Light and season
Midnight sun or polar night?
How the light in Tromsø changes between the midnight sun and the polar night, and what that means for a late concert in the yellow wooden church.
Reserve a place in the yellow church ↗Quick answer
In Tromsø the sun stays above the horizon from late May to late July, and from late November the city has only a few hours of twilight each day. The Midnight Concert is named for the late hour, not for the sun, so the church and the walk to it look very different depending on the night you pick. The calendar lists the nights that are open.
Two kinds of Arctic light
The city centre sits well north of the Arctic Circle, which gives Tromsø two extremes. In summer the sun does not set, and in winter it does not rise above the horizon for weeks. Visit Tromsø says the sun stays above the horizon from late May to late July, and describes the polar night as lasting approximately from 27 November to 15 January. The exact dates depend on where you stand and how the mountains block the sun, so treat them as ranges.
The midnight sun
During the midnight sun, the sky is bright on the walk to a late concert, and the church sits in daylight at an hour when much of Europe is dark. Visit Tromsø suggests dressing in layers even then, because it can feel cool by the sea and in the mountains. The Midnight Concert's name belongs to the late hour, not to the sun, so you hear the same kinds of music in a wooden church whatever the sky looks like outside.
The polar night
The polar night is not total darkness. Visit Tromsø says the sun stays below the horizon from late November, leaving only a few hours of twilight a day, and the sky shifts through pinks, purples and deep blues. Light returns from mid-January, though the surrounding mountains usually keep the sun away from central Tromsø until later in the month. A late concert in this season means walking to a lit church through a city that has already been dark for hours.
What the church is like in either
The church is the same room all year. It is a timber building, painted yellow outside, with pale painted ceilings and chandeliers inside. The difference is the walk. In the light months you arrive in daylight at an hour when you would expect darkness. In the dark months the yellow walls stand out against the night. The concert itself is the same length, about 30 minutes, and draws on the same kinds of music, whichever season you choose.
Read next: Tromsø Cathedral concert guide
Planning around the dates
Choose a night from the calendar, which lists the start time of every concert on sale. Concerts and festivals run throughout the Tromsø winter, according to Visit Tromsø, so a winter date is a normal choice. If you are travelling in the shoulder seasons, when the days are changing quickly, check the calendar for the nights that suit your plans, and book the concert once your flights are fixed.
What to pack
Pack for the walk, not the concert. In summer, bring a layer for the evening air and something to help you sleep if you are sensitive to light. In winter, bring warm clothes and shoes that grip. Inside the church you will be sitting still for about half an hour, so wear layers you can adjust. There is no dress code for the concert.
Who this isn't for
If you are chasing a particular sight in the sky, this ticket does not promise one, because it is a concert in a church. If you need to be outdoors during the midnight sun or the polar night, plan that separately and treat the concert as an indoor addition. And if you want to know exactly how dark or light your night will be, check the date against the ranges above, because the church does not change with the season.
Frequently asked questions
When is the midnight sun in Tromsø?
Visit Tromsø says the sun stays above the horizon from late May to late July. The exact dates depend on the source and on how the mountains block the view.
When is the polar night in Tromsø?
Visit Tromsø gives approximately 27 November to 15 January. The city still has a few hours of twilight each day.
Is the Midnight Concert only in the midnight sun?
No. The name refers to the late hour. The booking calendar shows the dates on sale, so choose any night that suits you.
Is it dark during the concert?
It depends on the date. The church interior is lit for the concert, and the sky outside depends on the season.
What should I wear?
Layers for the walk, with a warm outer layer you can take off inside. There is no dress code.
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