Beloved Swedish Charity Gala Canceled After 13 Years of Success
Stockholm, Sweden – September 24, 2025 – After thirteen years of raising millions for children and young people in Kenya, the annual Zelmerlöw & Björkman Invitational gala has been canceled, founders announced today. The event,a staple of the Swedish celebrity calendar,typically draws high-profile attendees and generates up to SEK 6 million (approximately $570,000 USD) for the Zelmerlöw & Björkman Foundation.
In an email to members, Jonas Björkman cited “great pressure” on the foundation in 2025 as the reason for the difficult decision. Details surrounding the financial challenges were not immediately disclosed.
[ImageofMånsZelmerlöwatthe2022galawithcaption:[ImageofMånsZelmerlöwatthe2022galawithcaption:[ImageofMånsZelmerlöwatthe2022galawithcaption:[ImageofMånsZelmerlöwatthe2022galawithcaption:Måns Zelmerlöw at Zelmerlöw & Björkman Invitational 2022. photo: Karin Törnblom / IBL]
The Zelmerlöw & Björkman Foundation, co-founded by tennis legend Jonas Björkman and singer Måns Zelmerlöw, has become renowned for its impactful work supporting youth development programs in Kenya. The annual gala has been the cornerstone of their fundraising efforts, attracting important attention and donations from across Sweden.
[ImageofJonasBjörkmanwithcaption:[ImageofJonasBjörkmanwithcaption:[ImageofJonasBjörkmanwithcaption:[ImageofJonasBjörkmanwithcaption:Jonas Björkman is co-founder of Zelmerlöw & Björkman Foundation. Photo: Jessica Gow / TT / TT News Agency]
The cancellation of this year’s event raises concerns about the foundation’s future fundraising capacity and the potential impact on its ongoing projects in Kenya. Further updates are expected as the foundation addresses the challenges it faces.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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