You probably haven’t heard of Tjuvholmen: an uninhabited, pine-fringed islet which stands in Sweden’s largest lake, Lake Vänern.
Accessible only by kayak or boat, Tjuvholmen is surrounded by open waters and majestic views — including of the white-walled, fairytale Läckö Castle, perched on the mainland.
If you’ve dreamed of having your own private island, Tjuvholmen could be the place. Sweden is offering five people the chance to become custodians of five of the country’s islands — including Tjuvholmen — for a year.
The competition, run by Visit Sweden, is giving winners a “one-year right” to use their island, which allows them to stay for longer than would usually be permitted under Swedish law.
Each winner will receive a certificate of custodianship, and a contract outlining basic stewardship responsibilities.
The islands will remain open to the public, and winners must respect environmental laws, protect the islands’ nature and follow Sweden’s Right of Public Access rules.
The five islands up for grabs are Tjuvholmen, Medbådan, Skötbådan, Storberget and Marsten, all situated in the south and east of the country.
All five islands are uninhabited, without electricity or running water, but winners are permitted to camp on their islands to “foster a connection with nature”.
According to a spokesperson from the tourist board, the islands were chosen because of their varied scenery — Tjuvholmen is wooded, for example, while Skötbådan is a tiny, low-lying rock— and proximity to local communities for amenities like shops and transport.
Winners will also receive a travel voucher for a round-trip to Sweden for two people, worth up to 20,000 SEK (£1,600).
To apply, applicants must submit a video online with an explanation of why they deserve to be an island custodian before the deadline of 17 April 2026.
Winners will be selected by a jury of creative experts and representatives from Visit Sweden and the Swedish National Property Board, and will be rewarded for their creativity, storytelling and authenticity.
Because the competition is aimed at international travellers, it is not open to Swedish nationals — or billionaires.
This is intended to “democratise the ‘private island’ dream”, says Visit Sweden: “Proving that you do not need to be a billionaire to access your own island, as Sweden has more islands (267,570) than any other country”. Applicants must be 18 or over.
The purpose of the competition, according to Visit Sweden, is to promote the country as a quiet, tranquil destination for nature-lovers — an “antidote to modern life” — and to encourage travel to “off the beaten track” destinations like these islands.
In the past, the tourist board has run other inventive campaigns to promote Sweden as a holiday destination, including trademarking the country’s name (there are seven other Swedens) and promoting the real-life Swedish locations that share their names with IKEA products.
“Sweden has more islands than any other country in the world, and we would like to invite people to enjoy what may be the most genuine form of luxury: the peace and tranquillity of nature on your own island,” says Susanne Andersson, CEO at Visit Sweden.
“If you don’t get one of these islands, don’t worry. Sweden has many more that everyone can enjoy.”
