What Olavsfest does

Olavsfest (legally Olavsfestdagene i Trondheim) is a privately held Norwegian cultural festival organization founded in 1962 and headquartered at Munkegata 2 in Trondheim. It organizes an annual seven-day cultural festival held 28 July – 3 August across multiple venues in central Trondheim, anchored by the medieval Nidarosdomen cathedral and the Erkebispegården Archbishop's Palace. The festival presents approximately 200 events spanning classical and contemporary concerts, theatrical performances, film screenings (Olavskino), talks and debates (Minne- og fanehallen), religious services, a traditional marketplace (Olavsmarkedet), and family programming, all organized around an annual thematic concept — 'Sannhet' (Truth) in 2026. Each edition features both international headliners (Astrid S, Espen Lind, Åge Aleksandersen, Jonas Benyoub) and niche Norwegian acts, with ticket prices ranging from NOK 250-695 for individual events, NOK 1,350 for day passes, and bundled three-evening packages via the Borggårdspasset. Substantial programming is free (Kirkehagen church program, Minne- og fanehallen talks).

The underlying technology stack is conventional and non-proprietary: the public website (olavsfest.no) runs on WordPress hosted by PRO ISP AS, with Google Analytics for visitor analysis and Facebook/Meta cookies for marketing personalization. Ticket distribution relies on Ticketmaster Norway as the primary platform, with secondary ticketing through Trondheim Kino (Olavskino films) and Nye Hjorten Teater (eventim-powered). The organization holds the Miljøfyrtårn environmental certification since 2010 (preparing its first climate gas accounting in 2026) and the Tilgjengelighetsmerket accessibility mark.

Olavsfest operates a hybrid revenue model combining (1) consumer ticket sales via Ticketmaster and the festival website, (2) public sector funding from multiple Norwegian institutions (Norwegian Arts Council, Trondheim Kommune, Trøndelag Fylkeskommune, Sametinget, Fritt Ord, Nidaros Cathedral Restoration), and (3) commercial sponsorships, with EC Dahls, SpareBank1 SMN, and Adresseavisen as principal partners. Newsletter subscribers receive priority ticket access, creating a soft subscription funnel. Distribution is exclusively domestic (Norway), targeting a broad Norwegian and international audience that attends the festival in person. The festival plays a central role in Norway's National Jubilee 2030 commemoration initiative.

Name

Olavsfest

Legal name

Olavsfestdagene i Trondheim

Website

https://olavsfest.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Olavsfest (Olavsfestdagene i Trondheim) is a privately held Norwegian cultural festival organization founded in 1962 that annually presents approximately 200 concerts, performances, talks, and religious services across Trondheim venues anchored by Nidarosdomen cathedral, funded by ticket sales, public sector grants, and commercial sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Festival Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural & Community Festivals (Ticketed) (THAJAFAI), Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Religious & Spiritual Festivals/Observances (Public Events) (MPAGAEAC)

Keywords

• Cultural festival organization
• Live music concerts
• Performing arts events
• Religious heritage programming
• Cultural event ticketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Trondheim

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales: The festival sells tickets to individual events and bundled passes (e.g., Borggårdspasset – three Borggården evenings for the price of two; day passes including Åge Aleksandersen concerts) through Ticketmaster, the festival website, info booths, and Trondheim Torg.
2. Public sector funding: Olavsfest receives financial support from public institutions including Norsk Kulturråd (Norwegian Arts Council), Trondheim Municipality, Trøndelag County, Sametinget, Fritt Ord, and Nidarosdomen Restaureringsarbeider.
3. Commercial partnerships and sponsorship: Revenue from main commercial sponsors including EC Dahls, SpareBank1 SMN, Adresseavisen, Møller Bil, Britannia, and other partners, as well as supplier/vendor relationships with Ticketmaster, Ringnes, Kjeldsberg Kaffe, and Nidar.
4. Newsletter subscription (priority access): Newsletter subscribers gain early access to purchase tickets before the general public, driving subscriber growth and advance ticket revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Olavsfest produces and presents an annual seven-day cultural festival (28 July – 3 August) in Trondheim, Norway, centered on Nidarosdomen. The festival sells individual event tickets, bundled Borggården concert passes, and day passes covering approximately 200 concerts, theatre performances, film screenings, talks, religious services, a marketplace, and city walks. Programming is unified each year under a single curatorial theme (2026: Sannhet/Truth) and delivered through partnerships with Ticketmaster, Trondheim Kino, Nye Hjorten Teater, the Norwegian Church, and NRK/SR/DR media.

