UPDATED February 28, 2012: Considering Scandinavia’s size, especially in terms of population, it’s rather amazing how many festivals the region offers throughout the year. It’s in fact so amazing that we’ve decided not to try and keep up with them as they announce new artists. Instead we have compiled this list of the main Scandinavian festivals – plus a Swiss and a Dutch festival dedicated to Scandinavian music and culture – and will then leave it up to you to keep track.

This latest update include new festivals, making it a bit more ultimate, while a couple of defunct festivals have been deleted.

So: BOOKMARK THIS – and share it with your friends. Thus we leave you to plan your festival year in Scandinavia. See you out there!

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DENMARK:

FROST Festival – February 4-29
A festival taking place at various classic and unusual venues around Copenhagen, among the latter a strip club, a church and a theater. No camping.
Capacity: Varies from venue to venue
WWW: frostfestival.dk

Fredagsrock in Tivoli – April 13-September 21
Although not a festival as such we still think you should know about Fredagsrock (Friday Rock) in Tivoli, Copenhagen. Every Friday night throughout the season the garden offer free concerts on the outdoor main stage sporting a strong lineup of national and international acts.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: fredagsrock.dk

Heavy Days In Doom Town – May 3-6
A “DIY celebration of all things slow and heavy” this festival dedicated to sub genres sludge, doom and psych among others takes place at various venues around Copenhagen. No camping.
Capacity: Varies from venue to venue
WWW: heavydaysindoomtown.com

SPOT Festival – May 4-5
Two days with 100+ Scandinavian bands and a few international acts in the second city of Denmark. A place for international guests to discover the next big things. No camping.
Capacity: Varies from venue to venue
WWW: spotfestival.dk

Day Of Decay – May 18
A day of metal mayhem in Denmark’s fourth largest city, Aalborg.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: dayofdecay.dk

Pop Revo – May 18-19
Launched in 2004 this festival in Denmark’s second largest city, Aarhus, celebrates musical diversity in the cool venue Voxhall.
Capacity: 700/night
WWW: poprevo.dk

Öresundsfestival – May 25-26
A brand new festival created and curated by venues and bookers in Copenhagen and Malmö, Sweden, aimed at strengthening musical collaborations between Sweden and Denmark as well as presenting the best music both countries have to offer.
Capacity: Varies from venue to venue
WWW: oresundsfestival.com

Start! Festival – May 25-26
Formerly Vesterbro Festival this is three days with 100+ Danish upcoming bands and DJ’s at the very heart of Copenhagen. No camping, so you’ll need to sort out accommodation. A place to discover the next big things.
Capacity: 30.000
WWW: vesterbrofestival.dk

Copenhagen Carnival – May 25-27
It is a carnival inspired by Rio, but over the years Copenhagen Carnival has also evolved in to a festival for world music sporting seven different stages in Copenhagen’s biggest park, Fælledparken.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: cphcarnival.com

Skive Festival – May 30-June 2
Four-day festival in the western part of Jutland, aiming at younger crowds and with increasingly ambitious scheduling. Formerly known as Skive Beach Party.
Capacity: 25.000
WWW: skivefestival.dk

Distortion – May 30-June 3
A Celebration of Copenhagen Nightlife, Distortion is a massive, mobile block party invading one Copenhagen neighborhood a day over five days. The focus is on club culture, upfront dance music, street life, contemporary and social art.
Capacity: Varies from venue to venue/Street parties N/A
WWW: cphdistortion.dk

Northside Festival – June 15-17
Launched in 2010, the ambitious Northside Festival takes place in Denmark’s second largest city, Aarhus.
Capacity: 15.000
WWW: northside.dk

Copenhell – June 15-16
As the name kinda implies this festival in the Danish capital Copenhagen offers two days of metal mayhem.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: copenhell.com

