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The move of Kiruna Church is a world-unique event and will take place over two days between 19-20 August 2025. The move will be livestreamed and a series of activities will be organised in connection with the event.
For two days in August 2025, Kiruna Church will be moved to its new location, and the public is invited to follow this historic moment through the event The Great Church Walk.
In order to make this as memorable an experience as possible, special places along the moving route have been designated where visitors can follow the church’s movement live. An extensive stage program will be arranged on the town square, where the entire move will be shown on a large screen. The program on the main stage will contain interviews with experts, reflections on the history and significance of the church, as well as musical performances and other entertainment. The event on the City Hall Square will take place over both days, with preliminary times between 08:00 and 17:00. Everything is open and free of charge to visitors.
The move of Kiruna Church is a unique event in world history, and The Great Church Walk is an opportunity for both residents and visitors to jointly take part in this important stage in the city’s development. The church has been an important gathering place for generations. That is why we now want to create new opportunities to meet.
Welcome to experience a historical milestone in Kiruna, August 19-20, 2025. We look forward to sharing this historic event with you!
In 2004, LKAB informed the municipal management in Kiruna that it was necessary to move the then town center.
The decision was made as mining was to descend to a new main level of 1365 meters below ground – a necessity to enable continued mining operations in a safe and sustainable manner.
After extensive work together with Kiruna Municipality and the County Administrative Board, it was determined that Kiruna Church and Belfry are inside the affected area and will be affected by the mining.
Kiruna Church is a cultural monument. This means that there are special laws, regulations and requirements to comply with during both the design and implementation. LKAB maintains continuous dialogue with Kiruna Pastorate, the County Administrative Board and Kiruna Municipality ahead of the move.
The church is a large and expensive load to transport, and extensive preparatory work is required along the approximately five-kilometer-long relocation route, which is being built in nine stages. The church will first be moved out to Lombololeden, which will be temporarily widened to 24 meters while the viaduct at Lombolo is dismantled and replaced by a three-way intersection. The move will then go down through the industrial area, onto Cisternvägen and further onto Malmvägen, to eventually arrive at the new location.
The church's new location has been chosen with care, after dialogue with the municipality and county administrative board, and will be between the cemetery and the new Kiruna city center.
The ambition with the location is to achieve a similar feeling and character in relation to the stadium, reminiscent of the original location. Therefore, buildings that are moved from Björkbacken will also be placed in a way that mimics the current environment around the church and the vicarage.
Following a decision from the church council, the location of the church will be rotated 180 degrees. A common rule of thumb is that the choir with its altar should be placed facing east, but after the move, Kiruna Church belongs to the group of churches where the choir faces a different direction, pointing west. This is inspired by the traditional folk church, which, in its aim to be open and accessible to everyone, often has its entrance facing the city, the people and the congregation.
