Every August, Sweden’s largest historical festival takes over a walled medieval town on an island. Here is how Medieval Week actually works: the dates, what you pay for and what is free, what to wear, and the Visby rules that catch visitors.
When you need this
You are planning a Gotland trip in early or mid-August. Or you are deciding whether to buy a festival wristband, tickets or nothing at all. Or you are wondering whether you need a costume, where to sleep, or what changes in Visby if you happen to be there that week for other reasons.
Medieval Week 2027 dates
Medieval Week (Medeltidsveckan) runs for eight days, from the Sunday of week 31 to the Sunday of week 32. In 2027 that is Sunday 8 August to Sunday 15 August; the 2026 festival ran 2–9 August. Many older guides say “week 32” — plan from the Sunday before.
The programme can begin a little earlier. In 2026 it opened on the Saturday with a wreath-laying at Korsbetningen, a medieval mass-grave site, and an evening tournament. Treat that as a pattern to check in the programme, not a promise.
The festival has run since 1984 and is organised by Medeltidsveckan på Gotland AB, owned by a non-profit foundation whose founders include Region Gotland and Gotland’s museum.
The setting: a UNESCO town wall
The stage is the town itself. The Hanseatic Town of Visby was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Its town wall runs about 3.4–3.6 km (the two official sources differ), with dry moats around it, and more than 200 medieval warehouses and merchants’ houses survive inside. Medieval Visby had 15 churches within the walls and two outside; only St Mary’s Cathedral is still in use, and the ruins of the others become stages during the week.
That is why the festival feels different from a fairground: performances happen in church ruins, parks and streets, and most things are within walking distance.
How access works: wristband first, then tickets
Medieval Week has two layers, and mixing them up is the most common mistake.
| What you want to do | Wristband? | Ticket? |
|---|---|---|
| Walk Visby’s streets | No | No |
| Opening parade, opening show, fire arrows | No | No |
| Festival areas, markets, display camps | Yes | No |
| 100+ free programme points | Yes | Sometimes a free ticket |
| Tournaments, courses, fire shows, most performances | Yes | Yes |
The festival wristband (Medeltidsbandet) is personal. You buy it online, then collect it at one of the two visitor centres — at Paviljongsplan by the Botanical Garden, or at Strandgärdet north of the ring wall — or at listed outlets in town, where it is fixed on your wrist. The receipt’s QR code scans only once, so a group on one booking must collect together. A lost wristband is not replaced.
Tickets for the programme are sold through one system, Nortic, online and on site, and cancellation follows Nortic’s terms. A ticket is valid only with a wristband. Seats are mostly unnumbered, so arrive early if you want a particular spot. The organiser says plainly that many programme points sell out before the festival opens; wristbands and pre-booked tickets are released in spring.
What is free
More than the headline suggests. The opening parade, the opening show and its traditional fire arrows over the sea are free for everyone, as are several other parades. Children up to 6 get the wristband free, and young people, students and pensioners get a large discount.
With the wristband, more than 100 programme points cost nothing extra. Where one of them has limited places, you can usually pre-book a free ticket. The online programme has filters for free and child-friendly items. There is no printed programme; use your phone.
Do you need a costume?
No. The organiser welcomes visitors “as you are” and says it will never judge the historical accuracy of anyone’s clothing — a dinosaur T-shirt is as welcome as a hand-sewn cloak. Many people do dress up, and 14th-century clothing is especially popular; the markets sell costumes if you change your mind halfway through the day.
Two limits. The organiser’s historical camp requires medieval clothing. And clothing that is itself a crime, or shows hate symbols, can get you refused entry or removed.
Leave the knife at home. Asked whether visitors may carry a knife, the organiser’s short answer is no, because Swedish weapons law applies — the same goes for swords. Swedish knife law bans carrying knives in public places without a legitimate reason. Groups parading with historical weapons notify the police in advance.
Tournaments and the programme
The tournament is the festival’s best-known event: riders and archers in the Medieval Arena at Strandgärdet, which seats up to 3,000, with the ring wall as a backdrop. Tournaments need a ticket as well as the wristband, and they pause if there is a risk of thunder. The organiser also runs jousting through the summer, not only in Medieval Week.
Beyond that, the programme runs to several hundred points — the organiser gives figures from over 600 to over 800 — covering performances, lectures, courses, markets and historical display camps.
Where to stay
The organiser itself notes markedly higher occupancy on the ferry, in hotels and in private lets during the week. Book in this order: ferry, bed, wristband, tickets.
| Option | What it is | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Modern festival camping | At Galgberget; tents, caravans, motorhomes | Booked per person, week wristband included |
| Historical camp | At Östergravar by the ring wall | Medieval clothing required, no modern tents |
| Room in or near Visby | Hotels and private lets | Book as early as you can |
Do not plan on sleeping in a van on a Visby street. Region Gotland’s local ordinance bans camping in a tent, caravan, motorhome or car on public land unless the land is set aside for it.
