A popular Valborg bonfire in Stockholm has been cancelled after almost 50 years, ending a long-running spring tradition that drew large crowds to the Swedish capital each year.

The event, which had become a familiar part of the citys calendar, was cancelled because of concerns over the risk of fire spreading, organisers said. The decision means one of Stockholms best-known seasonal gatherings will not take place this year.

Valborg, also known as Walpurgis Night, is celebrated across Sweden on 30 April with bonfires, music and outdoor gatherings to welcome spring. In Stockholm, the cancelled bonfire had attracted residents and visitors for decades.

Organisers said they were forced to act after assessing safety conditions around the site. The cancellation reflects growing caution around open flames and large public events during periods of dry weather and variable spring conditions.

The bonfire had been held for nearly 50 years, making it a notable fixture in the local celebration of Valborg. Its cancellation is likely to disappoint regular attendees who treated it as an annual meeting point and a sign that winter was finally over.

Stockholm has many ways of marking the seasonal change, but the bonfire held a particular place in the citys spring celebrations. For many, it combined tradition, community and the chance to gather outdoors after the colder months.

Local authorities and event organisers in Sweden have been under increasing pressure to balance public celebrations with fire safety. Even where such events continue, permits can depend on weather, ground conditions and the ability to control crowds and flames.

Valborg remains one of the most widely recognised dates in the Swedish calendar. University towns, neighbourhood groups and cultural associations often stage their own events, with singing and fires playing a central role in the evening festivities.

In Stockholm, the cancellation of the long-running bonfire marks a rare break from a tradition that had endured through changing seasons, city life and shifting safety rules. It also highlights how environmental concerns are reshaping even the most established public gatherings.

While no replacement event has been announced, the loss of the bonfire leaves a gap in a celebration that has helped define the start of spring for generations of Stockholm residents.