December in Copenhagen is magical. Christmas lights break through the grey sky and the air is filled with the smell of gløgg and roasted almonds; hygge at its finest. People are happily anticipating the holidays and meeting their loved ones to stroll through the Christmas markets or a round of ice skating.
The main streets are dressed in festive garlands, their lights brightening up the darkness. So put on a scarf, grab an umbrella (it’s Copenhagen after all), and head into the city for a good time. There’s plenty going on in the Danish capital this month, whether you’re into the Christmas vibe or not.
Here are the best events in Copenhagen in December:
Thursday 28th November – Sunday 8th December
(Un)told Pages Literature Festival
Enjoy a huge range of exciting events, from traditional readings to children’s events and much more, during Copenhagen’s first BIPOC-centred literature festival. All events are free and take place at Øen in Nørrebro.
Friday 29th November – Sunday 1st December
Julemarked på Designmuseum Danmark
Browse textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and much more by professional designers at Designmuseum Danmark’s Christmas market on this and the following weekend. Café Klint will sell traditional Danish julegløgg and æbleskiver to keep you warm. Fridays from 12 noon – 7 pm, Satudays and Sundays from 10 am – 5 pm.
Julemarked på Viktoria Ceramic Studio CPH
Viktoria Ceramic Studio is opening the doors to its 400 m2 workshop for this Christmas market dedicated to design and crafts. Find a list of participating studios via the Facebook event. From 10 am – 5 pm.
Julemarked på Blågårds Plads
The options to start off December in a christmassy manner are plenty. Join the juletræstænding on Blågårds Plads on Friday at 4 pm: sing Christmas songs, help lighting up the candles on the tree, dance around it, and say hi to Santa who is stopping by with some gifts for the young ones. All weekend, the square is filled with stalls offering food, drinks, and soon-to-be Christmas gifts. Friday from 4 – 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon – 4 pm.
Grand Opening af Broens Skøjtebane
Broens Gadekøkken is opening its first-ever ice skating rink. Swing by the opening party for music, free beer, a performance, an ice skating disco, creative workshops, and a traditional Juletræstænding (putting up the Christmas tree). Find the full program on the Facebook event. Throughout December, you can hit the ice almost every day – for free, just bring your own skates or borrow some for 50 DKK.
Saturday 30th November – Sunday 1st December
Jul i Jægersborggade 2019
Jægersborggade goes all Christmas hygge on this first December weekend. Get some Christmas gifts and take part in the seasonal workshops from 11 am – 3 pm.
Flids Julemarked
Browse arts, crafts, and design with a focus on sustainability from 11 am to 5 pm in Nørrebro. Entrance costs 30 SEK. Strollers are very welcome, cute dogs on a leash are also welcome and children under 12 years come in for free.
Händels Messias i Marmorkirken
Enjoy the sounds of Händels Messias performed by Kammerkoret Euphonia in the beautiful Marmorkirken from 4 to 6.45 pm each day.
Sunday 1st December
Monogram your Signature Flower accessories with By Malene Birger
Iconic Danish fashion label By Malene Birger is throwing a little holiday party in its Antonigade flagship store where you can mingle, shop, and have a drink. Looking for a special treat or a personalized Christmas present? During the event you can get any Signature Flower accessories you buy hand-monogrammed by sign writer Veronika Skilte for no additional cost. The monogrammed pieces can be picked up at a later date. From 11 am to 4 pm at Antonigade 10.
Rita Blå’s Julelopper
On Sunday the first advent, Rita Blå’s Lopper is back in Kulturhuset Indre By with its Christmas edition. Why not gift some vintage treasures to your loved ones this year? As always entry is free and there will be coffee as well as gløgg.
Veras Market | Kæmpe juleloppe & sæsonafslutning under Buen
Start off December with a cleanse of your wardrobe or a few new pieces at the Christmas edition of Veras Market under the Bispeengen bridge in Frederiksberg. Get tickets to put up a stall via the Veras Vintage website. From 10 am – 3 pm.
