What is Midgardsblot?
Midgardsblot is a four-day metal and culture festival held at the Midgard Viking Centre in Borre, near the coastal town of Horten in Vestfold county, Norway. Founded in 2015, it takes place among Scandinavia's largest collection of Viking Age burial mounds (the Borre Mounds), dating from approximately 600–900 AD.
What sets Midgardsblot apart from any other metal festival in the world is the combination of extreme metal, Norse rituals, a reconstructed Viking hall used as a concert venue, a full Viking village with historical reenactors, and daily sailings on a handbuilt replica Viking ship. The festival draws around 5,000 visitors daily and attracts metal fans from across Europe, North America and beyond.
The 2026 edition runs Wednesday August 12 through Saturday August 15. Previous headliners include Amon Amarth, Emperor, Wardruna, Heilung, Mayhem, Enslaved, My Dying Bride, Rotting Christ and Ihsahn. The festival books a broad mix of viking metal, black metal, folk metal, death metal and experimental Norse music.
Wednesday August 12 to Saturday August 15, 2026. Four full days of music, rituals and Viking activities.
Midgard Viking Centre, Borreparken. Address: Birkelyveien 9, 3184 Borre. Se på Google Maps. About 90 minutes south of Oslo by car or train.
Viking metal, black metal, folk metal, death metal and Norse folk music. Past headliners: Amon Amarth, Emperor, Wardruna, Heilung, Mayhem, Enslaved.
Blot ceremony, Viking village (Folkvangr), Viking ship sailing (Saga Oseberg), academic lectures (Midgard Talks) and a medieval market.
Visit midgardsblot.no for the latest lineup announcements. The festival also posts updates on Instagram and Facebook. The website has English language support.
Tickets and prices
Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster Norway and the festival's own website. All prices below are based on 2025 early-bird pricing and serve as a reference. Check midgardsblot.no for confirmed 2026 prices.
Full access to all concerts, Viking activities and cultural programming across all four days. Early-bird price from approximately NOK 2,999 (around EUR 260 / GBP 225 / USD 280). Prices increase closer to the festival.
Access to the festival and all activities for a single day. Price varies depending on lineup. Sold via Ticketmaster.no and midgardsblot.no.
Required for access to Camp Utgard (the beach campsite). Purchased in addition to your festival pass or day pass. Includes access to showers and facilities. Minimum age 18.
Children under 12 enter free when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. Youth aged 12–17 need their own ticket.
Where to buy
Official ticket channels are Ticketmaster.no and midgardsblot.no. Avoid unofficial resale platforms where prices may be significantly inflated. Norwegian consumer law caps ticket resale at 20% above face value.
Norway uses Norwegian kroner (NOK). As of early 2026, 1 EUR is approximately 11.5 NOK, 1 GBP is approximately 13.3 NOK, and 1 USD is approximately 10.7 NOK. Card payments are accepted everywhere in Norway, including at the festival. Cash is rarely needed.
How to get to Midgardsblot
The festival site at Borre is located approximately 100 km south of Oslo. Borre is not directly on the main rail line, but getting there by public transport is straightforward. International visitors typically fly into Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL) and take the train south.
Oslo's main international airport has direct flights from most European cities and several intercontinental routes. From the airport, take the Flytoget express train to Oslo Central Station (19 min), then change to the Vestfold Line heading south. Total travel time from Gardermoen to Skoppum station: approximately 1 hour 27 minutes.
The Vestfold Line (Vestfoldbanen) runs from Oslo Central Station to Skoppum, with hourly departures. Journey time: approximately 1 hour 8 minutes. Book tickets at vy.no. Skoppum is the closest station to the festival.
From Skoppum station, take local bus 01, 02 or 70 to Kirkebakken Borre (approximately 5 km). The bus stop is a short walk from the festival entrance. Check vkt.no for timetables.
The Basto Fosen ferry crosses from Moss to Horten in 30 minutes with frequent departures throughout the day. From Horten, it is a short drive to Borre. Useful if arriving from Sweden or eastern Norway.
By car
Take the E18 motorway southbound from Oslo, exit at junction 34 (Undrumsdalskrysset). Follow Rv19 towards Horten, then turn off at the Kirkebakken roundabout. Parking at the Midgard Viking Centre costs NOK 75 during the festival. GPS address: Birkelyveien 9, 3184 Borre.
