24 reasons to visit Bodø and Nordland in 2024
Coastal Women, Tranøy Sculpture Park (Kunstpark Tranøy), Hamarøy. Photo: Tina Krey Jacobsen/Bodø2024
This year Bodø is European Capital of Culture, the first city north of the Arctic Circle to hold the prestigious title. There are plenty of excellent reasons to visit Bodø (and Nordland) in 2024. We have picked 24 - our lucky number.
Europe's only land art biennale
Head to stunning Kjerringøy, an hour north of Bodø, for Kjerringøy Land Art Biennale (K-LAB), Europe's only land art biennale. The opening weekend will take place on 6-7 July 2024. Want to see more outdoors art in beautiful nature? Check out Artscape Nordland, Lofoten International Art Festival (LIAF), Anti Biennale: Kunst i Arktisk Natur and Bodø's brand new sculpture trail, Kunstkanten, which will be officially opened on 14 September.
Kjerringøy Land Art Biennale. Photo: Marie Peyre/Bodø2024
Sami art
Interest for Sami art and culture is growing, both in Norway and internationally. Bodø is located in a Sami area and Sami culture is an important part of the Bodø2024 programme. One of the flagship projects will see the Bodø City Museum transformed into a Sami museum, Bådåddjo Musea, which will open on 19 June. Several exhibitions will take place throughout the year, and include Girjegumpi, a nomadic Sami architecture library; Sápmi Triennale and various art and duodji exhibitions. Check out the programme here.
Ruoktot. Photo: Dan Mariner.
The Nordland Railway
Rail travel is enjoying a bit of a renaissance among environment conscious travellers. The Nordland Railway is one of the most scenic railways in Norway, and this summer visitors will be able to hop on hop off the train to experience the region's beautiful nature and its diverse culture with The Trail Way. From Sami culture to geopoetic hikes and salmon river fishing, the six side trips offer new sustainable travel alternatives. Check out what's on offer here.
Between Røkland and Lønsdal along the Nordland railway. Photo: David Gubler.
Knut Hamsun and Hamarøy
The 1920 Nobel Laureate for Literature, Knut Hamsun (1859-1952) was one of Norway's literature greats, but also a known antisemite and a nazi sympathizer. A brand new exhibition, Messy Corners, dedicated to this controversial author, opened recently at the Hamsun Centre in Hamarøy. Visit the centre, but also Hamsun's childhood home nearby, and explore the landscape that inspired him. You can stay at Hamsun Lodge, and if time allows also pay a visit to Árran Lule Sami Centre and the picturesque Tranøy Lighthouse.
Cave Music
For something really out there, check out Cave Music, a concert in the submerged Plura Cave outside Mo i Rana, with Norwegian saxophonist Håkon Skog Erlandsen on 29 March. This will be a world's first as all the musicians, technicians and the audience have to be certified cave divers. Can't dive but still keen to experience this one-of-a-kind event? The concert will be streamed live, both online and on a big screen outside the cave in Plura.
Plura Cave concert. Photo: Pekka Tuuri
Endangered seabirds
The Vega Archipelago is known for its inhabitants' long tradition of keeping eider ducks as livestock, and harvesting eiderdown (the lightest, fluffiest and most expensive down in the world) by hand. 20 years ago this unique tradition was inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage. But what will happen to the eider ducks in the future, as more and more seabirds disappear? And what can be done to hinder their disappearance. Sound of Silence aims to raise awareness of endangered seabirds during an international conference, which will also feature specially composed music, an art exhibition, an architecture project for toddlers and young children, a guided boat trip to a nearby island, and more.
Hysvær. Photo: Marie Peyre/Bodø2024
A poet at sea
Petter Dass
Petter Dass (1647-1707) was Norway's most famous baroque poet (as well as a priest), and his poem 'Nordland Trumpet' has become a classic of Norwegian literature. A 10-metre high sculpture celebrating this colourful character will be unveiled later this year in his honour. Located on an islet off Sandnessjøen (near the Petter Dass Museum), the sculpture will be best seen from the sea - a new attraction for all those travelling on Hurtigruten og Havila cruises.
