True Northern Arts Festival takes place in Harstad, and in 2026 the festival runs from 20 to 27 June. The festival is an eight-day international arts festival held during the summer solstice, presenting music, theatre, dance and visual art.
Where is the festival?
True Northern Arts Festival takes place in Harstad, surrounded by fjords, mountains and the summer light of Northern Norway. The festival uses several venues in and around the town, and many of the experiences are within walking distance of the town centre. Harstad is also a great base if you would like to combine the festival with coastal landscapes, history, food experiences and the midnight sun.
When is the festival?
In 2026, True Northern Arts Festival takes place from Saturday 20 June to Saturday 27 June. That means eight days of arts and cultural experiences in Harstad, right around the summer solstice.
Travel greener to the festival
We want the journey to True Northern Arts Festival to be part of the experience — and preferably as environmentally friendly as possible. True Northern Arts Festival has been certified as an Eco-Lighthouse since 2016, and works systematically and concretely on environmental improvements to reduce our impact on the climate and environment.
As a festival, we work with sustainability throughout the year, including energy, transport, food, waste, procurement and working environment. Our goal is to contribute to the green transition through good, climate-friendly solutions and concrete measures.
We therefore encourage audiences to choose environmentally friendly travel options where possible. Can you travel by public transport, car-share, take the bus or boat, or combine train and bus? Then you are helping to make the festival experience a little greener — even before you arrive.
Night buses during the festival
During the festival, Svipper will provide extra bus departures, making it easier to get home after late-night festival experiences without having to use a car. Night bus services will run from Harstad town centre towards Kvæfjord and towards Sørvik/Evenskjer.
This makes it easier to leave the car at home, whether you live in the region or are travelling onwards after the evening’s events. Updated timetables and tickets are available in the Svipper app or at svipper.no
By air to Harstad
The easiest way to travel long distances is to fly to Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes (EVE). The airport is located approximately 44 kilometres from Harstad town centre, and an airport bus runs between Evenes and Harstad.
If you are travelling from Oslo, you can fly directly from Oslo Airport to Evenes. From the airport, you can continue by airport bus to Harstad town centre.
> Plan your journey with Flybussen
By boat to Harstad
If you would like to make the journey part of the experience, you can travel by sea.
From Tromsø, you can take the express boat to Harstad. This is a great option if you want to travel by public transport while also enjoying the coastal landscape on your way to the festival.
You can also travel along the coast with Hurtigruten or Havila Kystruten, both of which call at Harstad. This may be a good option if you are travelling along the coast from places such as Trondheim, Bodø, Svolvær or Tromsø, and would like a slower and more experience-rich journey.
> See express boat timetables for 2026
By bus to Harstad
Bus is a good option if you are travelling regionally, or if you want to combine train and bus on your way north.
For journeys in Troms, we recommend Svipper, which offers a journey planner, timetables and ticket information for buses, express boats and ferries in Troms. If you are travelling from Kvæfjord/Borkenes, there are bus connections to Harstad.
From the south, for example from Steinkjer, the journey can be planned as a combination of train and bus. One possible route is to take the train north to Bodø or Fauske, and then continue by bus through Nordland and Ofoten towards Narvik, Evenes or Harstad. Entur is a useful tool for planning the whole journey across train, bus and boat services.
> See bus timetables for 2026
Tips før du reiser
Tips before you travel
Check timetables close to your departure date, especially if you are travelling by bus or boat. Summer is a popular time to travel in Northern Norway, and some departures may have limited capacity.
Use Entur to plan your full journey, Svipper for local journeys in Troms, Reis Nordland for buses in Nordland, and the airlines’ or airport bus companies’ own websites for up-to-date information on flights and airport buses.
Whether you arrive by air, boat or bus: we look forward to welcoming you to Harstad and True Northern Arts Festival!
By car and parking in Harstad
If you arrive by car, there are both municipal and private parking spaces in Harstad town centre. In municipal parking areas, the general rule is three-hour parking, with exceptions including multi-storey car parks, the harbour and areas around the town hall. In 2026, municipal parking costs NOK 32 per hour Monday–Friday from 08:00 to 17:00, and Saturday from 08:00 to 15:00. Sundays are free in municipal parking areas. Remember to check the signage where you park, as rules may vary from one parking area to another.
We nevertheless encourage everyone who can to travel by public transport, car-share or choose other environmentally friendly alternatives when travelling to the festival.