Avicii Arena rises over Stockholm’s Johanneshov district as one of the most recognizable concert venues in Europe, its perfectly spherical shell visible across the city skyline since it opened on February 19, 1989. Originally called Stockholm Globe Arena and later Ericsson Globe under a sponsorship deal, the building took on its current name in 2021 as a tribute to Swedish DJ and producer Avicii, who died in 2018.
At 110 meters in diameter, the arena held the title of the world’s largest spherical building until Las Vegas’s Sphere surpassed it in 2023. Beyond music, the dome doubles as the Sun in the Sweden Solar System, the largest scale model of the solar system on Earth, with other planets represented by installations scattered across the country.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Johanneshov, Stockholm, Sweden
- Type: Indoor arena
- Opened: February 19, 1989
- Capacity: About 16,000 (concerts)
- Diameter: 110 meters (360 feet)
- Inner height: 85 meters (279 feet)
- Famous for: World’s largest spherical building (1989-2023)
A Sphere Built for Sound
Designed by architects Svante Berg and Lars Vretblad, the arena’s spherical geometry was chosen partly for structural efficiency and partly for spectacle, giving Stockholm an instantly recognizable landmark. Inside, the bowl has hosted acts ranging from David Bowie and Whitney Houston to U2, Lady Gaga, and Bob Dylan, alongside a papal Mass and Swedish national hockey celebrations. A roughly $92 million renovation completed in early 2025 added retractable acoustic ceilings and gondola seating aimed at improving both sound quality and sightlines for touring productions.
The building also functions as a multipurpose sports venue, serving as a secondary home for Djurgårdens IF’s ice hockey club for high-demand games like city derbies, when its larger capacity outstrips the club’s regular arena, Hovet, located next door in the same Stockholm Globe City complex.
Renamed for a Swedish Icon
The 2021 renaming to Avicii Arena marked one of the few times a major venue has been dedicated to a musician rather than a corporate sponsor, reflecting Avicii’s stature as one of Sweden’s most influential electronic music exports. The move followed the expiration of Ericsson’s sponsorship and was intended as a lasting cultural tribute within the artist’s home country, cementing the dome’s place as both an architectural and musical landmark.
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Avicii Arena FAQs
Why was it renamed Avicii Arena?
The venue was renamed in 2021 to honor Swedish DJ and producer Avicii, who died in 2018, after the prior Ericsson naming-rights deal ended.
How big is Avicii Arena?
It measures 110 meters in diameter and 85 meters in inner height, holding about 16,000 people for concerts.
Is it still the world’s largest spherical building?
No. It held that title from 1989 until 2023, when the Sphere in Las Vegas opened and surpassed it in size.
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Photo: Holger.Ellgaard / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.