The Spawning Festival October 23-25, 2026
Join us for a fun and exciting festival weekend for the whole family.
Autumn's meeting place by the river
Join us The Spawning Festival in Lærdal, an eventful autumn weekend where you can experience one of nature's most fascinating spectacles up close.
Every year, when wild salmon spawn in The Lærdal River at the turn of the month October–November, invites The Lærdal Wild Salmon Visitor Centre to a festival with activities, experiences and events for both young and old.
The goal of The Spawning Festival is to create experiences and activities that engage young and old, so that we experience and learn more about salmon in nature and have fun together.
Spawning hike, Daniel Kvammen, yoga and fish soup
On The Spawning Festival you can experience the salmon up close through guided spawning walks along The Lærdal River , try your hand at fly fishing and fly tying, or gain new knowledge through lectures and book clubs.
Saturday night will feature a concert with Daniel Kvammen, good food and a spawning party with DJ Trym. Sunday offers yoga, brunch at Laksen Café & Bakery and a final spawning walk along the river.
Most of the program is free and open to all. The evening event on Saturday has an 18-year-old age limit and requires a day pass or festival pass.
There is free admission to the exhibitions at the Visitor Center for Villaks all weekend, and Laksen Café & Bakery serves its own festival menu including fish soup and baked potatoes.
Program October 23 - 25
Most of the program is free and open to all. The evening event on Saturday has an 18-year-old age limit and requires a day pass or festival pass.
Friday, Oct 23
18.30: Official opening of The Spawning Festival in the Cultural Hall
18.45–19.45: Entertainment with Lars & Lars in the Cultural Hall
20:00–21:30: Italian pizza buffet with salads at Laksen Café
21.30: Presentation of Lærdal River Fish & Gin from Juniperus Distillatus by Vilhelm Rumohr
Saturday 24 Oct
09:30-12:00: Professional seminar with knowledgeable presenters. See separate program below.
10:00–16:00: Nature trail outside the wild salmon center and question trail inside the exhibition
Activities with Lærdal IL climbing at Jektesanden climbing stone
10.30 - 11.00: Reading time - suitable for ages 4 and up. Librarian Malin Hellebø reads in the cultural hall.
12:00–14:00: Fly tying workshop on the second floor of the Wild Salmon Center
12:00–14:00: Learn to fly fish outside the wild salmon center
14.00–16.00: Guided spawning walk along The Lærdal River . Meet at the parking lot at Sjurhaugfossen waterfall
5:00 PM–6:00 PM: Book Bath with Lars Lenth – fishing stories in the Culture Hall
8:30 PM–10:00 PM: Concert with Daniel Kvammen in the Culture Hall
22:00–01:30: Spawning party with DJ Trym Ramstad in the foyer of the wild salmon center
Sunday 25 Oct
09:00–10:15: Yoga inside the exhibition with Anne Marie Torheim from Fjord Yoga. Suitable for everyone, regardless of level. All equipment is included – you only need comfortable clothing that you can move freely in.
10:30–12:00: Brunch buffet at Laksen Café & Bakery. Drop-in and payment on site.
14.00–16.00: Guided spawning walk along The Lærdal River Meet at the parking lot at Sjurhaugfossen waterfall.
Seminar on Saturday, October 24th - in collaboration with Vestland County Council
Duration: 09:30-12:00. Free seminar - open to all
09.30–09.35: Welcome
Status, management and knowledge since NOU 199:9 and the way forward for The Lærdal River
Sten Karlsson, NINAVideo-based population monitoring in The Lærdal River – experiences and results with a focus on smolt migration
Anders Lamberg, behavioral biologist60 years of spawning fish counts in The Lærdal River – what does it tell us?
Alf Olsen, The Lærdal Wild Salmon Visitor CentreQuestions from the audience
How is the salmon situation in Western Norway?
Environmental Director Aslaug Aalen, State Administrator for VestlandTime for reflections, input and questions
Summary and rounding off
The Lærdal Wild Salmon Visitor Centre / Vestland County Municipality
12:00–13:00: Lunch for those who wish at Laksen Bakery and Cafe
Prices
Most daily activities during The Spawning Festival is free! You only pay for some evening mail.
