Skandia Theatre

Skandia Theatre, inaugurated in 1923 and designed by Gunnar Asplund, is one of Sweden’s most unique cinemas—an architectural masterpiece where the magic of film is enhanced by the grandeur of its design. From the moment it opened, this cinema attracted attention for its classical interior and has been rightly described as Europe’s most beautiful cinema auditorium.

The interior is an artistic treasure, featuring details created by some of Sweden’s leading artists of the 1920s. Murals, embroideries, and sculptures depict the worlds of film and theatre, from Shakespeare to Hollywood’s Golden Age. Skandia is more than a cinema—it is a living cathedral of film, where Asplund’s architecture and artistic decoration transform every screening into an aesthetic and historical experience.

During the tour, we will gain deeper insight into the cinema’s architectural design and the details that make Skandia one of Asplund’s most celebrated works. Over the years, Skandia underwent several extensive alterations that distorted Asplund’s original vision, but in the late 1980s, an ambitious restoration project began to return the cinema to its unique design.

Shortly after celebrating its 100th anniversary in autumn 2023, the Skandia Cinema faced the challenge of being without a tenant and was at risk of being lost. In response, the Stockholm International Film Festival launched a crowdfunding campaign to keep Skandia alive. For the first time in nearly a decade, the Skandia Cinema is once again open to the public and showing films on the big screen.

Welcome to a guided tour of one of Stockholm’s most iconic cinema spaces!

Guide: Kjell Furberg

Kjell Furberg is a cinema historian, an expert on Asplund, and the author and photographer of the book Cinema Theatres in Sweden (Prisma, 2000). He shares insights on Gunnar Asplund, the most important Swedish architect of the 20th century, who designed the world-famous Skandia in 1923 and invited eight young artists to decorate the cinema. With humor and wit, Asplund’s work is filled with hints and surprises.