Last year, Linkin Park ended their European tour in Paris. It was my first sold-out Olympic stadium concert. Afterwards, I promised myself it wouldn’t be my last.
Arrival in Stockholm
So how did Stockholm happen? After Paris, I went looking for 2026 tour tickets – and nearly everything decent was already gone. I’d particularly wanted a German stadium show; finding nothing suitable, I gave up on the idea. Why German stadiums? My reasoning is probably too simplistic, but I have this impression that German football culture produces venues every bit as impressive as the Stade de France.
Then I watched an episode of their tour vlog, said “fuck it”, and checked again.
Not a stadium – but Stockholm stood out for two reasons: my only previous visit was a ferry crossing from Riga I barely remember, and ticket prices were significantly lower than Zurich, the only other realistic option I considered. Tickets bought, hotel booked, flights sorted.
First impressions through the airport felt much like Copenhagen – the word that came to mind was advanced. The Arlanda Express, for example, runs from the airport directly to the central station: a sleek, modern train descending deep into the bedrock. A one-way ticket for two runs around 45 EUR, the commute is 18 minutes long with the train going at an average of 190 km/h.
Food in Stockholm
This section will probably disappoint – but my wallet approves. I found a hotel with breakfast and dinner included, so we barely ate out. A coffee, a cinnamon roll, a few non-alcoholic beers here and there – that was the extent of it. For regular readers, I know: unexpected.
On the subject of beer, the hotel menu featured Swedish options. I had to try one – Eriksberg. Worth it.
Stockholm and Water
When I’m in a city with waterfront access, I can’t help photographing life on and next to the water. It’s the one thing Brussels is missing… balconies overlooking water, and boats speeding up and down the waterway.
Also, as you can see from these photos, the weather gods were on our side during the whole trip.
Sightseeing in a Boat
You can’t visit Stockholm without taking at least one boat trip – the same rule applies in Copenhagen and Rotterdam. We skipped the two-hour archipelago tour and opted for the one-hour city route instead. Buildings, boats, and bridges.
The guide asked everyone where they were from and what had brought them to Stockholm. We weren’t the only ones on that boat there for Linkin Park. The guide, it turned out, had no idea the band was even in town – hardly surprising, given the complete absence of posters or advertising in the city centre.
On the day of the concert, though, Linkin Park shirts and caps were everywhere. I wonder how many locals noticed and wondered what was going on. I wore my Paris shirt during our sightseeing and caught a few nods from fellow fans. The community is strong.
Heavy is the Crown
The basics: 29 May 2026 · 3Arena, Stockholm · Sector B336 · Row 19 · Seats 646–647
Before the concert, I checked Reddit to see what people were saying about the venue. Reviews were mixed – some complained about visibility, others about sound. I can report back that our seats had flawless visibility and the sound was perfect. Perhaps those Redditors attended performances with less experienced sound engineers who buried the vocals under the bass.
In my view, Paris had one edge over Stockholm: the crowd. The moment the band took the stage in Paris, everyone was on their feet for the entire set. In Stockholm, I expected the same – and was surprised to find almost everyone remained seated throughout. Even during the final three songs, barely anyone stood. A cultural thing? Swedes being too polite to stand at a rock concert? Who knows. We stood up for the last three.
The setlist and performance differed from Paris 2025. I’ve added the setlist in the gallery below, and here’s a Spotify link for those who want a listen. Not a complaint – I appreciate that the band changed the set and reimagined the whole show.
I loved the concert. Genuinely loved it. Again. I’ll buy tickets again. This is most likely the final tour for From Zero, so it’ll be interesting to see what comes in 2027 – but if there’s something, I’ll be there.
Emily, we love you.
Oh – and I have a new shirt. Last year I queued for over an hour at the merch stand in Paris. The line was shorter this time. A new shirt for every concert? A new collection? You’re right.
Buildings of Stockholm
We had only a couple of hours to explore – a Linkin Park concert waits for no one.
The photos below capture some of Stockholm’s beautiful buildings. We didn’t make it to the more modern parts of the city, but the older architecture more than held its own. All the more reason to return – we didn’t visit a single museum. On the train to and from the airport, ads for the Stockholm spirits museum made a compelling case for learning about Swedish drinking culture.
In the End
Stockholm didn’t disappoint.
I came back to Brussels with four new card decks – yes, a collection update is long overdue, and yes, it’s coming.
At the airport we stocked up on sweets. Those who know me won’t be surprised: my all-time favourite chocolate is Geisha by Fazer, and Stockholm airport had it.
I also came back with the start of a new collection. I knew before the concert that I wanted another shirt – I just wasn’t sure it would feel tied to this specific show. It does. From now on, I’ll look for shirts that name both the venue and the band.
Heavy is the crown, indeed. But Emily holds it firmly.
See you around.
Kindly,
Olaaf
