Stavanger is 900 years old this year! Even in an ordinary year, the city of Stavanger hosts many of Norway’s biggest events and festivals throughout the year. Here’s what to expect in 2025.
Planning a trip to Norway this year? If you're passing through the Stavanger region on your travels, then why not time your visit to coincide with a special event or festival?
As Norway's oil and gas capital, the city of Stavanger is home to a large international community, which is reflected in its cultural calendar.
We keep our eyes on the major concerts, festivals and other big events in Stavanger and the surrounding region so you don’t have to!
Whether you're a resident of Stavanger or Sandnes, or you're planning a visit, check out this guide to make the most of your time.
Happy Birthday, Stavanger!
Stavanger Cathedral was completed in 1125, marking the foundation of Stavanger as a city and bishopric.
In 2025, Stavanger will celebrate its 900th anniversary with a series of projects and initiatives designed to honour its rich history, strengthen community ties, and create a lasting legacy for future generations.
Some 2025 events are yet to have their dates confirmed, so do check back. Are you visiting Bergen during your trip? If so, don’t miss our similar guide to what’s on in Bergen.
Glød Light Festival
18 January – 2 February, 2025: Opening the year’s festivities is the latest edition of this exciting light festival. This year’s celebration invites reflection, hope, and community through stunning light art installations across the city.
Highlights include BEACON OF LIGHT by 1024 Architecture, transforming Domkirkeplassen with arches of light; JEG ER by Pia Wall and Hildegunn K. Tessmann, showcasing artwork by 900 Rogaland children; and GAIA by Luke Jerram, a breathtaking Earth sculpture with NASA imagery.
These installations weave light and darkness, dream and reality, into a magical, inclusive experience.
Food and Fun
19 – 21 February, 2025: Known for its top-tier restaurants and exceptional local ingredients, Stavanger will welcome 13 world-class guest chefs to collaborate with the city’s most exciting eateries.
Together, they’ll create exclusive festival menus inspired by Rogaland’s renowned, locally sourced produce, adding a unique international twist. This celebration of food brings the best of both worlds: global culinary expertise and a commitment to local sustainability.
With 13 participating restaurants, diners can look forward to an unforgettable gastronomic experience that supports local producers while showcasing international flair.
Stavanger Wine Festival
19 – 22 March, 2025: It's the 25th year of Stavanger's showcase of all things wine-related. The city's restaurants will be filled with people tasting exciting wines from all over the world.
Popular ticketed events include the ‘wine train', surprise dinner, lunch, plus events hosted by the individual venues. The ‘wine train’ is already sold out.
Stavanger 2025
24 – 27 April, 2025: As part of Stavanger's 900th anniversary, a four-day city festival will take place in late April, transforming the streets and urban spaces into vibrant stages for music, dance, theatre, and more.
The highlight is The Story of Our City, a performance unfolding across five iconic locations—Bjergsted, Domkirken, Skansenkaien, Arneageren, and Tou—each bringing a unique chapter of Stavanger's history to life.
Landstreff Stavanger
2 – 4 May, 2025: Often referred to as LS, Landstreff Stavanger is Norway's leading music festival for 18 and 19-year-olds. Over the years, the festival has become a key tradition and cultural highlight for graduating students, selling out in advance year after year. Continuing the tradition, the 2025 event is already sold out.
With a lineup that includes international and national artists, Landstreff Stavanger has featured major names like Martin Garrix, Mac Miller, Karpe, The Chainsmokers, Macklemore, Metro Boomin, Wiz Khalifa, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and Bebe Rexha.
Having been a cornerstone event for approaching four decades, Landstreff continues to be a must-attend celebration for Norway’s youth, blending world-class music with the festive spirit of russetid.
Maijazz
6 – 10 May, 2025: MaiJazz began life in 1989 and has since gone on to become one of Norway's leading jazz festivals. The almost-week-long event presents international jazz stars and the best in national and local jazz every year.
In collaboration with Stavanger Jazzforum, MaiJazz aim to develop and contribute to increased interest for jazz music in Stavanger and the surrounding region.
This year’s line-up includes the formidable presence of Yilian Cañizares, Bali-based duo Amadou and Mariam, and the Scandinavian all-stars André Roligheten 5.
Norway Chess
26 May – 6 June, 2025: It may surprise some, but Stavanger is a major name in global chess. Every year, the world's best chess players meet in the city to participate in the Norway Chess tournament.
