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Accompany us as we explore the best events in Stockholm while enjoying spring in the Swedish capital! This May, visit Stockholm’s galleries and museum exhibits to see artwork and be inspired. Enjoy an online concert or a virtual TEDx event from the comfort of your own home. Try out new restaurants or sip on a yummy cocktail in a purple-lit speakeasy. Read on to enjoy a sneak peek into what the summer may bring.
We’ve also included a few restaurants to try and Stockholm summer events to keep in mind for the coming months.
Here are the Stockholm events in May you need to know about, including exhibitions, talks, and more:
Monday 1st – Saturday 2nd May
Floating at Westerling Gallery
Danish photographer Astrid Kruse Jensen will be showing an exhibition entitled “Floating” at Westerling Gallery, including a few works by Jim Dine. The images captured by Jensen on her Polaroid camera play with light and dark, for eerie and intriguing images.
Monday 1st – Thursday 6th May
Woo-Bock Lee Installation at Galleri Hantverket
Using Hanji, Chiseung, and paper-lined iron wire, Woo-Bock Lee has created an art installation inside Galleri Hantverket. Hanji is paper from the bark of the mulberry tree, and Chiseung is a traditional Korean technique that uses twisted paper.
Monday 1st – Tuesday 4th May
Enriqueta Cepeda at 125 Kvadrat
In this gallery exhibition, Enriqueta Cepeda displays her handmade ceramics. She typically uses the coil or pinch methods in her work, forming organic looking shapes. The pieces incorporate rough and smooth textures, giving them an intriguing duality.
Sunday 2nd May
Sunday at Sälstationen
This spring, spend a Sunday enjoying a private sauna, a hike, and fika at the Seal Station, which was previously used as a training area in World War II. The price is 395 SEK per adult, with a minimum of 4 adults and maximum of 8 people. You can also participate on the the 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th; any Sunday this month!
Wednesday 5th – Friday 7th May
New Sound Made Livestream
For three days, the Royal Academy of Music will have a livestream of 41 jazz performances. The program is available on the website, with a little information about each of the acts.
Thursday 6th May
Morning Coffee with The Nordics Online Event
Music journalist Jan Gradvall will be interviewing the songwriting duo Vargas & Lagola (Salem Al Fakir and Vincent Pontare) for this free event. The pair have written songs for Katy Perry, Madonna, Sia and Avicii, to name a few.
Saturday 8th May
Quartets on Stage Online Event
SNOBS and Nordic Light Region 32 have teamed together to broadcast a live concert with performances by male, female, and mixed quartets in Stockholm. You can view the concert on YouTube for free.
Sunday 9th May
Transform – Storytelling through Photography Online Event
Think about the changes we have experienced this past year through this free TEDxStockholm event. Speakers will touch on the changes that have occurred due to the pandemic and climate changes. You will have an opportunity to participate by submitting a photograph that depicts your transformative experience from the past year. The event will be moderated by Unn Swanström.
Monday 10th – Sunday 16th May
Vårruset – Recreational Run for Women
This event, which is all about health, joy, and community, returns again, gathering women from the north to the south of Sweden to celebrate throughout the spring. The race portion of this event comes to Stockholm and Uppsala areas Monday 10th – Sunday 16th May. Using the Vårruset app, you will have access to training sessions, lectures, and recipe ideas for the entire 6 weeks of the Vårruset tour. Sign ups for the race are 360 SEK now.
Saturday 15th May
Bo Sundström at Fasching
Swedish artist Bo Sundström will perform for two evenings, with the Saturday concert available online through Fasching’s Facebook page.
Monday 17th May
Sunset Kayak Tour with Stockholm Nature
This Monday starts the season for Sunset Kayak tours in Stockholm! For 1,100 SEK per person, you will receive a guided kayak tour through the city, with equipment, a waterproof bag, and fika included. The tour is offered in English, Swedish and German. Tours will be available throughout the summer.
Tuesday 18th May
Master Programs from the Stockholm School of Economics
Are you interested in pursuing a Masters degree? This online event will introduce you to the possibilities offered by the Stockholm School of Economics. You can register for the event on their website.
Friday 21st May
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq the World Tour 2021
In this year’s performance, your favorite drag superstars have to find their way through time to return home to the present time. Tickets for the show vary, starting at 645 SEK.
Wednesday 26th May
Public Speaking Development Online Event
This online event is hosted by Stockholm International Toastmasters, with the aim of helping you improve your public speaking through tips and practice. The event is free and fully hosted online.
