This article is part of FT Globetrotter’s guide to Copenhagen
Copenhagen is home to some of the coolest cultural spots in Europe, from buzzing art galleries and vibrant music festivals to world-renowned ballet and opera and trendsetting food events. 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the New Nordic Food Manifesto, for which a series of events will take place across the city, the culinary movement’s birthplace, towards the end of the year (details are yet to be announced) — though there’s never a bad time to be in the Danish capital.
Below we’ve shared some of the most exciting events on Copenhagen’s cultural calendar to plan your globetrotting around. This is by no means exhaustive, so do share your highlights in the comments.
February
Art
‘Melchior Lorck: An Artist in Transit’ and ‘Alberto Giacometti: What Meets the Eye’, SMK
The largest exhibition to date dedicated to the Danish-German Melchior Lorck, one of the Renaissance’s most important artists, who was renowned for his drawings and paintings of life in Turkey, from stunning cityscapes of a 16th-century Istanbul to portraits of sultans, as well as mythical creatures. Yet Lorck remains shrouded in mystery: while his works are known for their intricate detail, less is understood about the man himself. This show, which includes Lorck’s 11-metre panorama of Istanbul, endeavours to finally understand him. Until March 3; further information and tickets here
Alberto Giacometti: What Meets the Eye features the Swiss artist’s paintings, prints and drawings alongside his sculptures, offering an exploration of human physiology and the human experience, as shaped by politics and war. February 10 to May 20; further information and tickets here
‘Seeds and Souls’, Kunsthal Charlottenborg
This multimedia show explores “the connections between botanical histories, colonial legacies and diasporic experiences”, drawing on the idea of rootedness to draw parallels between plants, soil and our sense of place in a mobile world. It features paintings, sculptures, textile installations and digital and video pieces by artists from around the globe, including Brook Andrew, Sonia Boyce and Sheroanawe Hakihiiwe. Until February 18; further information and tickets here
‘King of the Arts: Son of the People’, Thorvaldsens Museum
To mark the 175th anniversary of the museum dedicated to the work of Bertel Thorvaldsen, this special exhibition celebrates the life and influence of the Neoclassical Danish sculptor. Through letters, historic news clippings and other documents, it dives into his role in the democratisation of art in Denmark, the politics at the time of his return to Copenhagen after 40 years in Rome and his effect on the role of art in society today. Until February 25; further information and tickets here
‘Joaquín Sorolla: Light in Motion’, Glyptoteket
The Glyptoteket, home to the private art collection of Carl Jacobsen, the son of the founder of the Carlsberg Breweries, is hosting Scandinavia’s first-ever solo exhibition of one of Spain’s most important late-19th/early-20th-century painters: Joaquín Sorolla, known for his ability to perfectly capture light and motion. The show includes some of his most heralded works from the Museo Sorolla in Madrid, from portraiture to garden and beach scenes, shown alongside works by five contemporary Spanish artists, including Soledad Sevilla and Miquel Barceló. Until March 3; further information and tickets here
‘Friendships on Paper: Friederike Brun’s Golden Age’, Frederiksbergmuseerne
This exhibition charts 19th-century creativity and friendship through artistic reciprocity, foregrounding Friederike Brun — a Danish writer, salon hostess and art collector — during what the museum posits as the “Golden Age” of intellectual exchange. Through her travels around Europe and her creation of a famous salon, Brun befriended many great artists, writers, thinkers and politicians. She acquired paintings, watercolours and drawings and other works from artists such as the above-mentioned Bertel Thorvaldsen, Antonio Canova, JL Lund and Angelica Kaufmann — and this is the largest ever display of her unique collection. Until March 31; further information and tickets here
‘Portraits of Seduction: The Queen Sets the Scene for Ehrengard’, Karen Blixen Museum
Queen Margrethe II’s scenography for director Bille August’s recent Netflix adaptation of Karen Blixen’s novella Ehrengard is on display: 41 découpages, as well as costumes and sketches, alongside audio interviews with the recently abdicated monarch. Until April 30; further information and tickets here
‘Proud’, Design Museum Danmark
An exhibition showcasing 21 folk and regional costumes with modern spins, all designed by artist Nicholas Nybro. Ranging from the opulent to the humorous, the pieces are designed to tell stories about Denmark’s different regions, exploring identity, diversity, the environment and more. Until May 26; further information and tickets here
Performance
‘The Hours’, Royal Danish Playhouse
A Danish-language adaptation of Michael Cunningham’s novel. The Hours follows three women, including Virginia Woolf as she is writing Mrs Dalloway, over one day in three different points in time. Until February 28; further information and tickets here
