20 New Reasons to Visit Sweden in 2026
Sweden saw out last year with a slew of travel awards and it continues to be one of the most sophisticated LGBTQ+ destinations in Europe.
From new hotel openings and spa hideaways to culinary hotspots and immersive nature experiences, Sweden’s 2026 lineup offers a fresh take on sustainable travel and wellness. As the first country ever to be prescribed by doctors as a destination for mental and physical recovery, Sweden continues to prioritize balance, nature and the art of slowing down. With a list full of events to help next year’s travel plans, we send you off into this year´s Christmas season with wishes for a God Jul & Gott Nytt År – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2026!
Here are 20 top picks for 2026.
#1: Spot arctic foxes
Maybe more than any other animal, arctic foxes are symbols of the wide, white landscapes of Sweden’s North. Endangered in Sweden, the arctic fox population on the mountain plateau of Stekenjokk in the northern Swedish region of Jämtland has grown over the past couple of years. From this summer, travellers can take guided evening tours through this protected Sámi heritage landscape to catch a glimpse of the shy, beautiful animals through powerful binoculars. The tours also offer deep insights into the wider ecosystem that foxes share with us humans.
More info: Arctic fox tours with operator Lia Ranch
#2: Take an epic road trip
For the ultimate road trip, drive along Sweden’s Wilderness Road, a ruggedly majestic route through some of the country’s most outstanding and remote nature. Take in breathtaking scenery, from dramatic mountains and expansive plains to pristine lakes and waterfalls, all peppered with wildlife large and small.
More info: The Wilderness Road
#3: Marvel at the Crystal Sauna
From 27 May to 9 June, Skellefteå in northern Sweden, will host a 14-day event focused on sustainable solutions for the challenges ahead. Rooted in the Skellefteå 2030 strategy, the Expo highlights environmental, economic and social sustainability, with a special emphasis on social cohesion.
The event will also be the inauguration of the Wasteland Climate Action Park, a new civic environment for art, architecture, climate research, industry and social inclusion – including the artwork Crystal Sauna by renowned architect duo Bigert & Bergström.
The Crystal Sauna is both an art installation and an actual sauna that can hold twelve people and is powered by a battery heater.
#4: Take a wine run
Skåne, one of southern Sweden´s wine regions, is launching a unique experience aimed squarely at sophisticated travelers: the Kullahalvön Winter Wine Run on January 24. Designed to be fun rather than a serious competition, this 10-kilometer course ensures participants experience the destination’s nature and “become familiar with the area’s wine production”. The event features several designated stops for wine tasting along the route.
The run is a collaborative effort between local businesses, including Kullabergs Vineyard, Arilds Vineyard, and Hotel Rusthållargården, aiming to prove that Kullahalvön is a vibrant year-round destination, not just a summer stop.
Participants start simultaneously from four different locations—the participating hotels and vineyards—which also serve as the wine tasting stations. This avoids long queues. Organisers emphasise that the event differs from other running events in every way except the actual moving, whether that be “running, or jogging, or lumbering”.
More info: kullahalvontrailrun.se/winter-wine-run/ (Swedish)
#5: Watch the winter Ice Swimming World Cup 2026
Taking a dip in icy water is not for everyone, and actually donning a bathing suit to swim a race over 20, 50, 100 or 200 metres surrounded by ice, probably less so. But thankfully, visitors are welcome to just cheer from the sidelines or enjoy some of the other competitions that take place between 27 February and 1 March, like listening to a poem recital or a piece of music while the artists stand in an ice hole.
More info: vintersim.se/
#6: Take the plunge yourself
For a year now, a growing community of cold bathing enthusiasts has been welcoming locals and visitors to take the plunge every Sunday near Umeå in northern Sweden. What began as a volunteer project led to the opening of a sauna built entirely from recycled materials, making it just that much easier to venture into the icy waters of the Ume River. The initiative also resulted in a guided ritual combining fire, ice and traditional Swedish fika for those seeking to explore the mindful rhythm of northern Swedish wellness culture.
More info: umeakallbad.se/sondagsdopp
#7: Go on a self-guided hike
Nature Travels, specialists in Nordic Outdoor & Adventure Holidays since 2006, has announced the launch of a new package: Self-guided Hiking on Sweden’s High Coast (Höga Kusten).
This new experience invites guests to discover the unique landscapes of the High Coast region, a UNESCO World Heritage Area, through a choice of varied daily hikes from a cosy cabin base. Sure to appeal to UK adventurers looking for a unique summer experience between May and September.
