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- Guide to the Bergen International Festival
Whether you are coming for a single concert or spending several days exploring the programme, here is what you need to know before your first Festival visit. Get ready to explore Bergen during the Festival.
Every spring, Bergen changes pace. Concert halls fill up, artists and audiences meet across the city, and music, theatre, dance and conversations take over both historic venues and public spaces. Since 1953, the Bergen International Festival has brought international artists, Norwegian voices and new artistic projects to Bergen for fifteen days every year.
What is the Bergen International Festival?
Bergen International Festival is Scandinavia’s largest festival for music and performing arts. The programme includes classical music, opera, theatre, dance, contemporary music, talks, family events and free outdoor experiences. Events take place in concert halls, theatres, museums, churches and public spaces all over Bergen.
The Festival combines international and local artists, large productions with smaller encounters, and historic venues with new artistic ideas. Many visitors return year after year, while thousands experience the Festival for the first time every spring.
How the Festival works
The Festival runs for 15 days from late May to early June. Some visitors book tickets months in advance, while others decide what to see along the way.
You do not need specialist knowledge of the arts to enjoy the programme. Some events are large and spectacular while others are small and intimate. Many people come alone, with friends, with family or simply to discover something.
Around half of the Festival programme has free entry, and the Festival square at Torgallmenningen is the social heart, with concerts, performances and activities. Here you can drop by, stay for ten minutes or several hours, and experience everything from classical music and folk traditions to dance, family events and evening performances.
The Opening ceremony is also free and open to everyone. It marks the beginning of the Festival with music, speeches and thousands of people gathered for the celebration.
Where Festival events take place
The Festival uses venues across Bergen, from major concert halls to composers’ homes and outdoor stages.
Many visitors combine Festival events with exploring Bergen itself. Most venues are within walking distance of each other in the city centre.
Before the performance
Most venues open their doors approximately one hour before the event starts. Your ticket will show the start time and venue information.
A few useful things to know:
Arrive early for popular events
Doors usually close when the event begins
Phones should be silenced before the event starts
Some events have surtitles in Norwegian or English
Many venues have bars or cafés before the show and during intervals
If you are attending an outdoor event, keep in mind that Bergen weather can change quickly. Bring layers and waterproof clothing.
What should you wear?
There is no dress code at the Festival.
Some visitors dress up for opening nights or evening performances, while others come straight from work, university or a walk in the mountains. Most people wear something comfortable that suits both the weather and the occasion.
Choosing what to see
The Festival programme can feel overwhelming the first time. Choosing which event to go to is part of the experience.
A few ways to explore:
Follow an artist you already know
Try something completely unfamiliar
Mix large productions with smaller events
Look for “free events” or “family”
Read the programme texts and recommendations on fib.no
If a performance is sold out, sign up for the wait list or check again later, since tickets sometimes become available.
Visiting Bergen during the Festival
Late May and early June are among the best times to visit Bergen. The city is bright late into the evening, parks and mountains are green, and cafés and outdoor spaces are busy with Festival audiences.
Many visitors combine performances with:
Fløyen or Ulriken mountains
Bryggen and the harbour area
Museums and galleries
Swimming, hiking or fjord trips
Restaurants and bars near the venues
The Festival atmosphere spreads throughout the city during the entire period.
Accessibility
Festspillene i Bergen works to make events accessible for more people. Many venues offer:
step-free access
wheelchair spaces
hearing assistance systems
accessible toilets
companion tickets
Accessibility information is listed on each venue page at fib.no. If you need assistance, let us know so that the Festival team can help you.
Tickets and practical information
Tickets are available at fib.no. Popular performances can sell out early, especially opening events and major international guest performances.
On fib.no you will also find:
the full programme
venue information
accessibility details
maps and transport information
food and drink recommendations
updates and practical information
One last tip
The best Festival experiences are often the unexpected ones: a concert you knew nothing about, a conversation after a performance, a free event you happen to walk past, or a quiet moment in Bergen between two performances.