Bergen International Festival 2027: where to stay, eat and what to know

Bergen International Festival 2027 runs from Wednesday 26 May to Saturday 12 June, and the festival turns 75. The festival itself handles the programme and tickets. We cover the rest: where to stay near Grieghallen, where to eat before the performance and what else is happening in Bergen those weeks.

Stay by Grieghallen at Grand Hotel Terminus

When is Bergen International Festival 2027?

Bergen International Festival, known locally as Festspillene i Bergen, takes place from Wednesday 26 May to Saturday 12 June 2027. That is almost three weeks of music, theatre, dance, opera and visual art across the city.

2027 is an anniversary year. The festival was first held in 1953, and 2027 marks its 75th edition.

The programme is released in several stages. The first 2027 performances are already out, and the rest of the programme is launched through the autumn and winter on fib.no.

Our angle is simple: we do not make the programme, but we have housed and fed festival audiences for generations. So here is the advice we give our own guests.

May and June are peak season in Bergen, with cruise ships, conferences and several festivals in town at once. Once you have your tickets, book your room the same day. That way you can choose a hotel based on where your performances are, rather than taking whatever is left.

Where does the festival take place?

The festival uses many of Bergen's most distinctive venues, indoors and out. A few you can count on:

• Grieghallen, the city's main concert hall by Lille Lungegårdsvann lake.

• Håkonshallen at Bergenhus Fortress, the 750-year-old royal hall by Bryggen.

• Den Nationale Scene, the national theatre by Engen.

• The festival area, which in 2026 was at Torgallmenningen, with family activities, evening concerts, talks and film screenings.

Churches, museums and stages around the city and beyond the centre are also used. Always check where your performance is before you book a hotel and a table, so you are not rushing between dinner and the concert.

Tickets

Tickets are sold through the festival's own box office at billett.fib.no, where you will also find prices, discounts and buying information.

A few tips before you book:

• Buy tickets for the most popular performances early. Anniversary years draw bigger crowds.

• Students and under-18s pay a maximum of NOK 130 per performance, and everyone under 40 can get tickets for a maximum of NOK 250 while they last.

• If you have tickets for several evenings, group them in the same week and stay in town instead of travelling back and forth.

• Leave time between dinner and the show. Nobody enjoys running from dessert to the first act.

Getting to Bergen and the venues

Most festival guests arrive by plane or train, and both make it easy to leave the car at home.

• By plane: The Bybanen light rail runs from Bergen Airport Flesland to Byparken in the city centre. From there, Grieghallen, Den Nationale Scene and Bryggen are all within walking distance.

• By train: Grand Hotel Terminus and Zander K are right next to Bergen station. Check in, drop your bags and walk on to Grieghallen.

• In town: The centre is compact, and most venues are reachable on foot. For performances outside the centre, check transport on the festival's venue pages. For concerts at Troldhaugen, a bus from the Tourist Information at Strandkaien has been included in the ticket.

Bring an umbrella. Bergen in May is often beautiful, but never guaranteed dry.

Where to stay during the festival

If you are going to several performances, it pays to stay close to the venues. All our hotels are in Bergen city centre, but they sit differently in relation to the stages.

Near Grieghallen

• Grand Hotel Terminus is the classic hotel by Bergen railway station, with KODE art museums, Grieghallen and Bergen Kunsthall close by. The hotel even has its own art gallery, the Festspill Staircase. Hard to find a more fitting place to stay. [SJEKK: hva Festspill-trappen viser i dag]

• Villa Terminus has 18 rooms in a listed villa with a garden, with breakfast served at Grand Terminus. A quiet choice between performances.

• Zander K Hotel is right next to Bergen station. Modern, practical and home to Matbaren.

Near Bryggen and Håkonshallen

• Bergen Børs Hotel is right by the Fish Market and Bryggen, a short walk from Bergenhus Fortress.

• Skostredet Hotel is in the heart of the bar and restaurant quarter, with its own spa.

For families

• Heimen Hotel is the most affordable option, with family rooms and a short walk to Bryggen and the Fish Market.

Dinner before the performance

Dinner before a concert should be good, but it also needs to finish on time. Pick somewhere close to the venue and mention that you are heading to a show when you book.

• Wesselstuen on Øvre Ole Bulls plass serves traditional Bergen food such as fish soup and cod. It sits right by Den Nationale Scene and Torgallmenningen, a natural choice before the theatre.

