On the first weekend of November, Sweden’s cemeteries fill with small flames. Here is when it happens, what it means, what closes, and how to see it at its most striking, in Stockholm’s Woodland Cemetery.
When you need this
You are in Sweden in late October or early November and see alla helgons dag printed in red on a calendar. You want to see the candle-lit cemeteries, or you planned a Saturday trip to Systembolaget, the state alcohol shop. Or you are simply wondering whether Swedish children go trick-or-treating, and on which day.
When is All Saints’ Day in Sweden?
Swedish law fixes it as the Saturday falling between 31 October and 6 November. It is one of Sweden’s 13 named public holidays, and because it is always a Saturday it never gives anyone a weekday off. If you have read “1 November”, that is the international date; in Sweden it is right only in years when 1 November is a Saturday.
| Year | All Saints’ Day (Saturday) | Halloween (31 October) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 31 October | Saturday, the same day |
| 2027 | 6 November | Sunday, a week earlier |
| 2028 | 4 November | Tuesday |
| 2029 | 3 November | Wednesday |
The Friday before, allhelgonaafton, is not a public holiday at all; it is not on the statutory list. The Church of Sweden follows the Saturday with alla själars dag (All Souls’ Day) on the Sunday, traditionally the day for remembering one’s own dead.
What happens: candles on graves
The holiday weekend, called allhelgona or allhelgonahelgen, is when families visit graves and light gravljus (grave candles) in lanterns. After dark, cemeteries across the country glow. The Church of Sweden describes the candle visit as a tradition that has grown up around the day, and one Stockholm-area parish notes that lighting candles in ceremonies at all is only about 50 years old in Sweden.
Churches open for quiet visits, music and minnesgudstjänster (memorial services). Times are set by each parish, so look at the local church’s page. Some cemeteries go further: in Gothenburg in 2026 the cemetery chapels opened 11:00–18:00, two large cemeteries were car-free over the same hours, and visitors were offered free coffee, juice and cake.
All Saints’ Day vs Halloween
Halloween is a separate and much younger arrival. The Church of Sweden dates its growth in Sweden to the 1990s, and it is always held on 31 October. All Saints’ is the quiet one: a weekend of remembrance, not costumes.
In most years the two are days apart. In 2026 they land on the same Saturday, 31 October, so the two share a date for once. In 2027 they are a full week apart. For the rest of the season’s calendar, see our Sweden in autumn guide.
What closes
| What | All Saints’ Day (Saturday) | Friday before |
|---|---|---|
| Systembolaget | Closed all day | Ordinary hours |
| Shopping centres | Shorter hours | Normal or longer hours |
| Supermarkets | Usually their own, longer hours | Normal |
Systembolaget is the one that catches visitors: it is the only shop selling drinks above 3.5% alcohol, and its Saturday window disappears on this holiday. Buy on the Friday. Systembolaget’s own page adds that local deviations can occur, so check your store; our Systembolaget hours guide covers every holiday.
Shops reduce rather than cancel their hours. As one example, Farsta Centrum in Stockholm opens 10–20 on Friday 30 October and 11–17 on Saturday 31 October 2026, while its supermarkets keep their own longer hours. Our opening hours guide explains the general pattern, and our public holidays guide lists what closes on the other twelve.
Seeing Skogskyrkogården on All Saints’
Skogskyrkogården, the Woodland Cemetery in Enskede, south Stockholm, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. The City of Stockholm says around 70,000 people visit it over the All Saints’ weekend each year, and entry is free. It is open around the clock all year.
Getting there. Do not drive on the Saturday: in 2026 the cemetery is closed to ordinary cars from 10:00 to 21:00, with exceptions for buses, taxis, transport for disabled people and permit holders. The metro green line towards Farsta strand takes about 15 minutes from T-Centralen, but the city recommends getting off one stop early at Sandsborg and walking through Sandsborg cemetery, to relieve Skogskyrkogården station. Bus 161 is an alternative, and bus 183 circles inside the cemetery for people who have difficulty walking. See our Stockholm public transport guide for tickets.
What is open in 2026. On Saturday 31 October the Woodland Chapel and the Chapel of the Resurrection open 11:00–19:00. The Woodland Crematorium and its three chapels are closed for renovation until the second half of 2027, so the two open chapels can get crowded. The Visitors Center, in Gunnar Asplund’s 1923 pavilion, serves coffee and simple lunches on Friday 11–17, Saturday until 20:00 and Sunday 11–17.
Go after dark. In November it is dark by late afternoon, and the flames are the point. The city’s own advice is to bring a flashlight to find your way, and to avoid peak hours if you can.
