The festival's Main Stage on the historic Stortorget square welcomes an impressive line-up of international icons, Swedish chart-toppers and tomorrow's stars, while streets, parks and public spaces across Malmö come alive with performances, exhibitions, food experiences and activities for all ages.
A truly international line-up
Reflecting Malmö's international character, this year's programme spans everything from afropop and Arabic pop to industrial rock, indie and techno.
International highlights include Angélique Kidjo (Benin), Myriam Fares (Lebanon), Einstürzende Neubauten (Germany) and Jeff Mills (USA) – artists who have each left a lasting mark on the global music scene.
The festival opens with the traditional welcome by Malmö's City Council Chair, Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, followed by the popular XXL Crayfish Party – a festive Swedish late-summer tradition – featuring singer Miriam Aïda. Swedish rock favourites Sahara Hotnights and The Ark kick off eight days of concerts under the open sky.
Sweden's favourite artists
Alongside the international names, visitors can experience some of Sweden's most popular live performers, including Agnes, Oskar Linnros, Orup, Hurula, Moonica Mac, Cleo, Tjuvjakt, Valter Nilsson, Hannes and Sara Parkman.
One of the week's most anticipated performances pairs acclaimed singer-songwriter Jonathan Johansson with the Malmö Symphony Orchestra in a unique concert created especially for the festival.
Malmöfestivalen is also known for introducing new talent to large audiences. This year's programme includes Felicia, winner of Sweden's Eurovision selection Melodifestivalen 2026, alongside rising artist Ida-Lova.
More than a music festival
While music is at its heart, Malmöfestivalen is also one of Sweden's biggest celebrations of city life. Throughout the week, visitors can explore street food from around the world, art installations, cultural performances, family activities, markets and entertainment spread across the city centre.
The festival coincides with Europe Smash Sweden 2026, Europe's largest table tennis event, giving visitors the opportunity to watch world-class players while experiencing the festival atmosphere.
Whether you're coming for the concerts, the food, the atmosphere or simply to discover one of Scandinavia's most diverse cities, Malmöfestivalen offers the perfect opportunity to experience Malmö at its most vibrant.
Find out more about hotels, restaurants, attractions and other experiences in Malmö here, at Visit Malmö.