Facts About Copenhagen Jazz Festival
The Copenhagen Jazz Festival is an essential event for jazz aficionados, bringing zest to Denmark's capital every July. With a rich history beginning in 1964 at Tivoli Gardens, where concerts featured luminaries like Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis, the festival officially became an annual occurrence in 1979.
Since then, it has surged in popularity. Today, the festival features over 1100 concerts and attracts approximately 260,000 attendees, positioning it as one of Europe's largest music spectacles. It presents a diverse lineup of musicians, including icons such as Sonny Rollins, Oscar Peterson, and Herbie Hancock.
The festival's origins are deeply embedded in Copenhagen's dynamic 1960s jazz scene, which drew American jazz artists and fostered a thriving musical community. By the 1970s, the festival had evolved into a cornerstone of Copenhagen's cultural landscape, spotlighting a mix of local and international talent.
Concerts are hosted at various venues across the city, from the Copenhagen Jazzhouse and Det Kongelige Teater to Operaen and Tivoli. Each year, the festival also introduces a unique poster design by esteemed artists such as Per Arnoldi, Jens Jørgen Thorsen, and Henrik Vibskov.