The tradition
Knutpunkt is an annual, international larp conference run by four Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway), with the hosting rotating between them each year.
The first Knutpunkt was held in Norway in 1997 and has since then functioned as a platform for sharing ideas, experiences, and perspectives on larp and larp design. While the organisation behind the conference varies somewhat between the different host countries, it is traditionally done as a non-profit project with a strong emphasis on co-creation, where the participants are the ones creating the vast majority of the program and social events.
The name Knutpunkt (or Knudepunkt in Danish, Solmukohta in Finnish, and Knutepunkt in Norwegian) translates to “junction” or “meeting point”. As the name implies, the conference has over the years become a natural focal point of larp theory and design and a force in developing larping as a phenomenon.
You can read more about the Knutpunkt tradition here.
The vision
The theme for Knutpunkt 2026 is Seasons of larp. There is a double meaning behind the word “seasons”, referring to the time aspect as well as the different styles, or “seasonings” of larp. Through this theme, we want to explore where the larp scene is today, where it has been, and where it could be headed. We also want to offer a broad palette of perspectives, influences, and genres when it comes to the type of larps and ideas we are highlighting and discussing throughout the conference.
While creating Knutpunkt, we are putting a strong emphasis on the following three aspects:
- Community: One of the strengths of Knutpunkt is the sense of community, which is something we feel very strongly about and want to cherish. Our goal is to make an event where everyone can feel welcome, included, and able to be a part of this wonderful community in a way that suits them.
- Curiosity: We want to encourage all participants to come to Knutpunkt with a curious and open mind, willing and excited to take in new perspectives, listen to new ideas, and hopefully come away from the conference with as many new insights, impressions, and experiences as possible.
- Creativity: Knutpunkt should be a place where we, through this environment of community and curiosity, can come together and be creative, think outside the box, and come up with new, exciting ideas for larps, theoretical concepts, characters, costumes and many other things that us organisers haven’t even thought about yet!
The experience
Knutpunkt 2026 will begin on Thursday, 16 April, with an opening ceremony where we will welcome you to the event and go through some practicalities. While all the information given there will be available elsewhere (on this website, through newsletters, or at the info desk), we highly recommend that you attend the opening ceremony!
Throughout the conference, the days will be filled with a program that is facilitated by the organisers but created (mainly) by the participants. There will be many different types of program items to attend, such as larps, workshops, talks, and panels. There will also be social program items like parties, dance floors, and larp meetups. Through these various forms of program items, Knutpunkt 2026 will be a mix of academic discussions, larps, practical workshops, parties, experience and knowledge sharing, and playfulness. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, Knutpunkt 2026 will be a space for social interactions, a place to reunite with old friends and get to know new ones.
Knutpunkt 2026 will end on Sunday, 19 April, with a closing ceremony. This will be a brief gathering where we thank one another for this year's conference and perhaps learn something about next year’s.
What Knutpunkt 2026 isn’t
A larp. There will (most likely) be larps included in the program and thereby a possibility to play larps at Knutpunkt, but the event itself isn’t a larp.
A party. Partying is a part of Knutpunkt, and there will be parties during the event. However, partying isn’t the only, or for most, even the main, focus of Knutpunkt. There will be plenty of other things to do, and other ways of socialising if typical parties aren’t your thing.
A purely academic conference. You don’t need any specific experiences or qualifications to attend Knutpunkt or host program items. While we absolutely welcome presentations and discussions from the academic field, we strongly believe that all participants have something to bring to the table, no matter their background.