Ski, cycle, swim and run four of Sweden’s best-known mass races inside a year, and you earn a numbered diploma thousands of Swedes chase. Here’s which races count in 2027, how the 12-month rule works and what catches out first-timers.
When you need this
You’re planning a sporting year in Sweden, a milestone-birthday challenge, or a trip built around one of the four races. Maybe you’ve seen “Klassiker” on a Swedish friend’s wall and want to know what it takes. Or you’ve finished all four races and wonder why no diploma arrived. This page covers the challenge as a whole; for Vasaloppet’s fee steps, seeding and start buses, read our Vasaloppet guide.
What counts: four disciplines, one window
En Svensk Klassiker (“A Swedish Classic”) is not a race. It is a fitness challenge, started in 1971, run by a company owned jointly by the five race organisers. You pick one race per discipline from the official list and finish all four within twelve months, in any order.
| Discipline | Races that count (full Klassiker) | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Skiing | Vasaloppet, Öppet Spår or Nattvasan 90 km; or Engelbrektsloppet 60 km | Sälen–Mora, or Norberg |
| Cycling | Vätternrundan 315 km | Around Lake Vättern from Motala |
| Swimming | Vansbrosimningen or Vansbro Öppen Älv, 3,000 m | Rivers at Vansbro |
| Running | TCS Lidingöloppet 30 km | Lidingö, Stockholm |
Two things trip people up. First, Vätternrundan is now 315 km, not the 300 km still quoted in older guides; the 2021 route was 18 km longer than any before. Second, Vasaloppet isn’t the only ski option. Engelbrektsloppet was added in 1976, when women were not yet allowed to ski Vasaloppet, and Nattvasan 90 has counted since 2020.
You must turn 17 during the year. There’s no overall time limit, but each race has its own cut-off times, and you must finish each one for it to count.
The 2027 calendar
A natural Klassiker year runs ski in February or March, cycle in June, swim in July and run in late September. Starting with Lidingöloppet in September and finishing in Vansbro the following July also fits inside twelve months.
| Leg | Race | 2027 date |
|---|---|---|
| Ski | Engelbrektsloppet 60 km, Norberg | Sunday 14 February |
| Ski | Öppet Spår söndag 90 km | 28 February |
| Ski | Nattvasan 90 km (evening start) | 5 March |
| Ski | Vasaloppet 90 km | Sunday 7 March |
| Cycle | Vätternrundan 315 km | 18–19 June |
| Swim | Vansbro Öppen Älv 3 km | 4 or 9 July |
| Swim | Vansbrosimningen 3 km | 10 July |
| Run | TCS Lidingöloppet 30 km | Last weekend of September; the race page shows 25 September |
Lidingöloppet’s page didn’t print a year when we checked, so confirm the date there before booking travel.
Entering from abroad
There is no single entry for the challenge itself. You enter each race on its organiser’s website like anyone else, and in Vasaloppet international skiers don’t need a Swedish ski club. The alternative is an official package from En Svensk Klassiker with a start place in all four races plus diploma and medal. Packages are limited; when they’re gone, you enter separately.
Three warnings before you pay:
- Entry fees are not refunded if you can’t start. Organisers offer optional race-entry insurance at entry; otherwise you rely on your own insurance. Vätternrundan lets you transfer your place to another rider in a June window, for a fee.
- Places sell out. Lidingöloppet 30 km introduced its first cap, 18,000 runners, and hit it on 16 September 2026, ten days before the race. That was its first sell-out since 2014, so the old habit of entering late no longer works.
- Prices rise in steps. Every race has a fee ladder, so entering early is cheaper.
If Vätternrundan is full, En Svensk Klassiker says a special klassikeranmälan (Klassiker entry) can open for a short period after the ski races, for people who have already done one. Vätternrundan’s own entry page doesn’t describe it, so contact Vätternrundan straight after your ski race.
