The Island That Questioned Time

Sommarøy ("Summer Island") is a small village in northern Norway, just above the Arctic Circle. In 2019, it made headlines with an unusual claim: that it wanted to become the world’s first time-free zone.

A Place Without Night… or Day

From late May to mid-July, the sun never sets. Locals swim, mow lawns, and host bonfires at all hours. In winter, the sun disappears entirely. When day and night blur, standard schedules start to feel irrelevant.

Was It Real?

Not exactly. The time-free idea was part of a publicity campaign by Innovation Norway to highlight the region’s extreme light cycles. Locals supported the concept, but it wasn’t a legal proposal—just a creative way to get people thinking.

Do They Use Clocks?

Yes. Ferries, schools, and shops still run on normal time. But in summer, many residents take a looser approach, living by light rather than by the hour.