January: Handball, film festival and music gala
January 11–29 2023, it’s the World Men’s Handball Championship. Gothenburg is hosting Sweden’s group and main round with matches between January 12–22.
After two pandemic years, it’s finally time for the audience at the Göteborg Film Festival to experience film together at the cinemas around the city! The program Jan 27 Jan–Feb 5 offers blockbusters, indie gems, documentaries, exciting seminars and much more. The festival opens with a grand opening party on January 27 at Trädgår’n.
On January 27, the music gala P3 Guld is back at the Partille arena with artists such as Thomas Stenström, Zara Larsson, Hooja and Cleo. It will be an evening filled with live performances and award ceremonies, which both summarize the music year 2022 and look ahead at the new year in music.
January also offers several premieres. At the Gothenburg Opera, Puccini’s beloved opera La Boheme is performed on the main stage from January 21 to May 13. The exhibition I have a dream by the Polish-Roma artist Małgorzata Mirga-Tas opens at Gothenburg’s art gallery, which will be shown 28 Jan 28–Apr 16 2023.
February: Equestrian sports, dance performance and photography exhibition
Melodifestivalen (Eng. The Melody Festival) is an annual song competition organised to determine the Swedish representative for the Eurovision Song Contest. Feb 3–4, the first stop of the tour returns to the Scandinavium arena and Gothenburg, after a two-year hiatus.
On February 22–26 Feb, the world elite in equestrian sport returns to Gothenburg! Gothenburg Horse Show is one of the leading indoor equestrian competitions and always very popular with visitors.
February 4 is the world premiere of the new performing arts work 12 songs +, where the artist Ane Brun is live on stage at the opera house with the Göteborg Opera‘s dance company and orchestra. The work, choreographed by Kenneth Kvarnström, will be performed at the opera until February 25.
At the Hasselblad Center, two new photography exhibitions will open on February 11: 202 people in a room, which is an exhibition of portraits from the collections, and I am the Camera, a new permanent exhibition about nature photography due to Gothenburg’s Anniversary celebrations in 2023.
March: Long-awaited concerts
Swedish band First Aid Kit begins the month of March with one of their three Sweden gigs this spring before heading out again on a world tour. With them on the tour they have their latest album Palomino and guest artist Maja Francis.
Nils Frahm is the neoclassical composer who has reached an audience far beyond his genre. On March 20, he plays at Gothenburg Film Studios in Hisingen.
April: Science festival, boat show and new exhibitions
The Gothenburg International Science Festival April 18–23, is a popular meeting place for all curious people of all ages! The program offers everything from children’s activities to interesting lectures with world-leading researchers. Every year 60,000 people visit the festival, which is one of Europe’s leading popular science events.
Eriksberg Boat Show April 14–16 is a floating boat fair in the middle of Gothenburg’s historic shipyard area at Eriksberg. Here you can discover Gothenburg’s boat scene, while at the same time you get to experience Gothenburg’s northern riverside.
In April two new exhibitions open at Gothenburg’s museums. The Gothenburg Museum of Art will be showing works from the 1930s group of artists called the Gothenburg Colourists, April 22, 2023–April 7, 2024.
From April 1 you can visit the Museum of World Culture‘s new exhibition about games – The World of Games.
May: Göteborgsvarvet half marathon and fashion exhibitions
Göteborgsvarvet is the world’s largest half-marathon and attracts tens of thousands of runners every year. In addition to the 21 km long race on May 13, many different races are run during “the varvet week”: Lilla varvet, Mini varvet, Special varvet, City varvet, Trail varvet and Relayt varvet.
If cycling is more your type of exercise, Göteborgsgirot also takes place in May. Everyone can participate, from children and exercisers to elite cyclists, during the weekend of May 26-28.
In May, two new exhibitions with focus on fashion will open:
13 May-30 Sep, the Röhsska Museum of Design and Craft shows Nordic Fashion Now -Knitwear and Print, where 15 new Nordic fashion talents are highlighted.
On May 3, Gothenburg Museum of Art opens the exhibition Beyond the Wearable, which shows works by four of the 21st century’s renowned Swedish fashion designers.
June: Anniversary festival, West Pride and Ullevi concerts
June 4 is Gothenburg’s birthday and June 2–5 the big Anniversary Festival will take place! There will be three live stages, one of which has the same capacity as the Scandinavium arena, and lots of food, music and activities for all ages. Look out for news and artist releases at goteborg2023.com.
