Events & Entertainment

A swimming pool facility is a bathing facility intended for the public or used by many people. It can be pools, spas and tubs intended for bathing, both indoors and outdoors, and may be part of swimming halls, spa facilities and adventure pools.The activity must be notified at least six weeks before it is planned to start to the environmental and health protection committee or equivalent in the municipality where the activity will be conducted. If you start the activity without notification, you risk an environmental sanction fee of 3,000 SEK as well as requirements for changes in, for example, water treatment.

Issued by: Municipal Environmental and Health Protection Committee

To gather people for a public gathering (allmän sammankomst), you need a permit from the Police Authority (Polismyndigheten). Examples of public gatherings include demonstrations, manifestations, lectures, religious gatherings, theater and cinema performances, concerts, and circus performances.Certain public gatherings, such as concerts at arenas, require only a notification to the police. No permit or notification is required for private events. For street music, you must check with your municipality what rules apply. The police begin processing the application only after the application fee has been paid.

Issued by: Swedish Police Authority

A permit is often required to use public space for activities, such as outdoor seating, construction sites, or signs. Public space includes public roads and streets, squares, parks, and other public places as well as outdoor or indoor areas such as large public parking lots, indoor squares, and shopping galleries under Chapter 1, Section 2 of the Public Order Act (ordningslagen, OL).The police are the licensing authority for the use of public space. Applications are submitted to the police in the county where the permit is to be valid.

Issued by: Swedish Police Authority

If you operate amusement rides such as carousels, roller coasters, bumper cars, or water slides, each ride must be inspected and approved before use and at regular intervals thereafter. Inspections are carried out by bodies accredited by Swedac, and approval is valid for one year.The requirement is set out in the Public Order Act (ordningslagen) and supervised by the Police Authority (Polismyndigheten). You are responsible for ensuring your rides are inspected and that any defects are corrected before the ride is used. If a ride does not offer adequate safety, the Police Authority can prohibit its use.

Issued by: Swedish Police Authority

A permit for fireworks (fyrverkerier) is required in several situations: for outdoor firing if the time, location and other circumstances pose a risk of injury to persons or property, at public gatherings or public events indoors, and at sports events where pyrotechnic articles are to be used. Local municipal regulations may also regulate when and where fireworks may be fired.The Police Authority (Polisen) grants permits after assessment and is responsible for evaluating safety risks. Exceptions from the permit requirement may be made in certain cases, but contact with the Police must always be made beforehand to clarify what applies for the specific event.

Issued by: Swedish Police Authority

Those who wish to organize combat sports matches must apply for a permit from the Combat Sports Delegation at the County Administrative Board in Örebro County. Combat sports match means competition, training or demonstration match that allows participants to intentionally strike the opponent's head with punches, kicks or other force.There are two types of permits: for one or several individual matches, and general permits for a certain period or indefinitely (primarily for combat sports organizations and federations). Permits are granted only if the competition rules and safety regulations provide acceptable safety for participants.

Issued by: County Administrative Board of Örebro County, Combat Sports Delegation

A license for commercial online gambling is required to provide online casinos, online bingo, and online slot machines in Sweden. The license is regulated under Chapter 7 of the Gambling Act (spellagen 2018:1138) and is open for anyone to apply.The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) is the agency that issues licenses for commercial online gambling and ensures that gambling activities are conducted in accordance with Swedish legislation. All documentation related to the application must be in Swedish, and the applicant is responsible for accurate translations of original documents.

Issued by: Swedish Gambling Authority

A betting license is required to organize online betting and other wagering activities, including betting on electronically simulated sporting events. The license is regulated under Chapter 8 of the Gambling Act (spellagen 2018:1138) and is open for any company to apply for.Betting covers sports betting, odds betting, and horse racing wagering (trotting and galloping). The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) issues licenses and supervises licensed operators to ensure compliance with Swedish gambling legislation. All application documentation must be submitted in Swedish, and operators must demonstrate financial stability and responsible gambling measures.

Issued by: Swedish Gambling Authority

A license or permit for a lottery is, as a general rule, only granted to non-profit organizations (ideella föreningar) that conduct public benefit activities. Lotteries fall into different categories depending on their scope: smaller lotteries within a municipality are handled by the local authority, while lotteries spanning multiple municipalities or the entire country require a permit from the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen).The geographic reach and total prize value determine which authority processes your application. You must submit documentation showing the organization meets the requirements for public benefit purpose and sound financial management. Each licensing authority supervises its granted lotteries and may impose conditions on prize values, ticket prices, and reporting obligations.

