Get your festival bandThe 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 Annie Brickman
The horse trots into Medieval Week
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 and food. Every year the festival attracts thousands of visitors who come to enjoy all the activities on offer.
The 2024 theme of Medieval Week is the horse.
The horse was one of the most important means of transportation for people in the Middle Ages. The horses were also a sign of status and wealth. Horses have been used as riding and working animals in Sweden since the Bronze Age. On Gotland, there are a large number of equestrian graves and several pictographs that clearly depict the horse’s uses. The Gotlands Museum has a horse image as its logo.
Medieval Week 2024, 4-11 August will draw attention to the role of the horse in the Middle Ages with lectures and workshops focusing on the history and importance of the horse. Of course there will be Tournaments, stick horses and a horse parade! Medieval Week 2024 is a great opportunity to learn more about the role of the horse in the Middle Ages and to experience the medieval culture and history that Gotland has to offer.
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 August 4-11, 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 4-11, 2024.
- 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.
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 Therese Hübner
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.
About the Medieval Week on Gotland Foundation
The festival is organized by Stiftelsen Medeltidsveckan på Gotland, a non-profit research foundation for the purpose of public education. The operation is managed by the wholly owned operating company. The aim is to make knowledge of our common history and Gotland’s medieval times available to as many people as possible. Any profit is reinvested in next year’s operations and research. Founders are Medeltidsgillet, Gotlands bildningsförbund (Gotland’s education association), The society of Gotlands fornvänner, Gotlands hembygdsförbund (Gotland’s Homeland Association) and Region Gotland.
Over twenty medieval venues
- The Medieval arena • Jousting
- Jubilee area XL • The XL Stage • The Kitchen Stage • Riddargård (children’s area)
- Historical Encampment Exhibition • Gästabudsgillet • Gutars Bågskyttar • Stockholmsfänikan • Gantarna • Proknekt etc.
- The Handicraft Market • The jester meadow “Gycklar Änget”• Sagoängen
- Visitor Center • Paviljongsplan
- Food Court • Stage Forum Vulgaris
- Medieval Week camp ground
- S:t Göran ruin stage
- Nordegravar • The Theatre Wagon Teater Teatro • S:t Göran bridge
- S:t Nicolai ruin stage • Medieval tavern Bistra Haren & Frimis
- Helge Ands ruin stage
- S:t Clemens ruin stage
- Medieval Tavern Kapitelhusgården • Courses • The Stage Forum Kapitulum
- S:ta Maria Church
- S:t Lars ruin Stage
- S:ta Karin ruin stage • Medieval tavern Klosterlängan • Town square
- “The old Apothecary” • Strand Hotel Theatre Stage
- Gotland’s Museum • Sävesalen • The tourist office • Donners Plats
- “Almedalen”
- “Hästarnas dal”
- “Tjärkokeriet”
- The South Square
