Culture
Latest news and important information on culture, art, the arts industry, theatre, cinema, and more from Sweden.
15 movies that will help you discover Sweden without leaving your couch
From Norrland to Skåne: the Swedish art of depicting the country's scenery through film is underrated. This list will help you discover Sweden without leaving your sofa.
SKARS-GUIDE: Who's who in Sweden's Skarsgård acting dynasty?
Alongside Abba and Ikea, Oscar nominee Stellan Skarsgård and his many children are some of Sweden's most famous international exports. But who are they and what have you seen them in?
The best podcasts for learning and perfecting your Swedish
Once you've learned the basics of Swedish, listening to podcasts is one of the best ways of increasing vocabulary and speeding up comprehension. Here are some of the best podcasts out there for Swedish learners.
Culture, politics, food: What makes Europeans proud of their country?
A recent survey by the Pew Research Centre delved into what people feel proudest about in their country, with Europeans pointing to history, food and culture among the main reasons.
All the odd things you can borrow from a Swedish library
When you hear the word ‘library’, you probably think of borrowing books and maybe the odd film. But what about a ukulele, a sewing machine, or even tickets to the opera?
Why do the Swedes watch Ivanhoe on New Year's Day?
A lot of Sweden's holiday traditions centre around the TV, and one of the most baffling takes place on the afternoon of January 1st. What is it about the 1982 adaptation of Ivanhoe that gets people tuning in, year after year?
Head of Nobel-awarding Swedish Academy resigns
The Swedish Academy said Saturday its permanent secretary, Mats Malm, is stepping down after seven years of heading the prestigious institution that awards the annual Nobel literature prize.
Former manager of Swedish star Avicii sues deceased artist's family
A former manager of Swedish superstar DJ Avicii said Tuesday that he had initiated legal proceedings to correct the "public record" regarding his alleged influence on the late artist's suicide.
The Swedish origins of the Christmas song Fairytale of New York
The Pogues' Fairytale of New York, the gritty tale of love gone wrong many consider the greatest Christmas song ever written, has its origins in Sweden, at least according to a new commemorative plaque erected in the city of Malmö.
'Our Christmas ham has run away': Ten of Sweden's best holiday hits
Sick of Last Christmas and All I Want for Christmas is You? We've put together a list of Swedish Christmas songs, including standard hits and more unusual offerings, for you to add to your playlist this year.
The best places to celebrate Halloween in Sweden this year
It's officially spooky season! Whether you're looking for a fright or just want to get into the autumn spirit and carve some pumpkins, here's our list of Halloween events up and down the country.
What can you do for free during Sweden’s autumn break?
The autumn holidays are here, but not every family can afford to travel abroad. Luckily, Sweden’s cities offer plenty of free fun – from libraries and museums to spooky trails and roller discos. Here’s what’s on in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.
Muppets and free love: The bizarre documentary that shaped the image of Sweden
Who knew that Mahna Mahna, the Muppets' much-loved exploration of scat jazz, came from Sweden? Or at least from Sweden: Heaven and Hell, a bizarre 1968 Italian shock-doc portraying the country as a land of uninhibited public nakedness, government-approved pornography and swinging couples.
Do Taylor Swift's ancestors really come from a small parish in rural Sweden?
A community history group tried to get to the bottom of a persistent genealogy rumour surrounding US mega star Taylor Swift and a small parish in north-central Sweden.
More than 15 hospitalised in Listeria outbreak at Stockholm restaurant
At least 15 people have been hospitalised and as many as 80 complained of food poisoning after a Listeria outbreak at the Coco & Carmen restaurant in Stockholm's upmarket Östermalm district.
Why I'm glad Diary of a Ditched Girl is showing another side of Malmö
The Local's Nordic Editor Richard Orange rounds up the biggest stories of the week in our Inside Sweden newsletter.
Swedish dating disaster series tops Netflix viewing figures abroad
Swedish dating disaster drama Diary of a Ditched Girl has shot to the top of viewing figures in over 30 countries a week after launching on Netflix.
EXPLAINED: Sweden’s 'fritidskort' card for kids and how to use it
Sweden launched its 'fritidskort' for children’s leisure activities on September 15th. What is the card and how can you access it for your child?
Swedish music rights group signs deal to compensate artists for AI training
Non-profit group STIM, a Swedish organisation representing musicians, said on Tuesday it signed the "world's first collective AI licence for music", aiming to compensate artists for use of their work in training artificial intelligence.
Pippi, Ikea and the Nobel prize: Sweden gets its first cultural canon
Pippi Longstocking, Ikea's first branch in Älmhult, paid paternity leave, the Nobel Prize and the political speech that launched the 'folkhem'. These are among the 109 works and phenomena that have been included in Sweden's new cultural canon.
FULL LIST: Everything that's in Sweden's new cultural canon
Prose, poems, visual arts, sculpture, and architecture, music, film and theatre, and educational and non-fiction prose: here's the full list of everything included in Sweden's new culture canon.
Sweden's 81-year-old DJ pensioner gets the dancefloors moving
She drops the beat and gets her groove on, spinning discs like a pro as her head-to-toe sequins twinkle under the lights: 81-year-old DJ Gloria is filling dancefloors across Sweden.
Top tips: Sweden’s three biggest cities host free culture festivals
Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö all have free culture festivals coming up in the next few weeks. Here we pick out a few of the highlights from this year’s bulging schedules.