Nordtrad 2026

In april 2026, the Malmö Academy of Music will host the annual Nordtrad intensive course taking place in Malmö from Tuesday 7th to Saturday 11th of April.

Each year, participating institutions from the Nordic and Baltic universities meet for a week of shared music-making, workshops, and exchanges.

This spring, the program will include:

• Concerts introducing the schools and teachers
• Workshops and seminars led by local and visiting staff
• Mixed ensembles for students, ending in a final concert
• Teacher meetings and a teachers’ concert

The event will also arranged in synergy with the Malmö Folk Festival 2026.

An overarching theme of the 2026 event will be Music of Minorites. So the event will keynote speakers and a panel discussion on minority music.

The theme week will not only concern the music of Sweden's official national minorities but also official national minorities in the other participating countries, as well as other cultural minorities who are sometimes much bigger in numbers, though they do not have official status.

Events at Malmö Academy of Music

Opening concert | Tuesday 7 april 19:00 | Rosenbergsalen
Keynote – Arabic culture in Sweden and the Nordic countries| Thursday 9 april 13:00-14:30 | Rosenbergsalen
Panel talk – Music of minorities and the Academies of Music | Friday 10 april 13:00-14:30 | Rosenbergsalen

Public events 

Wednesday 8 April

Nordtrad kavalkad! | City Hall, Lund
A diverse "tapas buffet" of repertoire and instruments from all visiting schools.

• 15.00: Keynote 1 – A lecture on national minorities with a focus on Åland.
• 19.00: Concert – Presentation of the visiting schools.
• 21.00: Mingle and folk music jam. 

More info & Tickets

Malmö Folk Festival

Thursday 9 april 

Nordic Baltic Masters | 19:00 | Malmö Live Concert Hall (Kuben)
A unique gala concert featuring over 40 teachers and master musicians from across the Nordic and Baltic regions.
More info & Tickets

Spel till dans | 20:30 | Malmö Live Concert Hall (Kubenfoajén)
Traditional dance music performed by young musicians from the Nordtrad academies.
Free admission – More info

Live Folk Music Playlist | 21:15 | Malmö Live Concert Hall (Kanalscenen)
A live folk music session in a relaxed bistro setting.
Free admission – More info

Friday 10 april

Open Stage Folk Music | 21:15 | Malmö Live Concert Hall (Kanalscenen)
Open stage featuring students from the Nordtrad academies and Skurup Folk High School.
Free admission – More info