Vogue session at Dansekapellet
Have you always wanted to try out vogueing? Then this is your chance. There will be additional events on 8th and 15th December, so keep werking. From 5 – 8 pm, one class costs 100 DKK.
Tuesday 3rd – Wednesday 4th December
Julechokolade lagersalg – Simply Chocolate & Magasin
Chocolate lovers, this one’s for you. Simply Chocolate & Magasin Chokolade are throwing a warehouse sale in Nørrebrohallen. Taste samples and shop sweet delights with discounts of up to 80% like there is no tomorrow. Tuesday from 2 – 8 pm and Wednesday from 10 am – 6 pm.
Tuesday 3rd December
IMPROV at Studenterhuset
Improvised theatre is an art form where performers create stories live on stage, on the spot. It unleashes team spirit, communication skills, and creativity. Ready to step out of your comfort zone? The class is free and runs from 6 to 8 pm. There will be another session of Tuesday 10th December.
Wednesday 4th December
Facon Facon Jewelry Event
From 5 – 9 pm at TRIO, browse gorgeous handmade jewelry from Copenhagen-based goldsmith studio Facon Facon. Buy something for a loved one (or yourself) and enjoy a selection of wine and bubbles from SommeWine. If you like what you taste, there will be bottles available for purchase at great prices. A luxe evening to be sure!
De Hvides Privilegier – FLÆS Temaaften at Literaturhaus
For the eighth time, satire collective FLÆS invites you to the temaaften series. After having covered topics such as love, body ideals and gender, this edition is about white privilege. Guests range from journalists over art historians to researchers, so interesting input is guaranteed. From 7 – 9.30 pm.
Charlottenborg LIVE
Since late October and until 11th December, Apollo Bar, Kunsthal Charlottenborg and Gyldendal, together host the new format “Charlottenborg LIVE:” A free browse of Kunsthal Charlottenborg’s exhibitions and a live program with contemporary writers plus the option to join dinner for 100 DKK. On this first Wednesday in December, the evening starts off with a talk by Simon Dybroe Møller, professor at Billedhuggerskolen, then “Confessions of the Piping System“ is performed. It follows a tour of the exhibition “Art & Porn“ and a dinner with writers Ditte Hansen and Louise Mieritz. The last edition on 11th December will feature Knud Romer and rapper Nikoline as well as writer Cecilie Lind. From 5 – 9 pm.
Culture Box Unboxed: Musikproduktion for begyndere
Learn about music production at this workshop with Nickolas Dong and Ayo Krohn from 7 to 9 pm. The event will take place in Danish.
Startups Go Green – La French Tech
In times of Fridays for Future, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that climate change is one of the biggest challenges for humanity. Innovation plays a key role in order to achieve our ambitious goals. Meet the four startups Ecotree, Barry, Grim, and Medvind System that aim at enabling and facilitating our green transition. From 5.30 – 7.30 pm. The event is free but please register via the link.
Thursday 5th December
Björk: Cornucopia Tour at the Royal Arena
Take a break from “Last Christmas“ and “Jingle Bells“ and let Björk catapult you into another dimension. “Cornucopia“ is the singer’s first production that features theatre people and other artists, among them a 50-voices strong Icelandic choir, media artists Tobias Gremmler and many more. Doors open at 6.30 and the show starts at 8 pm. Tickets from 550 DKK are available via Ticketmaster.
Community Talk: Feminist Internet at SPACE10
Learn about topics such as online abuse on digital platforms, lack of diversity within tech enterprises or biased algorithms with Clara Finnigan, Co-founder of Feminist Internet. Feminist Internet is a non-profit organization founded by a group of multidisciplinary artists, writers and makers with the aim to advance internet equality through creative, critical practice. From 6 – 8 pm.
Friday 6th December
Ordet #44 udgivelsesfest – “Call Me By Your Name“ at Cinemateket
Ordet, the magazine for film and media, and Cinemateket invite you to the release party of number 44 with the topic love. Get a drink from the bar, join the film quiz and fall in love with Elio, Oliver, Northern Italy, or all three. From 6 pm. Tickets cost 95 DKK.