Roskilde Festival – July 5-8
The Danish festival flagship and along with Provinssirock in Finland the biggest of its sort in Northern Europe, each year sporting an impressive range of acts and supporting different humanitarian organizations.
Capacity: 75.000
WWW: roskilde-festival.dk

Copenhagen Jazz Festival – July 6-15
As the name implies a week of jazz in the Danish capital. One of the best weeks to lay your vacation in Copenhagen as the city is buzzing with music everywhere, from traditional jazz to electronica. Many free concerts.
Capacity: Varies from venue to venue
WWW: jazzfestival.dk

Skanderborg Festival – August 8-12
Also named Denmark’s Most Beautiful Festival as it’s situated in a, well, beautiful forest just outside the city of Skanderborg in Jutland. Audience average age is a little higher than, say, on Roskilde Festival and the musical focus is on well-known and popular national and international acts.
Capacity: 30.000
WWW: smukfest.dk

STRØM – Dates TBA
Another festival focusing on electronic music and using the city as playground, STRØM (“electricity”) takes place in everything from cinemas, churches, metro trains and public spaces to clubs and more regular venues as well as two main stages in the Vesterbro area of Copenhagen.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: stromcph.dk

Storm The Building – August 19
The most recent in an ever growing range of Danish metal festivals is Storm The Building in Vejle. Despite lasting only for a day the festival manages an impressive lineup of around 20 bands.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: stormthebuildingfest.com

Wonderfestiwall – August 23-26
On the small, beautiful island of Bornholm a group of young people got together back in 2008 to create a cultural event aimed at young (and young at heart) people. The result was Wonderfestiwall, situated in picturesque surroundings by the impressive medieval fortress, Hammershus.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: wonderfestiwall.dk

Gutter Island Festival – August 24-25
Small festival dedicated to garage, punk and other such incarnations of rock situated at Masnedø Fort in the city of Vordingborg.
Capacity: 600
WWW: gutter-island.dk

Trailerpark Festival – August 31-September 2
A four day festival in Copenhagen, organized by ArtRebels – a collective of artists, musicians, designers, film makers, cultural activists, web designers, event makers and other creative souls – Trailerpark Festival combine music and art in a glorious cocktail of impressions.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: trailerparkfestival.com

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NORWAY:

by:Larm – February 16-18
The Norwegian equivalent to SPOT, SxSW etc, by:Larm offer three days of music, seminars and more in downtown Oslo. No camping.
Capacity: Varies from venue to venue
WWW: bylarm.no

Norwegian Wood – June 14-17
Named after The Beatles song this small festival in Oslo books a few heavy international acts while also having part of the program dedicated to new Norwegian rock.
Capacity: 8000/day
WWW: norwegianwood.no

Hove Festival – June 26-29
Norway’s biggest rock festival and one of the many Scandinavian festivals sporting an environmentally friendly profile.
Capacity: 70.000
WWW: hovefestival.com

Kongsberg Jazz Festival – July 4-7
Clue is in the title: Kongsberg Jazz Festival is dedicated to – tadaaaa! – jazz…
Capacity: N/A
WWW: kongsberg-jazzfestival.no

Trænafestivalen – July 5-7
Right on the arctic circle, 33 nautical miles east of mainland Norway, you find one of the country’s smallest boroughs with only 500 inhabitants, where this festival has been going down since 2003.
Capacity: 2000
WWW: trena.net

Norway Rock Festival – Dates TBA
As the name implies a festival dedicated to rock in tis harder incarnations.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: norwayrock.no

Molde Jazz – July 16-21
Molde’s International Jazz Festival has been going down since 1961 and is today a renowned festival sharing musical profile with her sister in Copenhagen as you’ll also find other genres than jazz represented.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: moldejazz.no

Slottsfjell Festival – July 19-21
Located in downtown Tønsberg, Slottsfjell Festival offer live music in Norway’s most spectacular festival arena.
Capacity: 40.000
WWW: slottsfjellfestival.no

