Four new names for Dark Season Blues 2026
Kid Andersen returns to Longyearbyen with a heavy blues history, J.T. Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters come in award-winning form, Ben Poole offers British blues rock, and our own JG Hansen gives us Svalbard stories from Longyearbyen and Svea.
«Blues talk» with Øyvind Rønning
– has become a festival highlight, and it continues this year with interviews held during the lunch concerts at Kroa on Friday and Saturday.
We unveil four new musical additions
Dark Season Blues 2026 adds Grammy-winning Mike Farris in full band format, guitar phenomenon Laura Chavez, raw delta and Mississippi blues from Big Creek Slim & Kent Erik Thorvaldsen and a Swedish rock’n’roll comeback with the Slaptones.
Winter Blues
Dark Season Blues is an annual music festival in Longyearbyen on Svalbard that marks the beginning of the polar night. On the weekend closest to October 26, the town fills with warm blues rhythms from around 15 Norwegian and international bands. The concerts are held in intimate venues such as pubs, the historic Huset, Gruve 3, and the church, and the program includes blues lunches, three-course dinners, and children’s concerts. The festival is known for its unique atmosphere, where artists, audiences, and locals come together in close proximity. The entire event is run by volunteers and has been environmentally certified since 2017. With music, the Northern Lights, and magical Arctic nature, Dark Season Blues is an unparalleled experience.
[Read more about the winter blues]
The Svalbard archipelago
Svalbard is an Arctic archipelago located between Norway and the North Pole, known for its dramatic nature and unique location. The landscape is characterized by glaciers, mountains and endless tundra areas, with a rich wildlife including polar bears, walruses and reindeer. Longyearbyen, the archipelago’s largest settlement, is a charming small town with an international community and a vibrant cultural life. Svalbard experiences extreme light conditions, with midnight sun in summer and darkness in winter, often accompanied by spectacular northern lights. The archipelago attracts researchers, adventurers and tourists seeking a unique experience in the world’s northernmost populated areas, where wild nature and human adaptation go hand in hand.
[Learn more about the Svalbard archipelago]
Travel destination
Svalbard is a unique travel destination for adventurous tourists, offering spectacular Arctic nature and unforgettable experiences. The archipelago boasts dramatic glaciers, majestic mountains, wild tundra, and rich wildlife, including polar bears, reindeer, and walruses. Longyearbyen, the largest settlement, features modern amenities, fascinating museums, and an international atmosphere. Visitors can experience the midnight sun in summer and the magical northern lights during the dark winter. Activities such as dog sledding, snowmobile safaris, kayaking, and hiking provide close encounters with nature. Svalbard is perfect for those seeking to explore raw, untouched wilderness combined with comfort and culture in one of the world’s most extreme regions.
[Learn more about the destination]
