The Capital of Culture year will begin in the heart of the Kiruna winter, in close connection with the Kiruna Snow Festival. During the week, residents of Kiruna Municipality, visitors, cultural actors and partners will come together with guests from Sweden, Europe and the rest of the world to celebrate the start of the Capital of Culture year.

The official opening ceremony is planned for the latter part of the week, between 25 and 28 January. The exact date and time will be announced later.

We now have a date to gather around and something very tangible to build towards. The opening week will mark a strong beginning to a year created together with residents of Kiruna Municipality, cultural actors and partners from across the region, Sweden and Europe. We want people to start thinking already now: in January 2029, I want to be in Kiruna, says Mieke Renders, CEO Kiruna2029.

The timing has been chosen to create good conditions for coordination with other events and to enable Kiruna2029 to welcome local, regional, national and international visitors.

The opening week will mark the beginning of a full year of culture, encounters and collaborations across Kiruna Municipality and together with Region Norrbotten, cultural actors and other partners locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

22–28 January 2029 – save the date.

More information about the programme and the opening will be published at kiruna.se/2029.