Kongsberg Crime Fiction Festival

was launched in October 2004 and has become an annual event since then. The festival was the first crime fiction festival in Scandinavia and has over the years become the most popular and most attended festival of its kind both in Norway and in the other Scandinavian countries.
The original idea behind the Festival is to honour the Norwegian novelist Maurits Hansen, who lived in Kongsberg from 1826 to 1842, where he was headmaster at Kongsberg Grammar School. He was also the most prolific and popular Norwegian writer in his time. Hansen probably created the world’s first detective novel in the history of literature, because his novel “The Murder of engineer Roolfsen” from 1839 was published two years before Edgar Allan Poe’s “Murder in Rue Morgue”, which has been credited this title. The last evening of the Festival is dedicated to Maurits Hansen and his literary works.

Kongsberg Crime Fiction Festival brings the best of the Norwegian crime writing community to Kongsberg for a six days event in late October and early November. Over a 1000 people, including writers, editors, reviewers, press and affectionate readers of crime fiction come together to discuss and celebrate the very best of the crime fiction genre;  past, present and future.

The festival has achieved national acclaim for its programming, organization and festival atmosphere. A glittering array of talent comes to Kongsberg to enthrall and delight you. There has never been a better time to celebrate the quality and diversity of the crime genre. We are therefore proud to present a programme which is just that. And there is something for everyone.

Kongsberg Crime Fiction Festival is a “murderous” mix of panels running the entire range of crime fiction from nursery tales to hard-boiled thrillers, theatre performance, musical events, readings, films, presentations of new books and interviews with crime fiction writers about their recent books. The festival takes pride in presenting the most prominent and celebrated Norwegian crime writers, whose books have become international bestsellers. But you will also be able to meet up-and-coming writers.

We can promise you mystery, thrills, laughter and the chance to rub shoulders and listen to writers who have kept you up long past bedtime. Crime writers have always understood the importance of entertaining their readers as well as stimulating their brains. So join the party. Your only crime would be to miss it.Kongsberg Crime Fiction Festival was launched in October 2004 and has become an annual event since then. The festival was the first crime fiction festival in Scandinavia and has over the years become the most popular and most attended festival of its kind both in Norway and in the other Scandinavian countries.

The original idea behind the Festival is to honour the Norwegian novelist Maurits Hansen, who lived in Kongsberg from 1826 to 1842, where he was headmaster at Kongsberg Grammar School. He was also the most prolific and popular Norwegian writer in his time. Hansen probably created the world’s first detective novel in the history of literature, because his novel “The Murder of engineer Roolfsen” from 1839 was published two years before Edgar Allan Poe’s “Murder in Rue Morgue”, which has been credited this title. The last evening of the Festival is dedicated to Maurits Hansen and his literary works.

Kongsberg Crime Fiction Festival brings the best of the Norwegian crime writing community to Kongsberg for a six days event in late October and early November. Over a 1000 people, including writers, editors, reviewers, press and affectionate readers of crime fiction come together to discuss and celebrate the very best of the crime fiction genre;  past, present and future.

The festival has achieved national acclaim for its programming, organization and festival atmosphere. A glittering array of talent comes to Kongsberg to enthrall and delight you. There has never been a better time to celebrate the quality and diversity of the crime genre. We are therefore proud to present a programme which is just that. And there is something for everyone.

Kongsberg Crime Fiction Festival is a “murderous” mix of panels running the entire range of crime fiction from nursery tales to hard-boiled thrillers, theatre performance, musical events, readings, films, presentations of new books and interviews with crime fiction writers about their recent books. The festival takes pride in presenting the most prominent and celebrated Norwegian crime writers, whose books have become international bestsellers. But you will also be able to meet up-and-coming writers.

We can promise you mystery, thrills, laughter and the chance to rub shoulders and listen to writers who have kept you up long past bedtime. Crime writers have always understood the importance of entertaining their readers as well as stimulating their brains. So join the party. Your only crime would be to miss it.