Vännäs (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈvɛ̌nːɛs]) is a locality in Västerbotten County in northern Sweden. Vännäs is the seat of Vännäs Municipality and had 4,466 inhabitants in 2018.

The name of the village is known since 1535 (Wendenäs, ‘The place where a person walking down the western shoreline of the Vindel river must change her path’).

Vännäs is the hometown of the hardcore-band Refused. The Vännäs TV Tower, a 323 metres tall partially staffed broadcasting mast, is located in the vicinity of Vännäs.

Twinned municipalities

Vännäs Municipality is twinned with Cameri, Italy (since 2003), Hemnes, Norway and Storkyro, Finland.

Vännäsdagarna

Vännäsdagarna ("The Vännäs Days") is a three days long annual festival during the second weekend of July, which brings a mix of performers and street vendors to Vännäs every year. An estimated 58,000 visitors attend the festival each year, thus making Vännäsdagarna the biggest festival in Västerbotten County.

Railway

The Main Line Through Upper Norrland was built during the 19th century, and was for military reasons passing through Vännäs instead of Umeå, the largest urban center in Västerbotten. The railway made Vännäs an important rail junction, which facilitated the rapid growth of the locality. Today passenger trains depart regularly to Umeå and to Vindeln and Luleå further north.

Shops & Services

There are two supermarkets, ICA and Coop a Systembolaget as well as several cafes, pizzerias, two Thai restaurants and at least three hairdressers. Pingstkyrkan runs a good second hand store on the main street. Vännäs also has a district veterinarian with 24 hour coverage.

Schools

Liljaskolan, the locality's only upper secondary school caters for 1100 students, studying at eleven programmes. Students at Liljaskolan can choose to study, among other things, transportation and tourism.

Hammarskolan caters for some 250 pupils in year 7–9, whereas younger students attend Vegaskolan which caters for year 0-9.

Attractions

Vännäs is home to the motor museum where there are many vintage cars, motorbiikes, tractors and even some airplanes and helicopters. It is housed in an old air-hangar to the west of the town.

Vännäs badcamping has an outdoor waterpark that is open through the summer and has a water slide as well as a small cafe and a sauna.

Notable people from Vännäs

Athletes

• Daniel Tjärnqvist
• Mathias Tjärnqvist

Musicians

• Dennis Lyxzén

Media

• Sverker Olofsson
• Linda Olofsson

Authors

• Pär Hansson