Dragan Vojvodić //

Way Out West 2026 is shaping up to be one of those festivals everyone’s talking about long before summer even begins. The festival returns to Slottsskogen in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 13–15 August 2026.

This year’s lineup buzz is already huge, with artists including Lily Allen, Gorillaz, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Hives, Lorde, Moby, and Zara Larsson.

Held every August, Way Out West transforms Slottsskogen park into the heart of the festival, while also spilling out into the city’s clubs and venues through the late-night “Stay Out West” program. For three days, Gothenburg becomes a full citywide takeover — music, film, art, and a very specific festival atmosphere that blends everything into one experience.

Since its launch in 2007, Way Out West has hosted a wide range of iconic artists, including Prince, Charli XCX, Erykah Badu, Kendrick Lamar, Florence + The Machine, Neil Young, Fred again.., Tame Impala, Alicia Keys, Chappell Roan, Frank Ocean, Robyn, The xx, Patti Smith, and Solange, among many others. Set in the green surroundings of Slottsskogen — the leafy heart of Gothenburg — the festival has built its identity as both intimate and global.

When Slottsskogen shuts down for the night, the festival continues across venues around the city as part of the “Stay Out West” club concept (included in the 18+ festival ticket). Late into the night and early morning, you can catch both emerging artists and established names in smaller, more intimate spaces.

As always, Way Out West stands out not only for its lineup but for its identity. It is a fully vegetarian festival with a strong focus on sustainability, aiming to reduce environmental impact and rethink how large-scale cultural events can operate more responsibly. This year, the festival is also once again offering a small number of couples the opportunity to get married on-site during the event.

Beyond music, Way Out West includes a curated film program and art projects spread across Gothenburg, turning the entire city into a three-day cultural landscape.

Over the years, WOW hosted premieres for films such as Searching for Sugarman, The Square, Turist, Gräns, Sentimental Value, and Boyhood. The films, a mixture of feature films, documentaries, TV series, and short films, are shown at the independent cinema Capitol as well as in the film tent at the festival site. The screenings are free for everyone with a festival ticket.