Before the gala, guests gathered outdoors on the pedestrian street, where the Restaurant and Food Program at Björknäsgymnasiet served hot drinks and popular snacks.

The evening was hosted by Mark Levengood, and the audience enjoyed performances by local talents, including Stefan Gunnarsson, Lena Wohlin Zerpe, and Art Dance Studio, who set the tone for the award presentations.

After the gala, the celebration continued with a gala dinner at Hotell Bodensia.

Boden residents submitted around 450 nominations across ten categories. A jury selected the winners in nine categories, while residents themselves voted for Eldsjäl (community champion), which went to 85-year-old Göran Honkamaa. He has dedicated his life to cross-country skiing and still leads training sessions for both youth and adults in the Sävast Ski Team, the club he helped found in 1977.