Jazz
www.vossajazz.no
15.04. - 17.04.2011
Jazz, trad, folk music, commisioned work,
new projects. Set in Voss.
Literature Festivals
Ordkalotten - Tromsø International
Literature Festival
www.ordkalotten.no
06.10. - 09.10.2011
During Ordkalotten artistic displays of literature
are in focus, the northern location imprints the
festival’s profile, while the perspective is global.
The festival also have indigenous representation.
Kapittel - Stavanger International Festival
of Literature and Freedom of Speech
www.kapittel.com
21.09. - 25.09. 2011
Kapittel puts focus on literature and freedom
of speech by inviting and promoting a variety
of international, Norwegian and nordic writers,
artists, and documentary films over 5 days in
Stavanger and in the region around the city.
The Bjørnson Festival of International
Literature
www.bjornsonfestivalen.no
31.08. - 04.09.2011
Situated in Molde, the oldest literature festival
in Norway. With focus on freedom of expression.
It invites participants from all continents to
debates, readings, concerts and workshops.
The Hamsun Days in Hamarøy
www.hamsundagene.no
2012
Since the first event in 1982, the Hamsun Days
have contributed to spreading knowledge of Knut
Hamsun’s life and works, and his close connection
to Hamarøy. The program includes literary
seminars, “adventours”, author meetings,
concerts, art exhibitions, theatre. Set in Hamarøy,
Nordland.
The literature week in Vestfold
www.litteraturuka.no
06.11. - 14.11. 2011
Vestfold Literature Week promotes reading through
an extencive programme, including public
meetings with authors, children events and focus
on both local, national and Nordic literature.
The New Norwegian Arts Festival
www.aasentunet.no
23.06. - 26.06. 2011
The festival is the highlight of the year`s broad
and varied cultural programme at The Ivar Aasen
Centre, with literature, music and visual arts.
The Norwegian Festival of Literature
www.litteraturfestival.no
24.05. - 29.05. 2011
The largest literature festival of the nordic
countries in the small idyllic town Lillehammer.
Theatre and Stage Art Festivals
Folkigata Festival
www.folkigata.no
Folkigata is an international street theatre festival.
The festival uses the city as its main tool.
Set in Fredrikstad
Agder Teater International
Theatre festival
www.agderteater.no
08.10. - 13.10.2012
The festival aims to present brilliant international
and Norwegian puppet and figure theatre.
Set in Kristiansand.

Theatre and Stage Art Festivals cont’d.
Market for Performance Arts
http://markedet.org/markedet/
09.05. - 12.05.2011
An unique arena for presentation, purchase and
sales of professional “performing arts” for
children. Set in Sandefjord.
Norwegian Amateur Theatre Festival
www.teaterfestival.no
23.05. - 29.05. 2011
Norwegian Youth League in cooperation with
The Norwegian Theatre in Oslo. Local groups play
on a professional stage.
Porsgrunn International Theatre Festival
www.pit.no
22.06. - 26.06.2011
PIT presents innovative visual theatre. We
programme professional, for the most part non
text-based work, which can include animation
theatre, circus skills, mask, mime, clown and
visual theatre. Set in Porsgrunn.
The Great Norwegian Comedy Festival
www.humorfestivalen.no
05.10. - 08.10.2011
The Great Norwegian Comedy Festival 2011 gives
you some of the funniest performers from our
region, Rogaland, from Oslo and from abroad.
Set in Stavanger.
The Kings Ring
www.heroyspelet.no
02.07. - 03.07.2011
Presenting the viking misical The Kings Ring on
a fantastic outdoors stage on an island outside the
northern-western coast of Norway, in Fosnavåg.
The Peer Gynt Festival
www.peergynt.no
03.08. - 14.08. 2011
Theatre, music, literature and visual art. The Peer
Gynt festival at Vinstra invites you to Henrik Ibsens
play Peer Gynt with music by edvard Grieg.
Set in Vinstra, Gudbrandsdalen.
Stamsund International Theatre Festival
www.stamfest.no
24.05. - 28.05. 2011
SIT presents contemporary performing arts in the
setting of a small fishing village in the Lofoten
Islands in the north of Norway. The festival
presents around 40 performances each year, and
draws a mixed audience - artists from all over
Europe joining the local audience.
Ålesund Theatre Festival
www.aalesund_teaterfestival.no
March 2011
Ålesund Teaterfestival is a local festival which
presents a wide range of performing arts.

Norway Festivals
Norway Festivals is a cooperation organization and support network to
promote the principal cultural festivals in Norway. About 80 festivals and
historical plays have joined together to encourage improvement and
development of all aspects of festival organization.
For more detailed information, check out our web site
www.norwayfestivals.com
Contact details:
Norway Festivals
Lillehammer University College
Faculty TVF
Postboks 952
2604 Lillehammer
Norway
Festival consultant:
Solveig Rønningen
+47 95 05 63 78
solveig.ronningen@hil.no
President:
Kjersti Stenseng
+47 90 08 07 74
kjersti.stenseng@litteraturfestival.no
www.dialecta.no