Lollapalooza Stockholm will not take place in 2024

While lately it has been first and foremost the few alternative open air festivals in Sweden that had to report worrying news (Sabaton Open Air, Gefle Metal Festival, Gravefest and Subkultfestivalen), this week, there are two bigger mainstream festivals with similar announcements. It started on Monday (11 December 2023) with the open air festival Big Slap in Malmö which wanted to “end at the top”:

“Since 2013, we have been dreaming of making Big Slap bigger and better each year. We have achieved all our goals and fulfilled our dreams, all thanks to you! Our fans have been the best in the world, and we love you more than anything. Thank you all for helping us get here! Some journeys end at the top! A new journey will now begin with a new brand, format, and a new vibe sooner than you think! Stay tuned. Thank you, Malmö, and thank you to all Big Slappers once again. We love you!”

– Big Slap

However, festival founder Ali Eftekhari also admits in an interview with the Swedish daily newspaper Sydsvenskan that “we do not think that 2024 is a good year for such large festivals in either Sweden or the world. Most major festivals are struggling now.” The current world situation with, among other things, war and high interest rates would result in fewer artists going out on tour during the summer. However, there are plans to launch two new festivals in Malmö and Lund in summer 2024, both with a focus on Swedish artists.

Now, also Lollapalooza Stockholm announces that it will not take place in 2024:

“Lolla Stockholm will take a break for 2024. We will take this time to re-evaluate and make improvements across the board to make Lollapalooza Stockholm an even more incredible experience. See you again soon!”

– Lollapalooza Stockholm

According to Sweden’s national public broadcaster SVT, Live Nation, the organiser of Lollapalooza Stockholm, denies that the current difficult times with high interest rates and inflation play a role in the festival’s hiatus. The Swedish edition of the American music festival has had “three fantastic festivals so far.” Live Nation does not want to comment on “when the festival will return. There is a desire and an interest in festivals that have very big international acts.” Despite its mainstream orientation, Lollapalooza Stockholm also had rockier bands such as Foo Fighters, The Hellacopters, The Hives, Graveyard, Måneskin and Mando Diao in its line-up.