Riddu Riđđu is on! A festival for 500

Riddu Riđđu 2021 will be different this year, but as always with a focus on high-quality Sami art in a safe environment. To manage infection control, the family and festival camps are cancelled, and audience capacity is limited to 500.

“We want to gather safely and have therefore had to make some adjustments. Riddu Riđđu is a beacon for Sami culture, however, and Sápmi's most important festival. We feel a great responsibility to promote Sami art and create Sami meeting places, and therefore would rather arrange a smaller festival than cancel,” says Festival Director Sandra Márjá West.

Ticket Refunds

“We are proud to offer a high-quality program, but we understand that the lack of a festival camp means that many people won’t be able to come,” says Festival Director Sandra Márjá West. “Everyone who has bought a ticket will receive an e-mail with a refund offer.”

Celebrated Stars and New Talent All Part of a Diverse Program

Riddu Riđđu events will take place over the course of the full festival week. The popular Mánáid Festival and the Riddu Nuorat youth program run from Monday 12 July to Wednesday 14 July. Riddu Riđđu Festivála itself will be held Thursday 14 July - Saturday 17 July.

This year children will need a specific ticket for the Mánáid Festival. The ticket is for the child and allows their parents to accompany them to the activities and family show. The Mánáid Festival will otherwise run as usual, full of exciting activities based on Sea Sámi culture. This year, children will be able to make fishing helmets, joik, hear stories, redesign clothes and learn about children's rights.

This year's program also includes several new platforms for creative expression. Stand-up group Reaškkas will be there to reclaim and redefine Sami humour. Sápmi's humour queen Trine Lise Olsen has been mentoring the new young humour talents to help them develop their skills. Meanwhile Gáddjá and Biret Haarla, this year's young artists, will be presenting their work incorporating music from Inuit electronica throat singers Silla + Rise. Emil Kárlsen will also be releasing his album Nagirvárrái with a full-size concert. Audiences will also get to enjoy festival favourites including ISÁK and Felgen Orchestra, as well as welcoming newcomers such as Ozas, a project of sisters Risten Anine and Sara Marielle Gaup.

As always, Riddu Riđđu will be hosting a wide variety of events including concerts, creative performances, films, literature, art exhibitions, markets, seminars and debates.

New This Year

To maintain good infection control, all events taking place in the Nisga’a house and Culture Hall will require advance bookings. This applies to: the UIT and Nordlys seminars, the literary conversation between Odd Marakatt Sivertsen and Irene Larsen, the Etniid ulloliinnit performance, Riddu Sessions, Reaškkas and the art exhibition opening.

Bookings for these events will open Monday 12 July at 12:00. Ticketholders will receive further information by e-mail. This year you must also have a festival ticket to enter the market.

NB! Due to program changes, Gájanas will not be playing at Riddu this summer. Ailu Valle + Amoc will be performing at Riddu Riđđu in 2022.

Infection Control Measures

The government has stated that festivals will make use of Covid certificates and rapid tests starting this summer. Riddu Riđđu is following these developments and will be ready to make use of both when they’re ready.

Festival Director Sandra Márjá West says she understands that the Riddu audience has many questions, and that the festival is happy to respond by e-mail, messenger and phone.