“Borealis 2024 brilliantly elucidates the ways in which territorial, political and social practices preserved in the sonic and temporal traditions of the Sámi people are increasingly relevant to a world that calls for connection and reconciliation with the land.”
– Xenia Benivolski, The Wire Magazine.
“Joik as an act of Resistance”
“The program’s – sometimes strictly artistic, sometimes focused on discussions – engaged the audience in a non-artistic theme, showing how they treat art to talk about identity, here about the Sámi culture. Festivals do this very shallowly, Borealis decided to go deeper. This reflection on locality, identity, and how to fight for it was my best lesson for this year’s edition.” – Jakub Knera
Jakub Knera from the polish online magazine Nowe idzie od morza has written some beautiful reflections about Borealis 2024.
Vers Libre: Borealis Mix
Ahead of Borealis 2024, Vers Libre presented a series of specially curated mixes by festival artists Signe Emmeluth, Elina Waage Mikalsen, Viktor Bomstad and Kim Myhr.
These mixes are still available for a listen!
Borealis 2024 summed up
Borealis 2024 was five lovely days of concerts, sound installations, family friendly and budget friendly events, unique listening rooms and conversations that explored exciting new musical expressions from all over Norway, Sápmi and the rest of the world!
Now you can watch Borealis 2024 summed up on video!
Video: Ben Speck/Borealis
YrrY and Borealis Ung Komponist to Germany!
The four composers who participated in Borealis Ung Komponist 2023 – Eline Rafteseth, Susanne Xin, Guoste Tamulynaite and Luke Drozd – each created a work for the world premiere at Borealis 2023. The compositions were performed by YrrY together with Carmen Bóveda, and now the ensemble is bringing the pieces to Nordischer Klang Festival in Greifswald, Germany!
Nordischer Klang is the largest festival of Nordic culture in Germany. It is a major platform for artists from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in Germany, just 200 km north of Berlin.
Listen to the conversations again!
Before and during Borealis 2024, Vers Libre presented specially curated mixes from festival artists and breakfast shows with live guests. They also replayed the Borealis Conversations that were part of the festival programme, on Sámi listening practices, cultural erasure and the complexity of experimenting with tradition.
Now you can listen to the playlists and conversations online!
Festival Hub & Ticket Office
12–17 March
11.00–17.00
Bergen Kunsthall
Rasmus Meyers allé 5
You’ll find us in Bergen Kunsthall (Rasmus Meyers allé 5) during the festival. This is where you get your festival wristband, buy tickets, merch and records from festival artists. While you’re there you can stop by Landmark café and soak up the festival vibe! There’s also discounts for you if you have the Borealis Pass!
You can go to Bergen Kunsthall for information, or you can find information here on the website, on pages like Practical Information and Accessibility.
Bergen sámiid searvi
We are incredibly happy to have Bergen sámiid searvi on the team, to present the conversation programmes during the festival, the Jiennagoahti experience, and an entire evening at Bergen Kjøtt: “Birgon Biergu! Gula Márrá!”.
Bergen sámiid searvi was founded in 1969 and organises and arranges cultural and political activities in Bergen and Vestland county. They want to increase knowledge about the diversity of Sámi culture, and the Sámi history of Bergen.
Media Partnership with Vers Libre
Vers Libre will be our new media partner for Borealis 2024!
Joining forces to promote experimental music and sound from this year’s festival, Vers Libre will be presenting specially curated mixes from festival artists, breakfast shows with live guests during the festival, and a series of conversations on Sámi listening practices, cultural erasure and the complexity of experimenting with tradition.
Full Programme out now!
Borealis returns to Bergen, Norway 13–17 March with five full days of concerts and sound installations, family events and conversations, exploring exciting new musical expressions from across Norway, Sápmi and the world! For the 21st edition of Borealis, the festival dedicates half of its programming to exploring the interaction of Sámi history, identity and erasure with experimental sound, music and listening practices. Led by Sámi artist and musician and Borealis Artist in Residence 2022–2024 Elina Waage Mikalsen, our 2024 festival will present a diverse range of Sámi artists who work experimentally with sound and music.