Biography
Petter Wallenberg is multi-awarded Swedish artist, director, author, musician, public speaker and LGBTQ+ rights activist.
Over the past few years, he has produced an array of musical, visual, and performing arts projects, making waves around the world.
Bland Drakar och Dragqueens
As the founding director of Bland Drakar och Dragqueens (Amongst Dragons and Drag Queens), Petter leads the largest drag theatre company in the Nordics, presenting up to 200 shows annually for audiences of all ages in Sweden and Finland. In 2022, he wrote and directed an original musical for children at Konserthuset Stockholm (Royal Concert Hall of Sweden), collaborating with The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra Academy. In 2023 he wrote the best selling children’s book “Bland Drakar och Dragqueens Sagobok” (Natur & Kultur).
In 2024, Petter was invited to host a seminar at Sweden’s parliament, educating and mobilizing public decision-makers in the fight against LGBTQ+ hate crimes.
Rainbow Riots
Petter is also the founding director of Rainbow Riots, a non-profit organization advocating for the human rights of LGBT people, particularly in countries where being LGBT is controversial or punishable. Having worked in Uganda for a decade, where same-sex relationships are illegal, he established East Africa’s first LGBT community center in 2019, providing a safe space for marginalised LGBT people in a hostile environment.
Petter’s achievements also include an official musical campaign he created for the United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development, as well as India’s first Pride anthem, composed during the historic legalization of same-sex relations in the country.
His work with Rainbow Riots has received international acclaim, featured in world leading media outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, and the Financial Times.
Awards
2025: Årets kulturinitiativ – Inclusion Awards
2024: Lavapriset för litteratur 2024 – Kulturhuset stadsteatern
2024: Grafiska branschens stora pris
2024: Stipendiat från Astrid Lindgrens stiftelse Solkatten
2022: Orfeo & Thalia-priset – International Gay And Lesbian Culture Network
2022: Årets Folkbildare, Stockholms Stad
2020: Arco Nordica Award from The International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network
2020: Pelle Svanslös Våga Vara Snäll-stipendiet
2017: Stockholms Stad Kulturstipendium
2014: Clio Awards
2012: Sappho in Paradise Award by Tupilak, Paradise Press Publishing’s and ILGCN’s (The International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network).
2008: Nöjesguidens Stockholmspris
Music
Using the stage name House of Wallenberg, he has composed and produced two critically acclaimed solo music albums – ‘Legends’ and ‘My House is Your House’ – both released through his own label, Mums Mums Records. His single ”I Believe” featured legendary house pioneer Adeva and reached #22 at Music Week Club Chart. He has collaborated on his albums with Swedish rap legends Neneh Cherry and Leila K, Ari Up of pioneering female punk band The Slits, Octavia St Laurent from legendary New York queer Ballroom scene documentary Paris is burning and many others.
In 2013 Petter created the musical campaign ‘Love Yourself Test Yourself’ to encourage testing for HIV. The campaign went on to win a Clio Award, one of the world’s most recognizable international advertising awards, and resulted in a renewed increase in HIV-testing.
Petter is also an acclaimed author with two published books under his belt: Historien om Leila K (2013) and Bögjävlar (2007). As a writer, editor in chief and art director, he also created and ran his own award winning art magazine ‘Mums’ from 2009 to 2014.
Petter has directed a string of documentary films and music videos as part of his own projects, many of which have been showcased at festivals around the world.