Respect the mourners. Skogskyrkogården is a working cemetery. Give grieving visitors privacy, keep away from burials, and keep dogs on a lead. Personal photos are allowed as long as you do not disturb anyone; filming or publishing needs permission. More on the site in our UNESCO World Heritage guide.
Lighting a candle yourself
You do not need a family grave to take part. Churches invite anyone to visit the cemetery, light a candle and remember someone they miss. If the person you remember is buried elsewhere, use the shared memorial or decoration place, where candles are expected.
A few rules keep it safe and tidy:
- Use a proper grave lantern. Gothenburg’s cemeteries ask for grave candles in their own holders and do not allow block candles at shared places.
- Leave only flowers and candles at shared places; other items are removed within days.
- Space candles out. Skogskyrkogården asks visitors to place them apart from each other and well away from trees and bushes, because of fire risk.
Practical information
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday between 31 Oct and 6 Nov: 31 Oct 2026, 6 Nov 2027, 4 Nov 2028 |
| Friday before | Not a public holiday; Systembolaget ordinary hours |
| Systembolaget on the Saturday | Closed |
| Skogskyrkogården | Free, open 24/7; around 70,000 visitors over the weekend |
| Skogskyrkogården car closure 2026 | Saturday 31 Oct, 10:00–21:00 |
| Chapels open 2026 | Woodland Chapel and Chapel of the Resurrection, Sat 11:00–19:00 |
| Visitors Center 2026 | Fri 11–17, Sat until 20:00, Sun 11–17 |
| Getting there | Metro green line; Sandsborg recommended; bus 161; bus 183 inside |
| Stockholm school autumn break | Week 44: 26–30 Oct 2026, 1–5 Nov 2027 |
FAQ
When is All Saints’ Day in Sweden?
On the Saturday that falls between 31 October and 6 November, by law. That makes it Saturday 31 October in 2026, Saturday 6 November in 2027 and Saturday 4 November in 2028. It is always a Saturday, so it never gives a weekday off. The Church of Sweden marks All Souls’ Day on the Sunday after.
What is closed on All Saints’ Day in Sweden?
Systembolaget, the state alcohol shop, is closed all day on the Saturday; on the Friday before it keeps ordinary hours. Shopping centres open with shorter Saturday hours, and supermarkets usually keep their own longer hours. Systembolaget notes that local deviations can occur, so check your store.
Do Swedes celebrate Halloween?
Yes, but it is a recent import. The Church of Sweden says Halloween celebrations grew in Sweden during the 1990s, and it is always held on 31 October. All Saints’ Day is separate and quieter: a weekend of visiting graves and lighting candles. In 2026 both fall on Saturday 31 October; in 2027 they are a week apart.
Can tourists visit Skogskyrkogården on All Saints’ Day?
Yes. The Woodland Cemetery is open around the clock, entry is free, and around 70,000 people visit over the weekend. Go by metro or bus, since the cemetery is closed to cars on the Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00 in 2026. Bring a flashlight, keep your distance from mourners, and photograph only without disturbing anyone.
Can I light a candle on All Saints’ Day if I have no family grave in Sweden?
Yes. Churches invite anyone to visit the cemetery, light a candle and remember someone they miss. If the person you remember is buried elsewhere, use the shared memorial or decoration place, where candles are expected. Use a proper grave lantern, place it in the cemetery’s holders where provided, and keep it away from trees and other candles.
Is the Friday before All Saints’ Day a holiday?
No. Allhelgonaafton, the Friday, is not on Sweden’s statutory list of public holidays, so offices and shops run normally. Systembolaget keeps ordinary hours that Friday, which makes it the day to buy wine or spirits for the weekend. Shopping centres may stay open late; Farsta Centrum in Stockholm opened 10–20 in 2026.
What is All Souls’ Day in Sweden?
Alla själars dag is the Sunday right after All Saints’ Day. The Church of Sweden describes it as the day traditionally used to remember and honour one’s own dead, while All Saints’ Day itself honours all saints, known and unknown. In practice, families visit graves and light candles across the whole weekend.
Related guides
- Swedish public holidays — all 13 holidays and what actually closes on each.
- Systembolaget hours — the alcohol shop’s closures around every holiday.
- The Church of Sweden — who runs the churchyards and the services.
- Sweden in autumn — the clock change, höstlov and the rest of the season.
- Lucia in Sweden — the next festival of light, on 13 December.
Facts verified 2026-10-05. Sources: Sveriges riksdag, Svenska kyrkan and its parishes, the City of Stockholm (Skogskyrkogården and schools), Riksantikvarieämbetet, Systembolaget and Farsta Centrum — full register in this topic’s source file. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.