Product overview

Olavsfest is a values-based annual cultural festival held July 28 - August 3 in Trondheim, Norway. The core product is the week-long festival combining concerts (in Nidarosdomen, Borggården, and Vår Frue kirke), performing arts, film (Olavskino), talks and debates (Minne- og fanehallen), religious services, marketplace (Olavsmarkedet), and family activities. Add-on products include Borggårdspasset (3-evening concert package at 2-person price), Dagspass (day tickets including access to sold-out concerts), and newsletter for early ticket access. The festival operates across multiple venues with the annual theme anchoring the program, which in 2026 is 'Sannhet' (Truth).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Olavsfest Festival (2026 edition: Sannhet / Truth) Annual seven-day cultural festival held 28 July – 3 August in Trondheim, Norway, presenting approximately 200 concerts, theatre performances, talks, film screenings, religious services, marketplace, and city walks anchored to Nidarosdomen and organized under an annual theme. For the general Norwegian and international festival audience, families, and church communities.
• Borggårdspasset Bundled festival pass granting access to all three major Borggården concert evenings (Astrid S; Espen Lind with Bertine Zetlitz; Violet Road with Stein Torleif Bjella) for the price of two. Sold as a single ticket to festival attendees.
• Dagspass (Day Pass) Day pass at 1,350 NOK covering three events per evening, including limited listening-only seats for headline concerts (e.g., Åge Aleksandersen's sold-out Snöharpan concerts at Nidarosdomen 30–31 July 2026). Sold as a single ticket to festival attendees.
• Olavskino 2026 (film program) Film program produced in collaboration with Trondheim Kino and Kosmorama International Film Festival, with daily screenings at Prinsen Kinosenter during the festival week. Tickets sold via Trondheim Kino. Features award-winning documentaries and fiction films tied to the annual theme, for the festival audience and film enthusiasts.
• Olavsmarkedet 2026 (Traditional Marketplace) Traditional marketplace held in Domkirkeparken during the festival period, with exhibitors offering crafts, literature, art, food products, and specialty items inspired by centuries of pilgrim trade. Free-admission event for the general public.
• Nyhetsbrev (Newsletter with Priority Ticket Access) Newsletter subscription granting subscribers priority access to purchase tickets before general release, alongside program announcements and festival updates. Sold as a free signup on olavsfest.no.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 200 events presented annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Trondheim Kunstmuseum / Håkon Bleken SentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Trondheim Kunstmuseum is creating a special exhibition of Håkon Bleken's 'Snöharpan' paintings at Håkon Bleken Senter (Solsiden) from 25 June to 20 September 2026, supplementing Åge Aleksandersen's concerts at Olavsfest.
• EC DahlscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEC Dahls is one of Olavsfest's three main commercial partners (hovedsamarbeidspartnere), providing significant financial and brand support to the festival.
• SpareBank1 SMNcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSpareBank1 SMN is one of Olavsfest's three main commercial partners, serving as a key regional financial sponsor with marketing visibility across the festival.
• Adresseavisen (Adressa)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdresseavisen is one of Olavsfest's three main commercial partners, providing media partnership and marketing visibility for the festival in the Trondheim region.
• Nasjonaljubileet 2030flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOlavsfest has a central role in the development and execution of Norway's National Jubilee 2030, a major national commemoration initiative.
• Nye Hjorten TeatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNye Hjorten Teater is a key venue partner and co-presenter of 'Pop og politikk' and 'Norsken, svensken og dansken' live events during Olavsfest. The theatre provides its venue and ticketing infrastructure.
• Trondheim Kino / Kosmorama Film FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOlavskino is a collaboration between Olavsfest, Trondheim Kino, and Kosmorama Internasjonale Filmfestival. Olavskino screens films at Prinsen Kinosenter daily during the festival week.
• FortidsminneforeningenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFortidsminneforeningen (The Norwegian Society of Historic Preservation) leads guided city walks through Trondheim's history during Olavsfest.
• Den norske kirkecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Norwegian Church presents its own program during Olavsfest including 'Kirkehagen' (samtaleserien 'Rom for refleksjon', allsang, Biskopens bibelprat) at Waisenhuset.
• NidarosdomenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNidarosdomen is the festival's flagship venue and central anchor. The cathedral's nave, Nidarosdomens jentekor, Nidaros domkor, and Steinmeyerorgelet are central to the festival's programming.
• ErkebispegårdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Archbishop's Palace (Erkebispegården) houses the Minne- og fanehallen (Memory and Banner Hall) where free talks and lectures are presented during Olavsfest.
• Sula island communityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor the fourth consecutive year, Olavsfest collaborates with local community members on Sula island to present a dedicated program of events in unique coastal surroundings.
