https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Sweden in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The Eurovision Song Contest is famous for celebrating everything from cross-dressing ballad singers to heavy metal bands in monster masks, but geopolitics is threatening its 70th anniversary edition. https://www.thelocal.se/20260426/geopolitics-threatens-70th-anniversary-of-eurovision Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:03:11 +0200 geopolitics-threatens-70th-anniversary-of-eurovision From Norrland to Skåne: the Swedish art of depicting the country's scenery through film is underrated. This list will help you discover Sweden without leaving your sofa. https://www.thelocal.se/20170420/15-movies-that-will-help-you-discover-sweden Thu, 20 Apr 2017 06:59:00 +0200 15-movies-that-will-help-you-discover-sweden Alongside Abba and Ikea, Oscar nominee Stellan Skarsgård and his many children are some of Sweden's most famous international exports. But who are they and what have you seen them in? https://www.thelocal.se/20230314/skars-guide-who-are-swedens-skarsgard-acting-family Tue, 14 Mar 2023 17:11:03 +0100 skars-guide-who-are-swedens-skarsgard-acting-family Once you've learned the basics of Swedish, listening to podcasts is one of the best ways of increasing vocabulary and speeding up comprehension. Here are some of the best podcasts out there for Swedish learners. https://www.thelocal.se/20220808/the-best-podcasts-to-learn-swedish-or-take-it-to-the-next-level Mon, 08 Aug 2022 16:27:41 +0200 the-best-podcasts-to-learn-swedish-or-take-it-to-the-next-level A recent survey by the Pew Research Centre delved into what people feel proudest about in their country, with Europeans pointing to history, food and culture among the main reasons. https://www.thelocal.se/20260228/culture-politics-food-what-makes-europeans-proud-of-their-country Sat, 28 Feb 2026 12:49:34 +0100 culture-politics-food-what-makes-europeans-proud-of-their-country When you hear the word ‘library’, you probably think of borrowing books and maybe the odd film. But what about a ukulele, a sewing machine, or even tickets to the opera? https://www.thelocal.se/20260205/all-the-odd-things-you-can-borrow-from-a-swedish-library Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:12:02 +0100 all-the-odd-things-you-can-borrow-from-a-swedish-library The Swedish Academy said Saturday its permanent secretary, Mats Malm, is stepping down after seven years of heading the prestigious institution that awards the annual Nobel literature prize. https://www.thelocal.se/20251221/head-of-nobel-awarding-swedish-academy-resigns Sun, 21 Dec 2025 12:16:46 +0100 head-of-nobel-awarding-swedish-academy-resigns A former manager of Swedish superstar DJ Avicii said Tuesday that he had initiated legal proceedings to correct the "public record" regarding his alleged influence on the late artist's suicide. https://www.thelocal.se/20251218/former-manager-of-swedish-star-avicii-sues-deceased-artists-family Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:43:09 +0100 former-manager-of-swedish-star-avicii-sues-deceased-artists-family The Pogues' Fairytale of New York, the gritty tale of love gone wrong many consider the greatest Christmas song ever written, has its origins in Sweden, at least according to a new commemorative plaque erected in the city of Malmö. https://www.thelocal.se/20251215/the-swedish-origins-of-the-christmas-song-fairytale-of-new-york Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:10:14 +0100 the-swedish-origins-of-the-christmas-song-fairytale-of-new-york Sick of Last Christmas and All I Want for Christmas is You? We've put together a list of Swedish Christmas songs, including standard hits and more unusual offerings, for you to add to your playlist this year. https://www.thelocal.se/20251212/our-christmas-ham-has-run-away-ten-of-swedens-best-holiday-hits Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:41:13 +0100 our-christmas-ham-has-run-away-ten-of-swedens-best-holiday-hits It's officially spooky season! Whether you're looking for