‘Cinderella’, Royal Danish Ballet
Prokofiev’s ballet is choreographed here by Gregory Dean, who is also a principal dancer at the Royal Danish Ballet. His Cinderella explores love, hope, sorrow (thanks to an “especially evil stepmother”), joy and, of course, a happy-ever-ever. Until March 10; further information and tickets here
‘Madama Butterfly’, Royal Danish Opera
Puccini’s tragedy opens for a two-month run. Cio-Cio-San will be sung alternately by sopranos Karah Son (who studied under the late Mirella Freni) and Gisela Stille; countertenors Evan LeRoy Johnson and Thomas Atkins play the caddish Pinkerton. February 25 to April 30; further information and tickets here
March
Performance
‘Giant Steps’, Royal Danish Ballet
Ballets from three of the world’s most celebrated choreographers: George Balanchine, Jorma Elo and Harald Lander. March 2 to 20; further information and tickets here
‘Koreorama’, Royal Danish Ballet
An ongoing development project in which the company’s emerging talents explore fresh, modern choreography that combines classical ballet with contemporary dance. This season features works created by soloist Tobias Praetorius and corps de ballet members Tara Schaufuss and Matteo Di Loreto. March 22 to April 30; further information and tickets here
‘Ariadne auf Naxos’ and ‘Saul’, Royal Danish Opera
Ariadne auf Naxos, Richard Strauss’s work based on a Greek tragedy that he transformed into a comic opera, deals with themes of heartbreak, happiness and serendipity. British opera director Katie Mitchell is at the helm. March 13 to April 14; further information and tickets here
Australian director Barrie Kosky’s award-winning operatic staging of Handel’s Saul has lavish sets that are a riot of costume and colour. British bass baritone Christopher Purves sings Saul, the Old Testament king driven mad by his envy of the young David (Danish countertenor Morten Grove Frandsen). They will be accompanied by the baroque Concerto Copenhagen orchestra. March 20 to April 5; further information and tickets here
‘The Servant of Two Masters’, Royal Danish Playhouse
Carlo Goldoni’s 18th-century comedy of errors about money, gender and love has been reworked by theatre director Viktor Tjerneld into a contemporary Danish-language satire. March 15 to April 30; further information and tickets here
Event
The Culture Night
An evening dedicated to celebrating Copenhagen’s culture via events at museums, galleries, government buildings and churches. Visitors must sign up for a Culture Pass to access the events, which provides free access to public transport in the city on the day. March 15; further information and tickets here
April
Performance
‘Don Giovanni’s Inferno’, Royal Danish Opera
Composer Simon Steen-Andersen imagines Don Giovanni’s journey through the underworld after the end of Mozart’s opera. In hell, he meets characters from works by Puccini, Wagner, Verdi, Berlioz, Gounod and Monteverdi in a “quirky, grotesque, divergent and provocative” production that brings in innovative set design and multimedia. April 20 to May 9; further information and tickets here
‘Under Dybet’, Royal Danish Ballet
Dance, music and theatre fuse forces in this innovative ballet that explores the transition from childhood to adulthood and death. Director Anja Behrens presents a three-act production that tackles themes such as love, grief, happiness and loneliness — and what it means to grow up in the modern world. April 20 to May 10; further information and tickets here
‘The Little Mermaid’, Royal Danish Playhouse
A Danish-language musical version of the classic fairy tale, as reimagined by director Anastasia Holst Nørlund for a modern audience. April 25 to June 8; further information and tickets here
Event
Odsherred Rally
An annual event in which vintage cars and motorbikes descend on Højby, a sleepy coastal town just over an hour from Copenhagen’s centre by car (or two hours by train). April 27; further information here
May
Performance
CPH Stage
A theatre festival across Copenhagen and Frederiksberg featuring more than 100 performances and events across a range of venues, from small, under-the-radar stages to the grand Royal Danish Playhouse. May 30 to June 8; further information here
‘Raymonda’, Royal Danish Ballet
A dramatic tale of a love triangle between a Hungarian nobleman, Moorish prince and the titular Raymonda, Marius Petipa’s final major ballet meticulously blends character, classical and national dances. May 17 to June 6; further information and tickets here
Sport
Copenhagen Marathon
Cheer along the 15,000 runners taking part in this annual marathon, which snakes around some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. May 5; further information here
Royal Run
Founded by King Frederik in 2018 as part of his 50th-birthday celebrations (he is a passionate runner), the Royal Run is meant to be a crowd-pleaser. Participants can choose between distances of 1.6, 5 and 10km — and you might even spot the royal family. May 20; further information here
Events
Art Week
