The small Norwegian island of Sommarøy, located far above the Arctic Circle, has symbolically declared itself the world’s first “time-free zone,” freeing its approximately 350 residents from the tyranny of the clock. The move is a formal recognition of a lifestyle already dictated by the extreme natural light cycles of the high north.
The island, whose name translates to “Summer Island,” experiences the Midnight Sun, where the sun never dips below the horizon for a full 69 days, from May 18 to July 26. Conversely, from November to January, the island endures the Polar Night, when the sun does not rise at all.
Locals say the continuous daylight of summer makes traditional scheduling irrelevant. Children play soccer at midnight, residents mow their lawns or paint their houses at 4 a.m., and social gatherings on the beach can happen at any hour. This led islanders to petition their local Member of Parliament to officially abolish civil time on the island.
To symbolize their break from rigid schedules, visitors and some residents have begun abandoning their watches on the railing of the bridge connecting Sommarøy to the mainland, turning the structure into a unique monument to freedom from time.
While essential services like schools and some businesses still operate with a loose structure to coordinate with the mainland, the spirit of the time-free zone has taken hold. Locals prioritize their body’s natural rhythm and the ever-present sunlight over a ticking clock, with one resident stating, “We don’t live without time. We just don’t let time chase us anymore.”
Although later revealed to be an incredibly successful marketing campaign by Innovation Norway to boost tourism, the sentiment and the story resonated globally. The campaign brought worldwide attention to the beautiful fishing village and its unique way of life under the midnight sun and the polar night. The island remains a popular tourist destination for those looking to experience life where the day never ends.
