One of Sweden’s most unique performing artists comes to Palladium Malmö. On November 22, 2026, Emil Gittansson Jensen brings his new show Vi måste hålla kontakten (We Need to Stay in Touch) – a personal exploration of friendship, life and everything in between. Through music, poetry and personal stories, audiences are invited to an evening that is both thought-provoking and full of laughter. The Salon: 5:40 PM | Show starts: 6:00 PM Running time: 2 hours, including an interval Bars in the Marble Foyer and Gold Foyer open: 5:00 PM The award-winning artist and poet returns with a new show and tour across Sweden. With his unique blend of music and spoken word, humour and seriousness, the personal and the universal, Emil brings courage and energy to the world around him. “The show revolves around friendship as a phenomenon. This deeply undervalued relationship is essential to us as human animals and is the foundation of all solidarity,” he says of the theme. Turning concepts upside down with the help of an old overhead projector, captivating music and passionate speeches - and, not least, through his deeply personal stories - Emil leaves no one untouched. The thread of friendship runs through everything from historical reflections to visions of the future, while also exploring loneliness and the extreme individualism of our time. “Recently, I lost my best friend, who took his own life, as well as both of my parents, who over the years had become my closest friends. It has made me think about what a true friend really is. How do we stay in touch - regardless of whether someone is still alive or not? Why does friendship have such low status, both in art and in society? And why are all the quotes about friendship so cheesy?” Over the years, Emil has emerged as one of Sweden’s most distinctive and beloved performers, with his singular between-song monologues that can seamlessly transform into songs, spoken word, short talks and stand-up comedy. Or “lyric tragedy”, as he calls it. In We Need to Stay in Touch, he now explores the possibilities of live performance even further, working with director Siri Bengtén. At its heart is Emil’s extensive catalogue of songs, and he is joined by his very own Friendship Band - Anna Dager on cello, Hanna Ekström on violin and Staffan Findin on trombone. “I’ve realized that several of my earlier songs orbit this very theme like planets, and together with the new songs, they now form an entirely new solar system. Just as we ourselves change through the people we meet. The more I think about it, the more I realize that songs are like imaginary friends.” Emil Jensen - now also Gittansson, adopted as a tribute to his mother - has released eight critically acclaimed albums and several books. He is a regular contributor to Swedish Radio, appearing as a commentator on Godmorgon världen and Tankar för dagen, and has also been widely praised for his appearances in the station’s Vinter and Sommar programmes. He has received the Nils Ferlin Prize for his poetry, the Evert Taube Prize for his songwriting and the Karl Gerhard Prize for his shows, and has been nominated for the Martin Luther King Prize for civil courage. Most recently, he was awarded ABF’s Cultural Prize, with a citation that highlights many aspects of Emil’s artistic work. From the citation: “Through his unique combination of music, poetry, storytelling and social engagement, he creates art that both moves and transforms. With equal parts playfulness and seriousness, he reminds us of the importance of solidarity in a time often marked by individualism and deep divisions. Emil has a special ability to make the invisible visible - to bring attention to the small moments, forgotten perspectives and voices that might otherwise go unheard.”