One of the five best in Europe!

HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit is the festival's patron.
Here is an overview of the Crown Princess's patronages. 

The festival offers a varied program with concerts, courses, exhibitions, children's activities and tours. Kulturhuset Førdehuset is the main arena for the many concerts, but the festival also collaborates with other cultural institutions, hotels and churches on events during the festival. The beautiful nature of Vestland forms a unique setting for the festival.

The festival presents ethnic music from all over the world. We want to allow the audience to experience some of the amazing diversity of musical cultures and traditions that exist on our planet.

Musical quality - new music experiences

The festival seeks to engage the best performers from the world's many musical cultures and expressions. The festival is known for a program selection that appeals to an open and curious audience, and does not always take the broad path when it comes to choosing musicians.

The festival aims to give listeners new musical experiences. Many musical traditions and musicians have been presented for the first time in Norway from the festival stage in Førde . But folk music traditions that are known and loved by most people also have their place on Førdefestivalen .

Norwegian folk music is a large and natural part of the festival program, and the festival places special emphasis on promoting young musicians and new productions.

Great importance is also placed on ensuring that the musicians have a good stay in Norway and Førde Good artist service is one of the festival's trademarks.

Førdefestivalen is a member of:
Norwegian Cultural Organizers
Forum of Worldwide Music Festivals

The festival focuses on selected themes every year:

1990: Eastern Europe
1991: Indigenous people and minorities
1992: African Roots
1993: Gypsy Music
1994: The Far East
1995: Music by the Mediterranean
1996: South of the Sahara
1997: Latin America
1998: European minorities
1999: Music by the Black Sea
2000: The Celtic Family
2001: Music along the Silk Road
2002: From fado to flamenco
2003: European voices
2004: Greetings from the Caribbean!
2005: Sounds from the Caspian Sea
2006: Brazil! Brazil!!
2007: French Emotions
2008: Dialogue
2009: World Voices
2010: FREEDOM and oppression
2011: Women's World
2012: Coexistence - Coexistence
2013: Music & Nature
2014: Local - global for 25 years
2015: World ConneXions
2016: Flight!
2017: The Sound of the North!
2018: The dance in the music, the music in the dance!
2019: 30 years without borders!
2020: Gender at Play (festival postponed to 2021 due to the corona pandemic)
2021: HOME (with musicians living in Norway)
2022: Music in crises
2023: Dreams
2024: Roots

Key figures

Approximately 20,000 visitors annually
About 80 events
Approximately 250 artists from 20-25 countries
Approximately 17 million NOK annual turnover

Since its inception in 1990, 8,510 artists from 137 different countries have performed on the various stages during the festival itself. 

Organization

The festival is a non-profit foundation. The host municipality, county municipality, voluntary organizations and the business community are foundation members. The festival has 5.6 full-time employees and almost 300 volunteers put in over 3,500 volunteer hours each year for the festival. The festival is a member of national, European and worldwide networks within world music / ethnic music, such as Norwegian Festivals, Forum of Worldwide Music Festivals and Freemuse. 

Administration: Director, finance and sponsorship manager, communications manager, two producers, ticket manager (50% position) and office staff (20% position).

Board (2021-2023): Arne Osland (Chairman), Anne Kristin Lilleaasen, Trond Ueland, Ingrid Heieren, Ole Nilssen, Christoffer Knagenhjelm, Aslak Johnsen and Roza Bawan.

The festival is always held in the week of the 27th:

• 2025: July 2-6

• 2026: July 1-5

• 2027: July 7-11