The national tourism board Visit Sweden is launching an unusual tourism project: an island adoption programme. Five uninhabited islands are being raffled off for one year's use. Interested parties from abroad aged 18 and over can apply Apply by 17 April 2026 - Swedish citizens and billionaires are expressly excluded. The "Your Swedish Island" initiative aims to bring the Nordic lifestyle and the right of everyman to life - and, of course, above all, to raise awareness of the destination.
The conditions of participation
One thing straight away: No, the islands do not actually become the property of the winners and no, if you are one of the lucky five chosen, you do not have exclusive rights to the islands. With this extraordinary campaign, the Swedish Tourist Board naturally wants to achieve one thing above all: Reach. To take part in the prize draw, applicants must record a video of themselves (in portrait format and under one minute, of course) and share the campaign on social media with the relevant hashtags. Another PR trick is the explicit exclusion of billionaires. Even if their participation in such a campaign is obviously unlikely, this reference is intended to send a clear signal "against extreme wealth" and emphasise the "simple, Nordic lifestyle". However, there is no verification of wealth - the applicants merely confirm that they are not billionaires.
The five islands
Sweden has 267,570 islands, making it the country with the most islands in the world. Only around 1,000 of them are inhabited, with the rocky archipelago making up the majority. The five selected islands are spread across the entire country: from the west coast on Lake Vänern to the northern Baltic coast near Umeå. Tjuvholmen is located in Lake Vänern, 25 kilometres north of Lidköping. The island is surrounded by pine and spruce forests, with clearings of birch and alder closer to the water. Nearby is Läckö Castle, from which the island can be seen. Medbådan is located 35 kilometres north-east of Umeå on the northern coast of the Baltic Sea. The island was formed during the last ice age and has an area of low shrubs in its centre. Skötbådan is merely a flat rocky outcrop in the archipelago, 27 kilometres south-east of Norrtälje. The island used to be used for fishing and lies in the middle of the open sea.
Storberget lies 30 kilometres south of Nynäshamn and has a somewhat grandiose name - translated it means "the big mountain". The rugged island was formed by the open sea. On windy days, the conditions are rough, but on warm days it is perfect for swimming. Marsten is located nine kilometres south of Falkenberg on the west coast. Light-coloured stones and a barren landscape characterise its appearance. The clear waters are suitable for fishing and the lively Skrea beach with cafés is nearby. Each island offers different conditions and experiences - from wooded inland islands to exposed rock formations on the coast.
What exactly is the price?
Although the winners receive an official certificate for the one-year use of their island, there is no transfer of ownership. During their stay, they are allowed to camp on the island, swim and invite friends. However, the Swedish Everyman's Right, which grants everyone free access to nature, applies on the islands anyway. This means that anyone can enter and cross the islands, even without profit, as long as they respect nature and wildlife. This regulation is deeply rooted in Swedish culture and allows everyone to move around in nature. And that's basically what it's all about: the initiative wants to publicise this principle internationally and show that luxury is defined differently in Sweden than elsewhere.
The real highlight of the story is almost mentioned in a subordinate clause. Because perhaps the real prize for participants: In addition to the use of the island (which, as mentioned, is a given anyway thanks to Everyman's Right), the winners get their return journey to Sweden paid for.
In the application video, interested parties should explain their motivation for the stay and why they deserve an island. The videos can be submitted until 17 April 2026 via a Online form be uploaded. The jury will announce the results of the draw in June.
These private islands are not for raffle, but for sale:
Jill Grigoleit
Editor Travel
