Sweden has ABBA, IKEA, and Zlatan.

But when it comes to stand-up comedy clubs… we only have one.

And for a comedian, that’s not just strange — it’s jättekonstigt.

Introduction: A Love Letter to Stand-Up

I’m in love with stand-up.

Getting on stage, feeling the lights, stepping on the boards, meeting and connecting with the audience… I love it, even when it’s a complete bomb.

I love Sweden, and I love performing here. This is the country where I’ll live the rest of my life. And I’m deeply grateful for places like Big Ben, Maffia Comedy, Norra Brunn, and many others.

But there’s a shadow over this bright picture: a painful lack of comedy clubs, open mics, and stage time.

Stand-up is becoming more and more appreciated in Sweden, and the scene is slowly becoming more professional. With the right push, it could be amazing.

At Big Ben, I once played to 80 people cheering — and another night, to 4 people who looked like they’d rather be at IKEA. Both nights were magical in their own way. That’s the game, and the stage is still awesome.

I’ve also once driven 300 kilometers to play an outdoor stage. No real audience showed up. The only people there were just eating, and they actually finished their meal, stood up in the middle of my set, and left.

One Comedy Club. One.

Let’s talk about comedy clubs in Stockholm.

Real comedy clubs.

Not a bar with a stage, not a hotel with a comedy night, but a place that is dedicated to comedy.

By that definition, Stockholm has… one.

Norra Brunn.

It’s great. It’s a true institution. There was even a time when their shows were filmed and broadcast on TV. But it’s the only one. And that’s a problem.

Another issue: they only run one show per night, with three to five comics. Tuesday through Saturday, one 90-minute show. It’s good, but imagine if they added more. Two shows per night, and on weekends maybe even four or five — afternoon shows, late-night shows, variety.

If you compare it with other countries, comedy clubs are open every day, and many offer multiple shows per night. For example, Paname in Paris, Le Fridge also in Paris, and countless others.

Why not imagine Norra Brunn with a daily open mic, say from 6:00 to 7:00 pm? It would give rookies a chance, and it would create more opportunities for audiences as well. Not everyone is free between 7:00 and 10:00 pm — sometimes an early or late slot makes all the difference.

Bars Are Not Comedy Clubs

Other important names in Swedish comedy — RAW Comedy Club, The Laugh House, Big Ben Standup, Maffia Comedy — they’re not comedy clubs in the strict sense. They’re comedy shows hosted in bars, theaters, or other venues.

That changes a lot:

• If the venue decides to stop, the comedy night disappears.

• Comedy is not the main activity of the venue, so it’s often seen as a side hustle, not an investment.

• Except for Big Ben, most of these shows only run once or twice a week, rarely more.

They’re good, they’re necessary, but there should be more of them.

The Open Mic Desert

Now, open mics.

This one hurts.

Right now in Stockholm, we basically have Big Ben, Comedy Nation, and maybe one more. That’s it.

We need more.

And not just more, but also different formats. Like the classic bucket mics. You show up, put your name in a bucket, and if you’re lucky, you get five minutes. You might not be picked this time, but maybe the next.

These shows usually don’t attract big audiences — but that’s not the point. For comedians, every five minutes on stage matters. And with today’s world, even a small room is enough to capture a clip, post it online, and grow an audience.

Rookie Spots: The Missing Step

Here’s another idea: every institution — Norra Brunn, RAW, The Laugh House, Västerås Comedy Club — should have one rookie spot per show.

Five or six minutes for a new comic.

It would create a pipeline: rookies get exposure, audiences discover fresh voices, and the scene becomes stronger. Everyone wins.

A Dream for Swedish Comedy

My dream?

That one day, Sweden will have several comedy clubs. At least one open every day. With multiple shows per night, a daily open mic, themed shows, and headliner weekends.

Stand-up in Sweden is loved. The audience is ready.

All we need now is more stages, lights, and microphones.

Until that day comes, I’ll keep jumping on every stage I can find — bars, cafés, even karaoke nights if they let me.

And I’ll keep saying “Jättekonstigt”… because honestly, that’s exactly what it is.