Almedalsveckan in English

Upcoming Dates

In 2025, Almedalsveckan will be held in Visby from June 23 to June 27. If the council makes no new decisions, the planned dates for the following years are:

• 2026: June 22–26
• 2027: June 28–July 2

Welcome!

A Unique Forum for Social Issues

Almedalsveckan (Almedalen Week) is an open and democratic meeting place where everyone is welcome to participate and contribute. The event fosters an informal and relaxed atmosphere, giving the sense that all key voices are present. Spontaneous encounters often lead to unexpected outcomes. Admission is free.

Recognized as a leading political festival, Almedalsveckan has inspired similar events in several countries over the years.

Purpose and Vision

Almedalsveckan is a democratic meeting place open to all – a unique space for dialogue, exchange, and unexpected encounters that contribute to societal development. Together, we create the distinctive Almedalen spirit through openness, accessibility, and mutual respect.

Almedalen: Established in 1968

Almedalsveckan began in 1968 when Olof Palme, then Minister of Education, delivered a speech from the back of a lorry in the city park Almedalen near Kruttornet in Visby. Over time, it became a tradition for Palme and the Social Democratic Party to hold speeches in the Almedalen Park. Until 1974, he was the sole speaker.

In 1991, Almedalsveckan became independent of the Social Democratic Party, and since then, all parliamentary parties have participated in the event.

A Collaborative Effort

Almedalsveckan is the annual result of cooperation between the main organizers, the host and other co-organizers. The main organizers are the parliamentary political parties, via their local representatives in Gotland. The Municipality of Gotland serves as the formal host, managing the event through its dedicated project office.

A Unique Event in a Historic Setting

Almedalsveckan is held in Visby, on the island of Gotland, at the end of June. Until 2019, the festival spanned eight days, but since 2022, each parliamentary party has been allocated a dedicated half-day during the event.

Visby, a UNESCO World Heritage city, is located 180 km from Stockholm and can be reached by ferry or airplane. It has a population of approximately 25,000.

A Hub for Dialogue and Engagement

Almedalsveckan attracts an estimated 30,000 unique visitors and 1,200 organizers. These figures are based on ferry and flight ticket data to Gotland during the event.

In 2019, the festival featured 3,700 official events and around 3,000 unofficial ones. Only official events, which are open to everyone, are included in the festival program.

Who Attends the Festival?

Almedalsveckan attracts people interested in social issues. The festival's audience includes politicians, organizers, professional visitors, and general participants. Visitors also attend as part of their holiday plans.

Involvement of political parties

All eight parliamentary political parties are allocated a half day each in Almedalen, the central park in Visby, during the week. Historically, the political parties have been the main focus of the event, and they continue to play a central role. Since 1996, organizations and businesses have also been allowed to participate in the political arena. The event is highly prioritized by the parties, which use the platform to discuss democracy, policies and to introduce new policy proposals.

The program

Anyone can apply to organize an event at Almedalsveckan, provided they meet the criteria set by the main organizers. All applications are reviewed by the project group, and approved events are published on the festival's official website.

The Almedalen Spirit

Throughout the week, a unique atmosphere known as the Almedalen spirit fills the air. It’s created by all of us, through openness, accessibility, and mutual respect. There’s something truly special about the feeling during this time, shaped by both the place and the moment. Almedalsveckan brings together a rare blend of political discourse and open dialogue, all within a relaxed and welcoming environment. It’s a space for meaningful conversations, democratic exchange, learning, and growth – where ideas flourish in an intimate, inclusive atmosphere.

Democracy Festivals Association

It all started in Sweden, where Almedalsveckan’s vision for open dialogue and democratic exchange sparked the beginning of a tradition that brings people together from all walks of life, not only in Sweden:

In 2018, organisers of democracy festivals from Northern Europe joined forces and established a Democracy Festivals Association, with two more festivals from Turkey and Northern Ireland joining in the later years. The Association aims to nurture links between existing democracy festivals, inspire by example, and assist other emerging democracy festivals.

The common vision of the Association is to revitalise democracy by strengthening the link between a political system and citizens and creating spaces for dialogue and participation.

Democracy Festivals Association