The Midnight Concert ticket
About 30 minutes of folk tunes, psalms and Sámi music in Tromsø Cathedral, the yellow wooden church in the city centre.
Which church
Tromsø Cathedral, not the Arctic Cathedral
The yellow church in the city centre
The concert is held in Tromsø Cathedral, the yellow timber church in a park in the middle of the city on Tromsøya island. Its address is Kirkegata 7, and from the city centre you reach it on foot.
The white church across the bridge
The Arctic Cathedral is a separate church in Tromsdalen, on the mainland side of the Tromsø Bridge. It keeps its own concert calendar, and this ticket does not admit you there.
Check the church on your ticket
The two are easy to confuse, so look for the name Tromsø Cathedral and the Kirkegata address on your confirmation. If your route to the concert takes you over the bridge, you are heading for the wrong church.
The half hour, piece by piece
What the half hour is made of
Four kinds of music turn up in these concerts, and sometimes two of them meet in one piece.
- Psalms
Hymns from the Norwegian church
Singing hymns with the organ is central to worship in the Church of Norway, and psalms are part of the concert's programme. In a working cathedral they sit comfortably. Some hymns in the current Norwegian hymnal come from Magnus Brostrup Landstad, whose hymnal was finished in 1861, the year this church was completed.
- Folk tunes
Melodies from the countryside
Norwegian folk music includes ballads called kvad, short sung verses called stev and the Hardanger fiddle of the west. The folk tunes in the concert are arranged for a small ensemble, and some pieces blend folk melodies with classical writing.
- Songs of the north
Traditional music from Northern Norway
Northern Norway is a coastal region of fjords and fishing communities, and its dialects share a musical intonation. Songs from the region form part of the programme, performed by professional musicians who know them well.
- Sámi music
Joik and other Sámi song
Tromsø lies in Sápmi, the Sámi homeland, and its Sámi name is Romsa. Sámi music centres on joik, an unaccompanied song that evokes a person, an animal or a place. Sámi music is one of the kinds of music the concerts draw on, but no particular piece is promised.
- Folk and classical
Where the styles meet
Some pieces set folk melodies in classical arrangements, so a tune you first hear as a village song can return with the shape of a concert piece. The musicians make these choices, and they change between concerts.
The musicians choose the programme, and it changes from concert to concert. Treat these as the kinds of music you may hear, not as a set list.
The church itself
The yellow church in the park
A timber cathedral completed in 1861, standing in a park in the middle of Tromsø.
Built of timber, painted yellow
The walls are log timber with board cladding, painted yellow. The architect was Christian Heinrich Grosch, and the style is Gothic Revival, with rosettes and trefoil shapes in the decoration.
The cathedral of the north
It is the cathedral of the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland and the headquarters of the Tromsø deanery. It is an active church, and a listed part of Norway's cultural heritage.
An altar copy and two organs
The altar carries a copy, made in 1884, of Adolph Tidemand's painting of the Resurrection. The church has two organs: an original from the 1860s, restored in 2013 and 2014, and a newer one from 2017.
A church on this site since the Middle Ages
Tromsø has probably had a church here since the thirteenth century. The present building replaced one built in 1803, which was moved out of the city in 1860 to make way for it.
Nave and altar
Inside Tromsø Cathedral
The nave and the altar, the room where the concert is held, photographed from the inside.
Ways to hear a concert
Three ways to hear a concert in a Tromsø church
| Option | What you get | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| The Midnight Concert ticket | About 30 minutes of folk tunes, psalms and Sámi music in Tromsø Cathedral, the yellow wooden church in the city centre. | Cancel free until the day before, and hold a night without paying yet. |
| Tickets from the organiser | The same concert, sold by Best Arctic on its own site. | Its own terms apply, so read the cancellation rule at checkout. |
| Concerts at the Arctic Cathedral | A different, white church across the Tromsø Bridge, with a concert calendar of its own. | A separate programme and a separate trip over the bridge. This ticket does not admit you there. |
Book the Midnight Concert
Book the cathedral concert
Press the card to see the nights that are open for the concert. A second row further down suggests more ways to spend a day in Tromsø.
More to do in Tromsø
Packing, timing and the walk over
Plan your evening
Where to find it
Tromsø Cathedral, Kirkegata 7, in a park in the city centre on Tromsøya island. It is the yellow wooden church, not the white Arctic Cathedral across the Tromsø Bridge.
Getting there
Tromsø Airport is on the same island. Avinor lists the Flybussen coach, the public bus and an express boat from Prostneset, so check each operator's timetable for your date.
Doors and tickets
The church opens only shortly before the concert, so there is no reason to queue early. Show your ticket at the entrance. The start time for your night is printed on your confirmation.
What to wear
Layers. Dress for the walk, with a warm outer layer you can take off inside, shoes that grip, and hat and gloves in winter. There is no dress code for the concert.
Who can come
Children must be at least 8 years old. Wheelchair access is available, so ask the organiser about the route to your seat if you need step-free access.
What the ticket covers
Admission to the cathedral and the concert, which lasts about 30 minutes. Transport, food and drinks are not included, so book any dinner separately and earlier in the evening.
Guides to the concert, the church and the music
Guides to the concert, the church and the music
Tickets, church and date
Tromsø midnight concert tickets
Which church the concert is in, what the ticket includes, how it compares with booking direct, and how to choose a night for the Tromsø Cathedral concert.
Read the Tromsø guide → Getting there and what to expectTromsø Cathedral concert guide
How to find Tromsø Cathedral, what the late concert is like inside the wooden church, what to wear, and who should and should not book it.
Read the Tromsø guide →FAQ
Quick answers about the concert
Is the Midnight Concert in the Arctic Cathedral?
No. It is held in Tromsø Cathedral, the yellow wooden church in the city centre. The white Arctic Cathedral is across the Tromsø Bridge and is a separate church with its own concerts.
Where exactly is Tromsø Cathedral?
At Kirkegata 7, in a park in the middle of Tromsø on Tromsøya island. It is the yellow timber church with a pointed tower, within walking distance of the city centre.
How long is the concert?
About 30 minutes. The church opens only shortly before the concert starts, and the start time for your night is printed on your confirmation.
What music will I hear?
Psalms, folk tunes, traditional songs from Northern Norway and Sámi music, performed by professional musicians. The programme changes from concert to concert, so no set list is promised.
Can I cancel my booking?
On a GetYourGuide booking you may cancel until 24 hours before the concert and be refunded in full, and paying can wait until later. The organiser's own site sets its own conditions.
Is the concert suitable for children?
Children must be at least 8 years old. Younger children cannot attend. Visit Tromsø also lists the concert as family-friendly.
Are food, drinks and transport included?
No. The ticket covers admission to the cathedral and the concert only. Book any dinner separately and plan your own way to the church and back.
Do I need to arrive early?
No. The church opens only shortly before the concert, so arriving long before means waiting outside. Show your ticket at the entrance when it opens.
About half an hour of folk tunes, psalms and Sámi music in Tromsø's yellow wooden cathedral, free to cancel up to 24 hours before.
Reserve a place in the yellow church ↗Fares are quoted per person in US dollars here; the booking site shows the amount in your own currency at checkout.