Godt nytt år! Happy 2026! I’m sharing virtual events available to all and updates on two popular annual Los Angeles area events.

It’s film season here in Los Angeles with the 98th Academy Awards scheduled for March 15, 2026, and that usually means the Scandinavian Film Festival LA with BalticFilmExpo @SFFLA is around the corner. Unfortunately, this year the festival is postponed until “maybe Spring or next January” due to circumstances beyond the festival director’s control (see the festival’s Facebook page for details and updates).

Registration is open for the annual Nordic Spirit Symposium which will take place February 6 and 7 at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA. Entitled “The Nordic Iron Age: Life Before the Vikings” and co-hosted by the Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation and California Lutheran University, the symposium will explore what life was like before the Viking Age, in particular the great changes and developments in society, technology, agriculture, and settlement. It includes a live performance of a drama from the Iron Age and illustrated lectures and music. The symposium will follow “the time-honored tradition of a symposium with music, drama, and ample time for discussion, learning, and enjoyment.” For details and registration information, visit the website.

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VIRTUAL EVENTS in JANUARY and a bit beyond

Nordic Book Club Meetings: January 2026

Is one of your new year’s resolutions to read more, specifically Nordic books? Online book clubs continue to meet and provide ideas for reading and opportunities to discuss. Visit Nordic Book Club Meetings: January 2026 to see details about book selections and meeting dates in the new year.

15 Weeks of Friluftsliv (December – March)

Gnome Matter the Weather’s 15 Weeks of Friluftsliv is in full swing. This is not a typical virtual event attended online, but rather an online community (or in-person community if you’re local to them in New Jersey) dedicated to embracing the outdoors during the darkest months of the year. Inspired by the Norwegian concept of “friluftsliv” — which translates to “open-air living” or “free-air life” — the hosts, Tacy Quinn and Lauren Theis, inspire families and friends to get outside and welcome winter from December through March. Subscribe to their newsletter and receive inspiration straight to your inbox.

ASI Introductory Language Class: Swedish (Sunday, 1/11)

Are you curious about the Swedish language, but not ready yet to commit to a multi-date class? Are you looking for a quick and low-pressure way to get excited and prepare for an upcoming visit to Sweden? This two-hour introductory workshop taught by Jean Hanslin is the perfect way to get a feel for Swedish, pick up a bit of grammar, and learn how to pronounce some words as part of basic conversation.

ASI Introductory Language Class: Finnish (Sunday, 1/11)

Are you curious about the Finnish language, but not ready yet to commit to a multi-date class? Are you looking for a quick and low-pressure way to get excited and prepare for an upcoming visit to Finland? This two-hour introductory workshop taught by Joona Sundström is the perfect way to get a feel for Finnish, pick up a bit of grammar, and learn how to pronounce some words as part of basic conversation.

Karl Ove Knausgaard – The School of Night: A Novel – with Tope Folarin (Wednesday, 1/14)

This in-person event at Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington D.C. will also be available for livestream via YouTube. Knausgaard will be in conversation with Tope Folarin, a Nigerian-American writer based in Washington DC who serves as Director of the Institute for Policy Studies and the Lannan Visiting Lecturer in Creative Writing at Georgetown University, to discuss his latest novel The School of Night.

ASI Food Program: Cardamom in the Nordic Kitchen with Kristi Bissell (1/15)

Join Kristi Bissell of True North Kitchen to hone in on one of the Nordic countries’ favorite spices: cardamom! Used around the world to add a floral flavor to sweet and savory dishes, Kristi will share a few recipes from her blog that highlight this spice in a classic cardamom cake, an easy make-ahead muesli, and a beverage, cookie, or savory dish. Kristi will share how she sources and approaches using different types of cardamom in her kitchen and send students off with inspiration for incorporating this spice into their own cooking.

Vesterheim Family Handcraft at Home: Kroting (Enrollment Deadline 1/17)

This experience starts February 1 and will be available all month. Join woodcarving instructor and Vesterheim Gold Medalist Rebecca Hanna in exploring the art of kroting, cutting lines into wood after it has been painted or stained. Inspired by work in the Vesterheim Folk Art School as well as the instructor’s personal work, students will be taught how to start kroting and given a simple design to try themselves. Note: This program has been designed for families to experience on their own schedules. There is no live Zoom event and no scheduled class time – your family can participate anytime during the month when it works for your schedule! Kit includes all folk art materials needed, some images as inspiration from the Vesterheim collection, and a treat.