Thursday 27th – Friday 28th May
Stockholm Women’s International Jazz Festival Livestream
This year’s Women’s International Jazz Festival will be hosted at Konserthuset Stockholm, and streamed on Konserthuset Play for free. The Thursday acts will be the Linnea Jonsson Quartet (from Sweden), IdKa Jazz (Sweden), the Sun-Mi Hong Quintet (Netherlands and South Korea), and Maria João (Portugal). The Friday acts will be the Anna Lundqvist Quintet (Sweden), the Susanna Risberg Trio (Sweden), the Josefine Lindstrand Band (Sweden), and the piano duo Sunna Gunnlaugs and Julia Hülsmann (Iceland and Germany). Although the concerts are free, they are accepting donations via Swish.
Thursday 27th May
Inside the ICAx Innovation Hub Online Event
This event is a collaboration between ICAx and Women in Tech, and will inform you on how an innovation hub operates. At the end of the free session, there will be a question and answer session.
TEDxKI – From Mirage to Oasis Online Event
Karolinska Institutet has organized this free TEDx event that will explore topics of mental health, the pandemic, and other topics related to health. You can register online for this event.
Friday 28th – Sunday 30th May
The Archipelago Fair on Djurgården
This folk festival, with free admission, offers food, drink, entertainment, exhibitors, and fun activities for all.
Stockholm Writers Festival
This year’s Stockholm Writers Festival will be hosted online to make it a safer event. The festival pass costs 1,800 SEK, which covers the three days of the festival. Features will include a conversation with author Sarah Waters, genre bootcamp breakout groups, how to find an agent, and how to develop characters.
Friday 28th May
Myrkur at Göta Lejon
Musician Myrkur has released a new album, Folkesange, and will be performing her new music this Friday at Göta Lejon. Tickets are 380 SEK.
Skylark Walk on Djurgården
Each year, the skylarks return to Gärdet for the summer months. Enjoy a guided walk on Djurgården to see where they live, learn their history, and learn some of the history of Sweden at the same time. The tour costs 195 SEK per person.
Saturday 29th May
Stig Lindberg at Millesgården
The new exhibit at Millesgården, which will be on display until the end of January 2022, showcases the work of Swedish Stig Lindberg. His artwork, ranging from earthenware to public art to sculptures and more, has filled Swedish homes for years. Lindberg’s son has curated the exhibition which contains some works never previously exhibited. The entrance to the museum is 150 SEK.
Sunday 30th May
The From Home All Album Tour Online Event
Musical duo Sousou & Maher Cissoko will be hosting their final livestream concert this Sunday, when they will play their latest singles as well as share some unreleased songs. The concert, which will be streamed on Facebook Live, will have a small fee.
Ongoing in May
Identity of Shadows at Galleri Andersson/Sandström
Lucy Glendinning’s exhibition, Identity of Shadows, is on display until Saturday 22nd May. The British sculptor uses her sculptures of the human body to convey psychological and philosophical thoughts.
The Master Test at The Royal Armory
This exhibit, which will be on display until September 2021, demonstrates how the finest armor is made. Albert Collins is the creator of the armor, demonstrating tools and techniques. Entrance to the museum is free.
The Anthropocene at Tekniska
This exhibit, named after the current geological epoch, brings us to places for which we are responsible. These videos, images, and AR installations are jolting, and worth seeing to understand our impact on the planet. The artists who contribute to this exhibition are Edward Burtynsky, Jennifer Baichwal, and Nicholas De Pencier. The Anthropocene is on display until Tuesday 31st August, and has an entrance fee of 150 SEK.
Lisa Larson at Gustavsbergs Porslinsmuseum
Lisa Larson is a Swedish ceramicist, known for her Advent children and cat figurines. Larson produced work at Gustavsberg beginning in 1954, remaining there for 26 years. This exhibit showcases works from throughout her career, including while she was in school, while she and her husband were guest artists at the University of California, Berkeley, and from Larson’s travels. The exhibit is on display until Sunday 12th September. Entrance to the Porcelain Museum is 80 SEK. The museum is located on Värmdö, east of Stockholm, and can be accessed by bus or car.
Boro – The Art of Distress at the East Asian Museum
In this exhibit, we are able to see the result of women’s resourcefulness in Northern Japan, a region where the winters are cold and materials are scarce. Garments would be repaired over generations, resulting in layered and patch worked clothing that is now imitated by luxury brands. Tickets for the exhibit, which are 110 SEK during the week and 140 SEK on the weekend, must be purchased in advance. Boro will be on display for the rest of the year.
Olof Landström at Åbergs Museum
This exhibit introduces you to Olof Landström, the Swedish illustrator, author and animator. He has been a contributor to the Nisse, Bu and Bä, and Pom and Pim books among others. This exhibit would be great for a family excursion. It will be available for viewing until Sunday 26th September. Entrance to the museum is 100 SEK for adults, 60 SEK for children, and 270 SEK for the family package.
