NorthSide Festival Aarhus

Top 10 events worth travelling for in Aarhus

Photo: Thorsten Iversen

If Aarhus has tickled your fancy and you’re wondering when to visit, our pick of the city’s biggest events throughout the year might help you decide! Aarhus’ cultural calendar is full of music events, cultural events and even Viking ones too! So which kind of culture vulture are you?

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Party with Danes in Aarhus at NorthSide

NorthSide music festival in the centre of Aarhus has grown over the last few years to become one of the most impressive music festivals in Scandinavia. Get up close to the biggest international names in music and enjoy the unique surroundings of cultural Aarhus in June each year.

Enjoy the historic Aarhus Festival

First held in 1965, the Aarhus Festival (Aarhus Festuge) is now one of the largest cultural events in Scandinavia. Fly to Aarhus in late August to take part and see a wealth of international and Danish art, exhibitions, dance and music performances throughout Aarhus city centre.

Release your inner Viking at Moesgaard Viking Moot

It’s not all violence and ale at the Moesgaard Viking Moot. But there might be a bit! Head to the beautiful beaches and woods by Aarhus on the last weekend in July, and you might find yourself caught up in a full-scale Viking battle or haggling with market traders for Viking goods!

Taste Denmark at Aarhus’ Food Festival

Aarhus has become a real foodie destination of late, with some of the best restaurants in Denmark. And if you head here in September, you can not only taste the best in Nordic and Danish products and food in one place at Food Festival, you can also try your hand at making it at Nordic cookery classes!

The popular ARoS Triennial returns in 2020

Visitors flocked to the art exhibited around the city as part of ARoS Aarhus Art Museum’s Triennial during the City of Culture 2017. And the popular art event is coming back in 2020. The theme will be Mythology. Expect big things… Literally and metaphorically!

Everyone’s welcome under the rainbow at Aarhus Pride

In June each year, the streets of Aarhus come alive with all the colours under the sun for Aarhus Pride. This popular event is a celebration of diversity, respect and tolerance for LGBT life which kicks off with a parade through the city centre and finishes with events and parties.

Hear hot new Danish music at SPOT Festival

Find out what Danes are listening to! SPOT Festival is the place to head if you want to hear the best new Danish and Nordic Music. The concerts, talks and events (including a food market) are spread throughout Aarhus during May.

Feel small at the Tall Ships Race

The Tall Ships Race is not only the largest sailing race in the world. It’s also a vibrant maritime festival, drawing people from all over to the vibrant water-side events and of course, the dramatic sight of the tall ships themselves towering over the harbour. The Tall Ships return to Aarhus in August.

Experience the exhilarating Classic Car Race

If the peace and tranquility of Aarhus sounds too relaxed for you (what?!), then come in May, when the streets around the Marselisborg Memorial Park are torn up by classic cars from around the world and the air filled with the revving of vintage engines. It’s a grand day out!

Christmas at the Old Town Open Air Museum

If you’re nostalgic about the Christmas of days gone by, then get yourself to Aarhus in November and December. At the Old Town Open Air Museum you can walk through 400 years of Christmas history, taste traditional foods and take a bit of Danish Christmas home with you.