SMAKFEST in Stockholm | One-night-only immersive food festival in an IKEA store
FRAKTA Bar at SMAKFEST in the IKEA Kungens Kurva store in Stockholm 
Sofa Cakes at the SMAKFEST at the IKEA Kungens Kurva store in Stockholm 
Meatball photobooth at the SMAKFEST at the IKEA Kungens Kurva store in Stockholm 
Iskub bar at the SMAKFEST at the IKEA Kungens Kurva store in Stockholm 
A human kaleidoscope at SMAKFEST in the IKEA Kungens Kurva store in Stockholm
On December 9, Stockholm experienced IKEA like never before. One thousand IKEA Family members who secured a sold-out ticket, streamed into the darkened Kungens Kurva store to take part in SMAKFEST, a one-night-only immersive food festival/experience. Think celebrating the 40th birthday of IKEA’s iconic meatball, dining in the dark, a FRAKTA bar, a human kaleidoscope, spoon-fed tastings delivered through a tiny peephole, live music, and much more.
An in-store food festival filled with inspiring and edible design and art ideas.
2-minute read
SMAKFEST means ‘taste feast’
In Swedish, SMAKFEST means ‘taste feast’. For the first time in its 80-year history, an IKEA store was transformed into an artistic installation built around food, culture, and imagination. More than 30 sensory moments unfolded throughout the space, blending Swedish traditions with global influences, which is a true reflection of modern Swedish society.
Live music, a FRAKTA bar shaped like the IKEA blue bag, eating in the dark and much more
Guests were welcomed by pantomime performers and a full gospel choir singing from the long escalator leading to the top floor. A giant FRAKTA bar, built exclusively for the night and shaped like the iconic blue IKEA bag, served the first drink of the evening. Across the store, installations and room-set exhibits created a series of surprising experiences, including a human kaleidoscope, dining in complete darkness and spoon-fed tastings delivered through a tiny peephole. Live music performances were woven seamlessly into the installations and appeared throughout the space, amplifying both the energy and the overall experience. The musical highlights of the night were headlined by Cherrie, the Stockholm-based R&B artist with a rapidly growing global audience. She was joined by Diaspora, the creative collective known for connecting local and international talent, as well as Mike Näselius, Hatami Siamak, Chez Ali, Diana Emerita, and DJ Majk.
Spoon fed tasting at the SMAKFEST at the IKEA Kungens Kurva store in Stockholm
IKEA’s meatball turns 40 | Meatball birthday cake and gravy fountains
One entire floor was dedicated to celebrating the 40th birthday of IKEA’s famous meatball. The milestone was marked with a meatball birthday cake, gravy fountains, and a rich, diverse showcase of meatballs from around the world. From Eastern Europe and Latin America to Oceania and South Asia. Staying true to the IKEA food experience, plant balls, veggie balls, fish balls, and chicken balls were also on the menu.
Part feast and part art installation, SMAKFEST explored a new kind of IKEA experience, reflecting the deep curiosity embedded in the brand’s DNA. And this was only a glimpse of what’s to come.
At the end of last year we wrote about the opening of the first Swedish restaurant by IKEA on a UK high street in our trends we spotted week 46.
Website: IKEA