a fright or just want to get into the autumn spirit and carve some pumpkins, here's our list of Halloween events up and down the country. https://www.thelocal.se/20241004/the-best-places-to-celebrate-halloween-in-sweden-this-year Fri, 04 Oct 2024 16:30:12 +0200 the-best-places-to-celebrate-halloween-in-sweden-this-year The autumn holidays are here, but not every family can afford to travel abroad. Luckily, Sweden’s cities offer plenty of free fun – from libraries and museums to spooky trails and roller discos. Here’s what’s on in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. https://www.thelocal.se/20251020/what-can-you-do-for-free-during-swedens-autumn-break Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:30:24 +0200 what-can-you-do-for-free-during-swedens-autumn-break Who knew that Mahna Mahna, the Muppets' much-loved exploration of scat jazz, came from Sweden? Or at least from Sweden: Heaven and Hell, a bizarre 1968 Italian shock-doc portraying the country as a land of uninhibited public nakedness, government-approved pornography and swinging couples. https://www.thelocal.se/20210312/muppets-and-free-love-the-bizarre-documentary-that-shaped-the-image-of-sweden Fri, 12 Mar 2021 17:41:09 +0100 muppets-and-free-love-the-bizarre-documentary-that-shaped-the-image-of-sweden A community history group tried to get to the bottom of a persistent genealogy rumour surrounding US mega star Taylor Swift and a small parish in north-central Sweden. https://www.thelocal.se/20240515/do-taylor-swifts-ancestors-really-come-from-a-small-parish-in-rural-sweden Wed, 15 May 2024 13:49:23 +0200 do-taylor-swifts-ancestors-really-come-from-a-small-parish-in-rural-sweden At least 15 people have been hospitalised and as many as 80 complained of food poisoning after a Listeria outbreak at the Coco & Carmen restaurant in Stockholm's upmarket Östermalm district. https://www.thelocal.se/20251002/more-than-15-hospitalised-in-listeria-outbreak-at-stockholm-restaurant Thu, 02 Oct 2025 19:06:06 +0200 more-than-15-hospitalised-in-listeria-outbreak-at-stockholm-restaurant The Local's Nordic Editor Richard Orange rounds up the biggest stories of the week in our Inside Sweden newsletter. https://www.thelocal.se/20250920/why-im-glad-diary-of-a-ditched-girl-is-showing-another-side-of-malmo Sat, 20 Sep 2025 12:18:19 +0200 why-im-glad-diary-of-a-ditched-girl-is-showing-another-side-of-malmo Swedish dating disaster drama Diary of a Ditched Girl has shot to the top of viewing figures in over 30 countries a week after launching on Netflix. https://www.thelocal.se/20250919/swedish-dating-disaster-series-tops-netflix-viewing-figures-abroad Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:39:00 +0200 swedish-dating-disaster-series-tops-netflix-viewing-figures-abroad Sweden launched its 'fritidskort' for children’s leisure activities on September 15th. What is the card and how can you access it for your child? https://www.thelocal.se/20250915/what-is-swedens-fritidskort-and-how-do-you-use-it Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:57:51 +0200 what-is-swedens-fritidskort-and-how-do-you-use-it Non-profit group STIM, a Swedish organisation representing musicians, said on Tuesday it signed the "world's first collective AI licence for music", aiming to compensate artists for use of their work in training artificial intelligence. https://www.thelocal.se/20250910/swedish-music-rights-group-signs-deal-to-compensate-artists-for-ai-training Wed, 10 Sep 2025 13:17:37 +0200 swedish-music-rights-group-signs-deal-to-compensate-artists-for-ai-training Pippi Longstocking, Ikea's first branch in Älmhult, paid paternity leave, the Nobel Prize and the political speech that launched the 'folkhem'. These are among the 109 works and phenomena that have been included in Sweden's new cultural canon. https://www.thelocal.se/20250902/pippi-longstocking-ikea-and-the-nobel-prize-100-things-in-swedens-new-cultural-canon Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:42:23 +0200 pippi-longstocking-ikea-and-the-nobel-prize-100-things-in-swedens-new-cultural-canon