The various arts festivals in Norway provide the principal opportunity for cultural exchange. Music festivals in every genre are the most widespread in the country with the Molde International Jazz Festival, Risør Chamber Music Festival and ULTIMA Oslo Contemporary Music Festival being well established internationally. There are a number of other festivals for literature, visual art, theatre, and as many as 12 film festivals.

In 2003 the umbrella organisation Norway Festivals registered more than 3,000 events that were staged by its member festivals, reaching an audience over one million visitors. It website provides an excellent overview in English.