European Days of Jewish Culture Day, Jewish Film Festival, Oslo Culture Night… There are plenty of wonderful events awaiting you in northern Europe. Here’s our interview with Ingrid Vonen, communications manager and cultural mediator at the Oslo Jewish Museum…
Jguideeurope: Do you think that ‘Love’, the theme chosen this year for the European Days of Jewish Culture, represents a form of hope for a tikkun olam?
Ingrid Vonen: It is possible to talk about Love and the Jewish in symbiosis in many ways, and the idea of Tikkun olam, about making the world a better place, is very important in the lives of many Jews. There is of course also a lot of hatred in the world now, and we therefore need to centre this year’s European Days of Jewish Culture around the opposite, around the word love.
What events are being organised for the European Days?
This year, the Oslo Jewish Museum is being renovated, and is therefore closed for both regular museum guests and for events. We have begun an exciting project to restore the women’s gallery in the former synagogue building in which the museum is located. The museum will therefore be closed to the public until (estimated) reopening in the fall of 2028, and events will be held in concert- and event halls all over Oslo.
During the Days of Jewish Culture 2026, three events will take place in Oslo. On Sunday September 6th, the opening European Day of Jewish Culture will be held at Litteraturhuset in Oslo. This day will be all about music – the well-known and beloved musician Solveig Slettahjel sings Cohen songs, and the program will be curated with “Love”, this year’s theme, at the center. The following week, September 8-10, the Jewish Film Days will take place at Cinemateket. New films with Jewish themes that have neither been shown in Norwegian cinemas nor on streaming platforms will be shown during this mini film festival. The Days of Jewish Culture will end with a concert during the Oslo Cultural Night on Friday, September 11th. Band and venue will be announced later. Welcome to Oslo in September!
Can you share a fond memory from a previous edition?
Last year, in 2025, the amazing clarinettist David Krakauer played in Oslo during Klezmernatt, our big annual klezmer concert. His ability to engage the audience with virtuoso playing was wonderful, and we all left the concert hall with blissful smiles.
Do you organise any other cultural events in autumn and winter?
It will be possible to attend events organized by the museum in the fall of 2026, although these will not be held at the museum, which is closed for renovation. The events in October and November will take place at Litteraturhuset in Oslo. October 14th will be dedicated to the Jewish philosopher Martin Buber; with an exciting performance with both narrative theatre, piano music and a reflective lecture. On November 17th, we will have a concert with pianist Liv Glaser, who has just, at the age of 90, released the album “Un peu francais”. In addition to the concert, there will be a book talk on this day about the recently published biography of Glaser, “Toner i lys og mørke”. In December, there will be a Hanukkah event, and information about this will come later.