#8: Explore the World’s Highest Post-Glacial Rebound
The High Coast is an area of significant geological interest, known for having experienced the highest known post-glacial rebound anywhere on Earth. Since the continental ice sheet retreated 10,000 years ago, the land has risen approximately 300m and continues to push upwards by about 8mm per year. This rapid transformation has created a dramatic and beautiful landscape, distinct from other coastal areas in Sweden, characterised by steep hills, deep valleys, dramatic cliffs, and views across the archipelago islands rising from the Baltic Sea.
The new self-guided tour allows guests to explore established trail networks, which are clearly marked and well-maintained. Daily hikes run along sections of the High Coast Trail (a 135km-long Sweden Signature Trail) and the World Heritage Trail (a 100km-long route). Specific itinerary options (ranging from 4 days/3 nights up to 7 days/6 nights) include opportunities to climb Dalsberget and Högklinten for panoramic views.
More info: naturetravels.co.uk/hiking-sweden-self-guided-hiking-on-the-high-coast-lf47ts1.htm
#9: Drop anchor at the archipelago retreat, Hotel J
Located close to Stockholm city centre, Hotel J takes its name from the J-Class yachts of the 1930s, known as symbols of craftsmanship and elegance. The newly re-opened hotel’s interiors reflect a Scandinavian palette of whites, blues and reds, creating a calm, nautical atmosphere.
Nearby stands Tornvillan, a historic villa built in 1889, now carefully restored. From sea-facing rooms to the Panorama Sauna and seasonal menus at Restaurant J, the setting invites a pause from city life. Wellbeing classes add another layer to the experience, encouraging balance and renewal.
More info: hotelj.com/en
#10: Embrace social wellness at hotel Hagastrand
A new destination for social wellness by Brunnsviken, a calm stretch of water surrounded by parkland, historic estates and walking paths, one of the city’s most popular places for gentle outdoor time, minutes from central Stockholm. Hagastrand combines Nordic heritage with contemporary design by Swedish design firm Wingårdhs, offering 215 rooms, restaurants, bars and flexible spaces for meetings and gatherings.
Exposing the body to the cold in Hagastrand’s snowroom can boost wellbeing. The spa is at the heart of the experience: an 18-metre pool bathed in natural light, underwater music, and an event sauna where sound, scent and heat create immersive ceremonies. The spa lounge serves seasonal dishes inspired by global sauna cultures, encouraging slow pauses and mindful moments.
Social wellness here means more than relaxation. Artistic performances, from circus acts to underwater concerts, bring energy and presence to the setting. Hagastrand is a place where wellbeing becomes shared.
More info: hagastrand.se/en
#11: Lose yourself in history in Uppsala
Uppsala has gained a new cultural landmark. Akademihotellet, located in the city’s historic heart, is opening a boutique extension in Clasonska Gården, a townhouse built in 1698 by scientist Olof Rudbeck. Guests encounter influences from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.
This is not just accommodation, it’s a narrative of architecture and identity, set between Uppsala Cathedral and the castle in Sweden’s oldest university town. This boutique hotel strengthens the area around Övre Slotts as a hub for cultural experiences, where visitors don’t just see history, they stay in it.
More info: akademihotellet.se/en/clasonska-garden-2/
#12: Sample a classic Swedish seaside summer
Set to open in summer 2026, Margretes Badhotell brings back the charm of a classic Swedish seaside hotel at Margreteberg on the stunning Kullaberg Peninsula in southern Sweden´s Skåne region. Overlooking the tranquil waters near Höganäs, an area known for its ceramics, the hotel will offer a restaurant and a space for events throughout the year.
Behind the project is Blue Tuna Group, transforming one of Höganäs’ finest coastal locations into a destination for relaxation. Margretes Badhotell aims to combine timeless seaside traditions with modern hospitality in a setting designed for leisure.
More info: instagram.com/margretes.badhotell/
#12: Drive in and stay at a Swedish roadside hotel
Hotel group Strawberry is launching a new, eco-conscious chain named Stopover, aimed at car travelers. The first roadside location is now open in Falkenberg, on Sweden’s west coast.
The Stopover hotel in Falkenberg. Photo: Strawberry Hotel Group
The new concept hotel chain offers domestic and international visitors a place to recharge electric vehicles, stretch their legs, and continue their Swedish adventure refreshed. In addition to restaurant facilities, Stopover hotels offer pet-friendly hotel rooms, playrooms for kids, and even a gym for adults.
