Notodden Blues Festival

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UniqueNotodden
Dates30 July–2 August 2026Confirmed listing
Duration4 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forUnusual spectacle, playful rulesNotodden was named world's best blues
Language["no"]Currency: NOK
CategoryUniqueFestival type
The story

Notodden Blues Festival in Notodden

Notodden Blues Festival is one of Northern Europe's largest blues gatherings, held in the small Telemark town of Notodden each summer since 1988. What started with thirteen local enthusiasts backing a bank loan and around 2,000 tickets sold has grown into a multi-day event drawing tens of thousands of visitors, with international headliners performing across the town's stages, clubs and outdoor venues.

Notodden Blues Festival began in 1988 as a small-town gamble.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Notodden was named world's best blues festival by the Blues Foundation in 2010, which also gave it the Keeping the Blues Alive Award, a rare honor for a European event

02

The mystery stays covered

Since 1991 the festival has awarded its own Bluespris, a cash prize and statuette given to a person, artist or organization judged to have done the most for blues music in Scandinavia

03

The city starts moving

Alongside the main concert program, the festival runs a youth seminar called New Generation of the Blues, choosing around forty teenagers, some from as far as Mississippi, for six days of professional instruction ending in a festival-stage concert and a studio-recorded CD for each participant

04

The water draws everyone in

A deep partnership with the Norwegian trade union confederation LO anchors the closing day around a solidarity concert

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival grew out of a genuinely grassroots gamble: in 1988

Water and renewal

Living ritual

thirteen local blues fans personally guaranteed a bank loan to get the first edition off the ground

The sacred route

Living ritual

a credit line that turned out to be unnecessary once tickets sold

The local code

Living ritual

That do-it-yourself

Tradition 5

Living ritual

community-backed spirit persists in the festival's close relationship with LO

Tradition 6

Living ritual

the Norwegian trade union confederation

Tradition 7

Living ritual

whose member unions help sponsor the event and whose closing-day solidarity concert has become a fixture

Tradition 8

Living ritual

The New Generation of the Blues youth seminar

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

30 July–2 August 2026

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Casual festival wear works fine, but treat it as an outdoor Norwegian summer event: layer a t-shirt or shirt under a fleece or light jumper, and bring a packable rain jacket, since late July...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

["no"] · NOK

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map59.56 N, 9.27 EOpen in Google Maps

Notodden, Telemark, Norway

Nearest airportTRF — Sandefjord Airport, Torp
TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Notodden via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Notodden, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for July.Compare faresFestival gearCasual festival wear works fine, but treat it as an outdoor Norwegian summer event: layer a t-shirt or shirt under a fleece or light jumper, and bring a packable rain jacket, since late July and early August in Telemark can swing from warm sun to cool showers within the same day. Comfortable, closed-toe shoes are worth it for standing on gravel or grass in front of outdoor stages, and evenings by the lake can turn chilly even after a warm afternoon.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Norway and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Notodden Blues Festival?

Notodden Blues Festival is listed for 30 July–2 August 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Notodden Blues Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Notodden, Norway. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

4 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Notodden, Telemark, Norway

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLbluesfest.no
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed dates30 July–2 August 2026
Source statusOfficial source linked
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