Pick up your wristband at the Midgard Viking Centre upon arrival. Follow the signage from the main road. The festival site is spread across Borreparken, between the burial mounds, the beach and the Viking Centre.
Camping and accommodation
Most international visitors camp at the festival site. Camp Utgard sits on the beach in Borreparken, right by the Oslofjord. Waking up to a morning swim in the fjord is part of the Midgardsblot experience. If camping is not for you, hotels in nearby Horten are the main alternative.
The official festival camp on the beach. Open from Wednesday to Sunday. Facilities include showers, toilets, water stations and phone charging. You need a camping ticket in addition to your festival pass. Minimum age: 18. Bring your own tent and sleeping gear.
Thon Hotel Horten and First Hotel Horten are both located in nearby Horten town. Other options include Dal Gjestegard and Unike Grand Hotel in Aasgaardstrand. Book well in advance as rooms fill up quickly during the festival.
Waterproof tent (tested beforehand), warm sleeping bag, sleeping mat, headlamp, flip-flops for the shower, mosquito repellent and a waterproof bag for valuables. Cooking with camp stoves is usually permitted at the campsite.
Horten is 10 minutes away. Tonsberg (Norway's oldest town) is 25 minutes south. Aasgaardstrand (the seaside town associated with Edvard Munch) is 10 minutes north. All reachable by bus or taxi.
Arrive on Wednesday to secure a good spot. The campsite fills up quickly, and pitching your tent early means you can settle in before the music starts. The beach location means sandy ground, so bring extra tent pegs.
More than a music festival
Midgardsblot is the only metal festival in the world where you can participate in a Norse blot ritual, sail a Viking ship, watch full-contact armoured combat and explore a reconstructed Viking hall used as a concert venue. These cultural elements are what draw visitors from around the globe, many of whom come specifically for the historical experience.
The festival opens with a blot ceremony at a Norse altar with god poles, incense and drumming. Participants can be painted with animal blood from local butchers. The organizers describe it as a modern, inclusive and non-religious gathering inspired by historical Norse blot rituals. Participation is entirely voluntary.
A complete Viking village with historical reenactors, a medieval market, buhurt combat (full-contact fighting in historical armour), archery, axe throwing and Viking-era crafts. Many guests dress in historical or fantasy-inspired costumes. Located near the Gildehallen (Viking hall).
Daily sailings on the Saga Oseberg, a handbuilt replica of a Viking ship. Participants help row across the Oslofjord. This is one of the most popular activities at the festival and an experience unique to Midgardsblot.
The Midgard Viking Centre hosts academic lectures during the festival. Researchers present on Norse mythology, Viking Age gold treasures, the Wild Hunt and other topics. A chance to learn about the real history behind the music and rituals.
Kaupangr: the Viking market
The marketplace Kaupangr offers handmade crafts, Viking-era clothing, jewelry, food and drink. There is also a small stage with acoustic performances and storytelling.
The festival stages
Midgardsblot has three main stages spread across the park, plus a small market stage. The intimate scale of the festival means you can move between stages easily and catch most of the acts you want to see.
The outdoor main stage for the biggest headliners. Set in open terrain with good sightlines and room for the full festival crowd.
A second outdoor stage in a different part of the park, offering a more intimate atmosphere for mid-range and smaller bands.
A reconstructed full-size Viking hall used as an indoor concert venue. Limited capacity creates a club-like atmosphere. Perfect for folk and acoustic performances. Arrive early to secure a spot.
A small stage on the Viking marketplace for storytelling, acoustic sets and cultural events.
What you need to know before you go
Midgardsblot is an outdoor festival in a nature area with varied terrain. The combination of forest, grassland, gravel paths and beach means you should come prepared for changing ground conditions and weather.
Horten in mid-August typically sees daytime temperatures of 16–22°C (61–72°F) and evening temperatures of 10–15°C (50–59°F). Rain is always possible. Bring layers, a rain jacket and sturdy shoes with good grip.
Card payment is standard everywhere in Norway. Visa and Mastercard are universally accepted. Bring a small amount of cash as backup. Vipps (Norwegian mobile payment) is also common.
Most Norwegians speak excellent English. Festival staff, vendors and fellow attendees will be happy to help in English. Stage announcements may be in Norwegian, but the international community at Midgardsblot is large and welcoming.
