IKEA Turns Kungens Kurva into an Immersive Celebration of Food Music and Culture

IKEA Turns Kungens Kurva into an Immersive Celebration of Food Music and Culture

(IN BRIEF) IKEA turned its Kungens Kurva store in Stockholm into a one-night immersive experience with SMAKFEST, welcoming 1,000 IKEA Family members to a sold-out event focused on food, music, and culture. Featuring more than 30 sensory installations, live performances, and a full-store transformation, the event showcased a new expression of the IKEA brand. A major highlight was the 40th anniversary celebration of the IKEA meatball, presented through a globally inspired and inclusive culinary showcase. SMAKFEST reflected IKEA’s evolving approach to experiential storytelling beyond traditional retail.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 12-Dec-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — IKEA transformed its iconic Kungens Kurva store in Stockholm on 9 December into an immersive after-hours destination, offering visitors a side of the brand rarely seen before. One thousand IKEA Family members, all holding sold-out tickets, entered a darkened store to take part in SMAKFEST, a one-night-only experience designed around food, culture, and creative expression.

SMAKFEST, meaning “taste feast” in Swedish, marked the first time in the company’s 80-year history that an IKEA store was reimagined entirely as an artistic installation built around gastronomy. Across the space, more than 30 sensory moments unfolded, blending Swedish traditions with global culinary influences to reflect the diversity of contemporary Swedish society.

Guests were welcomed into the experience through theatrical performances, including pantomimes and a full gospel choir singing from the store’s long escalator. At the top floor, a specially constructed FRAKTA bar, inspired by IKEA’s iconic blue bag, served as the starting point for the evening. Throughout the store, reworked roomsets and interactive installations introduced unexpected encounters such as dining in complete darkness, spoon-fed tastings delivered through concealed openings, and visually striking experiences like a human kaleidoscope.

Music played a central role in shaping the atmosphere, with live performances embedded directly into installations across the store rather than confined to a single stage. The evening was headlined by Cherrie, the Stockholm-based R&B artist with a rapidly growing international audience, alongside Diaspora, the creative collective known for connecting local and global talent. Additional performances by Mike Näselius, Hatami Siamak, Chez Ali, Diana Emerita, and DJ Majk contributed to the evolving energy of the night.

One entire floor was dedicated to celebrating a cornerstone of IKEA’s food heritage: the IKEA meatball, which marked its 40th anniversary. The space featured a meatball birthday cake, flowing gravy fountains, and a diverse selection of meatballs from around the world, spanning Eastern Europe, Latin America, Oceania, and South Asia. Plant-based, vegetable, fish, and chicken alternatives were also part of the experience, reflecting IKEA’s inclusive approach to food.

Blending elements of a culinary festival with an art installation, SMAKFEST offered a glimpse into a new type of IKEA experience that goes beyond retail. The event highlighted the brand’s curiosity-driven DNA and hinted at future concepts that continue to explore food, culture, and imagination in unexpected ways.

SOURCE: Ingka Holding B.V