Valborg in Uppsala

Does your Valborg (Walpurgis) Night usually mean standing and shivering by a weary bonfire? In Uppsala, Valborg is so much more! On the last day of April, the city’s streets and parks transform into a celebration that takes over the entire town. Many of the traditional events and activities are closely tied to Uppsala’s vibrant student life, but Valborg is far from being just a student affair. If there’s one day of the year to visit Uppsala – make it Valborg.

New to Valborg and eager to experience the celebration firsthand? Here are the key times to keep track of for the ultimate Valborg experience.

09:00 – Start the day with a champagne breakfast

While many of our cheerful students are likely still recovering from Skvalborg and Kvalborg—the festive warm-up days leading up to Valborg—you can kick things off with the traditional champagne breakfast in one of Uppsala’s picnic-friendly parks. The lush greenery of the City Garden (Stadsträdgården), with its view of the Fyris River, provides the perfect golden setting. What matters most isn’t what you eat, but that you wash down your breakfast with champagne, sparkling wine, mineral water, or any other bubbly drink of your choice.

10:00 – River Rafting in the Fyris River

After your luxurious breakfast, take the short stroll along the Fyris River toward the city center. There you’ll be greeted by an enthusiastic crowd cheering on the homemade rafts as they float down the river’s currents around ten o’clock. We promise top-notch entertainment as these creations—of wildly varying quality—take on the Kvarnfallet and Islandsfallet rapids. You guessed it: this tradition is a classic student spectacle introduced by Uppsala’s engineering students in the mid-1970s. The rafting has become a true folk festival, so make sure to arrive early if you want a good viewing spot!

11:30 – Classic Herring Lunch

No Swedish celebration is complete without herring, and Valborg in Uppsala is no exception. Both Flustret, located at the entrance to the City Garden, and Uppsala Concert & Congress (UKK) at Vaksala Square serve up the traditional herring lunch. Expect a joyful mix of food, drinks, and long communal tables, all accompanied by cheerful spring songs!

12:30 – Festival Atmosphere in Ekonomikum Park

The main gathering spot during Valborg—for students and anyone eager to celebrate—is without a doubt Ekonomikum Park. Many spend their entire Walpurgis Day here. Groups of friends and families who prefer a more relaxed pace often settle for a picnic on the edges of the park. But if you want a prized spot in the heart of the festivities, right in the middle of Ekonomikum Park, you’ll need to arrive early in the morning.

13:30 – Sweet Sounds of Wijkmanska Blecket at Carolina Rediviva

As a prelude to the cap ceremony at three o’clock, the legendary student orchestra Wijkmanska Blecket takes the stage on the steps of Carolina Rediviva, the university library just a stone’s throw from Ekonomikum. Belonging to Uplands Nation, the orchestra offers a lively mix of musical styles and an irresistibly upbeat performance!

15:00 – Cap Ceremony at Carolinabacken and Concert with OD

At exactly 3:00 p.m., freshly donned and timeworn student caps are raised to the sky at the command of the Vice-Chancellor of Uppsala University, marking the arrival of spring. The setting is Carolinabacken, nestled between Uppsala Castle and Uppsala Cathedral. The tradition dates back to the early 1900s and has been celebrated in its current form since the 1950s.

A newer tradition—yet one that has quickly become just as cherished—is the performance by the male choir Orphei Drängar (OD) on the steps of Carolina Rediviva during the ceremony. Expect a choral experience like no other; OD is widely regarded as one of the finest male choirs in the world.

15:30 – Catch a Glimpse of the Champagne Gallop

After the cap ceremony, students dash off in their most hard-wearing clothes to one of the student nations hosting what’s known as a champagne gallop. This lively student tradition combines the thrill of a water fight with the joy of spraying freshly opened bottles of champagne at one another.

If you don’t have a student card, you unfortunately can’t join the gallop—but you can still catch a glimpse of the soaked and smiling participants outside the nations. Instead, settle in at one of the city’s many outdoor cafés and enjoy the bustling Valborg atmosphere from a (water-fight-free) distance.

17:00 – A Fairytale Ball at Uppsala Castle

Ever dreamed of attending a ball in a real castle? During Valborg in Uppsala, that dream comes true! Everyone over 18—no student nation card required—can sign up for the annual Valborg Ball at the historic Uppsala Castle. Dress in your finest attire and prepare for a magical evening filled with dinner, song, and dancing long past midnight. Glamorous, grand, and utterly wonderful!

21:00 – Cozy Bonfire or Night Out?

As the evening cools down, there’s nothing quite like gathering around a warming Valborg bonfire. These fires light up in several spots around Uppsala as the last hours of April fade away. One of the most popular, preceded by a torchlight procession, is held at the Royal Mounds in Gamla Uppsala. Another gathering place around nine o’clock is Gunillaklockan, in the courtyard of Uppsala Castle, where visitors are treated to inspiring spring speeches and songs celebrating the joys of student life. You can find a list of bonfires with official permits on the Uppsala Municipality website.

Prefer to keep the night going? Head to local nightclubs Flustret or Birger Jarl, where the party lasts until sunrise.

Still haven’t had your fill of festivities? Don’t worry—if you somehow have any energy left to burn, it’s perfectly acceptable to keep celebrating on May 1st, also known as Finalborg.

See the Full Valborg Programme

You’ll find the complete schedule for the Valborg weekend—both for students and everyone else—at www.valborgiuppsala.se. There, you can also find information on the best ways to get around the city.