The Medieval Week is Sweden’s largest historical festival. Every summer, the past is brought to life on Gotland for eight days. Welcome to the world’s best medieval experiance!
Photo Nancy Coste
Medieval Week
… is a fantastic event that offers something for everyone. A magical place that gives visitors the chance to experience a piece of the Middle Ages. Medieval Week on Gotland is known for its fantastic performances, jousting, lectures, food and much more. Every year the festival attracts thousands of visitors who come to enjoy all the activities on offer.
The 2026 theme for Medieval Week is Love
The love in Medieval Week is more than romance. It lives between lovers in the light of torches, but also in sibling bonds, in friendships and in the community around the love of history and re-creation. The love of Visby, Gotland, the citywall, the alleys, the ruins that have carried stories for hundreds of years.
Gotland is also called the island of roses – and the rose is the flower of love, here you will find the love gate, love ballads and the diversity parade. During Medieval Week we celebrate the love that binds people, places and times together. Come in historical costume or as you are and join in and carry the story forward. Welcome to Medieval Week 2026.
Some facts
- Medieval Week on Gotland has been organized since 1984 and is Sweden’s largest historical festival.
- In 2020, Medieval Week won the Grand Tourism Award for the second time.
- The festival lasts eight days from Sunday week 31 to Sunday week 32.
- Medeltidsveckan AB is owned by a non-profit foundation, which was founded as a research foundation with a focus on public education.
- The founders are: Gotland’s museum, Gotland’s educational association, Gotland’s home town association, Gotland’s tourist association, the medieval guild and Region Gotland!
- When: Medieval Week lasts for eight days, from Sunday to Sunday, August 2-9, 2026.
- Where: Most of the activities take place in Visby, but also in Gotland’s countryside. Here below you will find a map!
- How: Festival Bands can be found on Nortic and the tickets here in our programme.
- What: Medival week is a historical cultural festival, outdoor in ruins, the streets and parks, and indoors at museums, churches, conference halls and medieval taverns.
- Accommodations: Our modern and medieval campsite is within walking distance!
- Weather: Gotland has more sun hours in the summer than most of the country. Prepare with water and seek out shade. There is also chance for wind and rain, so pack for shifting weather conditions. As most of the festival is open air, many shows continue even if there is a drizzle. The tournaments will pause should there be risk of lightning. Typically the summer rain is short and soon there is sun again and perhaps a rainbow.
- Volonteer and Co-create If you want to help create the community that Medieval Week is, you can become a Volunteer or Co-Creator – read more about it at these links.
How does it work?
Get the festival band and pre-book tickets (release in spring). It’s also fine to just show up and we’ll help you and your family plan your dream summer in the Middle Ages!
Everyone is welcome just as they are. Many choose to dress up in medieval costume. There are lots of groups on social media that prepare costumes and medieval camping. It is also possible to find coats, shoes and other things at our markets.
Photo Mike Fergusson
Then it’s time to just watch knights on horseback, drink something cold, take a crafting course, practice archery, listen to a concert or picnic along the beach, while waiting for some ruin show or performance in some moat! Most things are within walking distance. If you want to be sure of getting a seat at a particular favourite, it is good to book tickets in advance. A lot of program points sell out even before the premiere day.
The tournament with a couple of thousand in the audience is a beloved tradition with Torneamentum’s knights and horses and Gutar’s archers, national gold winners both.
Photo Isabelle MacKenzie
Q and A!
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact one of our medieval hosts in our Visitor Center during the festival (located at the Botanical Gardens). Or send us an E-mail.
Over twenty medieval venues
- Strandgärdet • Medeltidsarenan • The Medieval arena • Jousting • The Kitchen Stage • Russtibus Stage • Riddargård (children’s area)• Craft areas • Coffee and Food • Viking Camp • Volonteer Camp • Historical Encampment Exhibition • Gutars Bågskyttar • Gantarna • Proknekt mfl.
- Medieval Week Visitor Center • Medieval Week Shop • Fighting Arenan • Pirate Camp Tundlaheim • Snäckgärdsporten • Stockholmsfänikans Camp
- S:t Göran ruin stage
- Galgberget • Medieval Week modern camp ground
- Nordergravar • Norderport • S:t Göran bridge
- The Handicraft Market • The jester meadow “Gycklar Änget”•
The fairy tale meadow “Sagoängen”• Nordlys Vikings battle area - Medieval Week Visitor Center • Paviljongsplan • Food Court • Stage Forum Vulgaris • Medieval Week Tavern • Medieval Week Shop
- S:t Nicolai ruin stage • Medieval tavern Frimis/Bistra Haren
- Helge And ruin stage
- Dalmansporten • Östergravar • Medival Camp
- S:ta Maria Church
- S:t Clemens ruin stage
- DBW:s Botaniska Trädgård • S:t Olofs ruin
- Medieval Tavern Kapitelhusgården • Courses • The Stage Forum Kapitulum
- S:t Lars ruin stage • Drottens ruin
- Strand Hotel Theatre Stage
- “The old Apothecary”
- S:t Karin ruin stage • ICA Torgkassen (grocery store) • Medieval tavern Klosterlängan • Town square
- Österport • Coop (grocery store) • Visby galleria
- S:t Hans Skola
- Gotland’s Museum • Sävesalen •
- Almedalen (park)
- The tourist office • Donners Plats
- S:t Hans och S:t Pers ruins • Kränku (Tea shop)
- The South Square • Wisby Hof
- Korsbetningen (The massgraves)
- The Harbour