Malmö Residency 2026: A Month‑Long Creative Residency in Sweden’s Most Experimental City

The Malmö Residency 2026 invites innovators, creators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and explorers from around the world to spend one month in Malmö—Sweden’s vibrant, youthful, and forward‑thinking coastal city. This city‑wide residency provides time, space, and community support to help you start, develop, or complete a project, idea, or exploration.

Applications are open until June 3, 2026. This opportunity includes travel, accommodation, workspaces, community access, and deep immersion into Malmö’s creative and business ecosystems.

About the Malmö Residency

The Malmö business community collectively hosts this residency, offering participants a unique environment to focus on their ideas while connecting with local innovators. As stated in the document:

“We – the business community of Malmö – invite you to spend time in the not-so-royal third-biggest city in Sweden.”

The residency takes place in September/October 2026, with a mandatory stay between September 9 and September 20.

Only five exclusive spots are available for the 2026 cohort.

Priority Themes for 2026

For this third cohort, Malmö is especially interested in applicants excited by the following themes:

• Green Transition – Developing regenerative futures
• AI and Emerging Technologies – Elevating society, business, and creative work
• Food Innovation – Revolutionizing food production within city limits
• Cultural & Creative Industries – Games, art, dance, music, and more
• Wise & Digital Cities – Making cities transparent, democratic, and fun

These themes reflect Malmö’s identity as a hub of experimentation and cross‑disciplinary collaboration.

What’s Included in the Residency

Participants receive a comprehensive package of support and resources, including:

• Travel to and from Malmö (preferably by train)
• One month of accommodation
• A bike for local mobility
• Access to workspaces across the city
• Advice from a broad community of experts
• Access to event venues, equipment, and production guidance
• Equipment and books to borrow
• Material libraries
• Industry‑grade testbeds
• Introductions to Malmö’s startup and game development communities
• Exhibitions at museums and art spaces
• Outdoor experiences, including beaches and allemansrätten
• Access to Malmö’s top‑ranked food and beverage scene

The document emphasizes:

“No strings attached really. We are a curious group and know that we benefit from an influx of open-minded people.”

Why Malmö?

Malmö is a coastal, diverse, and youthful city known for its openness and experimental culture. With 366,644 inhabitants, it is Sweden’s third‑largest and fastest‑growing major city. Nearly half the population is under 35, and 187 nationalities are represented.

Key highlights:

• A strong pay‑it‑forward culture
• 39,000 companies, mostly small and medium‑sized
• A thriving arts, design, and food scene
• Close proximity to Copenhagen Airport (20 minutes)
• 5 hours by train from Hamburg
• A balance of small‑city ease and big‑city ambition

The Region and Academic Ecosystem

The residency is embedded in the Öresund region—home to 4.2 million people and the largest labor market in the Nordics.

Nearby institutions include:

• Malmö University – Strong in Interaction Design, Urban Studies, IoT, Data Society
• Lund University – One of the oldest universities in the world
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Alnarp) – Leading in food, agriculture, and landscape architecture
• World Maritime University – Global leader in maritime and ocean research

This academic richness provides fertile ground for collaboration and inspiration.

Events During the Residency

Participants will be in Malmö during major international events, including:

• ECCV 2026 – European Conference on Computer Vision (Sept 8–12)
• The Drop – (Sept 15–16)
• EUMAS 2026 – (Sept 21–25)

These events offer cutting‑edge knowledge and networking opportunities.

Workspaces Available

Participants will have access to Malmö’s most dynamic co‑working and innovation hubs:

• STPLN
• Media Evolution
• Minc
• Djäkne
• The Ground
• Form/Design Center

Visa Information

The residency cannot assist with visa applications. Applicants from visa‑required countries must secure their own documentation.

How to Apply

Deadline: June 3, 2026

Applications are open to global applicants who can commit to the mandatory residency dates.

Apply here

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