Sweden outdoor municipality awards 2026

The 2026 Sveriges friluftskommun survey, conducted by Naturvårdsverket, Svenskt Friluftsliv, and Sveriges Fritids- och Kulturchefsförening, has recognized various Swedish municipalities for their outdoor recreation efforts.

Sundsvall was named Sweden’s best outdoor municipality for 2026, while Gävle shared second place nationally with five other municipalities. Within Gävleborg county, Gävle was named the best outdoor municipality and Söderhamn was recognized as the most improved. Other regional winners included Lund, Karlstad, Södertälje, and Danderyd, with Säter and Hagfors noted for significant improvements.

In Västerbotten County, Umeå was named the best outdoor municipality, while Norsjö was recognized as the most improved.

The survey, which included 219 of Sweden's 290 municipalities, evaluates local governments on their outdoor planning, information sharing, cooperation, and specific activities. Organizers noted that the awards aim to highlight the importance of preserving and developing outdoor opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

Experts noted ongoing challenges, such as a lack of formal outdoor policies and insufficient stimulation of outdoor activities for children and youth. In Västerbotten, approximately 85 percent of children do not meet the recommended one hour of daily physical activity.

To address these issues, Kristina Ljungros, Secretary General of Friluftsfrämjandet, has proposed three measures for the next government: reintroducing mandatory outdoor days in schools, doubling funding for leader-led outdoor life, and increasing LONA grants to assist municipalities with outdoor plans and infrastructure.