Name: Way Out West
Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Way Out West

Three days of music and culture in Slottsskogen city park: Gothenburg's festival with a strong environmental record and a lineup that consistently runs indie, electronic, and soul.

Dates13–15 August 2026 (Slottsskogen Park, Gothenburg)

LocationStockholm

Attendance

EntrySEK 1,595–2,295 per day (approximately £120–£170); weekend passes available

What Is Way Out West?

Way Out West runs in Slottsskogen, a public nature reserve and city park in central Gothenburg, every August. The festival has operated since 2007 and consistently presents a curated lineup that sits outside the mainstream festival circuit: bookings in recent years have included Nick Cave, Kendrick Lamar, FKA Twigs, Rosalía, Robyn, and Erykah Badu. The venue capacity is deliberately capped, making the festival considerably less dense than comparable events. Slottsskogen itself is free and open to the public outside festival hours: the park surrounding the festival grounds has deer, peacocks, a lake, and extensive walking paths.

Way Out West has won multiple sustainability awards and operates as a meat-free food zone: no meat is sold on site, only plant-based and seafood options. This is a known feature and divides opinion among attendees: the food quality from the festival's curated traders is genuinely high by festival standards, and the absence of queues for standard grilled meat means food service is faster than most comparable festivals. Gothenburg is Sweden's second city and an underrated destination: the Haga neighbourhood, 10 minutes on foot from Slottsskogen, has the city's best independent cafes and vintage shops. Feskekôrka (the fish market) is a 15-minute walk from the festival site.

Information verified

What to Expect

Day-by-day breakdown

Thursday

Opening day: smaller crowds and first headliner

Way Out West traditionally opens on Thursday evening with a headline act on the main stage. Thursday is the least crowded of the three days and ideal for exploring the full festival layout. Slottsskogen's deer often appear at the fence near the Amfiteatern stage: a detail that surprises most first-time visitors.

Friday

Mid-festival with the most diverse programming

Friday runs the most varied day programme, with simultaneous acts across the Stora Scenen main stage, the Flamingo indoor tent (electronic), and the Trädgårn outdoor stage. The Gothenburg city centre is 15 minutes by tram from the park: many attendees break at 6pm for dinner in Haga before returning for the evening headline.

Saturday

Closing day: headline acts and late-night Gothenburg

Saturday carries the headline closing act from around 9pm. After the festival closes at midnight, Gothenburg's nightlife continues: Trädgårn (the venue, separate from the festival stage of the same name) and Sticky Fingers on Kaserntorget are the established post-festival options. The tram back to the city centre runs until 1am.

Sunday (post-festival)

Feskekôrka and Haga before departure

Gothenburg's fish market (Feskekôrka, the Fish Church, on the Rosenlund Canal) is open Sunday mornings until 3pm. The market sells fresh West Coast seafood including crayfish, langoustine, and the local speciality räkor (cold-water prawns). The Haga neighbourhood's cafes along Haga Nygata open at 9am and serve cardamom buns that are significantly larger and better than the Stockholm equivalent.

Practical Tips

Book accommodation in Haga or Linné

Gothenburg's Haga district (10 minutes on foot from Slottsskogen) and the adjacent Linné neighbourhood have the city's best independent hostels and a strong cafe and bar scene. STF Vandrarhem Stigbergsliden is a well-regarded hostel 15 minutes' walk from the festival. Dorm beds average SEK 300–450 (£22–33) per night.

The festival is fully meat-free on site

No meat is sold anywhere at Way Out West. Food options are plant-based, fish, and seafood. The quality is consistently higher than the average festival catering: expect Vietnamese bao, falafel, smoked salmon, and Nordic-inspired dishes at SEK 120–180 (£9–13) per dish. If this is a concern, eat before entering.

Gothenburg Citycard covers all trams and buses

The Gothenburg City Card (available at the tourist information on Kungsportsplatsen) covers unlimited tram and bus travel plus entry to several museums. A 24-hour card costs SEK 375 (£27); a 72-hour card costs SEK 745 (£54). For festival weekend use, a single tram pass (SEK 36) loaded on the Västtrafik app is cheaper for point-to-point journeys.

The lineup is known for curation, not commercial appeal

Way Out West bookings tend toward artists with a strong critical reputation rather than pure chart placement. Acts that headline Coachella or T in the Park do not necessarily appear here: the bookers have a clear aesthetic. Research the lineup before buying tickets; this is not the right festival for pure pop or EDM preferences.

Combined festival with Gothenburg by Night side events

The festival organises Way Out West by Night: ticketed after-shows at Trädgårn, Pustervik, and Röda Sten Konsthall in the evenings after the main festival closes. These side events carry smaller acts and DJs in intimate venues and are often more memorable than the main site for fans of electronic and underground music. Tickets sell separately.

Train from Stockholm takes 3 hours

High-speed SJ trains from Stockholm Central to Gothenburg Central run hourly and take 2 hours 55 minutes (from SEK 299/£22 booked in advance). Book 4–6 weeks ahead for festival weekend travel; prices rise and availability drops. The direct Arlanda Express from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to the city centre costs SEK 330 (£24) for those flying into Stockholm.

Airport Transfers to Stockholm

Pre-booked private transfers and shared shuttles for your arrival.