Also in 2026, Strawberry will take over the operation of a hotel in Visby, Gotland, from Scandic in the summer, as part of a new long-term collaboration with Gotlandsbolaget.
More info: strawberryhotels.com/brands/stopover
#13: Take a spa sojourn in Stockholm
In spring 2026, the historic Villa Foresta hotel on the island of Lidingö, just out of Stockholm, opens its new spa, Acqua de Foresta. A 900-square-metre oasis with a sea view, indoor and outdoor pools and several saunas. The spa pays tribute to both ancient Roman spa cultures and to the spa tradition dating back to the turn of the 19th century.
#14: Go glamping in central Sweden
One tent, that’s it. That is the new experience the glamping site Hästnäs Logi offers, starting summer 2026, in what feels like northern Sweden, though it’s actually in the middle of this long country.
One tent, deep in an untouched ancient forest, and next to a lake (the tent is, of course, rainproof, and super comfy). Guests may try various activities such as stand-up paddling or biking, or they can just sit by the lake, rest their eyes, breathe the fresh, crisp air and listen to the sounds of the surrounding nature.
This is a place to enjoy solitude and be in the moment, run by a young couple on land that has been owned by the family for centuries.
More info: hastnaslogi.se
#15: Find yourself in a Swedish forest
New for 2026, the extended forest stay at Resort Hotel Sommarhagen now includes two nights and a full day, giving guests more time to unwind and explore. Accommodation ranges from floating hotel rooms and glass houses by the lake to traditional lakeside cabins, all designed to immerse you in nature and silence.
Activities such as hiking, cycling and canoeing invite discovery at your own pace, while sustainability guides every detail—from energy-saving measures to reducing food waste and preserving the landscape. Resort Hotel Sommarhagen is a place to pause, breathe and experience the forest in its purest form.
More info: sommarhagen.se/EN/Sustainability
#16: Visit Scandinavia’s tallest tower
At 246 metres tall, Karlatornet becomes the tallest skyscraper in Scandinavia. From the summer of 2026, its panoramic observation deck, Gothenburg View, and its restaurant located on the 69th floor will open to the public.
#17: Taste the world’s best vanilla ice cream
The world’s best vanilla ice cream officially comes from Sweden. The prize at 2025’s International Ice Cream Conference was awarded to SIA Glass (Glass is ice cream in Swedish) for the second year in a row. SIA’s 65th anniversary in 2026 offers an opportunity to reflect on how an old slaughterhouse became the producer of one of Sweden’s most popular ice creams, called The Ice cream boat.
SIA’s home base lies in the southern region of Halland, on the west coast, a region famed for its long sandy coastline. It is perhaps these long, white-sandy beaches that were the inspiration behind this award-winning ice cream. Visit SIA´s flagship ice cream bars in the seaside town of Falkenberg and the historic village of Slöinge, where SIA has been producing ice cream in since 1961, and it is here that you will find the entire range of flavors!
#18: Find out what real Fika is
While in Sölinge, make sure to enjoy a Swedish fika at the award-winning Solhaga Stenugnsbageri (Stone Oven Bakery). This is one of the region’s best-kept secrets, frequented by locals year-round!
More info: visithalland.com/en
#19: Visit Stockholm’s concert hall on its centenary
100 years ago, in 1926, Stockholm’s concert hall became the country’s first building dedicated to classical music. It is an outstanding example of Swedish classicist architecture, resembling an antique temple. The concert hall celebrates its anniversary – and indeed 125 years of the Royal Stockholm Philarmonic Orchestra – with Ludvig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, music that Beethoven composed while improving his health in a spa. The concert on 9 April similarly offers an opportunity to increase well-being and enhance positive emotions.
More info: konserthuset.se/en/programme/calendar/concert/2026/100-years-in-blue/20260409-1900
#20: See an opera about the first Nobel-awarded lesbian author
The first woman to win a Nobel Prize in Literature was Swedish writer Selma Lagerlöf. She is famous in the U.S. for providing Greta Garbo with her film debut in the 1924 Swedish silent film The Saga of Gösta Berling, which was based on Lagerlöf’s debut novel and became Garbo’s breakthrough role.
While never publicly declared due to the era’s taboos, historical evidence from her intimate letters reveals that Nobel laureate Selma Lagerlöf, a pioneering woman writer, was a lesbian with deep, passionate relationships with women, particularly her lifelong companion writer Sophie Elkan.
A new opera, Selma, celebrates the author and the 50th anniversary of the opera house in Karlstad between February and April 2026.
More info: wermlandopera.com/om-wermland-opera/english-summary
