Welcome to Dark Season Blues 2025
– the world’s northernmost blues festival.
Dark Season Blues; An Arctic Celebration of Music and Community
Dark Season Blues is a one-of-a-kind music festival held every year in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, during the weekend closest to October 26th. The festival marks the onset of the polar night, as daylight and the sun prepare to leave the Arctic for four long winter months. The transition to darkness, with its ethereal blue light, provides the perfect backdrop for the soulful sounds of blues.
First held in 2003 as a small, intimate event, the festival has grown significantly over the years. The 2025 edition will be the 22nd festival, featuring approximately 15 Norwegian and international bands over four days. Concerts take place at most of Longyearbyen’s venues, including the historic Huset, as well as unique settings like Gruve 3 (an old coal mine), the local church, and the school. The program also includes blues lunches, three-course blues dinners, dedicated children’s concerts, and a Sunday evening jam session where attendees can perform with their favorite blues artists.
The close-knit atmosphere of Longyearbyen allows artists, audiences, and locals to mingle freely throughout the weekend, creating an unparalleled sense of connection. The festival prides itself on curating a lineup that spans the blues genre, offering a high-quality, varied, and approachable experience for all attendees.
Dark Season Blues is a non-commercial event, entirely reliant on the dedication of around 80 volunteers. Their efforts make it possible to deliver Svalbard’s largest cultural event each year. Financially, the festival aims to break even, with any surplus funds reinvested into future festivals.
Environmental sustainability is a key focus, and the festival has been certified as an eco-friendly event since 2017, meeting increasingly stringent standards each year. The 2025 festival also aims for recertification.
In addition to concerts, the 2025 festival will include a Blues School, a workshop for local youth organized in collaboration with Longyearbyen Kulturskole. A mainland band will guide participants, whose work will culminate in a performance at the festival’s opening and potentially a mini-concert during the event. This initiative is free of charge and reflects the festival’s commitment to fostering musical talent.
Dark Season Blues combines world-class music, a vibrant community spirit, and the stunning Arctic landscape into a truly unforgettable experience. Whether you’re drawn by the allure of the polar night, the quality of the music, or the unique cultural setting, this festival promises an adventure unlike any other.
