17 May in Bergen

LIVE · 17 MAY

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Quick access to the programme while Bergen celebrates Constitution Day.

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Once again the day has dawned — opening ceremony

Asbjørn Hodnekvam opens Constitution Day at Dreggen by Mariakirken. Nine cheers, a ceremonial march and “Ja, vi elsker” accompany the 07:00 salute, before the morning procession sets off to Bergen’s anthem.

Cannon salute from Skansen

At 07:00, the Royal Norwegian Navy’s salute from Skansen wakes Bergen for Constitution Day. A solemn tradition with cannon fire echoing across the city.

Morning procession

From Dreggen to the Viking ship at Festplassen with Krohnengen Brass Band and Lungegaardens Musikkorps. Stirring marches, cheers and traditional wreath laying along the way.

Wreath laying: Christie monument at Muséplass

Approximately 07:25: The leader of Studentersamfunnet i Bergen speaks and lays a wreath as the morning procession passes. Lungegaardens Musikkorps plays “Ja, vi elsker” afterwards.

Wreath laying: John Lund memorial plaque

Approximately 07:35 as the morning procession passes: speech and wreath laying by a Committee representative, to be announced. Nine cheers. Krohnengen Brass Band plays Bergen’s anthem.

Wreath laying: Minebøssen at Bryggen

Wreath laying at Minebøssen by Skipperforeningen and Maskinistforeningen, with Lungegaardens Musikkorps. March from Festplassen at approximately 07:50.

Wreath laying: Seafarers’ Monument at Torgallmenningen

Wreath laying by Skipperforeningen and Maskinistforeningen, with Lungegaardens Musikkorps. Follows the ceremony at Minebøssen.

Flag raising at Bergenhus Fortress

08:00: The Royal Norwegian Navy raises the flag at Bergenhus Fortress.

Flag raising at Skipperforeningen’s house

08:00: Flag raising at Skipperforeningen’s house, part of the wreath-laying circuit leaving Festplassen at approximately 07:50. Music by Lungegaardens Musikkorps.

Ceremony at the Christian Michelsen statue

08:00 at the Christian Michelsen statue at Festplassen: a speech by Committee chairman Asbjørn Hodnekvam. Music by Krohnengen Brass Band.

Wreath laying: Johan Nordahl Brun’s grave at Domkirkegården

Approximately 08:15 at Domkirkegården. Committee members Bjørn-Arvid Bagge and Bjørn Johannessen lay a wreath at the grave of the bishop and poet who wrote Nystemten.

Wreath laying: Fredrik Meltzer’s grave at Assistentkirkegården

Approximately 08:15 at Assistentkirkegården. Committee vice-chairman Carl August Harbitz-Rasmussen lays a wreath at the grave of Fredrik Meltzer, the designer of Norway’s flag.

Memorial ceremony at Solheim’s war cemetery

Speech and wreath laying, a Royal Norwegian Navy honour guard, music by Alvøens Musikkforening and singing by Sangforeningen Forum. Speaker to be announced.

Wreath laying: Alvøen memorial at Korskirken

Geir Eikenes and a Committee representative, to be announced, lay a wreath at the memorial to those who fell in the Battle of Alvøen.

Wreath laying: Jens Rolfsen memorial plaque

Geir Eikenes and a Committee representative, to be announced, lay a wreath at the memorial plaque to Eidsvoll delegate Jens Rolfsen at Korskirkegården.

Wreath laying at Allied airmen’s graves

Approximately 08:15: The 17 May Committee lays wreaths at Allied airmen’s graves at Møllendal cemetery.

Wreath laying for fallen sportsmen at Fløyen

Approximately 08:15: The regional sports association lays a wreath at the memorial to fallen sportsmen near Fløibanen’s upper station.

Wreath laying: Mons Haukeland memorial at Sydneshaugen

Approximately 08:15: Wreath laying at the Mons Haukeland memorial at Sydneshaugen by Bergenhus Home Guard District 09.

Wreath laying: Shetlands-Larsen memorial plaque in Fyllingsdalen

Approximately 08:15: Wreath laying at the Shetlands-Larsen memorial plaque in Fyllingsdalen by Fyllingsdalens Historielag.

Wreath laying: Edvard Grieg statue in Byparken

Approximately 08:15: Wreath laying at the Edvard Grieg statue in Byparken by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.

Wreath laying: Ole Bull monument at Ole Bulls plass

Approximately 08:15: Wreath laying at the Ole Bull monument at Ole Bulls plass by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.

Wreath laying: Harald Sæverud monument in Byparken

Approximately 08:15: Wreath laying at the Harald Sæverud monument in Byparken by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.

