The Bergen International Festival, established in 1953, is the flagship of music and theatre festivals in the Nordic countries. A hub for the Northern European arts scene, the festival has a multifaceted programme profile renowned for world premieres and new productions of music, opera, theatre and dance. Unique venues, including Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg’s own home and the 750-year-old royal hall Håkonshallen, constitute a rich historical framework around a vibrant festival which every year gives audiences hundreds of live, exploratory events on dozens of stages indoors and out. The festival is under the patronage of His Majesty King Harald V.