11 Places To See Stand-Up Comedy In Stockholm

Swedes are not always known for their humour. To the outside world Swedes are often seen as relatively cold, rational and perhaps a little serious. While it is true you probably will not see Swedes walk arm in arm down the street squealing with laughter, in the right environment Swedes love to laugh. Stockholmers enjoy the opportunity to go to comedy clubs and to laugh the night away. A number of them have shows in English, with great stand-up shows, comedic theatre, and comedy festivals in Stockholm that cater for people whose Swedish is either rusty or non-existent. Here are 11 of the best places to check out for comedy lovers in Stockholm.

Stockholm Fringe Festival

As the name suggests, this is a festival rather than a club—however, it has a huge range of acts performing across the city in early September every year. There is stand-up comedy, comedic theatre and improv, so there is something for everyone. This year’s events included “Wisdomless,” which featured stand-up comedian Maria Shehata, Sameena Zehra with her hilarious show “Tea with Terrorists,” and Eleanor Conway’s brilliant performance “Walk with Shame”—all of which were in English. If you are in Stockholm in early September this festival is the best place to see comedy.

RAW Comedy

This is another of Stockholm’s comedy clubs that aims to promote itself as the best in Stockholm, calling itself Sweden’s biggest comedy club—it certainly does have an extensive line-up. Many of its shows combine English- and Swedish-speaking comedians so you can get at least a taste for Swedish humor while also enjoying something you can understand a little better. Their website lists which comedians are playing each show—and if their biographies are written in English then they will perform in English. It is very easy to find, as it is in the Hilton, right next to Slussen metro station.

RAW Comedy, Hilton Stockholm Slussen, Guldgränd 8, Stockholm, +46 851 735 300

1. Big Ben Pub

Pub, Pub Grub, Swedish

The Big Ben stage plays host to music as well as comedy

Not only does the Big Ben Pub host a great comedy night, they run one to three times a week and it is free to go to. As it is a British pub, many of the acts are English speaking (although they do still have Swedish comedians, so make sure to double check online who is playing before you go). It is less than a five-minutes walk from Medborgarplatsen metro stop, and is a great pub to check out, even if there is no comedy on, as they also have live music on their stage. They feature the occasional improv night as well as stand-up comedy.

King Comedy Stockholm

King Comedy are fairly new to the Stockholm scene and emphasize the fact they are fresh, calling themselves Stockholm’s best underground scene. A night at a Kings Comedy event ensures you will be seeing the newest comedians. They only occasionally have acts in English; however, it is free entry and many of the events include an after party, making them well worth attending. Their events are hosted at King’s Table restaurant, which serves modern British cuisine. It is on Sveavagen, one of the largest and most exciting streets in Stockholm, and the restaurant is just down the road from Radmansgatan t-bana stop.

Kings Comedy at King’s Table, Sveavägen 64, Stockholm, +46 821 44 55

Lost in Translation

Another event hosted at the International Theatre, Lost in Translation is all about what it is like to live as a non-Swede in Sweden and is driven by audience suggestions. The theatre has been putting on this show for five consecutive years, due to its popularity. It is usually performed in October and November, with at least eight shows per year. If you are in Stockholm around that time and looking for something hilarious, then it is the perfect show for you. It is held at Boulevardteatern on the lovely island of Kungsholmen.

Boulevardteatern , Götgatan 73, Stockholm, +46 8642 98 00