Rosemaling Fundamentals: Strokework for the Beginner Painter (Three Thursdays, 1/22 – 2/5)

Explore the traditional and beautiful Norwegian decorative painting known as rosemaling. In this beginner-friendly class, you will be introduced to and gain confidence in the essential strokes used in rosemaling. We’ll use a very limited color palette to keep the focus on clean, consistent linework and smooth brush control. Step-by-step practice will cover the basic C- and S-strokes and teardrops, tips for brush loading and pressure, and the chance to explore using both a flat, round, and detail brush. By the end, you’ll have a completed piece that highlights your growing skill and understanding of rosemaling fundamentals.

ASI Nordic Handcraft: Needle Felted Chickadee with Laura Berlage (Friday, 1/23)

Create a sweet felted chickadee inspired by Minnesota’s Northwoods in this afternoon-long class. Led by instructor Laura Berlage, students will follow step-by-step instructions to transform hand-dyed wool from the instructor’s own sheep into a felted chickadee that will fit in the palm of your hand. The kit contains enough wool to make a second chickadee, perfect for continuing with this craft beyond class. Open to all skill levels. Suitable for ages 16+.

Hyggelig Hot Drinks For Cold Nights with Emily Vikre (Friday, 1/23)

Enjoy the cold dark months by embracing hygge and making hyggelig (nice) moments by cozying up with some delicious hot beverages. Hyggelig is a Danish word that suggests a sense of coziness and comfortable contentment or well-being. We will explore some flavorful hot toddies, glögg, and a spiked hot chocolate. So grab a drink and your warmest blanket and enjoy yourself during the winter.

ASI Nordic Handcraft: Felted Folk Flowers Painting with Kayla Ann (1/29)

Join textile artist Kayla Ann for an evening of creativity and hands-on fun while learning the art of needle felting a 2-D felted folk flower bouquet. Using a piece of felt as the canvas and wool roving as the paint, Kayla will guide students through the fundamentals of this relaxing craft, teaching how to “paint” with wool and sculpt beautiful blooms from fiber. Whether you’re new to needle felting or looking to expand your skills, students will leave with the skills, tools, and inspiration to keep needle felting beyond the online workshop. Open to all skill levels. Suitable for ages 16+.

Nordic Brunch with Vesterheim (Sunday, 2/1)

Begin your day with breakfast smørbrød, pyttipanne, and cardamom coffee bread in this New Nordic Brunch class. Menu also includes a signature cocktail called the Salty Hund and a signature coffee mocktail. This Vesterheim cooking class is designed as a small-group cook-along, and we invite exchange between the instructor and students in order to build community around food traditions. Enrollment deadline is January 17. Class is sold out but you may request to be added to the waitlist.

Vesterheim Family Language Adventure: All Things Royal (Enrollment Deadline 2/6, Begins 3/1)

This adventure starts March 1 and will be available all month. Step into the world of kings, queens, palaces, and crowns! All Things Royal is a month-long, online language adventure designed especially for families. Learn about the Norwegian royal family while building vocabulary and exploring royal-themed crafts, games, and cultural activities right from home. Each family will receive a kit packed with fun supplies, creative activities, and everything you need to bring the royal experience to life. Instructor-led videos will guide families through royal vocabulary and cultural traditions—like learning how to say “king” in Norwegian and discovering what a “slott” is.

Virtual Sámi Film Festival (2/6-13)

Now in its 8th year, the annual Sámi Film Festival celebrates the rich storytelling traditions of the Sámi, the Indigenous people of the northernmost parts of Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. This year’s program is curated by acclaimed director, writer, artist, and composer Elle Márjá Eira, whose work in mediums from TV to classical opera has captivated audiences across the globe, and whose directorial debut STOLEN reached the Top 10 list in 71 countries following its Netflix premiere in 2024. Virtual screenings will be available nationwide from February 6 through 13 (along with in-person screenings at Scandinavia House in New York and National Nordic Museum in Seattle).

Vesterheim FamilieTid with Laura Berlage: Chasing Loki – Stories from Norse Mythology (Sunday, 2/8)

Join Vesterheim for an hour of traditional Norwegian stories, told by interdisciplinary artist and storyteller Laura Berlage! Tricksters abound in the old stories, and the tales of the Norse have a special one — Loki. Learn who Loki is and follow him on adventures of thievery, shapeshifting, and trickery, as he both helps and hinders the ancient gods of the north. Loki has a special way to make us laugh and cringe, and his adventures are tales to charm all ages.

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Which events or experiences look interesting to you?