Bag ban at major events – questions and answers

No, it may vary depending on the event. The organizer is responsible for informing visitors about what applies and whether bags are allowed or not.  To avoid any uncertainty, it is recommended to check the organizer's website or ask the organizer when buying tickets or receiving information to find out what applies.

The organizer is responsible for informing visitors about what applies and whether bags are allowed or not. Often, this information can be found on the organizer's website or is provided during the ticket purchasing process or other notifications.

Decisions regarding bag restrictions have been assessed by the Police Authority on a case-by-case basis. It is now up to each organizer to decide whether they want to continue with a bag ban or if they want to and have the ability to take measures to safely handle bags brought to the event. Given the elevated terrorist threat and the resulting security situation, organizers of large events must continue to take relevant security measures.

For an event to be excluded from a bag ban, the organizer must have a plan in place for handling bags brought to the event in order to ensure that the event is as safe and secure as possible. If the organizer is unwilling or unable to take such measures, the police can, with the support of the Public Order Act, continue to impose conditions that prohibit bags from being brought to the event.

Organizers can also, on their own initiative, choose not to allow bags to be brought to the event, without the Police Authority having imposed conditions to that effect.

The permit that the organizer receives from the Police Authority can be subject to conditions specific to the particular event, for example based on an assessment of safety, the number of visitors, and the design of the venue. Therefore, the rules can look different for different organizers.

Organizers can always choose to prohibit bags from being brought to their event on their own initiative, without the Police Authority having imposed conditions to that effect.

The Police Authority can also assess that a condition prohibiting bags is necessary for the event and inform the organizer of this. In such cases, the following applies:

• All visitors who are part of the audience at an event where a bag ban has been imposed are affected by the ban. The ban does not apply to people working at the event or journalists on duty.
• The ban also applies to paper bag, plastic bag and transparent bags.
• Exceptions can be made for people who, for medical reasons, need to bring a bag into the event. Exceptions can also be made for people with children who need to bring a diaper bag. Such bags must be inspected by authorized personnel before entry.
• Wallets and small pouches that can fit in a pocket are not subject to the condition.
• Any storage of bags must be located outside the area where the event is taking place. For example, it is not possible to store bags in a cloakroom located on the same premises as the event.
• If you are caught with a bag, it is up to the organizer to decide what it means for you as a visitor. If the conditions set by the Police Authority regarding the bag ban are not followed, it may be considered a breach of the Public Order Act for the organizer.

Conditions in already issued permits or notifications still apply. You can choose to request a change to your bag ban condition. Contact the police as soon as possible if that's the case. You will need to describe the measures you plan to take to handle bags brought to the event without negatively impacting safety. You will need to wait for the Police Authority's decision to know what applies to your event.

Decisions regarding bag conditions have been assessed by the Police Authority on a case-by-case basis. It is now up to you as the organizer to decide whether you want to continue with a bag ban or if you want the Police Authority to change the condition to allow bags to be brought into the event.

As the organizer, you need to describe the measures you plan to take to handle bags brought to the event without negatively impacting safety. Given the elevated terrorist threat and the resulting security situation, organizers of large events must continue to take relevant security measures.

To request a change, it's best to send an email with the following information:

• State that you wish to change the previously issued condition regarding the bag ban
• Specify the date of your event
• Specify the diary number (e.g. A123.123/2025) that appears on your permit/notification
• Describe how you, as the organizer, plan to handle bags brought to the event to ensure a safe and secure event, without negatively impacting safety. This may include, for example, security checks, crowd management. See also the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency's (MSB) event guide. You can also write the above information in a letter and send it by post to the Police Authority.

Send the email or letter to the police region where the event will be held. You can find all the addresses here. 

You don't need to pay a fee for the change.

You need to wait for the Police Authority's decision to know what applies to your event. Until you receive a new decision, the previous condition still applies.

It's not possible to give an exact answer on how long the review process will take in each case. The police have allocated extra resources and are doing everything we can to make the transition period as smooth as possible.

If you haven't already done so, your case needs to be supplemented with a description of the measures you, as the organizer, will take to handle bags brought to the event for a safe and secure arrangement, so that the bags do not negatively impact safety. Always include your diary number when contacting the police.

Smaller events that have not been subject to conditions regarding bag bans, or where such conditions have not been deemed necessary, are not impacted by the Police Authority's decision.

The terrorist threat level in Sweden was raised in August 2023 from level three to four on a five-point scale. For that reason and in order to contribute to maintaining order and safety at events, the Police Authority has applied a national direction with conditions regarding bags at larger events from November 2023.

In May 2025, the Security Service (Säpo) lowered the terrorist threat level to level three on the five-point scale. The Police Authority assesses, based on the lowered terrorist threat level, that bags can now be allowed at larger events as well.

According to the Public Order Act, the Police Authority has the possibility to impose conditions on order and safety (Chapter 2, Section 16 of the Public Order Act). This means that when an organizer applies for a permit to hold a public gathering or public event, or notifies that such an event will be held, the police can impose the conditions necessary to maintain order and safety. This can include conditions such as the organizer being required to hire security guards, making enclosures within the venue, or conditions on what items are allowed to be brought into the event.

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency's (MSB) Safety Guide for Events provides guidance on how to organize safe events.

Safety Guide for Events, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)