Hamsundagene 2026 ready for takeoff
Hamsundagene 2026 is ready for the public, art and literature!
– We have already received a lot of good feedback on this year's program, says festival director Anita Overelv proudly.
In a week, things will get going again on Hamarøy with the cultural festival Hamsundagene. This year's festival is titled "The Ring is Over", with a packed program that will both challenge and embrace the audience in the very best way.
Some of what you can expect is:
An avant-garde music program with artists such as Maja Ratkje, Susanna Wallumrød and other greats in the field of art music, from both Norway and abroad. We also offer a silent film concert. Ednama Sjatto / Markens grøde – which was sold out during the screening during the previous Hamsundagene in 2024.
And more: Unique Hamsun trip to Kråkmo farm, premiere of Slovak art, book lunches, breakfast talks, literature seminars, book talks entertainment, laughter and seriousness. Authors Lars Elling, Sigbjørn Skåden, Helene Uri, Tore Rem and Tore Løding will all be in the narrator's chair. Eirin Edvartsen will brag and scare with LIVE Podcast.
HamsundageneUNG has a packed program for our young festival-goers, which consists exclusively of free events.
Adventure tour by bus to Kråkmo farm. Author and journalist Billy Jacobsen takes us back to where Knut Hamsun wrote the Nobel Prize-winning novel "The Produce of the Field". Hamsun lived on Hamarøy from 1911 to 1916, and spent much of his time at Kråkmo farm, where he became good friends with the young Anna i Markvatnet who worked on the farm. Jacobsen will bring their meetings and friendship to life for us, LIVE at Kråkmo. The tour starts at Oppeid, and pre-registration is mandatory, as there are limited places here. The tour includes a hot lunch at Hamarøy Hotell, and guiding on the way out to Kråkmo. An incredible experience!
Tore Rem in conversation about the book “A Formerly Healthy Man” - featuring DJ Prestefrua. Here we present a new concept, which will give the listener a greater experience of the book being presented. The author puts together a playlist that is closely related to the book being discussed, which is played by a DJ.
– This will give the experience of the book and the story a deeper dimension, and an even more personal, emotional touch, says Overelv, who is the brainchild behind the concept.
For the young:
Fantasy star, Helen Kaldheim with a book talk about "Mørkealven", which is a fantasy series in the Nordic manga genre. Kaldheim will have a book talk with local youth who have her at the top of their reading list. Kaldheim will also have a course on how young people can learn to become Nordic manga artists.
There will be concerts with both the Bodø/Hamarøy hip-hop artists in "Kvartal" and Hamarøy's own "Summer Musicians".
Borghild Aasebøstøl will serve both the little ones and the slightly older ones, good and engaging storytelling.
Artists in residency from Slovakia.
Boris Vitázek, Zuzana Sabova and Gabriela Zigova are Slovak artists who will liven up the festival with sound installations and LIVE performances.
– This is a collaboration we have with Culture SiTy and Trencin 2026, European Capital of Culture 2026 this year", says Overelv.
The artists will arrive in Hamarøy a week before the festival and will, in both time and space, develop and adapt their art on site. The entire The Hamsun Centre will be the stage and arena of art. It will be spectacular, and it has never been performed before.
Welcome to a magnificent festival on Hamarøy with a kickoff concert on 03.08, official opening on 04.08, and closing day on 07.08 – which also includes HamsundageneUNG.