Bukta – July 19-21
Also known as Tromsø Open Air Festival and sporting a classic, variated lineup.
Capacity: 6000/day
WWW: bukta.no

Storåsfestivalen – July 27-28
Named Rock Festival of the Year in 2007 Storåsfestivalen offer great music in beautiful surroundings 450 kilometers from Oslo.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: storaasfestivalen.no

KanalRock – August 3-4
Small festival in Horten, approximately 15 kilometers from Oslo, dedicated to punk and with 20 years on its back.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: kanalrock.no

Øya Festival – August 7-11
Small and really nice four stage festival in downtown Oslo, kicking off with a massive club night the day before the festival with concerts on 30 venues within walking distance of each other.
Capacity: 10.000
WWW: oyafestivalen.com

Oslo Jazz Festival – August 13-18
Another jazz festival set in a capital, Oslo Jazz Festival’s been going at it for more than 25 years.
Capacity: Varies
WWW: oslojazz.no

Pstereo – August 17-18
Small festival taking place in idyllic surroundings in Trondheim. No camping.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: pstereo.net

Drammen Elvefestival – August 23-26
40 kilometers west of Oslo you find the city Drammen and the annual Elvesfestival.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: drammen-elvefestival.no

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SWEDEN:

Popadelica – May 5
A one day festival with three indoor stages in Folkets Park in Huskvarna in the south of Sweden.
Capacity: 2000
WWW: popadelica.se

Dans Dakar – May 25-26
A two day festival in the Swedish capital Stockholm dedicated to electronic dance music.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: dansdakar.se

Öresundsfestival – May 25-26
A brand new festival created and curated by venues and bookers in Malmö and Copenhagen, Denmark, aimed at strengthening musical collaborations between Sweden and Denmark as well as presenting the best music both countries have to offer.
Capacity: Varies from venue to venue
WWW: oresundsfestival.com

Siesta! Festival – May 31-June 2
The fastest growing festival in Sweden, going from 1000 to around 10.000 visitors the past years, located in Hässleholm just outside of Malmö. And it’s dirt cheap, too.
Capacity: 10.000
WWW: siestafestivalen.se

Make Musik STHLM! – June 6
A one day festival based on the French concept Fête de la Musique in venues all around the Swedish capital Stockholm on the Swedish national day.
Capacity: Varies from venue to venue
WWW: makemusiksthlm.com

Sweden Rock Festival – June 6-9
The biggest hard rock celebration in Sweden with an impressive line-up of new and classic acts. Located in Sölvesborg on the southeast coast of Sweden.
Capacity: 32.000
WWW: swedenrock.com

Clandestino Festival – June 8-10
Going down in Gothenburg since 2003 this festival with a social conscience focus on alternative music as well as other artforms and debates.
Capacity: 2500/day
WWW: clandestinofestival.org

Hultsfred – June 14-16
One of the bigger, established Swedish festivals with a classic international lineup.
Capacity: 25.000
WWW: hultsfredsfestivalen.se

Metaltown – June 15-16
Two days of metal mayhem downtown of Sweden’s metal capital Gothenburg.
Capacity: 22.000
WWW: metaltown.se

Peace & Love Festival – June 26-30
Three days of seminars, debates and workshops and three days of music on a festival with a social vision, celebrating Diversity, Solidarity and Understanding to a great soundtrack.
Capacity: 45.000
WWW: peaceandlove.nu

Norberg Festival – July 26-28
Situated in an abandoned mining area about two hours drive northwest of Stockholm, Norberg Festival’s musical focus is on electronica in pretty much all shapes and forms.
Capacity: 1000
WWW: norbergfestival.com

Way Out West – August 9-11
Another festival located in Gothenburg, but this one with a more classic festival music profile, presenting all genres.
Capacity: 25.000
WWW: wayoutwest.se

