Ljiljana Maletin Vojvodić //

Way Out West 2026 is officially sold out, with the festival opening its gates today in Gothenburg. From August 13 to 15, Slottsskogen Park will welcome tens of thousands of visitors for three days of music and film, featuring some of the biggest names in international music and a strong focus on sustainability.

Way Out West has long been a landmark festival for fans of indie, electronic, hip-hop and rock music. What sets it apart is its distinctive atmosphere and its approach to festival organisation, combining the energy of an urban music event with nature and environmental responsibility.

Music at Slottsskogen and the Stay Out West clubs

The main festival programme takes place on stages throughout Slottsskogen Park, with another strong line-up this year. Among the headline acts are The Cure, Gorillaz and The xx, while performances by international pop and alternative artists including Lorde, Moby, Zara Larsson and Lily Allen are also attracting considerable attention.

But when the lights go down on the main stages around midnight, the festival moves indoors across Gothenburg as part of the Stay Out West programme. Concerts and club nights at some of the city’s best-known venues, including Pustervik and Musikens Hus, continue into the early hours.

A strong film programme: From Tony to pop-cultural classics

Way Out West is also an important destination for film lovers, with this year’s programme featuring premieres, screenings and conversations with filmmakers. One of the highlights is the Nordic premiere of Tony, a feature film about Anthony Bourdain’s early culinary career. The programme also includes Tamra Davis’s documentary The Best Summer, featuring tour footage of bands including Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth and Nirvana.

Other highlights include the world premiere of the Swedish graffiti documentary Tunnel Vision, the drama The Weight, starring Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, and Alex Gibney’s political documentary about Salman Rushdie.

More than a festival: A commitment to sustainability

Way Out West is known for its strong environmental standards. Since 2012, the festival has been entirely vegetarian, with much of its food offering vegan, while all beverages served are organic.

With measures aimed at significantly reducing its carbon footprint and a complete ban on single-use plastics, Way Out West has repeatedly been recognised for its work on sustainability. Year after year, the festival demonstrates that large-scale cultural events can combine a vibrant programme with a serious commitment to the environment.