Each leg in brief
Ski: Vasaloppet or Engelbrektsloppet
Vasaloppet runs 90 km of classic skiing from Sälen to Mora; our Vasaloppet guide covers entering, seeding and getting to the start. Engelbrektsloppet is 60 km of classic skiing, starting and finishing on the square in Norberg, about two hours from Stockholm. It’s also a Vasaloppet seeding race. For technique and where to train, see cross-country skiing for visitors.
Cycle: Vätternrundan
Sweden’s classic long bike ride starts and finishes in Motala and has circled Lake Vättern clockwise since 1974. It runs through the night. Starts go off from 19:30 on Friday, and there are hard cut-offs: Jönköping closes at 11:30 on Saturday, Hjo at 16:00 and the finish at midnight. You must reach each depot (depå, feed station) 20 minutes before it closes. Entry for 2027 is two-step, with start times allocated from 25 November 2026. If you’re bringing your own bike, read taking bikes on trains and buses.
Swim: Vansbro
Both 3 km swims use the same river course: 2,000 m downstream in the Vanån, then 1,000 m upstream in the Västerdalälven. Öppen Älv is described as calmer, with fewer swimmers. Wetsuits are allowed in the motion classes and recommended between 12 and 22 °C. Neoprene gloves, socks and hoods are allowed too. The water decides the race: below 14 °C the swim is shortened, below 12 °C it’s cancelled, and route changes bring no refund. Brush up on swimming safety in Swedish water first.
Run: Lidingöloppet
A cross-country run from Koltorp to Grönsta with 522 m of climbing, held on the last weekend of September. Four cut-offs apply, from Fågelöudde at 15 km (16:35) to Sticklinge Tyktorp at 27 km (18:40). With the last start group off at 14:30, a slow first half can end your day. For many it’s the final leg: 4,152 people were registered to complete a Klassiker there in 2026.
The diploma and medal
Finishing isn’t enough. After your fourth race, register your results with En Svensk Klassiker; only then can you buy the diploma. Diplomas are numbered in the order registrations arrive and show your name, number and four times. They’re printed in Swedish only.
| Award | What you need |
|---|---|
| Klassikerdiplom (diploma) | All four races within 12 months, registered |
| Klassikermedalj (medal) | All four races, even over several years at your own pace; bronze for one Klassiker, silver for two, gold for three |
| Superklassiker trophy | Within 12 months, registered, total under 20 hours for men or 24 hours for women, ski leg in classic style |
There’s no dispensation if illness pushes a race past twelve months: you keep the right to the medal, not the diploma. The one exception: if an organiser cancels a race, for example for lack of snow, you may do it the following year. If a race is shortened, your time is doubled for the record. You can register and buy at the finish on your phone, or order online later.
Shorter versions: Halva, Tjej and Korta
Three variants use shorter races, each with its own list. You can’t swap races between variants, and a longer race doesn’t count for a shorter one.
| Variant | From age | Ski | Cycle | Swim | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halva | 15 | 45 km (Vasaloppet 45, Öppet Spår 45, Engelbrektsloppet 45 or Nattvasan 45) | Halvvättern 150 km | Vansbro Halvsim 1.5 km | Lidingöloppet 15 km |
| Tjej (women) | 12 | 30 km (Tjejvasan, Vasaloppet 30, Nattvasan 30, Öppet Spår Måndag 30, Kristinaloppet or Engelbrektsloppet 30) | Tjejvättern or Vätternrundan 100 km | Tjejsim or Kortsim 1 km | Rosa Bandet-loppet 10 km |
| Korta (everyone) | 12 | As Tjej | As Tjej | As Tjej | As Tjej |
The challenge keeps growing. More than 4,600 people finished one of the four variants in 2025, nearly half of them women.