Textile Trilogy, Part 1 at The Silk Factory and Museum
Part 1 of the 3-part exhibition titled “The Human” is on display at The Silk Factory and Museum, and is also viewable online. Liisa Hietanen, Kari Steihaug, Anna Sjons Nilsson and Helen Heldt Hortlund are the contributing artists, all of whom are Nordic. When the museum is open, entrance is 80 SEK. For the time being, though, you will find a free guided tour on their Instagram page.
Ghost Tour and Dinner Package
Experience a spooky evening with the Stockholm Ghost Walk followed by a dinner. There are a few different restaurant options, which have different prices. A fun experience for friends or family!
Stockholm Cooking Tour with Tours of Stockholm
In this tour, you will have the opportunity to cook with Markiz, one of the finalists in the TV show Master Chef Sweden. You will prepare (and eat!) a three-course meal that will be paired with a glass of wine from the extensive cellar. The tour is in English or Swedish. It is possible to request a private tour as well. The experience is 1,600 SEK per person.
The Soul of the Place at Waldemarsudde
This exhibit of landscape paintings, by Prince Eugene himself, will be on display until early October. Many of the paintings depict scenes from Sweden; also included are landscapes from France and Norway, places Prince Eugene spent time. Admission to the museum is 150 SEK.
Mirage at Fotografiska
This photography exhibit by the Swedish Lovisa Ringborg captures a world where the subconscious and conscious are both on display. She uses photography, videography and sculpture in her work. The exhibit is on display until Sunday 29th August. Tickets for the museum, which you need to pre-book, vary between 155 SEK and 255 SEK depending upon the day and time.
Coexistence at Fotografiska
While you are at Fotografiska, be sure to also visit Cho Gi-Seok’s exhibit. The South Korean artist takes meticulously planned photographs, sometimes in connection with the clothing brand he is starting. The collection shown here includes work from 2018 to 2020.
Try these restaurants in Stockholm
Lucy’s Flower Shop on Birger Jarlsgatan 20
This bar, with its hidden entrance in an abandoned flower shop, is the elevated speakeasy that you must try. The cocktail list is sure to please. Lucy’s is currently paired up with Dashi, a pop-up Japanese restaurant.
At Kungsholmen on Hantverkargatan 71
This restaurant is well-worth trying any day of the week, but if you make it on a Friday evening, you will enjoy a live musical performance with your delicious meal. They offer Scandinavian lunch and dinner menus.
Spesso on Malmskillnadsgatan 38
The sleek design and atmosphere of this restaurant are matched by the quality of the food and drinks served here. You will enjoy an elegant, and simultaneously laid-back, Italian meal.
Tjoget on Hornsbruksgatan 24
Tjoget is a cocktail bar and restaurant that is currently offering take-away. The food is inspired by southern European and Middle Eastern cuisine.
Want to know more about traditional Swedish food? See our full guide.
A Sneak Peek of Stockholm Summer Events
Want to get a jump-start on planning your summer in Stockholm? Check out a few of our recommended events.
Wednesday 2nd June
Green Day at Tele2 Arena
Green Day has been around since 1987, with a number of great albums and hits. This might be just the concert for you to break your pandemic-imposed concert fast, with plenty of songs to which you can sing and dance along. Tickets start at 495 SEK.
Saturday 12th June
EcoTrail Stockholm 2021
During this race, you get to explore the different trails of Stockholm. There are a variety of race lengths to choose from, so you can tailor the experience to what you are comfortable with.
Saturday 10th July
Hampaköket Launch Party
Hampaköket, which officially launched in April, will be hosting a free launch event this summer in an outdoor setting, complete with products to buy, a DJ, and dancing. Their products include hemp coffee filters, hemp straws, hemp protein powder, hemp seeds, and even some bake mixes! We can’t wait to taste the hemp seed chocolate chip cookies. The date is a tentative one, so be sure to check their website for more details closer to the event.
Friday 6th August
Jill Johnson at Mosebacketerraseen
Jill Johnson is a Swedish country and pop singer who has performed in Melodifestivalen and at the Eurovision Song Contest. Johnson is now also an actress. Tickets are 555 SEK.
Saturday 21st August
Stockholm Photo Marathon
Ready, set, click! You will have eight hours to take eight photos, each with a different theme, and in a specific order. This will push your creative side, and have you seeing Stockholm in a new way. Tickets start at 370 SEK.
Want more fun things to do in Stockholm this summer? See our full list of all must-do activities in the city!
If you’re a business or organisation that would like us to add your event to next month’s calendar, please contact us at hello [@] scandinaviastandard [dot] com. Thank you!
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