Oslo venue guide

Large venues

Oslo’s largest venues bring in big acts of many different kinds. If you’d like to know what superstar is playing here this week or what world-famous comedians will be visiting soon, these are good places to check.

Rockefeller Music Hall and Sentrum Scene are two of Oslo’s main venues for popular music.

National and international stars are regularly appearing at Vulkan Arena. Oslo Concert Hall presents big names in classical music, jazz, show music and more.

There is also a lot going on at the The Norwegian Opera & Ballet, which in addition to beautiful opera and ballet productions, also presents world-class concerts.

Oslo Spektrum is the centre of Oslo with concerts by famous and beloved artists. In addition, stand-up comedy with Norwegian and international comedians and big shows for the whole family.

The largest arena in terms of size is Unity Arena. Concerts are not often held here, but when they are, they are of a truly great calibre.

Venues for classical music

Oslo is the home city of many of Norway’s leading classical ensembles, including the Oslo Philharmonic, Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra and the Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces.

In addition to the larger venues Oslo Concert Hall and the Opera, popular venues for classical performances include The University Aula (decorated by Edvard Munch) and Sentralen, a fairly new culture house right in the city centre. The Norwegian Radio Orchestra performs at different locations, but NRK Store studio is their home field.

Ridehuset scene at the Akershus fortress has exquisite acoustics. In the summer, you can also catch concerts outdoors at the fortress, on Karpedammen scene.

Jazz and related styles

Oslo is a great place for jazz lovers of every stripe, with a vibrant local jazz community that attracts many international names.

Nasjonal Jazzscene - Victoria is hands down Norway’s best jazz venue, with an extensive concert programme that includes top-notch Norwegian contemporary jazz artists as well as international jazz pioneers. Herr Nilsen Concert Pub puts on concerts almost on a daily basis, with a selection that includes a lot of trad jazz, blues, country and Americana. Gustav at historical hotel Amerikalinjen holds jazz concerts with Felix Peikli and friends.

Rock and metal

In Oslo you can find a rock or metal concert (almost) every day. 

The larger venues, such as Rockefeller, John Dee and Oslo Spektrum offer rock on their programme. But if you want to get up close and personal, check out the the smaller concert stages at Last Train, Revolver and Vaterland. 

Folk music from around the world

If you're looking to experience Norwegian folk music, Riksscenen is your best bet. Many of Norway's best traditional folk musicians perform here on a regular basis – as do folk musicians from most other parts of the world. Cosmopolite and Nordic Black Theatre & Caféteatret are Oslo's main venue for world music.  

Club venues

Oslo is recognised as one of Europe’s best spots for live music, much due to the enthusiasts who run the city’s club venues. At any given point you’ll find a lot of interesting bookings here, made with a keen eye for quality and emerging talent.

Parkteatret offers a diverse range of music (pop, hip hop and more) in a former cinema and John DEE presents both international and smaller non-mainstream artists. You'll also find it at SALT, a cultural hub for art, music and architecture right on pier.

If it's underground music you want, then BLÅ is the leading club in Norway for alternative live music, and Kafé Hærverk focuses on experimental and independent music. Here you'll meet underground talent in everything from jazz to prog rock. At these venues, you can also dance into the early hours. You'll also find good dance floors at TheVilla, Ingensteds and Jaeger, where you're likely to come across internationally recognised names in the  electronica genre.

Unique venues

Cultural happenings become particularly memorable in extraordinary surroundings!

There is a lot to experience by the Oslo pier. On the cultural boat MS Bjørvika there is always a good vibe among splash of the waves, palms and string lights. Why not listen to music while you enjoy the heat in one of the world's biggest saunas at SALT? If you wish to have a spectacular view of Oslo, concerts are held at both Grefsenkollen restaurant and the Rose Castle. 

There are regularly concerts in the unique Emanuel Vigeland museum, a mausoleum with special acoustics. The Jakob Culture Church is an old church reserved entirely for culture, with events in different genres.