During the 400-year celebration, parts of the city become an exhibition open to everyone – Prototyping Gothenburg. Between January 2 and September 3, visitors can learn more about how Gothenburg is building a modern and sustainable city. Be inspired by the innovations of the future and take part in construction workshops, talks and discussions.
June 5–11 it’s West Pride in Gothenburg, an art and culture festival that creates safe spaces for LGBTQI+ people and highlights criticism of norms and the life situation of LGBTQI+ people. The festival includes Pride Park, Pride House and the Pride Parade and is free to visitors.
At the large outdoor stadium Ullevi, there will be a string of concerts with world artists from June to the end of August. In June we welcome rock giants Metallica on the 16th and 18th. In 2023, “The Boss” will also come to Gothenburg again! Bruce Springsteen offers no less than three unforgettable evenings at Ullevi: June 24, 26 and 28. Another rock icon visiting Gothenburg is Patti Smith, who is doing a concert at the Gothenburg Concert Hall on June 3.
July: Youth sports tournaments, Coldplay, sailing events and equestrian sports
Every year, Gothenburg is the host city for several of the world’s largest youth sports tournaments.
The Partille Cup is the world’s largest and most international handball event. Annually, the event is attended by 20,000 participants from 50 countries divided among 1,100 teams. This year the cup will be played July 3–8.
The Gothia Cup July 16–22 gathers football players from all over the world and is also the world’s biggest youth football tournament. The cup welcomes 35,000 participants with almost as many fellow travellers and is played on pitches all over Gothenburg.
British band Coldplay will come to Ullevi stadium for no less than four concerts on July 8-9, 11-12. Among other things, the tour has been lauded for its pioneering sustainability initiative with renewable energy at nearly every venue, electric bikes and kinetic dance floors that allow fans to help fuel the show. In addition, a tree is planted for every ticket sold.
Childhood Match Cup (formerly Match Cup Marstrand) is an annual sailing competition outside Marstrand north of Gothenburg. The competition is Sweden’s largest public sailing event and is held this year between July 4 and 9.
Westcoast Equestrian Week July 25–30 at Åbytravet in Mölndal outside Gothenburg is a festive summer week dedicated to equestrian sports. Experience competitions in both jumping and dressage, family activities and festival atmosphere.
August: Festival with climate forum
It is not only Ullevi stadium that offers concerts this summer. August 10–12, Way Out West music festival is held in Slottsskogen city park, this year with Blur among the headlining acts. Way Out West has been organized in the park since 2007 and attracts visitors from all over Sweden and large parts of the rest of the world. The completely vegetarian festival works actively with sustainability within all dimensions, and the climate forum Greentopia is organised on the festival grounds for the second year in a row in 2023.
September: Anniversary final, book fair, marathon and culture festival
Gothenburg’s Anniversary Final is the grand finale to a whole summer of anniversary celebrations. Aug 31–Sep 3, the city is bursting with events and festivities. In addition, the Anniversary Parade procession runs through the city centre.
Gothenburg Cultural Festival Aug 31–Sep 3 is a sustainable city festival that offers everything from great popular artists to new circus, children’s theater, new food experiences and the opportunity to try out activities yourself.
On September 3, the world’s largest half marathon will be twice as long. The Göteborgsvarvet Marathon invites you to a unique and historic race, due to Gothenburg’s 400th anniversary.
The Gothenburg Book Fair September 28–1 October is the Nordic region’s largest cultural event! Around 80,000 visitors are coming annually to a program full of seminars, talks and author meetings – and not least a congress hall full of literature for all ages and interests.
October: Halloween and autumn school break
No autumn without Halloween at Liseberg! Since its inception in 2015, the event, with a lovely mix of chills and tingles in the stomach, has become hugely popular among both young and old. Come to Gothenburg at the turn of October/November and enjoy a spookily decorated park, terrifying horror houses and breath-taking rides. The Universeum science centre also has a Halloween theme during the autumn, with spooky activities and terrifying discoveries.
November-December: World Championships and Christmas in the whole city
In November every year, the Christmas celebrations in Gothenburg begin with lots of atmospheric activities: Sweden’s largest Christmas market at Liseberg, traditional Lucia processions, shimmering Christmas lights, Christmas shopping and Christmas concerts for all tastes. Keep an eye out here on goteborg.com as it approaches!
Nov 29–Dec 17, the Women’s Handball World Championship 2023 is played. The Swedish national team plays its group stage and main round in Gothenburg with matches between December.
2023 ends with the ice hockey of the future. During the Christmas holidays 2023/2024, the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships will be played in Gothenburg. Expect a big hockey party in town when tomorrow’s stars meet to fight for the gold!
