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Longyearbyen · 78.22 N 15.63 E

Svalbard Wire

Est. 2026

Everything said about Svalbard, in one place

Tuesday 20 October 2026Before the Wire, which starts 26 October 2026Updated 23:59

Daylight on 20 October: sun 10:17 to 15:05; civil twilight 08:06 to 10:17, 15:05 to 17:16. Daylight 10:17 to 15:05, 4 h 48 min. The sun sets for the winter on 26 October.

Daylight 10:17 to 15:05, 4 h 48 min. The sun sets for the winter on 26 October.

News

The briefing

Three updates for Tuesday 20 October 2026: no single development stands above the rest.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

In town

Meetings, culture, lectures

Numbered discs: the day's listed events.

Graphic: Svalbard Wire · Sources: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)Base map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Tuesday 20 October

  1. 119:00

    Gospel with a blues feel

    Culture. Svalbard kirke. free.

    Dark Season Blues

  2. 220:00

    Road... film screening

    Culture. Kulturhuset. free.

    Dark Season Blues

Coming up

  1. 21 OctWed, 09:00

    Local council meeting

    Public meeting. Newtontoppen, 3rd floor, Næringsbygget.

    Longyearbyen lokalstyre, meeting plan 2026

  2. 21 OctWed, 21:00
  3. 22 OctThu

    Dark Season Blues, four days of concerts, 22 to 25 October

    Culture. Several venues in Longyearbyen, Kulturhuset among them. Festival tickets. Tickets through the festival site.

    Dark Season Blues

  4. 22 OctThu, 17:00

News

3 on 20 October, 5 on 19 October

Also reported

  1. Russia on Svalbard

    Court hears dispute over seized ship Professor Molchanov

    The Governor of Svalbard (Sysselmesteren), 19 October, 11:13. Original title: Har tatt arrest i russisk skip | Sysselmesteren på Svalbard

Svalbard on screen

New videos from channels in Longyearbyen

  1. 2 Weeks Until Polar Night on Svalbard

    Cecilia Blomdahl, 18 October. Thumbnail: Cecilia Blomdahl

  2. The Northern Lights Are Back on Svalbard!

    Cecilia Blomdahl, 16 October. Thumbnail: Cecilia Blomdahl

  3. Giving the WORST room in our cabin a makeover

    Cecilia Blomdahl, 15 October. Thumbnail: Cecilia Blomdahl

  4. Ho scoperto 2 supermercati NASCOSTI alle Svalbard: uno russo e uno thailandese!

    Giulia Al Polo, 14 October. Thumbnail: Giulia Al Polo

  5. Transforming our ugly tv room into a cosy corner!

    Cecilia Blomdahl, 14 October. Thumbnail: Cecilia Blomdahl

  6. Inside 2 Hidden Supermarkets on Svalbard Nobody Knows About

    Ciao It's Giulia, 13 October. Thumbnail: Ciao It's Giulia

All videos and the channels

Services and deadlines

Who is affected, until when, what to do

  1. Applications for temporary installations, winter season 2026 to 2027

    26 days left, 16 October to 15 November. Apply by email to firmapost@sysselmesteren.no by 15 November.

    For: Anyone setting up temporary installations for public camping for one week or more, in the general travel area (not in protected or planning areas).

    Governor of Svalbard

  2. Registration deadline for the business forum, 4 November

    15 days left, 24 October to 4 November. Registration through the link on the page, deadline Wednesday 4 November at 16:00. Speaking time can be requested at registration.

    For: Local business community.

    Longyearbyen lokalstyre

  3. Extra air freight flight to Longyearbyen, 7 November

    18 days left, on 7 November. Contact Pole Position Logistics directly for capacity, prices and booking.

    For: Businesses and other parties that need to send goods by air.

    Longyearbyen lokalstyre

  4. Road 300 closed, no-access order from 29 October

    9 days left, on 29 October.

    Longyearbyen lokalstyre

  5. Traffic ban on Road 300

    9 days left, on 29 October.

    Governor of Svalbard

  6. Svalbardhallen: colder pool water, baby swimming cancelled

    11 days left, on 31 October.

    For: Swimming hall guests, baby swimming participants.

    Longyearbyen lokalstyre

  7. Application deadline: regional cultural fund grants

    22 days left, 30 October to 11 November. Application form linked on the Longyearbyen lokalstyre page.

    For: Teams, associations, businesses and other actors registered in the Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities (Enhetsregisteret) and active in Longyearbyen.

    Longyearbyen lokalstyre

  8. Registration deadline for the UNIS, hva nå? seminar, 10 November

    21 days left, 3 November to 10 November. Register via the website of NVP (NVPs nettside).

    UNIS, news listing

  9. Governor's office closed to the public

    17 days left, on 6 November.

    Governor of Svalbard

  10. Water shut-off near the Customs House and Fire Station

    20 days left, on 9 November. Owners and businesses are asked to register contact information for the property at Varslemeg.no.

    For: Subscribers and owners of properties, commercial buildings, shops and businesses affected by the work.

    Longyearbyen lokalstyre

  11. Swimming hall closed to public swimming from 14:00, 6 November

    17 days left, on 6 November.

    Longyearbyen lokalstyre

  12. Kiosk closed, 7 November

    18 days left, on 7 November.

    Longyearbyen lokalstyre

  13. Swimming hall closed to public swimming all day, 7 November

    18 days left, on 7 November.

    Longyearbyen lokalstyre

  14. Swimming hall closed to public swimming all day, 8 November

    19 days left, on 8 November.

    Longyearbyen lokalstyre

  15. Environmental station closed on Friday

    17 days left, on 6 November.

    For: Household and business customers.

    Longyearbyen lokalstyre

  16. Application portal opens for experienced Svalbard guides

    24 days left, on 13 November.

    For: Experienced guides applying for approval as a Svalbard guide.

    Governor of Svalbard

Tours

All operators

All tours

No departures listed for this date.

History

The island's past

From the timeline, The modern town

1993

UNIS is founded

University studies on Svalbard, UNIS, were established in 1993. It is the world's northernmost institution for education and research.

History Store norske leksikon

The timeline by era

  1. 1596Discovery and whaling, 3 entries
  2. 1715Hunting and expeditions, 4 entries
  3. 1905The coal town, 6 entries
  4. 1920The Svalbard Treaty, 4 entries
  5. 1941War and rebuilding, 4 entries
  6. 1975The modern town, 3 entries
  7. 2015The present transition, 6 entries

Open the history of Svalbard, 30 entries in 7 eras