• Haven is at the same address. A covered, year-round outdoor restaurant with open sandwiches, small plates and fish soup. Good for a lighter meal.

• Matbaren at Zander K is by Bergen station, with local and organic produce. A short walk to Grieghallen.

• Engen Steakhouse grills steak and seafood over charcoal, for evenings that deserve a little extra.

• Omakase by Sergey Pak is our MICHELIN restaurant, with Japanese technique and Norwegian ingredients. Save it for a night without a performance, because this is not a meal to rush.

[SJEKK: om restaurantene tilbyr tidlig servering eller egen festspillmeny]

Book a table before the show

A festival day in Bergen

The festival is not only about the evenings. With performances spread over almost three weeks, you can make whole days of it. A day could look like this:

1. Breakfast at the hotel. Take your time, it will be a late night.

2. Morning at KODE. The art museums are right by Grand Hotel Terminus and Grieghallen, with one of the world's finest Munch collections.

3. Lunch by the harbour. Stroll towards Bryggen and eat with a view of the water.

4. Afternoon at the festival area. In 2026 every event in the festival area was free, giving you a taste of the programme before the evening.

5. Dinner close to the venue. Eat early, ideally on Øvre Ole Bulls plass or by the station.

6. The performance, and a drink afterwards.

The festival with kids

The festival is not just for grown-ups. The festival area has activities for families, and several performances are made for younger audiences.

Travelling as a family? Heimen Hotel is a good base, with family rooms with a double bed and sofa bed, rooms with bunk beds and cots on request. The Aquarium, the Fløibanen funicular and Bryggen are a short walk away. Breakfast is included and served until 11:00 at weekends, so nobody has to rush in the morning.

After the concert

A great performance deserves a conversation afterwards. Amundsen Bar & Bistro at Grand Hotel Terminus is made for exactly that, with an award-winning whisky collection and a historic bistro feel. It is a short walk from Grieghallen, and if you are staying at the hotel, bed is even closer.

With a free afternoon between performances, try afternoon tea at Grand Hotel Terminus. A calm, classic break that fits a festival week perfectly. [SJEKK: dager og tider for afternoon tea i mai og juni]

What else is on in Bergen during the festival?

The festival starts just after Norway's national day on 17 May and runs into June, when the city is at its brightest. Plenty to fill your days.

• Bergenfest runs 9-12 June 2027 at Bergenhus Fortress, overlapping with the festival's final days. Classical in the afternoon and rock at night is entirely possible.

• The city mountains rise right above the centre. The Fløibanen funicular takes you up in minutes, and the view is free.

• The fjords are closer than you think. Several day trips by boat leave from the centre, including the year-round fjord cruise to Mostraumen.

• Outdoor dining along the harbour and on the city squares opens for the season around this time.

Frequently asked questions

When is Bergen International Festival 2027?

Bergen International Festival 2027 runs from Wednesday 26 May to Saturday 12 June. That is almost three weeks of music, theatre, dance and opera on stages across the city. 2027 marks the festival's 75th anniversary, and the programme is released in stages on fib.no. Book your room early, as May and June are peak season in Bergen.

How do I buy tickets for Bergen International Festival?

Tickets for Bergen International Festival are sold through the festival's own box office at billett.fib.no. There you will find prices, discounts and which performances are on sale. Students get a discount. The most popular shows sell out quickly, so buy early and book your dinner and hotel at the same time.

Which hotel is closest to Grieghallen?

Of the De Bergenske hotels, Grand Hotel Terminus is closest to Grieghallen, next to Bergen station with KODE and Bergen Kunsthall nearby. Villa Terminus and Zander K Hotel are in the same area. If your performance is at Håkonshallen in Bergenhus Fortress, Bergen Børs Hotel by Bryggen is the more practical choice.

What is Bergen International Festival?

Bergen International Festival is an international festival of music, theatre, dance, opera and visual art held every spring in Bergen, Norway. It was first held in 1953 and celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2027. The programme ranges from major international names in the concert hall to intimate recitals, talks and family activities.

Where can I eat before a show at Den Nationale Scene?

Before a show at Den Nationale Scene, you can eat at Wesselstuen or Haven, both on Øvre Ole Bulls plass right by the theatre. Wesselstuen serves traditional Bergen dishes, while Haven suits a lighter meal. Book a table well in advance and let the restaurant know you need to make the curtain.

The festival brings the music. We take care of the bed, the dinner and the whisky afterwards. Stay in the heart of the festival city and keep the distances short.

Find a hotel near Grieghallen