Art exhibitions
Art lovers will be spoiled for choice this year, with many new exciting art exhibitions in Bodø and further afield. Watch out, among others, for From the North/Peder Balke at Gallery Bodøgaard; Allhavet and Nordnorsken at Bodø Art Association, several top photography exhibitions at NOUA Gallery; and prosjekt 67 (all in Bodø); Polarhav at the Karl Erik Harr Museum in Kjerringøy and the permanent exhibition at the Adde Zetterquist Gallery in Storjord.
From the Håkon Bleken exhibit at Gallery Bodøgaard in February. Photo: David Engmo/Bodø2024
A Midsummer Mystery
Who doesn't love a surprise, right? Bodø2024's big summer opening event Midsummer Mystery will be a celebration of landscape, summer and the sea, with a strong focus on audience participation. We don't want to reveal too much but can say that this being Midsummer, fire (as in bonfires) will also feature. Don't miss this spectacular event produced by the British company Walk the Plank! Breivika, Bodø, 22 June.
Photo: David Engmo/Bodø2024
Sporting events
Many big sporting events are planned this year to coincide with Bodø2024. Marcialonga and the World Cup in Atlantic Cod Fishing (VM i skreifiske) kicked off proceedings earlier this month, but travellers to the region can still look forward to CONIFA Women World Football Cup (featuring a team from Sápmi) (6-9 June), Eurogym (13-19 July) and Arctic Race of Norway (4-7 Aug).
Eurogym. Photo: Sebastian Loraas
Music festivals galore
Music festivals are as much part of summer as ice cream, wild swimming and midnight sun (at least in this part of the world). Come to Nordland this summer and make your own unforgettable memories with the 2024 edition of Bodø Beat (18-25 May), Lofoten International Chamber Music Festival (8-13 July), Træna Festival (10-13 July), Márkomeannu (25-28 July), Musikkfestuka (2-11 Aug) and Parkenfestivalen (15-17 Aug), among others.
Musikkfestuka 2023. Photo: Henrik Dvergsdal
New music venues
Two new venues have opened in Bodø in recent years: Beddingen kulturhus, an intimate, laid back venue in a former boat showroom by the harbour, and Svømmehallen Scene, in the city's former public swimming pool. Norwegian pop icons A-ha recorded their latest album, True North, in Svømmehallen Scene in 2021, and Bryan Adams will perform there on 2 July.
Marstein at Svømmehallen Scene. Photo: Kasper Holgersen.
European Cabins of Culture
Plenty of surprises await hikers in Nordland this year, as a host of artists, musicians and other creative professionals will bring music, theatre, dance, art, poetry and much more to local hiking trails and DNT cabins throughout the summer. Seasoned hikers can also join an organised trek along Nordlandsruta, Norway's longest hiking trail (650km from north to south) - again with many culture stops along the way. All events will be free. The programme will be released on 12 April.
Jordbruhytta, approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Bodø. Photo: Marie Peyre/Bodø2024
Sami culture
Want to take a deep dive into Sami culture, and/or learn more about topical Sami issues? There will be plenty of opportunities to do just that in 2024, whether at the NAISA (Native American and Indigenous Studies Association) conference (6-7 June), which will take place in Europe for the first time ever; or during during Giellavahkko (Sami language week) (21-27 Oct) or the Sápmi Triennale (17 Aug-6 Oct).
Sign in Norwegian and Lule Sami language. Photo: Marie Peyre/Bodø2024
Street art
“After School” by Rustam Qbic. Photo: Marie Peyre/Bodø2024
With murals by Phlegm, Martin Whatson and Rustam Qbic among others, and lots of smaller works scattered throughout the city, there is plenty for street art aficionados to discover in Bodø.
Go for a wander to see what you find, or use this map provided by the tourist office to guide your steps. The most dedicated can also head to Sulitjelma, a former mining town an hour from Fauske, to see the futuristic-inspired works by Spanish street artist Deih.
