The Öland Roots festival is ending after this year's edition, which is expanding from two days to three days. According to the Öland Roots association, the festival is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, though major media reports indicate it has been held since 2004. The festival has been called Sweden's coziest festival and is a reggae festival, known for its intimate atmosphere and focus on the genre. The association expects many visitors to the final festival, aiming to draw a large crowd for a farewell celebration. The specific reasons why the festival is ending after this year remain unclear, as do the exact date or schedule for the three-day event.
Artists performing at the final edition include Luciano, Nadia McAnuff, Jah Mason, Linval Thompson, Labyrint, Helt Off, Rootvälta, and Fastpoholmen. Major media reports suggest the festival features international stars and Swedish artists, blending global and local talent for its farewell. The lineup reflects the event's reggae roots while incorporating diverse Swedish acts, though the expected number of visitors for the final edition has not been disclosed.
Everyone wants us to make a final, happy chapter.
The festival is located in Kalmar County, where other festivals like Hultsfredsfestivalen and Emmabodafestivalen have already ended, highlighting a trend of closures in the region. According to Barometern-OT, Rebecka Serpan, a member of the Öland Roots association, described a desire to create a final, happy chapter for the event. Whether there are any plans to revive or replace the festival in the future is unknown, as are the financial or organizational challenges that led to the decision to end it. This closure adds to a pattern of festival discontinuations in Kalmar County, raising questions about the sustainability of such events in the area. The expanded three-day format for the final edition is intended to accommodate the anticipated high turnout, with the association emphasizing inclusivity for all attendees.