WHAT: Oslo’s Øya Festival is not your average park-bound weekend of cheap lager and trashy toilets. It’s one of Europe’s most meticulously curated, progressive utopias of music and sustainability, bathed in Scandinavian cool. Since 1999, Øya has blended leftfield discovery with world-class headliners, setting the gold standard for urban festivals across Europe.
WHERE: Tøyenparken, Oslo
WHEN: August 6th–9th, 2025
WHY:
Nestled in Oslo’s east side, just a ten-minute tram ride from the city centre, Øya’s location is no accident. Think eco-harmony meets curated chaos: gender-balanced programming, a near-zero carbon footprint, and a lineup that’s as bold as it is broad.
If you’ve been eyeing a late-summer or last-minute trip to Scandinavia, this is the week to go. And trust us: with a line-up this solid, you’ll want to arrive early, stay late, and not miss a minute. Here’s what to catch:
Charli xcx – Brat-Savvy, Club-Happy, Mainstage-Ready
The queen of filthy electro-pop finally lands in Tøyenparken on her Brat Summer victory lap. Fresh from turning hyperpop into a global movement, Charli brings her Brat era in all its sweaty, strobing glory to Øya. Expect chaotic good energy, unfiltered attitude, and at least one outfit that defies physics.
They missed 2024 due to illness, but this year Queens of the Stone Age are back, brooding, and likely to shake the forest floor. Expect a thunderous set of sleazy riffs and Josh Homme’s trademark menace, proving that stoner rock never really went out of style—it just took a scenic detour through Oslo.
From Øya’s tiny Biblioteket stage to global alt-pop sensation, Marie Ulven (aka girl in red) comes full circle in 2025. Expect a raucous, emotionally charged set on home turf as she headlines to a crowd that’s followed her every lyric, breakup, and existential spiral since day one.
Lady Gaga may have made a mighty comeback at Coachella earlier this year, but’s Chappell Roan that is rewriting the rulebook on queer pop superstardom. With glitter-coated anthems and performances that are more Broadway than basement, Roan’s set promises to be a glorious, camp-laced fever dream—and arguably the festival’s most anticipated performance.
- Wet Leg – Isle of Wight indie duo with hooks and deadpan for days.
- Beth Gibbons – The voice of Portishead returns with spectral solo work that will haunt your sleep.
- Fontaines D.C. – Irish post-punks bringing literary rage and snarling swagger.
- Yung Lean & Bladee – Cloud-rap’s reigning princes go b2b in a rare Swedish link-up.
- Refused – One of their final ever shows. Come say goodbye to punk’s most stubborn visionaries.
And don’t skip the homegrown talents—Anna of the North’s dreamy electro-pop, Ramón’s gospel-tinged soul, or punk chaos merchants Honningbarna—because Øya’s always been as much about who’s next as who’s now.
Øya is famously easy to access. It’s a 10-minute tram ride or 30-minute stroll from central Oslo, and 98% of attendees walk, cycle, or take public transport. Flying into Oslo Gardermoen? The train will have you in the city in 20 minutes.
Oslo isn’t cheap, but comfort doesn’t have to break the bank. You can find solid hotel deals near Grünerløkka or Gamle Oslo. Want to go full Scandi? Try one of the city’s eco-conscious hostels or check into a local AirBnB for your own slice of Oslo hygge.
Under-23s? 3,499 NOK (£248)
Day tickets? 1,299 NOK (£92)
Two-day bundles and upgrades available. But with the kind of line-up that spills genius out of every slot, a full pass is the smart move.
Comfortable shoes. A light waterproof. A reusable water bottle (Øya has refill stations). Leave the glitter at home—it’s not biodegradable. But bring your best dancing self and a camera to remember it all.
And we’ll see you in the park.