2026 will be a year filled with food experiences and cultural highlights in Sweden. The gastronomic scene will receive new additions in the form of, for example, Frantzén Group's new grill restaurant Emberlin, star chef Pontus Frithiof's French bistro The Giraffe as well as the Simon Weinberg bistro concept Bank Palace. At the same time, a number of cultural milestones are being celebrated, including the 100th anniversary of the Stockholm Concert Hall and the 50th anniversary of the Karlstad Opera House. Here are some tips on how you can fill 2026 with good food, Swedish culture and anniversary celebrations in good company.
- Frantzén's opens Emberlin – new restaurant and grillhouse in Stockholm
- Knystaforsen among the world's most "cool" restaurants in 2026 according to Forbes
- Pontus Frithiof opens The Giraffe in Uppsala
- Weinberg's new bistro concept Bank Palace opens in Helsingborg
- The world's best vanilla ice cream comes from Sweden
- Stockholm Concert Hall celebrates 100 years
- Royal anniversaries 2026
- Karlstad Opera House pays tribute to Selma Lagerlöf on her 50th anniversary
- For all children: Visit Madicken's new home at Astrid Lindgren's World
New restaurant Emberlin is Frantzén Group's newest addition to Stockholm. With a lively dining room, spacious cocktail bar and late opening hours, it creates an energetic atmosphere in the middle of Stockholm's vibrant nightlife. The modern grill restaurant serves food cooked over an open fire and guests can enjoy an à la carte menu of meat, fish, seafood, vegetables and poultry, as well as a raw table section with crudos, sashimi and sushi. For more information visit https://www.emberlingrill.se/
Knystaforsen among the world's most "cool" restaurants in 2026 according to Forbes
Photo: Knystaforsen. Eva H. Tram
Award-winning restaurant Knystaforsen, located in an old sawmill next to a river in the middle of the forest in Rydöbruk in Halland, is featured on Forbes' annual list of the world's ten coolest restaurants in 2026. Chosen by international experts, the award highlights the most innovative and inspiring restaurants – those expected to shape the gastronomy of the future. “"Mysterious, beautiful and utterly real….Every dish tells a story of river, forest and fire, raw nature shaped into refined simplicity. Dining becomes a journey rather than simply a meal. From campfire dishes beneath the stars to the quiet elegance of a candlelit dining room, it's dining as discovery, a place where wilderness glows with quiet grace." writes Forbes
In addition to a Michelin star, Knystaforsen has been awarded a Michelin Green Star – a recognition of the restaurant's work in sustainable gastronomy. For more info, visit https://knystaforsen.se/
Acclaimed Pontus Frithiof opens The Giraffe in Uppsala
Photo: Pontus Frithiof
In February, award-winning chef and entrepreneur Pontus Frithiof will open his new restaurant The Giraffe at Stora Torget in Uppsala. Just like La Girafe Arlanda The new restaurant offers a generous selection of gourmet food that Frithiof describes with the words ”French bistro food with a twist”. https://www.pontusfrithiof.com/
Weinberg's new bistro concepts Bank Palace opens in Helsingborg
Simon Weinberg
This spring, Swedish chef Simon Weinberg, with experience from world-class kitchens such as NOMA, Bagatelle and Operakällaren, will open his new restaurant Bank Palace in central Helsingborg. Nordic and Mediterranean influences meet here in a modern bistro environment, with à la carte lunch and dinner and a lively cocktail bar.
The world's best vanilla ice cream comes from Sweden
The world's best vanilla ice cream comes from Sweden. It was clear then SIA Ice Cream for the second year in a row was awarded at the International Ice Cream Conference 2025. During its 65th anniversary, looks SIA Ice Cream back to how an old slaughterhouse became the producer of one of Sweden's most beloved ice creams - the classic Ice Cream Boat.
Photo: Falkenberg beach/Visit Halland
The west coast of Halland, known for its long white sandy beaches, is home to award-winning ice cream. Here you can visit SIA Ice Cream flagship stores by the sea in Falkenberg and in the historic village Sloinge, where ice cream has been made since 1961. And if you are in the area, you can take the opportunity to enjoy a classic Swedish fika at the award-winning Solhaga Stone Oven Bakery in Slöinge – one of the region's best preserved wild strawberry spots that attracts both locals and visitors all year round. For more info. please visit https://www.visithalland.com/en/
The Koncerthuset in Stockholm celebrates 100 years
Photo: Mats Lundqvist/Concert Hall
The Stockholm Concert Hall, which was inaugurated on April 7, 1926, is considered one of the most prominent examples of the Swedish 1920s classicism and was one of the first buildings in Sweden specifically intended for orchestral music. The 100th anniversary is celebrated at the same time as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates 125 years, with Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. For more information, visit https://www.konserthuset.se/en/programme/calendar/concert/2026/100-years-in-blue/20260409-1900/
Royal anniversaries 2026
Sweden's talented family at Solliden 2017. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/The Royal Court of Sweden
This year, celebrating Solliden Castle on Öland 120th anniversary! The palace was built in 1906 by Prince Carl and his wife Princess Ingeborg, and has since been the summer paradise for generations of the Swedish royal family. In addition, two other royal anniversaries await in 2026: The King and Queen celebrate their golden wedding anniversary, and it will be 50 years since Silvia Sommerlath became Queen of Sweden. This summer's anniversary offers a golden opportunity to stroll through the lush palace gardens and enjoy both history, greenery and royal splendor! For more info. please visit: https://sollidensslott.se/solliden-palace/the-palace-garden/
Karlstad Opera House pays tribute to Selma Lagerlöf on her 50th anniversary
The opera house in Karlstad, called Wermlands opera, turns 50. Photo: Fredrik Karlsson/Visit Värmland
In 2026, Karlstad Opera House will celebrate its 50th anniversary and mark the anniversary with the premiere of the new opera SELMA – a tribute to Selma Lagerlöf, Sweden's first female Nobel Prize winner in literature. The Nobel Prize was awarded to the author for Nils Holgersson's wonderful journey through Sweden, a story about Nils Holgersson that takes readers on an exciting journey across Sweden sitting on a goose. The opera is a commissioned work from Wermland Opera about the last ten years of Selma Lagerlöf's life, mainly based on her correspondence. Premieres February 26. For more info. visit https://www.wermlandopera.com/evenemang/opera/selma/
For all children: Visit Madicken's home at Astrid Lindgren's World
Madicken's home Junibacken at Astrid Lindgren's World in Vimmerby. Astrid Lindgren's World
Madicken, Astrid Lindgren's mischievous and beloved character, gets a new home at Astrid Lindgren's World. In June opens Junebacken, the house that Madicken lives in, with more realistic houses, larger play areas and a more spacious stage for the audience. Perfect for anyone who wants to experience Astrid Lindgren's magical world up close. For more information about Astrid Lindgren visit: https://visitsweden.com/where-to-go/southern-sweden/smaland/the-world-of-astrid-lindgren/
