Notodden Blues Festival 2026 returns to Notodden, Norway from 30 July to 2 August 2026, bringing four days of live music, festival atmosphere, and a wide-ranging program that spans traditional blues, modern blues, blues-rock, soul, Americana, and more. Widely recognized as one of Northern Europe’s largest blues festivals, Notodden transforms into a true festival town during NBF—packed venues, multiple stages, and an international audience coming together for concerts, late-night sessions, and the unique “only-at-Notodden” vibe.
At the heart of the festival is a strong artist program combining international touring names with standout Norwegian acts. The 2026 lineup announced on the festival website includes Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, The Darkness, Vanessa Collier, Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, Elles Bailey, The Temperance Movement, Jontavious Willis, and key Norwegian favorites such as Dumdum Boys, Raga Rockers, Halvdan Sivertsen, Bjørn Berge, Daniel Eriksen Trio and more—showcasing both the breadth of blues today and the scenes it connects to. (Full lineup and updates are published continuously by the festival.)
Notodden Blues Festival is known for its multi-venue setup across town, where you can move between different stages and settings—large headline shows, intimate club gigs, and community-focused festival spaces—creating a program that works equally well for dedicated blues fans and curious newcomers. A festival pass is presented by the organizers as a way to access the festival’s stages and a large number of concerts across the main festival days (subject to venue capacity), making it easy to build your own schedule and discover new favorites along the way.
The festival also has a long-standing cultural footprint. According to the festival’s own history, NBF has received significant recognition over the years, including being named world’s best blues festival (2010) and receiving the Blues Foundation’s Keeping The Blues Alive Award—a reflection of Notodden’s role in promoting blues culture and sustaining a vibrant live music ecosystem. The event is also closely connected to local initiatives, festival traditions, and a broader program of activities around town.
For tickets, program updates, practical visitor information (transport, parking, accessibility), and festival contacts, please refer to the official website:
- Festival site: bluesfest.no
- Tickets: bluesfest.no/billetter
- Contact: bluesfest.no/kontakt
- Accessibility info: bluesfest.no/praktisk-info/tilgjengelighet
- Parking info: bluesfest.no/praktisk-info/parkering
