What is Riddu Riđđu?
In Manndalen, a green valley that runs down to a fjord in the far north of Norway, the Sámi festival Riddu Riđđu gathers Indigenous peoples from around the world every July. Its name means "small storm at the coast" in Northern Sámi, and that is how it began. In 1991, a group of young people from the area, the coastal home of the Sea Sámi, decided to reclaim a language and culture that decades of Norwegian assimilation policies had pushed into silence. Many of their parents and grandparents had stopped speaking Sámi or hidden their identity.
From a small gathering, Riddu Riđđu has grown into one of the world's leading meeting places for Indigenous arts and culture. For five days, the valley fills with concerts, from joik, the traditional Sámi vocal art, to Sámi rock, pop and electronic music, and with artists from Indigenous peoples across the Arctic and the world. The programme also includes theatre, literature, film, art exhibitions, seminars and a market, along with a children's festival and a youth camp for young Indigenous people.
In 2026 the festival celebrated its 35th edition, with more than 5,000 visitors. It remains rooted in its community, with local volunteers and a relaxed, family atmosphere, and it has played a large part in the revival of Sámi identity in the coastal areas of northern Norway.
In July, the valley is bathed in the midnight sun, and concerts, talks and conversations carry on long into the bright night, with the mountains of Kåfjord all around. For many visitors, it is the most welcoming introduction to Sámi culture there is.
What to expect
The festival runs for five days in mid-July, with events from morning until late at night.
Opening days
The festival opens
The festival opens with ceremonies and concerts, the children's festival and youth camp begin, and seminars and exhibitions start in the valley.
Mid-festival
Music, art and talks
Days are filled with seminars, workshops, film, literature and art, and the evenings with concerts on the main stage, from joik to Sámi and Indigenous rock and pop.
Final nights
Under the midnight sun
The biggest concerts take place on the last evenings, and the celebrations carry on through the light Arctic night.
The audience at Riddu Riđđu, Manndalen
Photo by Riddu Riđđu / flickr · CC BY-SA 2.0
Planning your trip
Getting there
Tromsø, the main city of northern Norway, has the nearest major airport, with flights from Oslo and other Norwegian cities. Manndalen is a few hours by road from Tromsø, through the fjords of Troms. A car is the easiest way to get there; check the festival's website for shared transport.
Where to stay
Most festival-goers camp in the festival's campsite in the valley. There are a few guesthouses, cabins and rooms in the surrounding area, which book up early. Tromsø has many hotels, but it is a long drive each day.
What it costs
Festival passes and day tickets are moderately priced, with discounts for young people. Norway is expensive, especially for food and accommodation, so camping and self-catering keep costs down.
Go like you know
- Listen to joik, the traditional Sámi vocal art, in which a song is said to describe a person, place or animal rather than be about them.
- Try Sámi food at the festival market, such as reindeer stew or dried fish.
- Volunteer at the festival if you want to get closer to the community; Riddu Riđđu relies on volunteers each year.
- Combine the festival with a trip to Tromsø and the fjords of Lyngen, among the most dramatic landscapes in Norway.
- Learn a few words of Northern Sámi, such as bures, hello, and giitu, thank you.
- Respect Sámi culture: ask before photographing people in traditional dress, the gákti.
- For midsummer in Finland, see Juhannus, in June.
- Norway's national day, Syttende Mai, is celebrated on May 17 with parades across the country.
Frequently asked questions
When is Riddu Riđđu?
For five days in mid-July. The 2026 edition, the festival's 35th, ran from July 8 to 12 in Manndalen. The 2027 dates are announced by the festival each year; expect a similar week in mid-July, and check the official website before planning.
Who are the Sámi?
The Sámi are the Indigenous people of the far north of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia's Kola Peninsula, an area they call Sápmi. They have their own languages, traditions and crafts, and include reindeer herders, fishers and Sea Sámi communities along the coast, like those in Manndalen.
Do I need to be Sámi to attend?
Not at all. The festival welcomes everyone, and many visitors come from across Norway and abroad. It's a chance to learn about Sámi and Indigenous cultures from the people themselves, in a friendly atmosphere. Respect for the culture and the community is all that's asked.