For the crossing itself, see taking the ferry to Gotland. The state ferry contract changes on 1 February 2027, with Destination Gotland still sailing; the cheapest Mini ticket cannot be rebooked, so choose a flexible one if your dates might move.
Visby’s rules that week
Region Gotland’s local ordinance applies all year, but Medieval Week is when visitors meet it.
- Alcohol: in Visby’s inner-town zone, drinks above 3.5% alcohol — spirits, wine, strong beer — may be drunk only where licensed serving is allowed, such as tavern areas. Breaching it means a fixed fine (penningböter), and the alcohol can be forfeited. Beer up to 3.5% (folköl) is outside the ban. How these zones work nationally: drinking in public in Sweden.
- Picnics: welcome almost everywhere, except the food square and the taverns; the Botanical Garden’s lawns are not for sitting.
- Fireworks: need a police permit inside Visby’s inner town and are banned within 100 m of the Cathedral.
The ordinance has no rule aimed at festival noise.
Accessibility and families
Visby is only partly accessible: cobblestones and steep hills are everywhere. Most venues have wheelchair places and hosts to help; the least accessible ruin stage can get ramps if you contact the organiser well ahead, and a certified companion gets a free seat booking. Tell children to find a festival host if they get separated; hosts reunite families at the visitor centre. Carry water — taps are on the festival areas — and pack for both sun and short showers.
Practical information
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates 2027 | Sunday 8 – Sunday 15 August |
| Festival wristband | Price set yearly by the organiser; free up to age 6; discounts for youth, students, pensioners |
| Programme tickets | Priced per performer plus an organiser fee; some free |
| Free for all | Opening parade, opening show, fire arrows |
| Festival camping | Booked per person, week wristband included |
| Ferry | Dynamic fares, highest at peak times |
| Drinking in the zone | Fixed fine and forfeiture |
| Winter event | Medieval Christmas, 4–6 December 2026 |
FAQ
When is Medieval Week in Visby in 2027?
Medieval Week 2027 runs from Sunday 8 August to Sunday 15 August: eight days from the Sunday of week 31 to the Sunday of week 32. The 2026 festival ran 2–9 August. Some events may start the day before; in 2026 the programme opened on the Saturday with a wreath-laying and an evening tournament.
Is Medieval Week free?
Partly. Walking Visby’s streets costs nothing, and the opening parade, the opening show and its fire arrows over the sea are free for all. The festival areas, markets, camps and more than 100 free programme points need the personal festival wristband. Tournaments, courses and most shows need a ticket as well. Children up to 6 get the wristband free.
Do I have to wear a medieval costume?
No. The organiser welcomes visitors in everyday clothes and says it will never judge the historical accuracy of a costume. Many people dress up, often in 14th-century style, and the markets sell clothing if you change your mind. Only the organiser’s historical camp requires medieval dress. Clothing that is itself a crime or shows hate symbols can get you removed.
How far ahead should I book?
Book the ferry and your bed first, as early as you can: the organiser notes markedly higher occupancy on the ferry, in hotels and in private lets. Wristbands and tickets go on sale in spring, and many programme points sell out before the festival opens. The cheapest ferry ticket cannot be rebooked, so choose a flexible one if plans may move.
Can I drink alcohol outdoors in Visby during Medieval Week?
Not in the inner-town zone. Region Gotland’s ordinance bans drinking spirits, wine, strong beer and other drinks above 3.5% alcohol there except where licensed serving is allowed, such as tavern areas. Breaking it means a fixed fine, and the drink can be forfeited. Drinks up to 3.5% are outside the ban.
Can I bring a knife or sword with my costume?
No. The organiser’s short answer is no, because Swedish weapons law applies, and the same goes for swords and anything else that counts as a weapon. Swedish knife law bans carrying knives in public places without a legitimate reason. Groups parading with historical weapons notify the police in advance.
Where can I stay during Medieval Week?
The organiser runs two campsites: a modern one at Galgberget for tents, caravans and motorhomes, and a historical camp by the ring wall where medieval clothing is required. Camping is booked per person and includes a week wristband. Otherwise, book a room early. Sleeping in a tent or vehicle on public land in Visby is banned.
Related guides
- Taking the ferry to Gotland — book the crossing before anything else
- Gotland and Visby travel guide — the island beyond the festival week
- Gotland by bike — and why cyclists ride before or after this week
- Drinking in public in Sweden — how no-alcohol zones work everywhere
- Christmas markets in Sweden — including the organiser’s Medieval Christmas in December
Facts verified 2026-09-25. Sources: Medeltidsveckan på Gotland (the organiser), UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Region Gotland, Sveriges Riksdag, Destination Gotland — full register in this topic’s source file. Wristband, ticket and ferry prices change every year and are never published here; always check the organiser. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.