Valborg in Sweden: dates 2026–2027, traditions and words
| Day | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Valborgsmässoafton | Thursday, 30 April 2026 | Friday, 30 April 2027 |
| Första majRed day | Friday, 1 May 2026 | Saturday, 1 May 2027 |
- The date
- Valborgsmässoafton is always 30 April. The next day, 1 May, is första maj.
- Day off?
- Valborgsmässoafton is a working day, often a shorter one. Första maj (1 May) is a public holiday.
Valborg, or valborgsmässoafton, is the evening Swedes greet spring, even if there is still snow on the ground in the north. Towns and villages light big bonfires (valborgsbål or majbrasor) at dusk, a choir sings spring songs, and someone gives a short speech to welcome the spring (vårtal).
In the university towns Uppsala and Lund, sista april is the biggest party of the student year, with picnics in the parks from early morning. The next day, 1 May, is a public holiday with marches and speeches by the labour movement and political parties.
What Swedes do
- A bonfire in the evening, organised by the local association or municipality, with a choir and sometimes fireworks.
- Spring songs sung by male voice choirs and student choirs.
- Students in Uppsala and Lund: picnics, early breakfasts with friends and, in Uppsala, putting on their white student caps together at 3 pm.
- On första maj: demonstrations (första maj-tåg) and speeches by unions and parties, especially on the left.
Food and drink
| Swedish | English | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| korv | sausage | Grilled at the bonfire. |
| picknick | picnic | In the park, especially in student towns. |
| kaffe och bullar | coffee and buns | Brought along in a thermos flask to the bonfire. |
Words for Valborg
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 |
|---|---|
| valborg | Walpurgis Night (short form, lower case in Swedish) |
| valborgsmässoafton | Walpurgis Night, 30 April |
| en brasa | a bonfire |
| ett valborgsbål | a Walpurgis bonfire |
| en majbrasa | a May bonfire |
| tända | to light |
| en kör | a choir |
| en vårsång | a spring song |
| ett vårtal | a speech welcoming spring |
| välkomna våren | to welcome the spring |
| våren | the spring |
| ett vårtecken | a sign of spring |
| en studentmössa | a white student cap |
| sista april | 30 April (in student towns) |
| första maj | May Day, 1 May |
| en demonstration | a demonstration, march |
| ett tal | a speech |
| en fackförening | a trade union |
Phrases you will hear
- Ska vi gå och titta på brasan?Shall we go and watch the bonfire?
- Vad gör du på valborg?What are you doing on Walpurgis Night?
- Trevlig valborg!Have a nice Walpurgis Night! (the usual wish; Glad valborg is rarer)
- Äntligen är våren här!Spring is finally here!
Songs
These are the songs you are likely to hear. We list them by title only; any Swedish songbook (sångbok) has the words.
- Vintern rasat: The classic spring song of the evening, from the late 1830s (words by Herman Sätherberg, music by Otto Lindblad). Vintern rasat is its opening line.
- Längtan till landet: The official title of Vintern rasat, used in songbooks.
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.