Norway Chess has quickly become one of the most prestigious dates on the calendar. In fact, in 2014, Garry Kasparov stated that Norway Chess is “the Wimbledon of Chess.”
Norwegian Grand Master Magnus Carlsen is a proud ambassador of the tournament. The event is broadcast in several countries around the world by national TV broadcasters and online through popular platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
Mablis Festival
20-21 June, 2025: This music festival is held in beautiful natural surroundings at Vålandsskogen close to the city centre of Stavanger. Mablis seeks to be an inclusive festival and so is a family-friendly event with no age limit.
Among the highlights of 2025 is the return of the legendary Norwegian band The September When, whose timeless rock and electrifying performances are sure to captivate audiences. Joining them are the beloved Hellbillies, guaranteed to spark singalongs with their catchy tunes and heartfelt storytelling.
As Mablis approaches its 10-year milestone in 2026, this ninth edition sets the stage for a celebratory journey, with many more artist announcements to come.
Gladmat Food Festival
25 – 28 July, 2025: As Scandinavia's biggest food festival, Gladmat attracts over 250,000 visitors to sample the flavours of the Stavanger region every year. The region enjoys a growing culinary reputation thanks to pioneering agriculture and Gladmat helps to showcase that work to a hungry audience.
Whether you're curious about the increased focus on local food production or want to tuck in to street food from around the world, the 27th edition of Gladmat is sure to offer something for you. One thing is for sure: you won’t leave hungry!
Øyhopp 2025
2 – 10 August, 2025: This nine-day summer festival “Island Hopping” celebrates art, culture, and diversity across the stunning islands near Stavanger’s city centre, including Lindøy, Steinsøy, Tunsøy, Langøy, Hellesøy, Kalvøy, Vassøy, and Store Marøy.
These island vanues will come alive with music and vibrant experiences, offering a unique celebration in the heart of nature.
Blink Summer Ski Festival
6 – 9 August, 2025: Blink is Norway's summer ski festival. Yes, skiing in the summer is possible in a Norwegian city thanks to roller-skis!
Contestants from the national elite in cross country skiing and biathlon race through the streets of Sandnes, just a few miles south of Stavanger. The festival begins down at the Lysefjord, with a race from the quay in Lysebotn up the hairpin bends to Øygardstøl.
Utopia
22 – 23 August, 2025: One of the region's biggest music festivals attracts international artists in pop, dance and urban music to the heart of Stavanger.
Acts announced for 2025 include Broiler, Veronica Maggio, and Gavin Degraw. Early bird tickets are already on sale. Buy your tickets for Utopia early as this event always sells out in advance.
Stavanger Marathon
TBC August, 2025: The annual Stavanger Marathon event includes a series of races both in and out of the city centre. Details for 2025 are yet to be announced.
Usually, there's a 5k route is along the harbour promenade, with start and finish by the main square. Meanwhile, the half and full marathon routes skirt two lakes and shorelines before returning to the city centre.
Kapittel
17 – 21 September, 2025: Stavanger's international festival of literature and freedom of expression offers five days of literature, film and debate, with many events held in English.
The theme for Kapittel 2025 is The Bible, the book often referred to as “the book of all books” and arguably the most influential text in Western culture. This year’s festival will explore the Bible’s enduring impact across literature, history, and art, while also addressing its contradictions and challenges.
From timeless archetypes like good and evil to questions of morality, identity, and existence, Kapittel 2025 invites participants to examine how the Bible’s narratives resonate—and clash—with the complexities of contemporary life.
Norwegian Organ Festival
11 – 14 September, 2025: Experience a rich programme of concerts, performances, organ tours, youth workshops, festival services, and more, showcasing the breadth of organ music from classical and sacred works to folk and contemporary compositions.
Organised by Stavanger's Church Council, the festival welcomes everyone to celebrate the timeless beauty of the organ.
Did I miss anything? Let me know.
Hi David
Happy New Year! Thank you for the information on events in Stavanger.
Do you have any further information on the Organ Music Festival in September, in terms of who is organising it?
I am askiing in behalf of my son who is a senior organ scholar at a University in the UK.
Thanks
Mark White
Hi Mark, their website is http://www.orgelfestival.no
Wine fest this year sold out pretty damn quick. Shame, as we had a great time last year.