Exciting hotel openings, new hiking and biking trails and major cultural moments feature across Gothenburg & West Sweden in 2026 – all with sustainability in mind.
The West Sweden tourist board is unveiling a wave of new openings and experiences for 2026, from boutique hotel expansions and picturesque cycling routes to significant cultural anniversaries and intriguing art festivals.
New places to stay
New property highlights include the luxury hotel Strana on the beautiful island of Orust, which will open 19 new seaside houses in summer 2026, expanding its boutique waterfront retreat and Ocean Spa. Close to Gothenburg, Hällsnäs Hotel & Restaurant adds 32 new rooms, including four lake-facing suites with private saunas, opening February. The hotel’s sustainable fish restaurant, Signum, received two Michelin stars in late 2025. In the peaceful forests south of Gothenburg, Hyssna Forest Resort debuts two new architect-designed cabins – The Ranger’s Cabin (sleeps 2) and The Skyland Cabin (sleeps 4) – while the idyllic Anfasteröd Gårdsvik introduces a new bar with a captivating view over Ljungskile and three new glamping tents in June, broadening its value-for-money nature stays. In central Gothenburg, Strawberry Quality Hotel The Book also opens in June, a 215-room design hotel conveniently located beside the magical Liseberg amusement park and the new World of Volvo museum. As ever, West Sweden continues to offer incredible, sustainable and unusual places to stay – many of which can be found here.
New cultural events and anniversaries
The cultural calendar is equally rich. September sees the return of the mesmerising Smögen Island of Light (4–13 September), transforming part of the island’s coastline into an outdoor light-art gallery. On Tjörn island, Pilane Sculpture Park celebrates its 20th anniversary, headlined by British sculptor Tony Cragg from mid-May to 27 September. The Bohuslän Chamber Music Festival (25–28 June) stages nine concerts across various islands and coastal towns, including an opening performance at Gothenburg’s Stora Teatern featuring John Malkovich. In Lidköping, the Rörstrand Museum celebrates the 300th anniversary of Europe’s second-oldest porcelain brand and the museum’s own 50th year with special exhibitions and events. Also new, the Svenstorp Art Centre (opened in 2025) located between Lake Vänern and the Kinnekulle plateau, will exhibit the reality-bending photography of Swedish artist Erik Johansson. More cultural highlights include Borås’s world-leading design, innovation and street art.
New biking and hiking trails
For outdoor lovers, 2026 brings new hiking and cycling routes. The Pilgrim Path Läckö–Hjo launches in summer: a 155 km hiking trail linking the fairytale Läckö Castle to the timber-built town of Hjo, passing Skara Cathedral, Varnhem Abbey and the scenic Hornborga Nature Reserve. The region also offers a unique range of rail and hiking routes, including the varied Biosphere and Gotaleden trails. A new 170 km cycling route, Ljungleden, opens in spring, connecting Gothenburg and Falköping and linking two of Sweden’s most popular long-distance cycleways — the Kattegattleden and Ätradalsleden. The trail takes cyclists through urban environments, cultural heritage sites and wonderful West Sweden scenery. For gravel biking, Dalsland is also hard to beat with its 850 kilometres of gravel tracks.
As ever, West Sweden offers a wide range of family-friendly attractions, from wildlife conservation at Nordens Ark and marine life at Havets Hus, to interactive learning at Universeum and creative exploration at the Nordic Watercolour Museum. Families can stay on farms, in island boathouses, at high quality campsites or even in a wooden moose. Activities such as seal safaris, kayaking, mountain biking, archipelago boat trips, and gentle hiking and cycling routes, are available across the region. Outdoor cooking is also an easy option for families – accommodation in rural areas will often provide hearty picnics and there are grills available on nature trails.
West Sweden’s food culture also continues to shine, centred around cold-water seafood such as Grebbestad oysters, blue mussels, and Lake Vänern’s protected vendace roe. Artisanal cheeses including Wrångebäck feature alongside sustainable “blue food” from the coast. Spring and autumn are prime seasons for seafood experiences, while inland restaurants and farms highlight hyper-local, climate-conscious flavours — from rustic farm shops to destination dining at acclaimed establishments such as hotel Billingehus’s restaurant Urtid (opened in 2025) offering Nordic flavours, locally sourced ingredients and a spectacular view.
For further information on accommodation, attractions and activities across the region, visit westsweden.com.