Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway will be present at the opening of the 73rd Bergen International Festival this spring.
’It is with great joy that we can confirm that Her Majesty Queen Sonja will attend the opening day of the 2025 Bergen International Festival,’ says Festival director Lars Petter Hagen.
This will be the Queen’s 36th visit to the Festival. Her most recent visit was in 2023, alongside His Majesty King Harald (pictured). The King is the official patron of the Bergen International Festival, as were his father and grandfather before him.
The Bergen International Festival 2025 opens on 21 May with a large, free outdoor day-time event in the centre of Bergen. The opening performance that evening will be The Great Yes, The Great No by the South African artist William Kentridge.
’With her great commitment to art and its significance in society, the Queen is an important supporter of the Bergen International Festival and Norwegian culture’ says Hagen.
The Bergen International Festival 2025 takes place between 21 May and 4 June, offering hundreds of experiences in music, theater, dance, and much more. About half of the program is free and open to all.
’The importance of the Norwegian royal family to the Bergen International Festival cannot be overstated. Their involvement emphasizes that the festival is both a national and international event,’ says Thorhild Widvey, chair of the Bergen International Festival board.
Photo: Thor Brødreskift
