GUEST PROGRAMME 2026

Borealis is a festival presenting new work across new composition, improvisation, performance, and sound-based art — and everything in between. Every March, we take over the city of Bergen for five days, celebrating experimental music and art.

Through our Guest Programme, we invite a selected number of journalists, curators, festival organisers, academics, and artists from around the world to attend Borealis. Guests can enjoy concerts, talks, exhibitions, and the city of Bergen, while exploring the Norwegian experimental music scene and connecting with fellow professionals from across the globe.

INTENTION
Every year we put together a group of people that we think will benefit from spending time together that work within similar spheres of art and music, but also that can learn new things from each other. We hope you seize the opportunity to dedicate yourselves and your time to the group whilst in Bergen.

This is your schedule for your days in Bergen. It has been carefully planned and contains information on all the events you are taking part in.

Some events will have a guide to accompany you, while for others you will explore independently. You can find the locations of all events by following the provided links in Google Maps.

Walking
Bergen is a small city and venues are rarely very far apart. We’ll move between venues by foot, so make sure you have some comfy shoes with you! For venues outside of the city we will be taking public transportation. You can buy the tickets in the Skyss app.

Jiennagoahti (listening lodge)
There will be guided tours to the very unique Sámi listening lodge Jiennagoahti. The listening lodge is placed on top of the city mountain Fløyen and is reachable by funicular and a light hike. You have will be split into groups for this experience and will receive info on which group you’re in by e-mail.

Here’s a list of your fellow delegates.
The list provides you with information on all your fellow delegates. You will be spending some beautiful days in Bergen together so take a moment to familiarise yourself with the people on the list and get ready to make some new acquaintances!

DELEGATE FOLDER
Upon arrival at the Festival Hotel, Hotel Heimen, you will receive your accreditation in the reception with festival wristband, a programme leaflet and some merch. Make sure you ask for it if it is not handed to you automatically.

FESTIVAL WRISTBAND
The Delegate Wristband ensures you free entrance to all events at the festival. You will not be needing any tickets or additional booking – the wristband gets you in everywhere.

PACKING LIST
We will be taking you for listening experiences both up the mountain and in the cold sea/heated pool/hot sauna, and you will be walking together to most venues around the city centre, so here are some essentials to bring:
– swimwear (2 pairs if you’re really keen)
– bathrobe
– warm clothes
– waterproof jacket (ideally a warm one, or lots of layers to go underneath)
– comfortable waterproof shoes
– warm sweater 

ACCOMODATION
Our festival hotel is:
Hotel Heimen
C. Sundts gate 18
5004 Bergen
+4755334000
If you are covering parts of, or the whole stay yourself, make sure you settle your bill before checking out.

Transport to/from the airport Bergen Flesland

OPTION 1 The cheapest way is the Bergen City Rail, only costing NOK 50 for a ticket. You can either buy a ticket on the machines at the station right at the exit of the airport or download the app Skyss Billett. Get off at the last stop: Byparken. From here it’s a 10 minute walk to the hotel.
OPTION 2 The other option is the airport bus Flybussen which also goes from outside the arrivals hall. Get off at: Torget. From here it’s a 5 minute walk to the hotel. The bus ride costs around NOK 150. 

Breakfast
The hotel offers a complimentary breakfast buffet every day
Monday-Friday 06.00-10.00
Saturday-Sunday 07.00-11.00

Festival Food Venues 2026
Here is a list of all the restaurants we collaborate with this year.
The festival doesn’t provide extra meals this year, due to cuts in funding, but we encourage you to use the Festival Kitchen and other restaurants from this list!
We will gather on Saturday to eat a festival dinner together at Mat&Prat, 18.00.
The programme is packed and we know there is not that much time for dining out during afternoons!
We recommend that you bring some lunch with you. If the weather is nice we can have a lunch break together during our trip to Jiennagoahti and it could be smart to have a snack for after Laugaren sauna session and bathing on Saturday and Sunday!

 We strive to be a welcoming, accessible and inclusive festival and we want you to enjoy your experience of being here with us. We ask everyone attending the festival to adhere to our Code of Conduct. 

AVOID PRECONCEPTIONS Keep an open mind. Don’t assume things about others. Everyone has a different life experience and may be struggling with challenges that are not always visible. 

SEEK CONSENT Be aware of other people’s boundaries. If unsure, ask for consent, and if someone says ‘no’ or asks you to stop something, then stop. Their bodies, their choice! 

RESPECT PRONOUNS Use the correct pronouns and avoid making assumptions. Ask people how they want to be addressed. 

CHECK YOUR PRIVILEGE Think about how you are occupying this space and the visible and invisible hierarchies that exist. Be aware of how your privilege perpetuates oppression and discrimination. 

MIND YOUR LANGUAGE Be kind, polite and respectful to others. We have a zero tolerance policy towards harassment and prejudice of any kind, including abusive, racist, sexist, misogynist, ableist, classist, sizeist, ageist, homophobic or transphobic language. 

LOOK AFTER ONE ANOTHER We’re all here in this space together – audiences, staff, volunteers and artists. Be considerate and treat one another with kindness and respect. 

TAKE A BREAK If you feel uncomfortable or need a break you can always leave the concert. Taking a break is OK! When you are ready, we’ll let you in as soon as possible. 

REPORT If you feel threatened, unwell or unsafe at any of our events, if you notice someone else being harassed or have any concerns about an individual’s behaviour, please report it to a member of staff, or to our Managing Director: agnes@borealisfestival.no/+47 45 68 53 70.