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Win your own private island in Sweden for an entire year

Sweden is giving one lucky traveler a private island for a year, complete with round-trip flights

By Amanda Teague Feb 25, 2026 4:00 AM

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If you have ever fantasized about escaping the noise and claiming a slice of paradise all to yourself, Sweden just turned that daydream into a real possibility. In response to travelers swapping crowded hotspots for quieter, nature-filled escapes, Sweden is inviting people to apply to win one of its 267,000 islands for an entire year.

The initiative, called “Your Swedish Island,” will award one lucky winner a full year on a private island. Sweden, which boasts more islands than any other country in the world, is leaning into its wide-open spaces at a time when nearly half of global respondents in a recent YouGov survey said they would happily trade crowds for their own island retreat.

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Five carefully selected islands are part of the campaign. Each offers peaceful seclusion while still sitting close enough to local communities for everyday needs like grocery runs, mailing packages, or even joining a traditional Swedish Midsummer celebration.

How to apply for your own island escape

Applying is refreshingly simple. Hopeful islanders just need to record a short video explaining why they deserve their own Swedish island, fill out the online application form, and tag @visitsweden on social media to boost their chances. The prize includes not only a year on a private island, but also round-trip airfare to Sweden.

The contest runs through April 17, giving dreamers a limited window to make their pitch.

Amanda, an accomplished freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio, is a dedicated explorer of both the world and the written word… Read Full Bio

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