Although a relatively small country of only 5.8 million, Denmark hosts an array of outstanding music festivals every year which put it on the European and world stage for the performing arts. In recent years, there has been an explosion of music festivals for every taste in Denmark, from rock, pop and heavy metal to jazz, blues and country music, meaning there is a smorgasbord of choice for festival connoiseurs like me.

I’ve looked at pop concerts in the secluded woods of Skanderborg, perused the quaint jazz bars of Copenhagen (via the epic crowds of Roskilde), and have put together my list of the best music festivals in Denmark.

It has three stages hosting a range of artists and is a ‘must-do’ for any Aarhus resident (as I was for 4 years!). The first Northside began in 2010 and has continued to grow since then, attracted between 40 - 50, 000 every year (Image credit: Northside Festival).

In 2023, Northside Festival will run from 1st June to the 3rd June. Past headliners have included Tame Impala, Major Lazer, Bon Iver, The Streets and The Prodigy.

Get more info on the festival on the official Northside Festival site.

It’s the second biggest festival in Denmark, attracting 50 000 pundits each year and attracting massive names like Justin Bieber, Stormzy, Gorillaz and Britney.

In 2023, Smukfest will run from the 2nd to the 6th August. It looks like it’s already sold out, but you can join the volunteer team of 8000+ people via the Smukfest website.

Since its inception, Stella Polaris has taken place in Aalborg, Odense, Esbjerg, Sønderborg, Silkeborg and Kolding (Image credit: Stella Polaris).

The festival celebrates electriconic, jazz and dub in a family-friendly atmosphere, encouraging attendees to bring picnics and chill out to enjoy the mellow sounds.

In 2023, Stella Polaris will take place from the 28th to 30th July.

The festival welcomes over 250.000 guests every year to live jazz across clubs, cafés and concert halls, and at open-air night venues – all in the very heart of Copenhagen.

Copenhagen’s legendary status as one of the jazz capitals of Europe grew in the 1950s and 1960s, when a whole host of leading American jazz icons had their creative base in the city. Among those who have called Copenhagen home are Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Ben Webster, Stuff Smith, Ed Thigpen, Thad Jones and Kenny Drew.

Last year the festival saw legends like Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves and Oumou Sangaré take to the stages of Copenhagen. In 2023 it will run from June 30th to July 9th, you can get all the info via the Copenhagen Jazz Festival website.

Close to two hundred artists and bands from most genres of contemporary popular music - including rock, hip hop, electronic and reggae - play 200 concerts during SPOT. With venues based around the Academy of Music, the concert halls of Musikhuset and Godsbanen - it all takes place in the centre of the city, so you can roam from stage to stage easily.

As well as discovering amazing new music, SPOT attracts great food trucks and is a fantastic social occasion for Aarhusianers and visitors alike.

Get more details on the lineup and dates of the festival in 2023 via the SPOT Festival website.

A festival-loving nation

There you have it, my own top 10 list of the best music festivals in Denmark. In my view, the best festivals are the ones which bring people together from across different walks of life to celebrate amazing music in amazing settings. I hope the ones I’ve mentioned above can give you the best glimpse into that incredible feeling which the best music festivals can create.

Of course, there are loads I haven’t mentioned, from reggae and techno festivals in the capital to the ever-popular Skive, Skagen and Samsø festivals and newcomers like the Syd for Solen festival in Søndermarken.

Are there any which I’ve missed off the list which you think should be included? Leave a comment below and let me know!

Planning a trip to Scandinavia?

Why not check out my guides to Aarhus and Gilleleje in Denmark, or explore the rest of the Scandi Culture Experiences to find out what’s on offer.