More than 5000 people from all over Norway meet once a year, every year at a new location, to participate, dance, listen to music and meet old friends some days around midsummer. People of all ages and all skills participate at the contests, and there are separate classes for hardanger fiddle, folk singing, old folk instruments, dance, to mention just a few.
This annual competition bears a long tradition, starting from approximately 1888, when the first Kappleik was held in Bø in Telemark. At that time only hardanger fiddlers were competing. Since then, the Kappleik has expanded and now folk dancers and folk singers are just as experienced in this competition form as the fiddlers.
Everybody has different opinions on who should win the contests, but the winners of these contests all receives great acclaim and status from the folk music audience. In short, Landskappleiken is a meeting place, festival and competing arena for folk music with an engaging mix of great fun and quite serious music discussions!