Copenhagen’s annual festival of contemporary art, in which galleries and art spaces across the city host an array of exhibitions catering to the art industry and punters wanting to discover more. May 23 to 1 June; further information here
Copenhagen Beer Week
Attend tastings, listen to talks and nose around the city’s breweries. The festival celebrates Danish craft beer and its connection to the Copenhagen food scene. Dates to be announced; further information here soon
June
Festivals
Copenhagen Photo Festival
The city’s annual photography festival is held at Frame in Refshaleøen, a cool industrial venue with outdoor exhibition space. This year’s theme is “entanglement”. June 6 to 16; further information here
3daysofdesign
Discover the best of new Danish design and the work of creatives from around the world. Expect more than 250 exhibitors in showrooms, shops, galleries and other venues across the city. June 12 to 14; further information and tickets here
July
Festivals
Roskilde Festival
One of Europe’s biggest music festivals, just a 30-minute train journey from Copenhagen, is back for 2024, with a line-up including Foo Fighters, PJ Harvey and Skrillex. June 29 to July 6; further information and tickets here
Copenhagen Jazz Festival
Copenhagen’s long-standing annual celebration of all things jazz, with performances filling the streets, parks and venues of the city centre. Dates to be announced: further information here soon
August
Art
‘Petrified Ideals’, Glyptoteket
For this new exhibition, eight authors, poets and “opinion-makers” have chronicled stories about the museum’s permanent collection of marble statues. Each offers their own reflections on the pieces, touching on themes such as gender roles, the body and cultural inheritance. From August 17; further information and tickets here
Enter Art Fair, Lokomotivværkstedet
Founded in 2019, Enter is Scandinavia’s largest international contemporary art fair, featuring 90 top galleries from around the globe. Since its launch, it has almost tripled in size and is expected to welcome more than 20,000 visitors this year. August 29 to September 1; further information here
‘Against All Odds: Historical Women and New Algorithms’, SMK
A deep dive into the work of some of the most groundbreaking female Nordic artists from 1870 to 1910. August 31 to December 8; further information and tickets here
Sport
Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix
An annual salute to historic cars and Danish motorsport in Bellahøj, Copenhagen. August 2 to 4; further information and tickets here
Festivals and events
O Days, Refshaleøen
Music is joined by food, craft beer and design installations at this multi-faceted festival. Last year’s line-up included Underworld, Mahalia and Nia Archives. August 1 to 3; further information and tickets here
Copenhagen Summer Festival
In this celebration of emerging talent, the best young performers in classical music are given a stage. August 4 to 15; further information and tickets here
Copenhagen Fashion Week
The year’s second iteration of the sartorial celebration arrives in August, when Scandi designers reveal their spring/summer 2025 collections. August 5 to 9; further information here soon
Copenhagen Cooking
Over 10 days, Copenhagen’s chefs, restaurants and foodies convene to celebrate the city’s trendsetting food scene. Participants can join workshops, food and wine tastings, and alfresco dining on huge communal tables in the streets. August 16 to 25; further information and tickets here
September
Festival
Golden Days
An annual cultural festival that works across disciplines and mediums to explore what it calls the “B-side” of history, in collaboration with museums and venues across the city. This year’s theme is “working life”. September 6 to 22; further information here
October
Event
Carlsberg City District
Located between Frederiksberg, Valby and Vesterbro, Copenhagen’s newest neighbourhood will be nearing competition towards the end of this year. Explore new cycle paths, green spaces, architecture, shops and restaurants — and the home of Carlsberg brewery. Further information here
November
Art
‘Käthe Kollwitz’, SMK
A retrospective dedicated to one of the last century’s most important printmakers, Käthe Kollwitz (1867—1945), demonstrating the German artist’s variety and range, and examining her work — which also included paintings and sculptures — against their social, political and historic context. November 7 to February 25 2025; further information and tickets here
December
Performance
‘The Nutcracker’, Royal Danish Ballet
The annual festive run of the ultimate Christmas ballet, performed by the national company. Dates to be announced; further information here soon
Events
Santa Lucia kayak parade
A night-time procession along Copenhagen’s canals of kayaks trimmed with Christmas lights, with the kayakers themselves decked out in tinsel and Santa hats. December 13; further information here
Christmas in Tivoli
Winter is the best time of the year to visit the sprawling Tivoli Gardens, with festive music and food, ice skating and a firework display to ring in the new year. Throughout December; further information here
What are your 2024 calendar highlights in Copenhagen this year? Share your tips in the comments
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