Wreath laying: Jonas Rein memorial plaque at Nykirken

Approximately 08:15: Wreath laying at Jonas Rein’s memorial plaque at Nykirken by Nordnæs Bataillon.

Wreath laying: Hans Jacob Grøgaard memorial at Nykirken

Approximately 08:15: Wreath laying at Hans Jacob Grøgaard’s memorial at Nykirken by Nordnæs Bataillon.

Wreath laying: memorial plaque at the police station

Approximately 08:15: Wreath laying at the memorial plaque at the police station.

Wreath laying: memorial plaque at the old main fire station

Approximately 08:15: Wreath laying at the memorial plaque at the old main fire station.

Wreath laying: Civil Defence memorial at Holen school

Approximately 08:15: Wreath laying at the Civil Defence memorial at Holen school.

Wreath laying: Gravdal memorial

Approximately 08:15: Wreath laying at the Gravdal memorial by Laksevåg Bueskyttere.

Wreath laying: Amalie Skram statue at Klosteret

Approximately 08:15: Wreath laying at the Amalie Skram statue at Klosteret by Amalie Skram upper secondary school.

Wreath laying: Veterans’ Monument at Koengen

Approximately 08:15: Wreath laying at the Veterans’ Monument at Koengen by the chairman of the Bergen and surrounding area branch of the Norwegian Veterans Association for International Operations.

Wreath laying: Rieber-Mohn and Bergenhus Regiment memorial plaques

Approximately 08:15: Wreath laying at the Rieber-Mohn and Bergenhus Regiment memorial plaques by Bergens Militærforening.

Memorial ceremony at Nonneseter Minnehall

08:15: Memorial ceremony led by a representative of the 17 May Committee, to be announced. Royal Norwegian Navy honour guard and music by Krohnengen Brass Band.

Wreath laying: Shetlands-Larsen and Nordstjernen

09:00: Wreath laying for Shetlands-Larsen and at Nordstjernen by Sjømilitære Samfund and Bergen Skipperforening. Music by Krohnengen Brass Band.

Wreath laying: Ludvig Holberg statue

09:15: Wreath laying at the Ludvig Holberg statue by Det glade Bergen.

Wreath laying: Bjørnson, Ibsen and Nordahl Grieg

09:30: Wreath laying for Bjørnson, Ibsen and Nordahl Grieg by the Bergen branch of the Norwegian Actors’ Equity Association.

Wreath laying: Johan Ludwig Mowinckel’s grave

09:30: Wreath laying at Johan Ludwig Mowinckel’s grave by Unge Venstre.

Wreath laying: Constitution monument

09:30: Wreath laying at the Constitution monument by BI students.

Wreath laying: Dorothe Engelbretsdatter and Petter Dass

10:00: Wreath laying for Dorothe Engelbretsdatter and Petter Dass by Bygdelagsnemndi.

Main procession

Departs Koengen at 10:30. Assemble from 09:30 and be in position no later than 10:15.

Skansen salute — the main procession begins

The Royal Norwegian Navy fires a salute from Skansen at 10:30 as the main procession leaves Koengen. A ceremonial moment with cannon fire echoing across Bergen.

Byfjord boat parade 2027 — 17 May at sea

Provisional time: 10:30, based on 2026. Decorated boats celebrate Constitution Day at sea. This year’s start area, route and participation arrangements will be confirmed later.

Children’s flag parade

Departs Christies gate by Festplassen at 10:40. Participants assemble at their column’s meeting point.

Wreath laying: Gestapohuset memorial

11:00: Wreath laying at the Gestapohuset memorial by Bergens Forsvarsforening.

Rowing teams’ procession

Departs Kaigaten at approximately 12:30 after the main procession. Teams taking part in the rowing race walk to Dreggekaien.

Main ceremony on the Viking ship

Traditional ceremonial speeches and patriotic songs after the main procession. Hosted by Inger-Lise Skarstein, with Bergen Operakor conducted by Anne Randine Øverby and a band to be announced.

National cannon salute from Bergenhus

A national 21-gun salute from Sverresborg at Bergenhus Fortress. At 13:00 in 2027 because Constitution Day falls on Whit Monday. A salute is fired at Haakonsvern at the same time.

Rowing race on Vågen

Provisional start at 13:00, based on 2026. Teams race launches on Vågen in a Bergen Constitution Day tradition dating back to 1847.

Concert by Dragefjellets Musikkorps

Dragefjellets Musikkorps performs a stirring Constitution Day concert at the bandstand in Byparken.

