Every summer, while visitors flock to the Faroe Islands for dramatic cliffs, puffins, waterfalls and hiking trails, another journey unfolds across the archipelago — one made not of landscapes, but of music. That journey is called Summartónar, the Faroe Islands’ annual festival of classical and contemporary music. Running from May until late summer, it transforms churches, cultural centres, village halls and unusual venues throughout the islands into intimate concert spaces where Faroese and international musicians perform side by side. Unlike many music festivals that concentrate their events in a single location, Summartónar spreads across the entire Faroese archipelago. A concert might take place in Tórshavn one evening and in a remote coastal village the next, encouraging audiences to explore both the music and the islands themselves.
A Festival Born from Faroese Creativity
The roots of Summartónar go back to the 1980s, when Faroese composers began organising concerts featuring their own works alongside international repertoire. Following the establishment of the Association of Faroese Composers in 1987, these activities expanded, eventually leading to the creation of Summartónar in 1992. The first edition featured fifteen concerts in Tórshavn, Kirkjubøur and Runavík. Since then, the festival has become one of the most important cultural institutions in the Faroe Islands, helping to showcase Faroese music both at home and internationally.
Faroese Music at the Heart of the Programme
What makes Summartónar unique is its focus on local composition and creativity. While musicians from across Europe regularly participate, Faroese composers remain at the centre of the festival’s identity. The event exists specifically to promote the rich and varied musical culture of the islands. Over more than three decades, the festival has presented over 1,600 concerts and hosted more than 500 world premieres, the majority written by Faroese composers. For a nation of only around 55,000 people, this represents a remarkable cultural achievement. Visitors can encounter everything from chamber music and string quartets to contemporary compositions, choral works, acoustic performances, experimental projects and collaborations between Nordic and international artists.
Music in Extraordinary Places
Part of the festival’s appeal lies in its settings. Concerts are often held in historic churches, cultural centres, harbourside venues and small communities scattered throughout the islands. Rather than massive crowds and festival fields, audiences experience music in close proximity to performers, creating a sense of intimacy rarely found at larger events. The Faroese landscape becomes part of the performance itself. Long summer evenings, dramatic weather and spectacular coastal scenery provide a backdrop unlike anywhere else in Europe.
A Different Kind of Nordic Festival
The Nordic region is famous for its summer festivals, but Summartónar occupies a special niche. It is neither a commercial pop festival nor a tourist spectacle. Instead, it reflects the Faroese tradition of valuing artistic expression, community and cultural identity. For travellers interested in discovering contemporary Faroese culture beyond the famous scenery, Summartónar offers one of the most authentic experiences available. It reveals a side of the Faroe Islands that many visitors never see: a vibrant musical community creating new works, preserving traditions and sharing them across some of the most beautiful islands in the North Atlantic. In a place where nature often steals the spotlight, Summartónar reminds visitors that the Faroe Islands also have a remarkable soundtrack.
Suggested Online Sources
Summartónar Official Website
Association of Faroese Composers – Summartónar History
Visit Faroe Islands Official Tourism Site
