About the festival
History
Since its inception in 1988, the Northern Lights Festival has evolved from a small classical music festival, into a large 10-day cultural festival.
38 years of festival
Since its inception, the Northern Lights Festival has stuck to its core of classical music and art music — but the festival has also grown in step with the times. Today we offer a wide range of musical expressions, from world stars to local talents, from established artists to up-and-coming stars.
Our festival programme mirrors a diverse audience and we place an emphasis on reaching out to people of all ages. Through close cooperation with the city's educational institutions in music and performing arts, we also provide young performers with an arena and build important bridges between education and professional art practice.
Here you get a little insight into some of what has been on our stages over the years.
2025 was the first year of Sergej Schroeter's fixed-term tenure as Festival Director of the Northern Lights Festival.
The festival stretched from 24 January to 1 February,
Some highlight:
Marius Neset and Mimmi Tamba were this year's festival profiles. They conducted three concerts each, one of those together with the Conservatory's rhythmic students.
Carmina Burana filled Tromsø Cathedral to the brim, in a choral concert led by the Music Conservatory in collaboration with a long line of the city's professional and amateur choirs.
Tromsø's own Planetpatroje premiered its very first live show - to the great delight of young and old
2024 marked the last year of Festival Director Heidi Beate Lekang.
The festival ran from January 26 to February 3, and consisted of 66 events.
Some highlight:
Opening concert with Arctic Philharmonic and Stian Carstensen
Legend Randy Brecker was part of Tromsø Storband's 20th anniversary
Concert party Sangfoni, where Culture School's children's choir Treklang stood on stage Singfoni
The story isn't over, stay tuned as we migrate to a new website, fill in 38 years of history and get ready for the next 38!