In the survey among people with an immigrant background, a representative sample responded to questions about their participation in various cultural activities. The sample consisted of immigrants and Norwegian-born individuals with two immigrant parents who were aged 9 years or older.

The 2025 results from the survey show that the participation in various cultural activities has stabilized, both in the population as a whole and among people with an immigrant background. In this report, the term “total population” denotes results from the Norwegian Cultural Barometer, based on a representative sample of the total population that includes individuals both with and without an immigrant background. People with an immigrant background and the total population attended cinemas, ballet and dance performances, festivals, art exhibitions, and opera to a similar extent. People with an immigrant background visited public libraries and museums to a greater extent than the total population, and they also participated more often in religious and life stance community meetings. However, a lower share of people with an immigrant background attended theatre performances and concerts in 2025 compared with the total population.

As in previous years, the 2025 results show that women and younger people are among the most active participators in cultural activities. Furthermore, women with an immigrant background participated equally or more in all the cultural activities compared with men, except for sporting events. Children aged 9–15 had the highest share of visits among all age groups for all cultural activities except opera and art exhibitions. Differences between the youngest and oldest age groups were greatest for cinema, theatre, museum visits, and sporting events, and smallest for opera, art exhibitions, and concerts. The oldest age group, 67 years or older, attended opera performances and art exhibitions more frequently than younger age groups.

In 2023, going to the cinema was the most popular cultural activity among people with an immigrant background, whereas in 2025 public libraries were the most popular activity. 60 per cent of people with an immigrant background had visited a public library during the past year in 2025, followed by 58 per cent who had been to the cinema. There was also an increase in museum visits among people with an immigrant background, from 48 per cent in 2023 to 53 per cent in 2025.

Among the total population, children aged 9-15 attended cinemas, concerts, and sporting events more often than those aged 9-15 with an immigrant background. In contrast, children and young people with an immigrant background were more active visitors to museums and art exhibitions. For theatre and public library visits, the share of visits among children aged 9–15 was approximately the same among people with an immigrant background and in the total population.

People with an immigrant background read more e-books than the total population in 2025. Three in ten people with an immigrant background read one or more e books during a year, compared with two in ten in the total population. Nevertheless, printed books remain the most widely read format for both people with an immigrant background and the total population. Seven in ten people with an immigrant background read one or more printed books over the course of a year, and nearly four in ten read a printed book in an average week. Children with an immigrant background read printed books to a much greater extent than other age groups.

Although cultural participation has increased since the pandemic year of 2021, many still wish to attend more often. 62 per cent of people with an immigrant background wanted to go to the cinema more frequently, 61 per cent wanted to attend concerts more often, and just over half wanted to visit museums and theatres more frequently.