Gustav Adolfsdagen in Sweden: dates 2026–2027, traditions and words
| Day | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Gustav Adolfsdagen | Friday, 6 November 2026 | Saturday, 6 November 2027 |
- The date
- Always 6 November, the day King Gustav II Adolf was killed at the battle of Lützen in 1632.
- Day off?
- Not a public holiday, but an official flag day.
Gustav II Adolf was king of Sweden from 1611 until he fell at the battle of Lützen in Germany on 6 November 1632, during the Thirty Years' War. He also founded Gothenburg, which is why the day is marked most there.
Today the day is mostly about a pastry: the Gustav Adolfsbakelse, decorated with a profile of the king in chocolate or marzipan. Swedish-speaking Finns celebrate 6 November too, as Svenska dagen.
What Swedes do
- Flags out: it is an official flag day.
- Eating a Gustav Adolf pastry at fika, mainly in Gothenburg and western Sweden.
- Wreaths and ceremonies at the king's statue on Gustaf Adolfs torg in Gothenburg.
Food and drink
| Swedish | English | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Gustav Adolfsbakelse | Gustav Adolf pastry | A small cake with the king's profile in chocolate or marzipan. |
Words for Gustav Adolfsdagen
Nouns are given with en or ett where you would use them that way. Words in our dictionary are linked, with their forms and pronunciation.
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| Gustav Adolfsdagen | Gustavus Adolphus Day |
| en bakelse | a pastry, small cake |
| marsipan | marzipan |
| choklad | chocolate |
| en kung | a king |
| ett slag | a battle |
| stupa | to fall in battle |
| ett krig | a war |
| trettioåriga kriget | the Thirty Years' War |
| grunda | to found |
| en staty | a statue |
| en krans | a wreath |
| en flaggdag | a flag day |
| en minnesdag | a day of remembrance |
| historia | history |
Phrases you will hear
- Har du smakat en Gustav Adolfsbakelse?Have you tried a Gustav Adolf pastry?
- I dag är det flaggdag.Today is a flag day.
- Gustav II Adolf grundade Göteborg.Gustav II Adolf founded Gothenburg.
Learn more Swedish
See every holiday and the full list of red days in the Swedish holiday calendar, and pick up one new word a day with the Swedish word of the day. Dates and weekdays are easier with our guide to days and months in Swedish and the Swedish numbers tool.
Sources
- Lag (1989:253) om allmänna helgdagar, Riksdagen: which days are public holidays.
Dates are calculated from the rules above and were checked against the law and published calendars. Last checked 7 October 2026. Customs vary between regions and families; this page describes the common ones.