Norway for Visitors
East Finnmark is one of Norway’s most distinctive travel destinations, where dramatic nature meets deep cultural history. In summer, visitors can experience the Midnight Sun, when daylight lasts around the clock. In winter, the Polar Night—when the sun does not rise for weeks—offers exceptional opportunities to witness the Aurora Borealis.
Fishing has long traditions here, and both coastal and sea fishing remain popular. One of the most iconic experiences is a king crab safari, where guests head out onto the Barents Sea to catch and later enjoy this Arctic delicacy.
East Finnmark also offers excellent hiking through tundra, coastal cliffs, river valleys, and quiet forests. Outdoor excursions such as riverboat trips, guided walks, and winter snow activities allow visitors to experience the Arctic environment day and night, including overnight stays in snow hotels.
East Finnmark offers rare experiences at the very starting point of Europe—or the northern end of the Singing Heritage Route.
Festival and events
Barents Spektakel
This is an annual art festival in Kirkenes with the aim of building bridges across both real and imagined borders. The four-day festival presents contemporary art, theatre, music, film, debates, performances, and a distinctive conceptual festival bar.
Through a diverse and interdisciplinary programme, Barents Spektakel functions as an open meeting place for everyone interested in art, culture, and current political, social, and cultural issues shaping the High North.
This year’s theme: The Border Crossed Us
Dates: 19–22 February 2026
Location: Kirkenes
Bugøynesfestivalen
The festival is a unique music and culture festival held under the midnight sun in the beautiful coastal village of Bugøynes. It offers an unforgettable experience combining great music, excellent food, and stunning nature. Music, sea fishing, hiking.
This year, Norway’s leading Finnish band, Eisa Peita, will perform at the festival.
Location: Bugøynes, Sør-Varanger Municipality, Finnmark
Dates: 23–25 July 2026
Grenseløsfestivalen
This festival is an indoor music festival held in Kirkenes on the first Friday and Saturday of September. The festival was first organised in 2012 and presents a varied programme of live music.
Varangerfestivalen
Varangerfestivalen is a multi-genre music festival held annually in the Arctic town of Vadsø, usually in week 32. Since the 1980s, the festival has presented a strong mix of international, national, and local artists.
The festival has a clear youth focus and also includes a dedicated children’s festival, Varanger Jåss. Varangerfestivalen is known for its high quality, strong Arctic character, and inclusive, innovative profile, with particular emphasis on artists from the northern regions.
Dates in 2026: Thursday 6 August – Saturday 8 August
Kvenfestivalen – Kväänifestivaali
Kvenfestivalen – Kväänifestivaali is a collaborative festival project among different institutions.
The festival was first held in June 2019. Its goal is to become an annual festival in Vadsø, focusing on Kven / Norwegian Finnish culture and language in the Varanger region.
Dates in 2026: 10–14 June
https://www.varangermuseum.no/kvenfestivalen/
The international Finnish Writing Competition
This is a competition in Finnish languages; Finnish, Karelian, Meänkieli and Kven. The contestants write a short story and winners are pronounced for Norway, Sweden, Karelia (Russia), Finland, and overall.
