Nordland
International
Hospitality
Symposium
Digital artwork by Tone Bjordam
On Røst,
farthest in Lofoten
– and in Bodø
June 3–5, 2026
Join us on a unique journey at Røst and in Bodo
The program for this year's symposium has now been published and you can read about the experiences that await you. Røst and in Bodø. Here you will find nature, culture, knowledge and art combined in a varied and inspiring program.
Look forward to three eventful days!
Welcome to a unique and sensual program in Nordland
Join us for three inspiring days set in – and between – two very special places in Nordland: Røst , at the far end of the ocean gap where the Norwegian Sea meets the Vestfjord, and Bodø, the county's vibrant capital.
The program combines magnificent nature, contemporary art and knowledge sharing with dialogue, meetings and social experiences. Here you are invited into spaces for reflection, community and new perspectives on hospitality – as it can be experienced, challenged and shared.
On Røst you will encounter a small island community where nature, people and history are closely intertwined. Out of consideration for the place and those who live there, guests are divided into two smaller groups with an almost identical program. The day includes a welcome and performing arts, a tour of Røstlandet, a three-hour archipelago trip to Skomvær, meetings with local actors and a magnificent dinner Along the way, the senses are filled with bird and fish life, iconic islands, artistic expressions and warm togetherness.
The day you are not there Røst , Bodø opens the doors to several of the city's most important cultural venues: the Jet Boat Museum, Stormen bibliotek and Nordnorsk kunstmuseum Through lectures, conversations, film, performing arts, visual arts and music, dialogue and reflection on hospitality are invited - seen from different perspectives and experiences.
On Friday, everyone gathers for a joint closing ceremony in Bodø, first in the newly opened Nordnorsk kunstmuseum and then in Stormen bibliotek – often referred to as Nordland's great room. Here you will experience contemporary art, artist talks, mini-concerts, panel discussions and sharing of experiences. Perhaps one of Norway's most beloved and sharp comedians will also offer unexpected perspectives when she addresses (the absence of?) hospitality. The evening will be rounded off with an atmospheric and thought-provoking concert.
Experience amazing Røst
"Can one be adventurous or hospitable without being open to new thoughts, feelings, or experiences? Can one even meet a person as an equal if one rejects their entire cultural background? Exploration, whether it concerns new countries, new cultures, or new people, is the mirror image of hospitality. Both require one to open oneself to the fact that the world, both internal and external, is larger than one knew. This understanding laid the foundation for the many centuries of close contact between Venice duck Røst "Pietro Querini's journey never ended, it continues to this day, with the exchange of history, food, language, research and culture. The Hospitality Symposium is an exploration of ways of meeting, whether one is the one who travels or the one who receives."
-Christian Torset, philosopher
Background
In 1432, Venetian nobleman Pietro Querini and his crew were stranded on the island Røst in Lofoten after a dramatic journey across the sea. There they were met with extraordinary hospitality by the local people. This act not only saved lives, but also laid the foundation for one of the earliest documented cultural exchanges between South and North in Europe.
The story is the starting point for Via Querinissima, an international collaboration that follows Querini's itinerary through Europe. It is also the inspiration behind the Hospitality Symposium, a new meeting point for reflection, knowledge sharing, and artistic expression.
Nordland County Library is an active partner in Via Querinissima and uses the library's values to strengthen European cultural cooperation. Through initiatives such as the Hospitality Symposium, a traveling exhibition and the dissemination of Querini's account, the county library shows how libraries can contribute to promoting cultural heritage, knowledge and community - in line with both national and European values.
The Hospitality Symposium will be held for the first time in June 2026 at Røst and in Bodø. Here, participants from different countries and fields gather to explore what hospitality means – historically, philosophically, socially and politically – and how this value can strengthen community and understanding in our time.
Bodo:
Stormen bibliotek .
Jektefartmuseet.
Nordnorsk kunstmuseum .
Beddingen kulturhus
