Islands in Sweden
The initiative will give five people custody of a Swedish island for a year and aims to encourage coexistence with nature.
Sweden’s national tourism body is offering travelers the chance to become temporary guardians of your own private island.
Launched by Visit Sweden, the initiative “Your Swedish Island” will grant five winners exclusive custody of different islands for a year. The campaign aims to redefine luxury not as material wealth, but as access to peace, simplicity and the natural world.
“Sweden has more islands than any other country in the world, and we would like to invite people to enjoy what is perhaps the most genuine form of luxury: the peace and tranquility of nature on your own island,” said Susanne Andersson, CEO of Visit Sweden.
The five islands included in the draw are Medbådan, Flisan, Storberget, Tjuvholmen and Marsten. The winners will receive a round trip to Sweden for two people, although transportation to the islands is not included. Selected candidates must therefore be prepared to rent a kayak, stand-up paddle board or boat to reach their temporary refuge.
Despite the name of the campaign, the winners will not become owners of the islands. Instead, they will receive a diploma naming them official guardians of the island, along with the right to use the island allocated to them for a year. During this time, guardians can camp, swim and invite friends over, as long as they respect the local wildlife and environment, explains the .
The initiative reflects the long-standing Swedish legal principle known as Right of Public Accesswhich allows people to move freely in nature, even on private land. Consequently, the public will still be able to visit or transit the islands during the period of custody.
To participate, interested parties must upload a video of less than a minute explaining why they deserve to win. Sharing the video on social media with the hashtag #YourSwedishIsland can increase the chances of success. Entries close on April 17, 2026, and a jury will announce the five winners in May.
The competition is open to international travelers aged 18 and over, excluding multi-millionaires. Visit Sweden states that this exclusion reinforces its message that True luxury lies in simplicityin silence and immersion in nature, and not in material excess.
