Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital city of Sweden and one of the largest cities in the Scandinavian region. Founded over seven centuries ago, the city offers a captivating blend of historical intrigue and modern urbanization. The city is set on 14 islands connected by over 50 bridges, with each district offering a unique culture and personality.¹

From ancient Nordic history and stunning views to large-scale concerts and sporting events, there’s so much to see and do in Stockholm. Visitors can experience extended daylight hours during the summer months and on rare occasions during strong solar activity, the northern lights may be visible, though they are more commonly seen in northern Sweden.²

The Swedish capital is the home of major venues like 3Arena and a thriving arts and music community.

This guide from AXS explores some of the biggest events in Stockholm.

Stockholm has multiple concert and sports venues that attract global acts and host international sporting competitions. Some of the city’s biggest venues include:

• 3Arena: This multi-purpose arena boasts hundreds of digital screens and seats up to 40,000 attendees.³ It hosts major music touring acts and is the home of Hammarby Fotboll and Djurgårdens IF.¹⁶
• Avicii Arena: With a capacity of more than 15,000 guests, this arena hosts world class concerts, high-stakes sporting events, and offers modern luxury suites and seating options.⁴
• Strawberry Arena: Sweden’s national arena holds up to a staggering 60,000 fans, and is the home venue of the Swedish men’s football team. In addition to sporting events, the arena has hosted concerts by Beyoncé, Swedish House Mafia, and Ariana Grande.⁵

Stockholm has a rich music history and hosts a variety of festivals and recurring events, such as:

• Technostate BIGBANG Halloween: Complete with a state-of-the-art laser light show, this rave-infused music festival takes place at Stockholm’s Annexet concert venue.⁶
• Stockholm Early Music Festival: The largest international event in the Nordic region for baroque, renaissance, and medieval music, held annually since 2002.⁷

Sweden is home to a variety of sporting teams, with Stockholm's surrounding area including:

• Djurgården Fotboll: One of Stockholm’s leading football clubs, Djurgården was founded in 1891 and competes at the highest level of Swedish football and shares a fierce rivalry with both AIK and Hammarby.⁸
• AIK Fotboll: Established in 1891, AIK is one of the most historically successful and widely supported clubs in Sweden. Known for its strong defensive tradition and consistent top-flight presence, the club has won numerous league titles and maintains one of the largest fanbases in the country.⁹
• Hammarby Fotboll: Based in southern Stockholm, Hammarby is known for its passionate supporters and high-attendance matches. The club won its first Allsvenskan title in 2001 and has remained a competitive force, with a reputation for an energetic matchday atmosphere.¹⁰

In addition to the city’s arenas and concert venues, Stockholm also has large-scale arts and comedy event spaces like:

• Annexet: This multi-purpose facility holds up to 3,400 people, and plays host to concerts, comedy shows, trade fairs, and conventions.¹¹
• Stockholm Art Week: Each spring, Stockholm holds an art festival where venues and parks all over the city transform into modern art galleries.¹²