Wreath laying: Ivar Aasen bust at the University Library

14:00: Wreath laying at the Ivar Aasen bust at the University Library by Studentmållaget i Bergen. Communal singing.

Beacon lighting on Bergen’s mountains

Scouts light beacons on Ulriken, Løvstakken, Sandviksfjellet and Lyderhorn. An atmospheric conclusion to Constitution Day.

Celebratory fireworks over Lille Lungegårdsvann

A fitting finale: celebratory fireworks over Lille Lungegårdsvann bring 17 May in Bergen to a close. Watch from Festplassen or Byparken.

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PROCESSIONS 2027

Five processions, one city celebration

Discover the morning procession, main procession, children’s flag parade, rowing teams’ procession and torchlight procession. Times and routes will be updated as arrangements are confirmed.

Explore all five processions →

Morning procession

The traditional morning procession through Bergen city centre.

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Main procession

The main procession leaves Koengen at 10:30. Arrive from 09:30 and no later than 10:15.

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Children’s flag parade

Flaggtoget brings together schools, kindergartens, buekorps youth brigades, school bands and scouts. Departure from Christies gate beside Festplassen at 10:40.

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Rowing teams’ procession

From Kaigaten to Dreggekaien after the main procession, at approximately 12:30, with the teams taking part in the rowing races.

Read about the processions →

Torchlight procession

From Appellplassen at Bergenhus fortress through the city centre to the Viking ship at Festplassen.

Read about the processions →

Plan your Constitution Day in Bergen

Programme

Processions

Map

Plan your visit

What’s on this Constitution Day

Once again the day has dawned — opening ceremony

Cannon salute from Skansen

Morning procession

Wreath laying: Christie monument at Muséplass

Wreath laying: John Lund memorial plaque

Wreath laying: Minebøssen at Bryggen

Happening now

Once again the day has dawned — opening ceremony

Cannon salute from Skansen

Morning procession

Wreath laying: Christie monument at Muséplass

Wreath laying: John Lund memorial plaque

Wreath laying: Minebøssen at Bryggen

Wreath laying: Seafarers’ Monument at Torgallmenningen

Flag raising at Bergenhus Fortress

Flag raising at Skipperforeningen’s house

Ceremony at the Christian Michelsen statue

Wreath laying: Johan Nordahl Brun’s grave at Domkirkegården

Wreath laying: Fredrik Meltzer’s grave at Assistentkirkegården

Memorial ceremony at Solheim’s war cemetery

Wreath laying: Alvøen memorial at Korskirken

Wreath laying: Jens Rolfsen memorial plaque

Wreath laying at Allied airmen’s graves

Wreath laying for fallen sportsmen at Fløyen

Wreath laying: Mons Haukeland memorial at Sydneshaugen

Wreath laying: Shetlands-Larsen memorial plaque in Fyllingsdalen

Wreath laying: Edvard Grieg statue in Byparken

Wreath laying: Ole Bull monument at Ole Bulls plass

Wreath laying: Harald Sæverud monument in Byparken

Wreath laying: Jonas Rein memorial plaque at Nykirken

Wreath laying: Hans Jacob Grøgaard memorial at Nykirken

Wreath laying: memorial plaque at the police station

Wreath laying: memorial plaque at the old main fire station

Wreath laying: Civil Defence memorial at Holen school

Wreath laying: Gravdal memorial

Wreath laying: Amalie Skram statue at Klosteret

Wreath laying: Veterans’ Monument at Koengen

Wreath laying: Rieber-Mohn and Bergenhus Regiment memorial plaques

Memorial ceremony at Nonneseter Minnehall

Wreath laying: Shetlands-Larsen and Nordstjernen

Wreath laying: Ludvig Holberg statue

Wreath laying: Bjørnson, Ibsen and Nordahl Grieg

Wreath laying: Johan Ludwig Mowinckel’s grave

Wreath laying: Constitution monument

Wreath laying: Dorothe Engelbretsdatter and Petter Dass

Main procession

Skansen salute — the main procession begins

Byfjord boat parade 2027 — 17 May at sea

Children’s flag parade

Wreath laying: Gestapohuset memorial

Rowing teams’ procession

Main ceremony on the Viking ship

National cannon salute from Bergenhus

Rowing race on Vågen

Concert by Dragefjellets Musikkorps

Wreath laying: Ivar Aasen bust at the University Library

Beacon lighting on Bergen’s mountains

Celebratory fireworks over Lille Lungegårdsvann

Five processions, one city celebration

Morning procession

Main procession

Children’s flag parade

Rowing teams’ procession

Torchlight procession

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Register for a procession

Vehicle permits

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Your map of Constitution Day in Bergen

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Transport and road closures

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