• Ticketmaster NorwaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicketmaster is the primary ticketing platform for all Olavsfest events, providing online sales infrastructure, seat management, and ticket distribution.
• NorwAI / NTNUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 'Learn about AI's Secrets' talk on 31 July is a collaboration between Olavsfest and NorwAI, NTNU's leading language model research environment. Professor Jon Atle Gulla and NorwAI researchers present.
• Norsk KulturrådcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNorsk Kulturråd (Norwegian Arts Council) is a public funding body providing financial support to Olavsfest as part of its cultural policy mandate.
• Trondheim KommunecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrondheim Municipality provides public sector funding to Olavsfest as a major city festival and cultural event.
• Trøndelag FylkeskommunecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrøndelag County provides regional public funding to support Olavsfest as a flagship cultural event.
• SametingetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSametinget (Sámi Parliament of Norway) provides funding support to Olavsfest, reflecting the festival's inclusion of Sami cultural programming.
• Fritt OrdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFritt Ord (Free Word Foundation) provides funding support to Olavsfest as part of its mission to promote free speech and democratic discourse.
• Støttegruppen etter 22. juli / FalstadsenteretminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStøttegruppen etter 22. juli and Falstadsenteret co-organize the panel '15-åringers refleksjoner 15 år etter' in the Minne- og fanehallen, addressing the 22 July terror attacks.
• BritanniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBritannia (hotel) is listed as a commercial partner of Olavsfest, providing hospitality and marketing support.
• RingnesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRingnes is listed as a supplier/vendor partner providing beverages for the festival.
• Kjeldsberg KaffeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKjeldsberg Kaffe is listed as a supplier/vendor partner providing coffee for the festival.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kirkemusikkfestivalen i Oslo: Oslo-based church music festival presenting concerts in cathedrals and churches with organ, choir, and classical programming. Comparable to Olavsfest on church-anchored venue use, classical/choral programming, and values-based religious-cultural positioning.
• Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival: Oslo-based contemporary music and performing arts festival held annually with public funding from Norsk Kulturråd and Oslo Kommune. Comparable to Olavsfest in its values-based positioning, classical/avant-garde programming, and reliance on multiple public funders and ticketed events.
• Bergenfest: Major Norwegian music festival held annually in Bergen, featuring major Norwegian and international pop/rock artists in outdoor castle courtyard venues. Closely comparable to Olavsfest's Borggården concerts and ticketing model (Ticketmaster, day passes, festival passes).
• Festspillene i Bergen (Bergen International Festival): Norway's other major multidisciplinary arts festival, founded 1953, presenting music, theatre, dance, and visual arts over ~2 weeks in Bergen. Directly comparable to Olavsfest as a flagship Norwegian regional arts festival with public funding and international artist programming, though larger in scale and duration.
• Nordlysfestivalen (Tromsø): Northern Norway's flagship music festival held in Tromsø, presenting classical, jazz, and world music with public and regional funding. Comparable to Olavsfest on thematic programming, cathedral/church venue usage, and public funder mix including Arts Council support.
• Moldejazz: One of Europe's longest-running jazz festivals, held annually in Molde, Norway, with public funding and major sponsor partnerships. Comparable to Olavsfest on ticketed programming, public funding mix, and seasonal festival brand positioning.
• Riddarfjärdsfesten / Stockholm Music & Arts: Stockholm-based multidisciplinary arts festival combining music, talks, and cultural programming in heritage venues. Comparable to Olavsfest as a Nordic multidisciplinary values-based festival with public funding, premium ticketing, and historic-venue positioning.
• Øyafestivalen (Øya): Large Norwegian music festival in Oslo with international and Norwegian headliners, sustainability focus (Miljøfyrtårn certified), and public/municipal support. Comparable to Olavsfest on scale of artist programming, ESG credentials, and ticketed day-pass model.

Regional players

• St. Olav Drama: Trondheim-based theatre festival held biennially with focus on dramatic arts and contemporary theatre in and around Nidarosdomen. Closely comparable as a Trondheim-region cultural event sharing Olavsfest's Nidaros Cathedral venue ecosystem and St. Olaf heritage themes, but theatre-focused rather than multidisciplinary.

Others

• Kosmorama International Film Festival: Trondheim-based international film festival that co-produces Olavsfest's Olavskino film program via partnership at Prinsen Kinosenter. Thematically adjacent as a curated cultural festival in the same city, with shared venue and curatorial overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/olavsfestdagene
• Facebookfacebook.com/olavsfest
• Instagraminstagram.com/olavsfestdagene
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/olavsfestdagene

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Olavsfest