Creating the Greatest Opening Ceremony of All Time

Oddvar Brå, Fargespill, Gunnhild Sundli, Marja Mortensson, and 360 cultural performers across Trøndelag are coming together to deliver the most spectacular Ski World Championship opening ceremony ever.

Ceremony director Kim Orerød promises a show guaranteed to give you goosebumps.

“People won’t believe what they see when the opening ceremony unfolds. It’s a preview of what’s to come throughout the Ski-VM. Everything happening in Torvet will be breathtaking,” Orerød says with a smile.

A Proud Ski Nation

The opening ceremony will tell the story of Norway as a skiing nation, a legacy passed down through generations. Iconic moments, like Oddvar Brå breaking his ski pole, live in the national memory, shaping the country’s deep-rooted pride in winter sports.

“We’re showcasing a region we’re proud of through a spectacular stage performance featuring hundreds of professional and volunteer cultural performers. The goal is to create the best Ski-VM opening ceremony of all time,” Orerød says.

Ski-VM is committed to diversity, inclusion, and forward-thinking, and this is reflected in the opening ceremony’s program. Three hundred sixty cultural performers will take the stage for a 50-minute grand performance at Torvet in Trondheim.

Oddvar Brå from filming the video about Norway as a proud ski nation.

Creating FOMO!

On stage, you’ll experience performances by Fargespill Trondheim, Marja Mortensson, Gunnhild Sundli, and the official VM song “For What We Love” performed by Isabelle Eberdean. VM mascot Snedi will join StepByStep Dance Studio, Raw Dance Studio, Nidaros Cathedral, Nidaros Cathedral Choir, Oddvar Brå, and Trondheim’s iconic student choirs.

Other contributors include BERRE and TYD agencies, the whole music and drill corps of His Majesty The King’s Guard, North Star Fireworks, TrondheimSolistene, and Embla Bunader.

“Our goal with the opening ceremony is to create a serious FOMO effect – this is something you do not want to miss!” says Orerød.

Nidaros Cathedral is a key location during the Ski World Championships and an essential cultural landmark in Trondheim.

Room for 25,000 Spectators

Up to 25,000 people will be able to experience the medal concerts and ceremonies during Ski-VM in Trondheim by utilizing parts of Munkegata and Kongens gate, in addition to Torvet itself.

The stage will stand 20 meters tall—two meters higher than the Olav Tryggvason statue—and feature an 85-meter-long catwalk to bring fans closer to the artists and ski stars. Lighting designer Lars Kristian Mathisen crafted the stage design.

“This will be the biggest public celebration of the decade in Norway. We’re offering historic sporting achievements, free concerts, and ceremonies right in the heart of Trondheim. I don’t think people realize how lucky they are to experience this in their backyard,” concludes Orerød.