Saturday 7th December
Julemarked På Værnedamsvej Og Tullinsgade
Get into the Christmas spirit when Værnedamsvej and Tullinsgade fill with stalls selling delicacies, crafts, antiques, and much more from 9 am – 4 pm.
Jul i Saxogade 2019
Another Vesterbro street, another Christmas market. Warm up with gløgg, flæskestegssandwich, coffee and kakao, do some Christmas shopping and take part in workshops from 12 noon – 4 pm.
Sunday 8th December
Julemarked i dne gamle badeanstalt
Have you been wanting to drop by Sofiebadet to admire its beautiful architecture for a while? Why not combine it with some Christmas shopping? This Sunday, the traditional public bath in Christianshavn turns into a Christmas market where crafts people, DIY fans and many more sell their unique pieces. From 12 noon to 5 pm.
Guided tour: Okkult Jul at Glyptoteket
Come and hear Christmas tales from far back in the days when Rome’s first emperor celebrated Christmas or when in ancient Egypt both Christmas and New Year’s were celebrated with major festivals dedicated to the gods. There is a limited number of tickets available for the guided tour so come early. The tour is free when the entrance to the museum is paid. From 12 noon – 1 pm.
The lab x the lab kitchen Julemarked 2019
Browse the offerings of local makers, designers, and brands, such as TEKLA, Tiny Papers, Prolog Coffee, or Burnt and Glazed, while meeting friends from 10 am to 4 pm.
Relæ Community Julemarked
The Relæ Community brings together some of its producers and friends for a cosy Julemarked outside Mirabelle Bakery, Mirabelle Restaurant, BÆST and RUDO. Everything is organic, seasonal and locally sourced (not to mention delicious) because that’s how it’s done in the Relæ Community! From 11 am – 3 pm.
Monday 9th December
DIY Gløgg & Gaver at Absalon
Absalon turns into a DIY-workshop: Fuel your creativity with gløgg and æbleskiver and make this season’s Christmas presents yourself. From 8 – 11 pm.
Tuesday 10th December
Yoga & Cohen at Nikolaj Kunsthal
Meditation and spirituality were central themes in Leonard Cohen’s life. In connection with the current exhibition by Nikolaj Kunsthal and GL Strand dedicated to the artist, you are invited to a special yoga session. No need to be a professional yogi, everyone is welcome; you don’t even need a yoga mat – Moshi Moshi space has you covered. From 8.30 – 10.30 am. There will be another session on 14th December.
BILLETTER
Wednesday 11th – Thursday 12th December
Røde Kors lagersalg 2019
Find treats for yourself and loved ones at this year’s warehouse sale by The Red Cross. Well-known designers and producers, such as GANNI and Ferm LIVING, have gifted products to the organization and proceeds support its work in Denmark as well as abroad. The event takes place at Blegdamsvej 27 from 2 pm.
Wednesday 11th December
Åben forelæsning: Paris – det 19. århundredes hovedstad i KADK festsalen
Join this tour through the development of European architecture. During winter, the Institut for Bygningskunst og Kultur organises the open lecture series on a number of Wednesdays. This time, Carsten Thau leads you along Parisian boulevards, through parks and to iconic train stations such as the Gare du Nord. From 3 – 4.30 pm. In December, a second edition of the series, dedicated to the Chicago School, takes place on 18th December.
Film, tapas & cocktails: “Eyes Wide Shut“ at Cinemateket
If the combination of a drink, food, and the iconic movie “Eyes Wide Shut“ sounds like your kind of mid week after work, Cinemateket has you covered. From 5 – 9.45 pm.
Thursday 12th December
CC opening and book launch: Larissa Sansour
Danish-Palestinian artist Larissa Sansour has represented Denmark at last year’s Venetia Biennale and now she is exhibiting at Copenhagen Contemporary (CC). Listen to a talk with her and curator Nat Muller as well as CC’s director Marie Nipper and explore the exhibition with a glass of wine in hand while DJs Atusa and Angel Wei are taking care of the tunes. From 5 pm, admission is free.
