2026

Month by month

A working calendar of what is happening in Ystad, Österlen and the broader Skåne region within roughly an hour's drive. The peak weeks to book three to six months ahead are: Konstrundan at Easter, Midsummer's weekend, the Jazz Festival in late July and early August, Kiviks Äppelmarknad in late September, and the two main Advent weekends.

Items marked verify are still provisional; final dates will be confirmed by the organisers closer to the event.

January

January 2026

1 Jan

Nyårsdoppet (paused)

Saltsjöbadens strand, Ystad

The traditional New Year swim is paused while a new kallbadhus is planned. Sandhammaren remains open for an unorganised dip.
Through 13 Jan

Christmas market wind‑down

Stortorget

Tjugondedag Knut marks the end of the Christmas season. Quiet centre, decorations still up.

February

February 2026

16–20 Feb

Sportlovet (week 8)

Region‑wide

Skåne school sports holiday. Higher domestic occupancy, families on the move.
Saturdays, 7–21 Feb, 12:00

Lunch concerts at Mariakyrkan

Sankta Maria kyrka

Free Saturday lunch concerts opening the spring music programme. Arrive 15 minutes early.

March

March 2026

Saturdays, 28 Feb – 25 Apr, 12:00

Lunch concerts at Klosterkyrkan

Sankt Petri Klosterkyrkan

Continuation of the spring lunch series in the smaller monastery church.
Through spring

Ystads Konstmuseum spring season

Sankt Knuts torg

Functionalist museum, rotating exhibitions across two floors. Reopened 9 May with Cecilia Edefalk solo.

April

April 2026

3–12 Apr

Österlens konstrunda, 58th edition

Across Österlen

Around 85 studios open. Weekdays 13–17, holidays 10–18. The biggest spring art event in southern Sweden.
3 Apr (Good Friday)

Påsk weekend begins

Across the region

Restaurants run Easter menus, churches hold services, Glimmingehus opens for the season.
25 Apr

Vårfest, Stortorget

Stortorget

Spring market and town festival.
30 Apr

Valborg (Walpurgis Night)

Bonfires across Skåne

Choral singing, bonfires, the official end of winter.

May

May 2026

9 May

Ystad Cruising, 38th edition

Through the old town

Classic American cars roll through Ystad. Crowds in the centre, adjust plans if you need to drive.
9 May

Ystads Konstmuseum reopens

Sankt Knuts torg

Cecilia Edefalk solo exhibition runs through 30 August.
14 May

Backåkra opens for the summer

Backåkravägen 73, Löderup

The Hammarskjöld farm opens to visitors. Daily 11–17.
19 May

Bach: Magnificat

Sankta Maria kyrka

Choir, soloists and orchestra. Tickets through the parish.

June

June 2026

6 Jun

Sweden's national day

Across the country

Local ceremonies in the morning, ordinary day otherwise.
11–13 Jun

Folkemødet on Bornholm

Allinge, Bornholm

Denmark's political festival. Ferry 80 minutes from Ystad. Worth a day trip even without the politics.
19 Jun

Midsummer's Eve

Local celebrations, e.g. Charlottenlund

Maypole raising and dancing. Bookings tight for the whole weekend.
21 Jun

Solstice sunrise at Ales stenar

Kåseberga

No formal organiser. People simply turn up before dawn and stand on the cliff.

July

July 2026

4–12 Jul

Falsterbo Horse Show

Falsterbo Strand

The largest equestrian event in Scandinavia. Book accommodation across all of south Skåne from May.
29 Jul – 2 Aug

Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival

Ystads Teater, Sankta Maria, Klosterkyrkan, Saltsjöbad, Charlottenlund

Around 40 concerts. The single biggest event of the year. The closing Sunday at Charlottenlund opens 14:00, concert from 15:00.
Late Jul – early Aug

Konst Österlen Sommar

Studios across Österlen

A second round of open studios after Konstrundan.

August

August 2026

7–14 Aug

Malmöfestivalen

Central Malmö

Sweden's largest city festival. Train from Ystad in an hour.
Second weekend

Bokrundan

Across southern Skåne

Regional book tour, around twenty small bookshops and antiquarians open.

September

September 2026

12 Sep – 11 Oct

Skördetid på Österlen

Farms and producers across Österlen

The Österlen harvest festival. Many farms run open days and tastings.
18 Sep – 5 Oct

Kiviks Äppelmarknad

Kivik

Sweden's apple market. Opening weekend 19–20 September, family weekend 26–27 September. The famous apple mosaic is unveiled on opening day.

October

October 2026

Vecka 44 (~26–30 Oct)

Höstlov

Region‑wide

Skåne autumn school holiday. Like sportlovet, expect families.
30 Oct – 1 Nov

Österlen Lyser

Across Österlen

Light festival across the region: installations, illuminated farms, slow drives at dusk.

November

November 2026

3 Nov

Mozart: Requiem

Sankta Maria kyrka

Choir, soloists, orchestra. The autumn major concert.
10 Nov

Mårten gås

Restaurants across Skåne

St Martin's Day. Traditional goose dinners served all over Skåne, especially House of Ven and Saltsjöbad.
14–15 & 21–22 Nov

Jul på Högestad

Högestad gods

Two‑weekend Christmas market at the estate. Open hearths, charcuterie, candles.
28–29 Nov

First Advent: Christmas markets

Stortorget and across Ystad

Julbod opens, lights go up, glögg starts pouring.

December

December 2026

5–6 Dec

Second Advent: Christmas markets continue

Stortorget

Stalls in the square. The town quietest in the morning, busiest mid‑afternoon.
13 Dec

Lucia

Sankta Maria kyrka (16:00), Österportstorg parade (13:00)

Choir processions and the Luciaparade through the centre. A fixed point of the Swedish year.
21 Dec

Winter solstice sunrise at Ales stenar

Kåseberga

The other unmarked gathering. Bring warm clothes and a flask.

Year‑round

Fixed weekly and daily points

Mon–Sat, 08:30–09:30 setup Saturday market at Stortorget. Fruit, vegetables, cheese, bread, fish, flowers.
Mon–Sat, 12:00 (summer) Lunch organ music at Sankta Maria kyrka.
Every night 21:15–01:00 Tornväktaren blows from the church tower. Year round, since 1748.
Tue–Fri 12–17, Sat–Sun 12–16 Ystads Konstmuseum open hours.
Tue–Sat from 17:30 JH Matbar dinner service.

Cared for by Dennis, Linn and the boys