Nobel Week Lights 2026 runs from 5 to 13 December, with free light art in central Stockholm and in Tensta. It is the week the city lights up on purpose, in the darkest weeks of the year. After the light walk, you can keep the evening going at Questrooms on Södermalm, with an outdoor AR game through the streets or a game indoors. This guide covers the festival, an evening plan and the games you can book now.
What is Nobel Week Lights 2026?
Nobel Week Lights 2026 is a free light art festival in Stockholm from 5 to 13 December, organised by the Nobel Prize Museum as part of Nobel Week. In the museum's words, international and local artists, designers and students interpret the Nobel Prize through large-scale light art on streets and squares in the city centre and in Tensta.
The 2025 edition ran from 6 to 14 December with 19 artworks. The Nobel Prize Museum had not yet published the 2026 artworks, locations or evening hours when this guide was written, so check its website before you go. The festival week includes Thursday 10 December, Nobel Day, when the prizes are awarded.
How do you plan an evening at Nobel Week Lights?
Plan an evening at Nobel Week Lights by walking the artworks in the city centre after dark, then moving on to something warm and indoors. Admission is free and needs no ticket. In December the light goes early, so a walk from late afternoon can be followed by a game on Södermalm, where Questrooms is a few minutes from Medborgarplatsen.
A simple evening plan:
- Late afternoon: walk the artworks in the city centre. Gamla stan is a short walk from Södermalm.
- Evening: play a 60-minute game at Questrooms on Kocksgatan 21A. A visit takes about 1.5 hours.
- Late: on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December the last game starts at 22:30. On Sunday 6 and Sunday 13 December it starts at 19:30.
Pick a time in the booking calendar. It shows dates 21 days ahead, so start times for the festival week appear from mid November.
Outdoor or indoor after the light walk
The outdoor AR games at Questrooms work after dark, and winter start times are the same as the rest of the year. A team that has just walked among the light artworks can stay outside: the route runs through the streets of the Katarina-Sofia area on Södermalm, with an iPad as your guide.
If the group would rather get warm, play indoors. Horror Escape leans into the dark season with partial darkness and a short live-actor scene; 18+ is recommended, and players aged 13 to 17 can join if one person in the team is 18+. For a calmer evening, pick the classic room Russian Mafia or one of the 16 VR games, where you can sit or stand for the whole game.
Which outdoor games can you play in December?
In December you can play the two outdoor AR games at Questrooms: Operation Mindfall, a spy thriller from 16 years, and Magic Portal, a fantasy adventure from 8 years. Both start and end at Kocksgatan 21A, take about 1.5 hours and cost the same per person as every other game.
| Game | Story | Age | Players | Duration | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operation Mindfall | A spy thriller: track a hidden threat and prevent a global catastrophe | 16+ | 2 to 10, max 6 per team | About 1.5 hours, max 2 | Bookable now |
| Magic Portal | A fantasy quest: collect crystals and seal a portal between realms | 8+ | 2 to 10, max 6 per team | About 1.5 hours, max 2 | Bookable now |
Operation Mindfall is rated 4 out of 5 for difficulty and suits adult teams. Magic Portal is rated 3 out of 5 and works for families with children from 8, together with adults.
How do outdoor AR games work at Questrooms?
Each team gets a bag with an iPad and game materials at Kocksgatan 21A, so you do not need your own phone. The route covers a few kilometres at a slow pace in the Katarina-Sofia area of Södermalm. A game takes about 1.5 hours and 2 hours at most, and a shorter 1-hour version is available on request.
- Teams: up to 6 players per team. Groups of 7 to 10 split into two teams that play at the same time.
- Price: 409 SEK per person for 2 players, down to 369 SEK per person for 6 or more.
- Weather: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. If the weather turns on the day, Questrooms offers an indoor game, if one is free, or a free reschedule.
- After dark: the AR route works after dark, and winter start times are the same as the rest of the year.
- Clothing: the game is a walk with breaks, so dress for a Stockholm evening in December.
FAQ
Is Nobel Week Lights free?
Yes. Nobel Week Lights is free and needs no ticket, according to the Nobel Prize Museum, which organises the festival. In 2026 it runs from 5 to 13 December, with light art in the city centre and in Tensta. Check the museum's website for the 2026 artworks and the hours before you go.
Which outdoor game can we play at Questrooms in December?
Operation Mindfall and Magic Portal both run in December. Operation Mindfall is a spy thriller for players from 16 years, and Magic Portal is a fantasy adventure from 8 years. Each team gets an iPad at Kocksgatan 21A, walks a route on Södermalm and returns to the start after about 1.5 hours.
What happens to an outdoor game if the weather is bad?
You can cancel an outdoor game free of charge up to 24 hours before the start. If the weather changes on the day, Questrooms offers an indoor game instead, if one is available, or a free reschedule. You can also play in the rain with umbrellas and take coffee breaks along the route.
How much does an outdoor AR game cost?
An outdoor AR game at Questrooms costs the same as every other game: 409 SEK per person for 2 players, 389 SEK for 4 and 369 SEK for 6. Groups of 7 to 10 pay 369 SEK per person and split into two teams. Players aged 8 to 17 get 15% off.
Plan your December evening
See the current outdoor games on the outdoor escape rooms page, then pick a time in the booking calendar. The calendar shows the total price before you confirm, and a confirmation SMS follows with a link to change the booking.