Friday 13th December
Lucia Kayaking
Join the annual kayak parade on St. Lucia’s Day in your own/rented kayak or watch this beautiful spectacle from various spots in the city. At 5 pm, the parade departs from Kayak Republic/Kayak Bar with stops to sing at Nyhavn, Christianshavn, and Højbro Plads. Find the exact timetable and more information about participating in the parade via the Facebook event and website.
Luciaoptog i Tivoli
On St. Lucia’s Day, a chorus of 100 singing luciabørn is parading Haven. Take this opportunity to explore the seasonal stalls and decoration while Tivoli is transformed into a Christmas lover’s paradise. The Lucia performance is included in the regular entrance ticket.
Annual Christmas Gløgg Tasting at Not Your Usual – Wine Bar
Not tired of gløgg yet or are you only getting started? Try three different types along with some pepperkaka snacks at this cosy tasting event. Tickets cost 175 DKK and are available via madbillet. From 7.30 – 8.30 pm.
Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th December
ØsterGro Julemarked 2019
Join the hygge and celebrate that ØsterGro succeeded and will not be shut down, hurra! There will be local delicacies, literature, jewelry and much more for sale at the stalls. So get your first Christmas presents sorted while enjoying a cosy market stroll in this stunning location. From 11 am to 4 pm.
FindersKeepers Christmas X Kulturhuset
Popular FindersKeepers Design Market is organizing a Christmas edition at Kulturhuset Indre By. Browse pieces by talented designers and artists, and meet the faces behind the creations from 11 am – 5 pm. Day tickets cost 20 DKK, admission for children under 12 and students is free.
Saturday 14th December
Empirical Spirits End of Year Glögg Blowout
Join Copenhagen-based distillery Empirical Spirits for some festive fun at their HQ on Refshalevej from 2 – 7 pm. Lars is making his famous glögg, from a family recipe, and baker Louise Bannon of Tir Bakery is on the æbleskiver pans. Come have some tasty holiday fun – and it’s all free!
Sauna & Waterline at La Banchina
CBS Outdoors and Adventure invites you to this semester’s last session before the Christmas break. Warm up in La Banchina’s sauna, challenge your balance on the slackline or go for an icy dip from 9.30 am – 12.30 noon.
Keramikmarked i Absalon
Yonobi Studio and Absalon invite you to browse beautiful ceramics in all shapes and colors. Entry is free and there will be food and drinks available for purchase. From 10 am to 3 pm.
Gay Pop-Up Bar #3 – Winter/Christmas Edition
Join the julehygge at Polar Bodega from 6 pm to 2 am. From 7.30 pm, Thomas Blum will perform.
Sunday 15th December
Cohen-Søndag:“Begær og forvandling“ at Literaturhaus
Explore Leonard Cohen’s album New Skin for the Old Ceremony through the lense of the topic “desire and transformation“ from 4 – 6 pm. Tickets are available via Billetto and cost 40 DKK.
Julesang på Balders Plads
Come and sing along to this alternative Christmas repertoire featuring Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Alison Kraus, and Kim Larsen. There will be booklets to help you with the lyrics. The event is free for everyone and runs from 4 – 5:30 pm.
Wednesday 18th December
Åben forelæsning: Chicagoskolen i KADK festsalen
Join this tour through the development of European architecture. During winter, the Institut for Bygningskunst og Kultur organises the open lecture series on a number of Wednesdays. Let Henrik Oxvig guide you through the world of the Chicago school and Frank Lloyd Wright. From 3 – 4.30 pm.
Friday 20th December
Copen Open Poetry Slam
Some pre-christmas poetry? Come and join this open slam at Stardust. From 7.15 pm, tickets can be purchased at the door.
Sunday 22nd December
Danish on a Sunday: That Time of Year at Cinemateket
The Christmas days with the family are only an arm’s length away so why not prepare yourself for what is or is not to come. This year at Katrine and Mads’ house the family will once again be united for Christmas Eve, and on a traditional holiday like this, there has to be room for everyone: the divorced parents, the youngest sister and her new husband and the teenage daughter of the family, struggling to get her mother’s attention. Underneath the surface, the explosion lurks as flammable as dry spruce. The film is screened in Danish with English subtitles and starts at 2.15 pm.