Many guests dress in Viking-era clothing, fantasy-inspired outfits or historical costumes. This is part of the Midgardsblot atmosphere. Folkvangr (the Viking village) also sells clothing and accessories.
Sound levels near the stages regularly exceed 100 dB. Musician-grade earplugs (not standard foam plugs) are strongly recommended. Brands like Alpine, EarPeace or Etymotic reduce volume without distorting sound quality.
The historical setting
The festival takes place among the Borre Mounds (Borrehaugene), Scandinavia's largest collection of Viking Age burial mounds. Seven large mounds and a cairn are visible today, dating from approximately 600–900 AD. This was a Viking Age power centre, and the characteristic Borre Style in Viking art takes its name from this site.
Borreparken is a nationally protected cultural heritage area along the Oslofjord. Experiencing a metal festival among these ancient monuments gives Midgardsblot an atmosphere that no other festival can replicate. Please stay on marked paths and do not climb on the mounds, as they are protected archaeological sites.
A museum at the burial mounds with exhibitions on ship burials, power, religion and daily life in the Viking Age. Open during the festival. This is where you pick up your festival wristband.
Vestfold is one of Norway's richest regions for Viking history. The Gokstad ship (Sandefjord) and Oseberg ship (Tonsberg) were both found in this area. Midgardsblot builds on this heritage and brings it to life through music and culture.
Frequently asked questions about Midgardsblot
- Midgardsblot 2026 takes place August 12–15 at the Midgard Viking Centre in Borre, near Horten in Vestfold county, Norway. The festival is set among Scandinavia's largest collection of Viking Age burial mounds, right by the Oslofjord shoreline. Address: Birkelyveien 9, 3184 Borre.
- A 4-day festival pass starts from approximately NOK 2,999 (around EUR 260 / GBP 225). Day passes and camping tickets are sold separately. Buy through Ticketmaster.no or midgardsblot.no.
- Children under 12 enter free when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. Youth aged 12–17 need their own ticket, and those under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The minimum age for the camping area is 18.
- Yes. In Horten: Thon Hotel Horten and First Hotel Horten. Nearby: Dal Gjestegard and Unike Grand Hotel Aasgaardstrand. Book well in advance as rooms fill up quickly during the festival. Camp Utgard on the beach is the most popular option.
- Take the Vestfold Line train from Oslo Central Station to Skoppum station (approximately 1 hour 8 minutes, hourly departures). From Skoppum, take local bus 01, 02 or 70 to Kirkebakken Borre. Book train tickets at vy.no.
- Take the Flytoget express train from Gardermoen to Oslo Central Station (19 minutes), then change to the Vestfold Line heading south to Skoppum station. Total journey time: approximately 1 hour 27 minutes. From Skoppum, take a local bus to Borre.
- Yes. Parking at the Midgard Viking Centre costs NOK 75 during the festival. Accessible parking spaces are available. Note that parking is limited, so arriving early or using public transport is recommended.
- Yes. The Basto Fosen ferry runs between Moss and Horten in 30 minutes with frequent departures. From Horten, it is a short drive to Borre. This is a practical option if you are coming from Sweden or eastern Norway.
- The blot ceremony is the festival's signature opening ritual. Participants can be painted with animal blood at a Norse altar with god poles, incense and drumming. The organizers describe it as a modern, inclusive and non-religious gathering inspired by historical Norse blot rituals. Participation is entirely voluntary.
- Folkvangr is the festival's Viking village featuring historical reenactors, a medieval market, buhurt combat (full-contact armoured fighting), archery, axe throwing and Viking-era crafts. Located near the Gildehallen (Viking hall). Many guests dress in historical or fantasy-inspired costumes.
- Yes. Midgardsblot offers daily sailings aboard a handbuilt replica of the Saga Oseberg Viking ship. Participants help row. This is one of the most popular activities and an experience unique to Midgardsblot. Spots may be limited, so sign up early.
- The Borre Mounds (Borrehaugene) are Scandinavia's largest collection of Viking Age burial mounds, dating from approximately 600–900 AD. Seven large mounds and a cairn are visible today. The festival takes place among these protected ancient monuments, giving Midgardsblot a setting that no other festival can match.