Concerts and Theater in Uppsala – A Guide to the City’s Stages

Summer is spent at Parksnäckan, that’s just how it is. This is by far Uppsala’s coziest concert venue. Parksnäckan’s stage, located in the heart of the city garden (Stadsträdgården), is surrounded by beautiful greenery and delightful walking paths along the Fyris River. Life doesn’t get much better than when a perfect Swedish summer evening is paired with your favorite band’s music. Here, a diverse array of artists – both Swedish and international stars – take the stage, with the program running from early summer to the beginning of September.

Since the 1980s, Katalin and all that jazz has been one of Uppsala’s most popular places for concerts and shows. Katarina “Katalin” Varga Smith moved her operations from a hole in the wall at Svartbäcksgatan, to the beautiful old freight warehouse that once housed SJ trains, right next to Uppsala Central Station.

Katalin And All That Jazz lives up to its name. Jazz and blues nights remain essential features in the pub section. But nowadays, established artists from all genres perform in the concert hall, which also hosts stand-up comedy and other types of shows. The rustic and charming environment is perfect for those who want to enjoy a meal or just grab a beer with friends.

With its award-winning exterior, Uppsala Konsert & Kongress (UKK) is a truly unique venue for all forms of cultural expression. This bustling multi-arts center, covering 14,600 square meters, places diversity and creativity at its core. The five stages within the building accommodate both niche and mainstream acts, Swedish as well as international – music ranging from classical to metal and international pop stars, comedy shows, and family performances. Several festivals are also hosted here, such as Uppsala Choral Festival, the International Guitar Festival, and electronic music slash art-festival Otherworldly.

Don’t miss a visit to UKK’s own restaurant before the show. There’s also a cluster of interesting restaurants at Vaksala Square, where the concert hall is located, including the gourmet pizzeria Farina, the ambitious neighborhood eateries DUO and Sverre, and the Lebanese restaurant Byblos.

During the summer, Uppsala’s music scene kicks it up a notch. It has  become a tradition for the Botanical Garden to welcome renowned artists as the weather warms up. It’s easy to see why stars like Elton John, Patti Smith, and Tom Jones have been drawn to “Botan,” as the locals call it. A Botanical Garden in full bloom, packed with picnic blankets and crowds, is a fantastic sight. Music in the Garden is another recurring popular feature on Botan’s stage, where visitors gather to enjoy local culinary delights and beautiful music.

IFU Arena and Fyrishov are arenas primarily intended to house sports events, but also hosts various musical events, for example the local institution Uppsala Reggae Festival. The same goes for the enormous event field KAP, which is situated just past the football stadium Studenternas IP, that occasionally arranges notable gigs during the summer period.

The well-known Uppsala Reggae Festival returns every summer to Fyrishov, and it’s also here that the touring musical celebration that is Diggiloo usually takes place.

Uppsala’s theater stages are highly regarded in Sweden – perhaps most notably Uppsala City Theater, which produces theater and performances of the highest quality. Here, both comedy and drama, classics and new works are on offer. The city’s guest stage, Reginateatern, is a venerable, cozy theater where touring shows put on their performances – with some regular shows like stand-up and improv theater. Regina also focus on queer culture and performances with LGBTQIA themes. At Gottsunda Dance & Theater, located in Gottsunda’s cultural center, a wide repertoire of theater is presented with a special focus on children and young people.

Overall, you’ll find that the theater scenes here is not just about traditional theater. The programs feature a mix of music, poetry, circus, and other performing arts to be enjoyed even by non-Swedish speakers. But there are also stages with more specific focuses – like the cultural center Köttinspektionen, which offers performances for the cultural connoisseur, while Den Lilla Teatern is a dream for families, with its imaginative children’s theater.