This is goBALANO!

goBALANO! is a festival rooted in the oak and the acorn—but it also speaks to something larger. Across much of the Northern Hemisphere, acorns have nourished people for thousands of years, shaping food cultures, traditions, and ways of life—knowledge that has largely faded from view.

Through workshops, tastings, talks, and shared experiences, goBALANO! explores how a food that was once taken for granted might again become part of everyday life. Here, traditional knowledge meets contemporary questions of local food systems, ecological responsibility, and how we build sustainable, resilient societies.

goBALANO! is more than a festival. It is an invitation to see our surroundings with new eyes. What if food is already here, all around us? What if the landscapes we move through every day hold possibilities we no longer see?

There is space here to learn, taste, try, and talk. To meet, share experiences, and discover something together. It is also a chance to reconnect with a living tradition that spans generations and continents.

goBALANO! has grown out of life’s challenges and a search for something more fundamental.

From that search, a central question emerged: what if the acorn is far more important than we have been led to believe? That question opened up new possibilities and gradually led to a deeper understanding. Over time, it became clear that the acorn is not just a forgotten food, but also one of the most natural and resilient staple crops we have.

In different parts of the world, knowledge of acorns still lives on, sometimes expressed through festivals and local traditions. goBALANO! was first held in Aspudden, Stockholm, in 2020. Since then, the festival has returned each year, growing and evolving with the people who take part.

The festival has been shaped by personal experiences, but it is also part of something larger: a rediscovery of knowledge that is slowly finding its way back.

Every autumn, millions of acorns fall to the ground. Most are left untouched, despite being one of the most accessible and storable food resources around us.

START GATHERING is an initiative within goBALANO! and Under ekarna. It is about rediscovering the knowledge surrounding acorns and beginning to make use of something that has long existed right in front of us.

The initiative aims to inspire more people to gather acorns, learn how they can be transformed into food, and over time contribute to shared stores and stronger local food resilience. It is not about collecting everything, but about beginning to recognize what is already there and gradually building knowledge, experience, and participation together.

You do not need any prior knowledge. It is enough to begin on a small scale. A few handfuls of acorns, some curiosity, and a willingness to learn more.

The festival is part of this work — a place where people meet to share knowledge, taste, experiment, and explore how the acorn might once again become part of everyday life.

Gathering takes place during the autumn months, mainly in September and October. Until then, the focus is simply on beginning to notice the oaks around us and understanding the resource they truly are.

goBALANO! acorn festival 2026

For the 7th year in a row we are gathering to celebrate the oaks, the acorns and this ancient food-culture that span across the world. 

Odla Ihop Tanto, Stockholm

26 September 13.00 - 18.00

In the heart of Stockholm, in Tantolunden, goBALANO! comes into bloom beneath the oaks. Here, acorns are transformed into food—something to taste, cook, and share together.

Throughout the festival, the program grows and takes shape with those involved, with a focus on food, knowledge, and culture. It may include hands-on workshops, talks, and conversations, alongside music, performances, and time spent together.

goBALANO! is also an open space where others are invited to contribute. The festival is shaped by those involved—through food, craft, performances, and ideas.

For children, there is space to explore and create. One of the oaks becomes the Children’s Tree, a symbol of future sustenance, resilience, joy, and strength—a reminder that what we plant, care for, and learn today carries forward into generations to come.

This is more than a festival. It is something that has taken root and continues to grow.