Awaken Your Taste Buds at These Notable Danish Food Festivals

The annual Copenhagen Cooking festival takes place the 20th-29th of August, where restaurants, cultural institutions, chefs, gastro enthusiasts and foodies will come together to celebrate Copenhagen’s food scene, both the traditional and modern, through a wide array of events.

Denmark has for many years been known as the birthplace of New Nordic Cuisine. This year, the talk of the town is Sustainable deliciousness, where, among other, top chefs and food entrepreneurs are working towards bringing more sustainability into cooking, while still preserving the heart of gastronomy, good tasting food. Guests can expect to find innovative takes on sustainable gastronomy represented in across the festival events. 

Celebrating the classics at Copenhagen Cooking 

The event “A tribute to the Danish hot dog”, celebrates the Danish Pølsevogn (the hot dog cart) that turned 100 years old in February 2020, by serving a four course hot dog tasting menu.

Another important part of the Danish food legacy is the Smørrebrød, an open sandwich primarily on rye bread. From the 26th to the 29th of August several events celebrating Smørrebrødets Day 2021 (the Day of the Open-Faces Sandwich) will take place, the most popular of them being the Smørrebrøds Battle (the Battle of the Open-Faced Sandwich), where some of the best restaurants, e.g. Michelin recommended Selma, will show of their skills and innovative interpretations of the classic dish, this year with a particular focus on sustainability.

Several special dining experiences will also be available. As an example the event “400 Year Anniversary: Bangkok & Copenhagen”, where restaurant Holy Krapow will be serving authentic Thai street food, accompanied by beers from Danish breweries, to celebrate the 400 year anniversary of the first Danish ship docking in Siam.

The relationship between food and beer is also one of the focus points at Copenhagen Beer Week, that offers events like “Traditional smørrebrød with a twist, beer is used as ingredients” at Københavner Caféen or “Seafood dish and Champagne Beer from Mikkeller Baghaven” at Tholstrups Restaurant.

Discover Danish Flavors at Food Festival Aarhus 2025 

From September 5th to 7th, Tangkrogen in Aarhus hosts Denmark’s largest Food Festival, where over 30,000 visitors come together to celebrate good food and great company. With more than 250 producers, chefs, and food artisans, the festival offers a rich variety of tastings, workshops, and activities for all ages.  Food Festival is a vibrant celebration of Danish food culture, from everyday meals to culinary masterpieces, highlighting sustainable and high-quality ingredients. The 50,000 m² festival area creates space for unique food experiences, making it a must-visit event for families, food lovers, and professionals alike. Organized by the Food Organisation of Denmark (FOOD), the festival aims to inspire a deeper appreciation of food and promote Denmark’s rich gastronomic heritage.

Even more food and wine in Tivoli Gardens

The Tivoli Gardens, the 175 year old amusement park in Copenhagen, is also inviting visitors into their beautiful park to join the Smørrebrødsfestival (the festival of the Open-Faced Sandwich) and the Food & Wine Festival, both from the 11th - 19th of September. In the Gardens restaurants and in H.C. Andersen's Castle, visitors will have the opportunity to taste the classic Danish dish, while a great food market, with products from both small and big producers and growers, will be available in the weekends.

Following in the wake of all of these festivals is the annual oyster celebration, Denmarks Oyster Festival, starting in October. It will take place from the 8th – 11th, in the UNESCO Wadden Sea National Park in Southern Denmark. The festival guests will get to go on oyster safari, forage for wild, local ingredients and experience 30 top chefs from all over Denmark and Europe going head to head to win the title of “Oyster Chef of the Year.