On June 20, 2026, Midsommardans presented two outdoor dance performances on Grinda Island in the Stockholm Archipelago. Set against the height of Sweden's summer, a group of international dancers performed a mixed program of classical ballet alongside the premiere of new contemporary works inspired by Midsommar.

Throughout the day, visitors had the opportunity to experience the creative process more closely — including an open dance movement class, a Q&A with the dancers, and a chance to watch rehearsals behind the scenes.

We're already planning the next edition for summer 2027, and hope to build on what we started: more performances, expanded workshops, and a growing tradition on Grinda.

In the abundance of the Swedish Archipelago in summer, Midsommardans seeks to respond through movement.

We are committed to making dance accessible to visitors and art lovers on Grinda, inviting audiences to experience performance in the open landscape. In doing so, we aim to respect the fragile beauty of the archipelago while introducing dance’s playful and occasionally absurd energy into this environment with care and sustainability.

What began as a silly passing thought between two best friends, turned into a passion project for these two dancers.

Emma: “You know, something about the environment of the archipelago always makes me want to dance.”

Lily: “What if we started a dance festival?”

Emma: “That would be cool.”

And thus Midsommardans began.

Midsommardans would not be possible without the generous collaboration of Skärgårdsstiftelsen and our host, Grinda Wärdshus. We extend our sincere thanks to Jan and Jonas for their support in making the festival possible.

For our contemporary works, we have collaborated with a composer decending from Kungliga Musik Högskolan, as well as young international choreographers.

In 2027, expect even more collaborations with a unique array of artists.