Malmö Festival – August 17-24
One of the biggest and longest running city festivals in Sweden presenting a load of free concerts all week. And don’t forget to try the moose-kebab.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: malmofestivalen.se

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FINLAND:

Sauna Open Air Metal Festival – Dates TBA
As the name implies this festival in Tampere is dedicated to metal and hard rock.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: sauna-open-air.fi

Provinssirock – June 15-17
The largest international rock festival in Finland being held in Törnävä Festival Park in the city Seinäjoki.
Capacity: 75.000
WWW: provinssirock.net

Nummirock – June 21-23
Another festival with a main focus on hard and harder rock. Nummirock also has a stage dedicated to new, unsigned rock talent.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: nummirock.fi

Puisto Blues Festival – Dates TBA
A five day city festival in Järvenpää, 40 km outside Helsinki, culminating with a main concert on the Saturday. One of Europe’s biggest blues events attracting around 120.000 visitors to the city each year.
Capacity: Varies
WWW: puistoblues.fi

Tuska Open Air Metal Festival – June 29-July 1
Three days of metal mayhem in Helsinki, presenting more than 50 bands on four stages. No camping.
Capacity: 36.000
WWW: tuska-festival.fi

Ruisrock – July 6-8
The second oldest rock festival in Europe, founded in 1970 and held annually ever since on the island Ruissalo in Turku.
Capacity: 70.000
WWW: ruisrock.fi

Ilosaarirock – July 13-15
One of the longest running uninterrupted open-air festivals in Europe, each year presenting around 90 bands playing everything from metal to hip hop and jazz.
Capacity: 21.000
WWW: ilosaarirock.fi

Pori Jazz Festival – July 14-22
Set on the banks of the Kokemäki River this week long jazz festival presents an impressive number of concerts.
Capacity: Varies
WWW: porijazz.fi

Flow Festival – August 8-12
Held in an old power plant area Suvilahti, Helsinki, Flow is about urban spaces, visual arts, cosy decoration, good food and drink.
Capacity: 16.000
WWW: flowfestival.com

Jalometalli – August 10-11
Ten year old metal festival with primarily black, death and thrash metal.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: jalometalli.net

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ICELAND:

Reykjavík Blues Festival – March 31-April 5
As the name implies this festival is all about the blues.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: blues.is

Reykjavik Music Mess – Dates TBA
Reykjavik Music Mess is a venue festival organized by the great record label Kimi Records.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: reykjavikmusicmess.com

Aldrei Festival – Dates TBA
Started by Mugison this two-day festival takes place in Ísafjordur in the most western part of Iceland. Information is scarce, but “free” is a good start…
Capacity: N/A
WWW: aldrei.is

Eistnaflug – July 12-14
The small village of Neskaupstaður has about 1.400 inhabitants but that number doubles when Eistnaflug presents three days of nothing but Icelandic metal and hard rock.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: eistnaflug.is

Iceland Airwaves – October 31-Novevember 4
The popular – and rightfully so – festival flagship of Iceland turn Reykjavik in to a musical paradise every year.
Capacity: Varies from venue to venue
WWW: icelandairwaves.com

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FAROE ISLANDS:

G! Festival – July 19-21
The premier musical event on the Faroe Islands located on Göta Beach on the edge of the village Göta.
Capacity: 6000
WWW: gfestival.com

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SWITZERLAND:

Nordklang – February 23-26
As you probably have figured out this isn’t a Scandinavian festival as such, as it’s situated in St. Gallen, Switzerland, but since Nordklang is all about Scandi music we’ve decided it qualifies.
Capacity: 1000 (approx.)
WWW: nordklang.ch

NETHERLANDS:

Nordic Delight Festival – Date TBA
Another festival dedicated to the Nordic countries, Nordic Delight Festival is a one day festival designed to create a Nordic experience in which visitors can discover (new) artists, bands, film, art, fashion and food from the Nordic countries.
Capacity: N/A
WWW: facebook.com/NordicDelight