Amazing nature
Did you know one of Bodø2024's three main themes is Art of Nature? From Nordic wildlife including moose, sea eagles and reindeer to amazing landscapes and breathtaking views from pretty much any mountaintop (not to mention Saltstraumen, the world's strongest maelstrom!), Nordland is blessed with truly amazing nature. It is easy to see why so many artists were, and continue to be, inspired by it. Come and experience it for yourself.
Art In Nature: Saltstraumen, the world’s strongest maelstrom, seen from the Saltstraumen bridge. Photo: Tina Krey Jacobsen/Bodø2024
Adelsteen Normann
2024 is the year to discover Bodø's forgotten artist, Adelsteen Normann (1848-1918), a successful landscape painter and an influential figure of the Berlin art scene in his time. Normann also happens to be the man who introduced Edvard Munch to the world. Find out more about this amazing story here. Hålogatun in Bodø houses the world's largest collection of works by Adelsteen Normann, and will be organising open Sundays throughout 2024.
Fiskevær i Lofoten by Adelsteen Normann.
Fantastic museums
Bodø and Nordland are home to some great museums. Among them are the Norwegian Aviation Museum and the Jekt Trade Museum in Bodø, Kjerringøy Trading Post in Kjerringøy, Lofotr Viking Museum in Lofoten and the Hurtigruten Museum in Vesterålen.
The Jekt Trade Museum in Bodø. Photo: Marie Peyre/Bodø2024
A rich maritime heritage
Love boats? Head to Bodø for the Coastal Convention (Kyststevne), which will gather hundreds of traditional and historical boats of all sizes 19-21 July. For those considering learning to sail, the Christian Radich, one of Norway's three tall ships, will come to Bodø for the occasion and will offer two sailing trips for would-be-sailors on 18-21 July and 22-25 July.
Nordlandsbåt. Photo: Dan Mariner.
Quirky events
For something a bit different, why not check out some of the following Bodø2024 events? VM Gatebil, Outsider Art, 24-hour running race and a Freedom Week all feature on the programme, as well as a self-playing piano and sculptures made of rubbish, to name but a few of our quirkier offerings. We really have something for every taste!
Music On Display: Self-playing piano. Photo: Benjamin Mørk.
Local food
Award-winning chefs, destination restaurants, the freshest seafood and a bounty of other outstanding local ingredients - Nordland is a top culinary destination. Hard-core foodies should make sure they make it to Arktisk Mat in September for Norway's smallest but most exciting food festival, which attracts top names from around the world. The festival takes place in picturesque Sjøgata, Mosjøen, every year.
Photo: Arina Karbovskaya/Bodø2024
Unique places to stay
Glossy photos of Manshausen and The Arctic Hideway have been doing the rounds one the internet for some time now. The new Wood Hotel, Norway's largest timber building, is sure to join them when it opens in Bodø on 15 May. Boasting a fantastic location on Mount Rønvik, with panoramic views over the city and its surroundings, the luxury hotel will be a welcome addition to the region's offering.
Wood Hotel. Photo: 3DEstaste/AB Invest
Impressive islands
The Lofoten Archipelago is a top destination for many travellers, and understandably so - they are breathtaking. But there are plenty of other islands to explore off the Norwegian coast. Some of our favourite in Nordland include Skrova for its outdoor photo exhibitions, Træna for the popular Træna Festival, Røst for its Italian connections (read about our Via Querinissima and Querini Opera projects) and Vega for its UNESCO heritage (see Sound of Silence project above).
Outdoor photo exhibitions in Skrova, Lofoten. Photo: Marie Peyre/Bodø2024
Arctic light
The Arctic is a fantastic place to experience nature phenomena like the midnight sun and the Northern lights. Solar activity has been particularly favourable these past few years, and is forecast to continue for a while, so prospects are good for aurora chasers. Should the northern lights remain elusive during your stay, we still have some good news: Nordland by Light, Nordland's first ever light festival, and Bodø2024 last big event, will take place in November 2024, so whatever happens - the future looks bright!
Arctic light. Photo: Reidar Hernes