The following is a list of notable events and releases that happened in Nordic music in 2025.
Events 4 January – The Finlandia Hall in Helsinki officially reopens, following the completion of a renovation project that began in 2022. 6 January – Finnish DJ Yotto broadcasts his first hour-long show, "Yotto's Odd World", on Europe's One World Radio, specialising in electronic dance music. 16 January – Norway's Kristine Tjøgersen is one of the recipients of the Ernst von Siemens Composer Prizes for 2025. 29 January – 1 February – The Bodø Jazz Open takes place in Norway, featuring Susanne Lundeng, Arve Henriksen, Cornelis Vreeswijk, Rebekka Bakken and others. 2 February – At the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, Norwegian sound engineer Morten Lindberg is among nominees for the Grammy award for Best Immersive Audio Album for his work on Henning Sommerro's Borders and Pax by Nina T. Karlsen, Ensemble 96 & Current Saxophone Quartet, and for Producer of the Year, Classical, for Borders, Pax and Mor (Karen Haugom Olsen & Nidaros Domkor). 21 February – Norwegian metal band Sarke announce that they have broken up. 8 March – In the final of Sweden's 65th Melodifestivalen, with a new voting format, KAJ is the act selected to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "Bara bada bastu". 10 March – The Norwegian Radio Orchestra announces the appointment of Holly Hyun Choe as its next principal conductor, with effect from January 2026; she will be the first female conductor to hold the post. 17 March – Guitarist Anders Nyström leaves the Swedish band Katatonia, which he co-founded in 1991. May – Heavy metal band My Dying Bride are due to return to live performance, with Finland's Mikko Kotamäki replacing Aaron Stainthorpe. 17 May – In the final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, Sweden take fourth place with "Bara bada bastu", performed by KAJ, which tops the singles charts in Finland, Norway and Sweden. Finland finish in 11th place, Norway 18th and Iceland 25th. Denmark are eliminated at the semi-final stage. September – The Finnish Music Publishers Association (MPA Finland) holds its annual awards ceremony. Winners include Lara Poe and Joel Järventausta, Saimaa. Darude, Outi Tarkiainen and KAJ. 7 October – The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra appoints Andrés Orozco-Estrada as its next chief conductor, beginning with the 2026–2027 season. 7 November – Nominees for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards are announced; they include Swedish metal band Ghost in the Best Metal Performance category and Norway's Morten Lindberg in the Producer of the Year (Classical) and Best Immersive Audio Album category. Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson is nominated in the Best Instrumental Composition for "Why You Here / Before the Sun Went Down". 26 November – Finnish clarinetist Kari Kriikku announces that he is retiring from musical performance.
Classical works Anders Hillborg – Hell Mountain (Homage to Mahler) Bent Sørensen and Jon Fosse – Asle og Alida (opera) Anna S. Þorvaldsdóttir – Cello concerto, Before we fall
Top hit singles Björk, Rosalía, and Yves Tumor – "Berghain" (#1 Spain; #4 Portugal) Isac Elliot – "Ai että" (#1 Finland) Klara Hammarström – "On and On and On" (#1 Sweden) Benjamin Hav featuring Lukas Graham – "Du ligner din mor" (#1 Denmark) Omar featuring Mumle – "Hele vejen" Peg Parnevik – "Spelar ingen roll" (#1 Sweden) Molly Sandén – "Blåögd" (#8 Sweden) Rasmus Seebach & Artigeardit – "Sandheden" (#1 Denmark) Tjuvjakt & Fanny Avonne – "Tusen spänn" (#1 Sweden) Turisti – "Diana" (#1 FInland) Anton Westerlin featuring Annika – "Blodigt" (#1 Denmark)
Albums released
January DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 10The Halo Effect March of the Unheard Nuclear Blast 24Avatarium Between You, God, the Devil and the Dead AFM Records Sven-Åke Johansson Stumps Trost Records Second version of 2022 album 25Wardruna Birna "She-Bear" theme
February DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 7Marko Hietala Roses from the Deep Nuclear Blast Majestica Power Train Nuclear Blast First album for four years 14Dawn of Solace Affliction Vortex Dynazty Game of Faces Nuclear Blast 28Arion The Light That Burns the Sky Ranka Kustannus, Avalon Label / Marquee Inc., RPM
March DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 7Balance BreachSave Our SoulsOut of Line MusicCarnal ForgeThe Fractured Process ViciSolum Productions EP; last release before the death of bassist Lars Lindén 21LordiLimited DeaditionReigning Phoenix Music 28SvartsynVortex of the DestroyerReigning Phoenix Music
April DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 25Liv KristineAmor Vincit Omnia Metalville Records Yngwie MalmsteenTokyo LiveMusic Theories Recordings Live album
May DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 9CandlemassBlack StarNapalm RecordsEP 16KAJThe Sauna CollectionWarner Music SwedenCompilation albumTarja TurunenCircus LifeearMUSICLive album 23...And OceansThe Regeneration ItinerarySeason of Mist 30Ellen ArkbroNightcloudsBlank Forms Editions Collaboration with Microtub
June DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 6Nicholas Collon (conductor); Finnish Radio Symphony OrchestraSibelius Symphony No 5. Two SerenadesOndineViolin soloist: Christian Tetzlaff Gaahls WyrdBraiding the StoriesSeason of Mist KatatoniaNightmares as Extensions of the Waking State Napalm Records First album without Anders NyströmJohn LundvikDance Cry Laugh SmileWarner Music SwedenEPVolbeatGod of Angels TrustVertigo Records, Republic Records, Universal RecordsFirst studio album without Rob Caggiano 20HelheimHrabnaR / Ad Vesa[sDark Essence Records
July DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 13Molly SandénStrawberry BlondeMilkshake, Sony Music
August DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 13BaestColossal UnleashedFire Upon Your LandsNapalm RecordsAll tracks written by Johnny Hedlund and Fredrik Folkare.
September DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 5Before the DawnCold Flare EternalReaper Entertainment EleineWe Stand UnitedReigning Phoenix MusicEP 26AmorphisBorderlandReigning Phoenix Music Zara LarssonMidnight SunSommer House, Epic Records Featuring MNEK and KabbaVintersorgVattenkrafternas Spel Hammerheart Records 30RibspreaderAs Gods DevourXtreem Music
October DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 3Bloodred HourglassWe Should Be Buried Like ThisOut of Line Music Hooded MenaceLachrymose Monuments of ObscurationSeason of Mist OfermodDrakosophiaShadow Records 10Nils Patrik JohanssonWar and PeaceMetalville Records Solo album
November DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 7CentinexWith Guts and Glory Black Lion Records NektarOm du behöver mig Omnium GatherumMay the Bridges We Burn Light the WaySony Music Entertainment Sweden 21BloodboundField of Swords Napalm Records First release on Napalm
December DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 5Blood Red ThroneSiltskin Soulseller Records 12Rotten SoundMass Extinction Season Of Mist EP
Deaths 4 January – Árni Grétar Jóhannesson (Futuregrapher), Icelandic electronic musician, 41 (injuries resulting from car accident) 5 January – Fredrik Lindgren, Swedish heavy metal musician, 53 (undisclosed causes) 7 January – Ragne Wahlquist, Swedish heavy metal musician, 69 30 January – Leif "Loket" Olsson, Swedish television and radio host and dansband singer, 82 17 February – Nannie Porres, Swedish jazz singer, 85 20 February – Ilkka Kuusisto, Finnish composer, choirmaster and opera manager 1 March – Sindre Nedland, Norwegian heavy metal vocalist, 40 (cancer) 25 March – Tapani Kansa, Finnish singer, 76 (complications from gallbladder surgery) 9 April (probable) – Terje Venaas, Norwegian jazz bassist (born 1947) 10 April – Niklas Eklund, Swedish classical trumpeter (born 1969) 12 April – Steindór Andersen, Icelandic musician (born 1954) 22 April – Odd Magne Gridseth, Norwegian jazz bassist, 65 30 April – Kari Løvaas, Norwegian opera singer (born 1939) 20 May Michael B. Tretow, Swedish record producer associated with ABBA, 80 Per Nørgård, Danish composer and music theorist, 92 2 June – Birgit Carlstén, Swedish singer and actress, 75 7 June – Axel Skalstad, Norwegian jazz drummer, 32 15 June – Sven-Åke Johansson, Swedish free jazz drummer and composer, 81/2 19 June Anne Marie Børud, Norwegian singer, 76 Geirr Lystrup, Norwegian singer and writer, 76 2 July – Sven Lindahl, Swedish musician, radio and TV presenter, 88 9 August – Bjørn Kjellemyr, Norwegian jazz bassist, 74 13 August – Klaus Wirzenius, Finnish bassist, 37 20 August – Frank Øren, Norwegian singer, 59 16 September – Tomas Lindberg, Swedish death metal singer, 52 (adenoid cystic carcinoma) 20 September – Ivar Bøksle, Norwegian singer and accordionist, 78 25 October – Björn Andrésen, Swedish actor and musician, 70 9 November – Göran Ringbom, Swedish musician, 81 10 November – Robert Skrolsvik, Norwegian vocalist (Bjelleklang), 65 14 November – Lasse Norres, Finnish music and entertainment producer, 73 30 November – Dag Spantell, Norwegian singer, 75 12 December – Marilyn Mazur, American-born Danish percussionist, 70 26 December – Pate Mustajärvi, Finnish rock singer, 69 (bowel cancer)
References