Ólavsøka 2027: Faroe Islands National Day in Tórshavn

Welcome to Ólavsøka 2027 in Tórshavn

On July 28 and 29, 2027, Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands, once again celebrates the country's most important holiday. Ólavsøka commemorates the death of Saint Olaf in the year 1030 and has combined the formal opening of the Løgting parliament with a colourful public festival in the heart of the small island capital for close to 900 years.

Highlights and Attractions at Ólavsøka in Tórshavn

• An opening procession on the evening of July 28 with riders, a brass band and local athletes marching to the square Vaglið
• The finals of the traditional rowing races, the national sport of the Faroe Islands
• The formal opening of the Løgting on the morning of July 29, including a procession to Tórshavn Cathedral
• A speech by the Prime Minister and singing by the Ólavsøka Choir outside the parliament building
• Locals dressed in colourful traditional Faroese national costume throughout the old town
• Art exhibitions, concerts and folk music spread across both days
• The midnight song and traditional Faroese chain dance on Vaglið as the closing highlight of July 29

Program and Schedule: What to Expect in Tórshavn

Festivities open on the evening of July 28 with the procession to Tinghúsvøllur on Vaglið, where an opening speech officially begins Ólavsøka. On July 29, a procession to the Cathedral begins around 11am, followed by the formal opening of parliament and the Prime Minister's speech in the afternoon. Throughout the day, concerts, sporting events and family activities take place across the city, before the shared midnight song and chain dance on Vaglið bring the celebrations to a close late in the evening.

Tickets and Admission for Ólavsøka 2027

Ólavsøka is a free public celebration with no admission fee. All the central events on Vaglið, including the procession, the rowing finals and the opening of parliament, are open to everyone at no cost. Individual concerts or special side events are occasionally ticketed in some years, and these are announced separately in the official program.

Visitor Tips: Travel and Accommodation in Tórshavn

• Most visitors arrive via Vágar Airport followed by a bus transfer to Tórshavn
• Tórshavn gets very crowded during Ólavsøka, so accommodation should be booked well ahead of time
• Weather in the Faroe Islands in July can change quickly, so layered and waterproof clothing is recommended
• To see the traditional national costumes up close, arrive early and find a spot along the procession route to Vaglið
• Restaurants stay open later during the holiday, so booking a table in advance is a good idea