What's on in Longyearbyen (Svalbard), Svalbard and Jan Mayen through the year

Quiet — school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Rule

  Polar bear protection rules

  1 Jan – 31 DecRisk

  Outside the settlement you are required to be able to protect yourself against polar bears, which in practice means a rifle and the training to use it, or an approved guide. The Governor sets the rules and enforces them. Source ↗

Still on: Aurora season (1 Oct – 28 Feb)

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Festival

  Polarjazz

  1–10 Feb · usuallyMajor festivalBook early

  The world's northernmost jazz festival, four days in the last of the dark. The town has a few hundred beds, so the festival weekend books out well before the programme is announced. Source ↗

Still on: Polar bear protection rules (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Aurora season (1 Oct – 28 Feb)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Festival

  Solfestuka, the sun festival

  1–14 MarMajor festival

  The sun comes back over the mountains on 8 March and the town gathers on the old hospital steps to watch it. The fortnight around it is a proper celebration, with concerts and everyone outdoors. Source ↗

• Season

  Snowmobile and sun-winter season

  1 Mar – 16 MayIce seasonBook early

  Light, snow cover and frozen fjords all at once: this is the window for the long snowmobile runs to the east coast and the ice caves, and for dog sledding on real snow rather than gravel. Source ↗

Still on: Polar bear protection rules (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Polar bear protection rules (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Snowmobile and sun-winter season (1 Mar – 16 May)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Opening

  Boat season

  17 May – 30 SepSummer season opens

  Once the fjord ice goes the boats start running to Pyramiden, Barentsburg and the bird cliffs, and the tundra turns green and flowers for a few weeks. It is also when the cruise ships arrive. Source ↗

Still on: Polar bear protection rules (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Snowmobile and sun-winter season (1 Mar – 16 May)

Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Polar bear protection rules (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Boat season (17 May – 30 Sep)

Busy — school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Polar bear protection rules (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Boat season (17 May – 30 Sep)

Busy — school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Polar bear protection rules (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Boat season (17 May – 30 Sep)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Polar bear protection rules (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Boat season (17 May – 30 Sep)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Nature

  Aurora season

  1 Oct – 28 Feb

  Far enough north that the lights appear in the middle of the day as well as at night through the darkest months. Cloud off the Barents Sea is the limiting factor, not the latitude. Source ↗

• Festival

  Dark Season Blues

  20–27 Oct · usuallyMajor festivalBook early

  Four days of blues in the bars and the culture house as the sun leaves for the winter, held over a late-October weekend. The town has a few hundred beds and they go months ahead. Source ↗

Still on: Polar bear protection rules (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Polar bear protection rules (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Aurora season (1 Oct – 28 Feb)

Quiet — school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Polar bear protection rules (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Aurora season (1 Oct – 28 Feb)