Issued by: Swedish Gambling Authority / Municipality

When you play music, radio, or TV publicly in your business, you must pay a fee for it. This is done by entering into a music agreement with SAMI (Swedish Artists' and Musicians' Interest Organization). SAMI represents artists and musicians who play and sing on a recording.In addition to the music agreement with SAMI, you also need a music license from Stim (Swedish Performing Rights Society), which represents the music creators who have written the lyrics and music. Music fees must be paid to both organizations for you to be allowed to play music publicly in your business.

Issued by: SAMI (Swedish Artists' and Musicians' Interest Organization)

When you want to play music in your business - in premises, during events or online - you need permission from the copyright holders. You obtain this by acquiring a music license from Stim (representing songwriters and composers) and a music agreement with SAMI (representing performing artists and musicians).Stim, the Swedish Performing Rights Society, is a trade organization operated on a non-profit basis. The most common streaming services are only for private individuals, so businesses need special corporate subscriptions from music providers representing Stim and SAMI's music.

Issued by: Swedish Performing Rights Society (Stim)

A permit for public events (offentlig tillställning) is required when an event is organized for the public or when the public has access to it. This applies to events such as fairs and parades, markets and exhibitions, as well as competitions and demonstrations in sports.The Police Authority (Polisen) processes permit applications for public events and assesses whether the event meets the requirements of the Public Order Act (ordningslagen). The permit ensures that the event can be conducted in a safe and orderly manner.

Issued by: Swedish Police Authority

If you run a business where visitors come into contact with animals, such as pony riding, dog sled tours, farm visits, riding schools, or mini-zoos, you must notify the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen). The notification requirement applies if you receive more than three visits per year.Special hygiene rules apply to prevent infections from spreading between humans and animals. You must provide handwashing facilities with soap and disposable towels near the animals, and inform all visitors about the hygiene rules in force at your facility. Länsstyrelsen supervises notified businesses and may conduct inspections.

Issued by: County Administrative Board

To be allowed to display species of wild animals in a zoo, a permit from the County Administrative Board is required according to the Species Protection Ordinance (artskyddsförordningen). A zoo is defined as a permanent facility where live animals of wild species are kept for the purpose of displaying them to the public for at least seven days per year. Circuses and pet shops do not count as public display.A permit can only apply to a facility that has been approved for public display of animals according to the Animal Welfare Ordinance (djurskyddsförordningen). Those who have a permit must have an updated inventory of which specimens of species the permit covers, which must be available during inspections and sent to the County Administrative Board annually.

Issued by: County Administrative Board

Before the first performance of the season, a circus must be inspected by the county administrative board (länsstyrelsen). Circuses keeping animals must comply with animal welfare regulations and the Swedish Board of Agriculture's regulations on circus animals. There are restrictions on which animal species may be used in circuses.If you replace animals or equipment that has a significant effect on animal welfare or animal health at the circus, a new inspection must be conducted. The circus must have a tour plan and maintain records of all animals. The county administrative board exercises supervision and may prohibit the circus from starting or continuing its tour if serious deficiencies are discovered.

Issued by: County Administrative Board

A zoological garden, zoo, or similar facility must be approved by the County Administrative Board (länsstyrelsen) before it may be used for public display of animals. Approval is required under the Animal Welfare Ordinance (Djurskyddsförordning 2019:66) for new establishments, relocation of animals, and for new construction, extensions, or modifications of the facility.To publicly display wild animals, a permit is also required under the Species Protection Ordinance (Artskyddsförordning 2007:845). The County Administrative Board is both the licensing authority and supervisory authority.

Issued by: County Administrative Board

If you show animals to the public for seven or more days per year, you need a permit from the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen). This covers zoos, 4H farms, tropical houses, wildlife enclosures with tourist visits, mini-zoos, and similar facilities where the public can view animals.The permit ensures that animals are kept under good conditions and that the operation meets animal welfare requirements under Swedish law. Länsstyrelsen assesses the facilities, animal care routines, veterinary arrangements, and staff competence before granting a permit. Permitted operations are subject to regular inspections and must report any significant changes.

Issued by: County Administrative Board