Norway’s Øyafestivalen concluded this past weekend with girl in red—one of its most beloved exports—delivering a triumphant finale to four days of diverse performances. From August 6–9, the festival’s stages were commanded by Chappell Roan, Charli XCX and Queens of the Stone Age, alongside Norway’s own rising stars, all for an intimate gathering of roughly 20,000 attendees each day.
Set within Oslo’s lush Tøyen Park, Øya evokes the charm of early Governors Ball on Randall’s Island: verdant canopies, plush lawns and ample shade endure even after thousands of footsteps. Its proximity to the spotless city metro makes access effortless, or it’s a scenic 30-minute stroll from the center. Once inside, walk between stages and food stalls in under ten minutes, with most just a minute apart—yet miraculously free of acoustic overlap. Throughout the festival, sound clarity was impeccable; when Roan soared through her most demanding crescendos, every nuance resonated.
From international headliners to burgeoning local acts, Øyafestivalen 2025 offered unforgettable moments—here are our highlights.
Billboard’s travel and accommodations were graciously arranged by Music Norway, an initiative of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Equality.
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Chappell Roan Delivers a Maternal Triumph
“What have you done, God?” Roan’s mother jokingly laments in the autobiographical anthem “Pink Pony Club.” On Wednesday, August 6, Roan’s mom witnessed some 15,000 devotees echo that refrain back to her at Øya, capping a set that spanned her breakout hits, a fiery rendition of Heart’s “Barracuda,” and the live debut of “The Subway”—truly divine.
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Anna of the North’s Pop Spectacle
Anna of the North balanced soul-searching on her EP How Did I Let This Get So Serious? with effervescent pop thrills. Post-set, she struck “Hannah Montana” poses to “The Best of Both Worlds,” proving her playful versatility.
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Hermanos Gutiérrez’s Latin Reverie
Ecuadorian-Swiss duo Hermanos Gutiérrez set a mellow tone with their reverb-drenched guitar serenades on opening day, demonstrating that hypnotic instrumentals need no theatrical embellishment.
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HILLARI’s Acoustic Dawn
Rising Filipino-Norwegian star HILLARI captivated with an intimate rooftop set atop Oslo’s Folketeater, her soulful Gen Z anthem “Two Cents” shimmering against the morning sky. Catch her in NYC on September 10 at Racket.
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Charli XCX’s Cinematic Summer
Ahead of her Thursday headliner, Charli XCX surprised Oslo cinephiles by introducing Joachim Trier’s new film Sentimental Value. Between her high-energy set, she praised Norway’s “vibe, design and visionary filmmakers”—hinting at future collaborations.
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Lola Young’s Anthemic Ascent
During her Thursday evening performance, Lola Young paused in awe of the sea of fans before unleashing “Messy,” the defiant hit that propelled her to No. 1 on both Billboard Pop Airplay and Alternative Airplay.
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Tolou’s Afro-Scandi Fusion
Tromsø-born Tolou blended Nigerian rhythms with Scandinavian pop on her slick R&B single “Coco.” Donning a vibrant yellow skirt, she lit up the stage with “Dem Boyz,” a nostalgic nod to early ’00s pop.
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Wet Leg’s Cathartic Crescendo
British duo Wet Leg led a 40-second “scream therapy” during their Thursday set—an all-out sonic release that had the crowd roaring before Rhian Teasdale quipped, “That was beautiful.”
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RABO’s Fjordside Showcase
Norwegian newcomer RABO performed an intimate acoustic set aboard a boat cruising the fjords, before commanding the festival’s 2 p.m. slot two days later, proving her star rise unstoppable.
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Queens of the Stone Age’s Harmonious Finale
QOTSA traded sludge riffs for a serene sing-along on “Emotion Sickness,” Josh Homme basking in the hillside harmony: “It sounds incredible,” he smiled.
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Pom Poko’s Whimsical Surge
Channeling Studio Ghibli’s magic, Pom Poko infused the lineup with quirky, garage-rock exuberance, their tunes careening through the evening air.
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Brenn.’s Native Rock Charge
Skipping English, brenn. energized the audience entirely in Norwegian, proving raw guitar-driven rock transcends language.
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Nilüfer Yanya’s Instrumental Pivot
Stranded in Copenhagen without gear, Nilüfer and band adapted to borrowed instruments, yielding an unexpectedly fresh interpretation of her nuanced repertoire.
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Fontaines D.C.’s Post-Punk Mastery
Touring behind Romance, Fontaines D.C. fused raw emotion and bold theatricality on tracks like “Starburster” and “Bug,” their set unanimously adored.
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girl in red’s Fiery Collaboration
girl in red unleashed queer indie anthems and punk-infused bangers before inviting Honningbarna for an electrifying duet on “Bad Idea!”—a stage dive finale that may have crowned the festival’s peak moment.
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Anna of the North’s Synth-Pop Dream
Oslo’s own enchanted with cinematic synth-pop, from “Lovers” to new single “Give Me Your Love,” delivering the perfect afternoon tranquility.
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Mk.gee’s Rain-Soaked Encore
Shielded by a tent as skies opened, Mk.gee navigated soggy gear to forge atmospheric soundscapes. When the sun burst through at set’s end, the crowd’s demand prompted a rare encore of “Rockman.”
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Sløtface’s Late-Night Karaoke
Though absent from the main lineup, Sløtface commandeered post-festival revelers for a live-band karaoke bash—channeling everything from Kelly Clarkson to Nirvana.
