Well-executed Viking festival -

15 August 2025

Opening ceremony of the Lofotr Viking Festival

Foto: Gustav Fauskanger Pedersen.

From 7 to 10 August, there were performances, concerts, battle shows, games and competitions at the Viking Ship Harbour at Lofotr Viking Museum.

Vikings and visitors from home and abroad helped create an atmospheric and fun festival, despite the occasional torrential rain.

Good visitor numbers

Although some events during the festival had to be moved under a roof, as the weather gods were not entirely happy with the exposure during the opening ceremony, the number of visitors was very good.

Well over 6,000 visitors visited the festival, and almost 10,000 visitors visited Lofotr during the festival week.

We expect that a better blot next year will lead to better weather and in turn even more visitors.

Highlights

With a packed program, full of exciting activities, performances and events, it is difficult to choose highlights from the festival.

Nevertheless, both Olaf Skjegglaus’ Viking Battle School and Medvedis’ fight shows stand out as real highlights.

Nærkamp. Gruppen Medvedis reiste hele veien fra Polen for å kjempe mot hverandre på festivalen.

Olaf Skjegglaus lærer barna om kriging i vikingtiden.

But it was not only the art of war that impressed. Both craftsmen, musicians and jugglers created life and movement at the festival.

Kjell Braaten imponerte med å spille på en rekke historiske instrumenter.

Teater Basun, i rødt, gult og grønt, underholdt med sjonglering, humor, liv og røre. I tillegg holdt de festivalgjestene oppdaterte om hva som skjedde rundt på festivalen.