Sweden Offers Year On a Private Island

Sweden’s national tourism board is inviting international visitors to spend a year as custodians of five small islands, in a campaign designed to highlight the country’s approach to nature and freedom. The initiative, titled "Your Swedish Island", offers selected participants the right to use an island for 12 months. Billionaires, however, are not eligible to apply.

The organisers stress that the prize does not involve ownership. Winners will receive a diploma naming them official island custodians, along with permission to camp, swim and invite friends during their stay. Sweden’s Right of Public Access remains in force, meaning others may still pass through or visit. Respect for wildlife and the environment is a clear condition.

Five islands are included in the scheme: Medbådan, Flisan, Storberget, Tjuvholmen and Marsten. The prize covers a return trip to Sweden for two people, though onward transport to the islands is not included. Participants may need to hire a kayak, paddleboard or boat to reach their chosen spot.

Successful applicants will find themselves immersed in Sweden’s vast archipelagos and coastal landscapes. The islands sit within Sweden’s coastal archipelagos, where sheltered coves, rocky shores and dense pine woodland shape the landscape, especially during the extended daylight of summer. Time can be spent swimming, fishing, hiking or simply enjoying solitude. Nearby mainland towns offer access to local cafés, seafood restaurants and ferry links that connect scattered island communities.

Applications must be submitted by 17 April 2026 in the form of a one-minute video explaining why the entrant deserves the role. Winners will be chosen by a jury and announced in May. The campaign presents a different idea of luxury, centred on quiet surroundings and shared responsibility. It suggests that the richest experience may be space, silence and a patch of land cared for, not owned.