Almedalen Week

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Almedalen. July 2005.

The Almedalen Week (Almedalsveckan, sometimes also called Politikerveckan i Almedalen) is an annual event taking place in the first week of July in and around Almedalen, a park in the city of Visby on the Swedish island Gotland. With speeches, seminars and other political activities, it is considered an important forum in Swedish politics, and it has has been called a "rock festival for politics".^[1]

During the week, representatives from the major political parties in Sweden take turns to hold speeches in Almedalen.

The origin of the Almedalen Week is the speeches held by Olof Palme every summer in Visby, beginning in 1968. The first official Almedalen Week took place in 1982, when the Social Democrats started to organise economic seminars. As a response, the other political parties started to take a more active part. In recent years, the event has grown larger, with hordes of journalists, lobbyists, local and national politicians and representatives of non-governmental organisations all coming to Visby to meet, discuss politics and socialize. In 2006, an election year, more than 400 activities were scheduled.^[1]

The Almedalen Week is coordinated by the Gotland Municipality. In 2008, it will take place from July 6 to July 12.