Surströmmingspremiären in Sweden: dates 2026–2027, traditions and words
| Day | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Surströmmingspremiären | Thursday, 20 August 2026 | Thursday, 19 August 2027 |
- The date
- The third Thursday in August.
- Day off?
- Not a holiday. It is the day the new season's tins go on sale.
Surströmming is Baltic herring that has been salted lightly and left to ferment, then sealed in tins where it keeps fermenting. The tins bulge, and the smell when you open one is famous. It is a tradition from the north of Sweden, especially the High Coast (Höga kusten).
A royal decree from 1937 set when the new season's surströmming could be sold, so that the fish would be ready. The rule was dropped in 1998, but producers still keep the third Thursday in August as the premiere.
What Swedes do
- Opening the tin outdoors, never inside. Many people open it in a bucket of water so the brine doesn't spray.
- Making a klämma: the fish, almond potatoes, onion and sour cream rolled up in soft thin bread (tunnbröd).
- Surströmming parties in the north, while many Swedes in the south never touch it.
Food and drink
| Swedish | English | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| surströmming | fermented herring | Rinsed, gutted and filleted before eating. |
| tunnbröd | thin flatbread | Soft or crisp, from the north. |
| mandelpotatis | almond potatoes | Small, yellow, firm potatoes from the north. |
| rödlök | red onion | Chopped, inside the klämma. |
| gräddfil | sour cream | To soften the taste. |
| mjölk | milk | The traditional drink with it. |
Words for Surströmmingspremiären
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 |
|---|---|
| surströmming | fermented Baltic herring |
| strömming | Baltic herring |
| sur | sour |
| jäsa | to ferment |
| en burk | a tin, can |
| bomberad | bulging (of a tin) |
| en burköppnare | a tin opener |
| en lukt | a smell |
| lukta | to smell |
| en hink | a bucket |
| lake | brine |
| rensa | to gut, clean (fish) |
| en klämma | a flatbread wrap |
| tunnbröd | thin flatbread |
| mandelpotatis | almond potatoes |
| Höga kusten | the High Coast |
| Norrland | northern Sweden |
| en premiär | a premiere, first day of the season |
Phrases you will hear
- Vi öppnar burken ute!We're opening the tin outside!
- Vill du smaka?Do you want to try it?
- Det luktar starkt, men det smakar gott.It smells strong, but it tastes good.
- Nej tack, inte i dag.No thanks, not today.
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.
- Surströmming, Nordiska museet
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.