Practical information
Fees as published on 14 October 2026; each rises in steps.
| Item | Amount or rule |
|---|---|
| Official package, full Klassiker | From 5,695 kr incl. diploma and medal; limited |
| Halva package | From 4,395 kr |
| Tjej / Korta package | From 3,995 kr |
| Vasaloppet 90 km | 2,685 kr until 5 Nov 2026, then rising |
| Engelbrektsloppet 60 km | 1,380 kr to 7 Feb 2027; 1,650 kr 8–13 Feb; 2,050 kr race day |
| Vätternrundan 315 km | 2,100 kr 25 Nov 2026–13 Jan 2027; rising to 2,400 kr on site |
| Vansbrosimningen / Öppen Älv | 1,345 kr to 30 Nov; 1,445 kr to 30 Apr; 1,545 kr to 9 Jul; 345 kr up to 17 |
| Lidingöloppet 30 km | 2027 fees unpublished; 2026 ran from 796 to 1,395 kr |
| Vätternrundan place transfer | 350 kr |
| Diploma and medal bought separately | See the organiser’s webshop |
| Age, full Klassiker | From the year you turn 17 |
FAQ
What is En Svensk Klassiker?
A Swedish fitness challenge: finish a ski race, a bike race, a swim and a run inside twelve months. The full version is Vasaloppet 90 km or Engelbrektsloppet 60 km, Vätternrundan 315 km, Vansbrosimningen 3 km and Lidingöloppet 30 km. It is not a race itself; you enter each event, then register your four results to buy the numbered diploma and medal.
How long do you have to complete En Svensk Klassiker?
Twelve months from your first race to your fourth, in any order. There is no dispensation for illness or injury: miss the window and you can still buy the medal for doing all four at your own pace, but not the diploma. Only a race the organiser cancels, for example for lack of snow, may be done the following year.
Can foreigners do En Svensk Klassiker?
Yes. You enter each race on its organiser’s website like anyone else, and international skiers in Vasaloppet do not need a Swedish ski club. You must turn 17 during the year. After the fourth race you register with En Svensk Klassiker. The diploma is printed in Swedish only, with your name, number and times.
Can I ski Engelbrektsloppet instead of Vasaloppet?
Yes. Engelbrektsloppet 60 km in Norberg has counted since 1976 and is a full alternative ski leg, held in mid-February; in 2027 it is on 14 February. Öppet Spår 90 km and Nattvasan 90 km also count. For the Superklassiker time award, though, only Vasaloppet, Öppet Spår or Nattvasan in classic style is accepted.
Can I wear a wetsuit in Vansbrosimningen?
Yes. In the motion classes a wetsuit is allowed and recommended between 12 and 22 °C, and neoprene gloves, socks and hoods are permitted. Above 23 °C wetsuits are discouraged. The organiser’s cap must be worn throughout. If the water is below 14 °C the swim is shortened, and below 12 °C it is cancelled.
What are the shorter Klassiker versions?
Three variants use shorter races. Halva, from age 15: 45 km ski, Halvvättern 150 km, Vansbro Halvsim 1.5 km and Lidingöloppet 15 km. Tjej, for women, and Korta, for everyone, from age 12: 30 km ski, 100 km cycle, 1 km swim and the Rosa Bandet-loppet 10 km run. All must be finished within twelve months.
How much does En Svensk Klassiker cost?
The official package with a start place in all four races, diploma and medal is advertised from 5,695 kr, in limited numbers. Entering separately, 2027 fees seen in October 2026 were 2,685 kr for Vasaloppet, 2,100 kr for Vätternrundan’s first price period and 1,345 kr for Vansbro; Lidingöloppet’s 2027 fee was unpublished. Travel and beds come on top.
Related guides
- Vasaloppet: the world’s biggest ski race — the ski leg in depth: fee steps, seeding, start buses.
- Cross-country skiing for visitors — classic vs skate, and where to train before February.
- Swimming safety in Swedish water — cold-water sense before the Vansbro rivers.
- Jönköping and Lake Vättern — the lake you ride around, home to one of the race’s depots.
- Running races in Sweden — other big runs to train in before Lidingöloppet.
Facts verified 2026-10-14. Sources: En Svensk Klassiker, Vasaloppet, Engelbrektsloppet, Vätternrundan, Vansbrosimningen, Lidingöloppet — full register in this topic’s source file. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.