Medeltidsveckan (Medieval Week) transforms the UNESCO World Heritage city of Visby, on Sweden's island of Gotland, into one of Europe's most celebrated medieval festivals every August. For eight days, medieval markets, jousting tournaments, historical reenactments, concerts, lectures, and a spectacular free fire show bring the city's ancient streets and fortifications to life. This guide covers the festival's main experiences, practical information, and everything worth seeing during Medieval Week.
ADVERTISEMENT
What Is Medeltidsveckan?
Medeltidsveckan began in 1984 as a local celebration of Visby's medieval heritage and has grown into Sweden's largest historical festival. More than 800 events take place across 40+ venues, transforming the UNESCO World Heritage city into a living stage for medieval culture.
The setting is what makes the festival unique. Visby's 3.4-kilometre ring wall, medieval streets, church ruins, and more than 200 preserved medieval buildings aren't just a backdrop, they become part of the experience. Markets fill the squares, reenactors camp beneath the walls, performances take over the moats, and lectures are held inside the city's 12th-century cathedral.
Visby's history explains why the festival feels so authentic. Once a major trading centre of the Hanseatic League, the city became one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Northern Europe and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
The Jousting Tournament at Medeltidsarenan
The Tornerspel is Medeltidsveckan's jousting tournament. Torneamentum's knights compete on horseback with lances while Gutars Bågskyttar's archers give an archery display. It's one of the few medieval traditions still staged live today. Tickets aren't included in the general festival pass and are sold separately through Nortic.
The Free Fire Show in Nordergravar
Eldcirkus i Nordergravar
Nordergravar moat, Visby
The Eldcirkus is Medeltidsveckan's largest free event. Performed by Gycklargruppen TRiX in the northern moat beneath Visby's medieval ring wall, the fire circus fills the natural amphitheatre with flames, acrobatics, and pyrotechnics after dark. The show is completely free to attend, and requires no ticket or festival pass. With crowds often reaching 6,000–7,000 spectators, arriving early is recommended, as there is no reserved seating.
The Medieval Markets
The Medieval Markets are where Medeltidsveckan feels most like a living medieval town. Spread across Gotlandsänget and Paviljongsplan, the markets feature hundreds of stalls selling medieval clothing, jewellery, leather goods, blacksmithing, handmade crafts, food, and drinks, alongside street performers and live entertainment. Access is included with the festival pass, making the markets one of the festival's most popular and family-friendly attractions.
Practical Information
DATES
August Visby, Gotland, Sweden.
FESTIVAL PASS
JOUSTING TOURNAMENT
Requires a separate ticket and is not included with the festival pass.
DISCOUNTS
Free for children up to 6
Reduced prices for ages 7–20
students, and pensioners
WHAT TO WEAR
Medieval costumes are optional.
GETTING THERE
Reach Gotland by ferry or plane. Book transport early, as Medieval Week is one of the island's busiest travel periods.
GETTING AROUND
Visby's Old Town is compact and best explored on foot. Wear comfortable shoes for the cobblestone streets.
ACCESSIBILITY
Most major venues offer accessible seating, but some historic buildings have limited access.
The 2026 Edition: A Love Story
Each year, Medeltidsveckan adopts a new theme, and in 2026 it is "En kärlekshistoria" (A Love Story). The theme runs throughout the festival, inspiring concerts, lectures, performances, and special events that explore medieval ideas of romance, devotion, and longing.
Featured Performers
Torneamentum
Jousting companySweden's leading medieval jousting troupe, performing the festival's famous Tornerspel tournament.
Gutars Bågskyttar
Historical archery groupTraditional archers who perform alongside the knights during the jousting tournament.
Gycklargruppen TRiX
Fire performance troupeCreators of the Eldcirkus, Medeltidsveckan's spectacular free fire show beneath Visby's city walls.
Karin Lagergren
Early music performerPerforms medieval repertoire and co-presents Lover's Songs in Medieval France.
Gustav Olai Näsman
Musician & lecturerCo-presents Lover's Songs in Medieval France, exploring medieval music and storytelling.
Cathedral Concerts & Lectures
The 2026 theme extends to Visby Cathedral, where concerts, lectures, and guided experiences explore medieval love, faith, and troubadour traditions. Highlights include Lover's Songs in Medieval France, In the Footsteps of Troubadours, tower music, medieval high mass, and talks presented with the Centre for Medieval Studies.
Keep Exploring on Outhere
Track dates, tickets, and programme updates for Medeltidsveckan 2026 on Outhere, explore more of what is happening in Visby and across Gotland, and dig into the wider world of cultural festivals through guides like Theatre Festivals Around the World, Holland Festival 2026: What to See and Why It Matters, and Craiova Shakespeare Festival. Outhere is a platform that helps people discover arts, culture, and experiences worldwide.
FAQ
When is Medeltidsveckan 2026 and where does it take place?
Medeltidsveckan 2026 runs from August 2 to 9, an eight-day festival in Visby, the main town of Gotland, an island in the Baltic Sea off Sweden's east coast. Events fill the UNESCO-listed walled old town and some rural Gotland venues, with the theme "A Love Story".
Do I need a costume to attend Visby Medieval Week?
No. The festival is open to everyone, whether you dress historically or come as you would on any ordinary day. Costumes are common and part of the culture, but entirely optional. Only volunteers and members of participating reenactment societies receive discounts for being in costume.
Is the jousting tournament free with the festival pass?
No. The jousting at Medeltidsarenan requires a separate paid ticket, sold through Nortic, and is not covered by the general festival pass. The arena seats up to 2,500 people, so booking ahead is recommended. The fire show in Nordergravar, by contrast, is completely free.
How much does a Medeltidsveckan festival pass cost?
Week passes start from 363 SEK and day passes from 132 SEK, with a reduced final-day Sunday pass from 66 SEK and camping-bundled passes from 945 SEK. Children up to age 6 are free, ages 7 to 15 pay half price, and ages 16 to 20, students, and pensioners get a discount. Passes must be bought in advance.
How do I get to Gotland for Medieval Week?
Gotland has no bridge, so you travel by ferry or plane. Destination Gotland sails from Nynashamn (about 3h15) and Oskarshamn (about 3h), and is the only way to bring a car. Direct flights from Stockholm Arlanda to Visby take about 49 minutes. Both sell out during festival week, so book months ahead.