Tuesday 24th December
24th December i Absalon
Celebrate Christmas eve with family, neighbors, friends and future friends at Absalon. Tickets can be purchased via Billetto for 100 DKK per person. They are currently sold out but stay tuned via the Facebook event in case any spots open up.
Friday 27th – Monday 30th December
Veras & Veras Market warehouse sale
Twice a year, garments from Veras & Veras circular concept are up for sale. The fun starts on Friday 27th December with prices of 150 DKK and the prices go down by the day. It will also be possible to pay with points. After the holidays, the doors open again from Thursday 2nd January to Saturday 4th January.
Monday 30th December
Benal at Store Vega
In addition to the two sold-out shows on 28th and 29th December, rapper Benjamin Hav and producer Albert Wanscher are taking over Store Vega for a third time. Feel like you need to dance off all the delicious Christmas food or just a break from all the family time? Tickets cost 305 DKK and doors open 8 pm.
Tuesday 31st December
Banana Club New Year’s Eve Party
Banana Club is known for its popular summer open airs. Dance into 2020 at the indoor location Teglværket which will be transformed into a tropical oasis. It’s a bit out of the city but still close enough to be in easy reach. The fun begins at 9 pm and tickets are available via Beatbase from 150 DKK.
Party like Gatsby – Cabaret Noir at VEGA
World-class circus performers, a live band and a DJ in the lavish and extravagant atmosphere of the roaring 1920s – does this sound like your kind of slide into the new year? Then VEGA has you covered. From 9 pm. Tickets are available from 345 DKK.
CPH DEEP’s 2019 Sexy New Years Shabang
Music and event collective CPH DEEP is throwing a New Year’s party with electronic music and excessive decoration. From 11 pm.
Want to know how to slide into the new year like a Dane? Find out about Danish New Year’s Eve traditions.
Ongoing in December
Broens Skøjtebane
Countless hours of wintery joy await at Broens Skøjtebane. Throughout December, you can hit the ice almost every day – for free, just bring your own skates or borrow some for 50 DKK.
Julefrokost at Absalon
Absalon is kicking off Julefrokost season. Eat, drink, and dance in the sign of christmas every Friday and Saturday until 21st December from 5 pm. Tickets cost 250 DKK and are available via Billetto. Due to high demand, all dates are sold out but stay tuned for the chance of spots opening up. If not, keep an eye out for other options to indulge in this Danish tradition or simply organize your own Julefrokost – an introduction to the concept and Christmas recipes can be found here.
Bauhaus – #itsalldesign at Designmuseum Danmark
Designmuseum Danmark takes part in the international celebration of 100 years Bauhaus with the research based exhibition “Bauhaus – #itsalldesign.” Developed by Vitra Designmuseum and Bundeskunsthalle Bonn, the exhibition explores all aspects of this design school’s activities and how contemporary design builds on the heritage of Bauhaus. Every Wednesday at 6 pm and Sunday at 1 pm until 22nd December, there will be free guided tours for everyone with a valid ticket to the museum.
Shahryar Nashat: Start Begging at SMK
Take this last chance to see Shahryar Nashat’s exhibition „Start Begging“. A subtle, pink filter on the gallery’s windows sets the tone of the exhibition on several levels: literally, as it floods the room in flesh-coloured light, and metaphorically, hinting at a general preoccupation with the body and all its connotations – including those of flesh, tissue, body, membranes, motor functions and desire. The works are produced in collaboration with the Swiss Institute, New York, and are on display until 29th December.
Moving Images at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Moving images play a central and significant place in Louisiana’s collection. Lighting up the darkest months of the year, a number of the collection’s distinctive video works are on show in the South Wing. Basic reflections on identity, gender, human relationships and our sensory interaction with objects and technology run like threads through the exhibition. On display until 29th December.
Jul i Tivoli
All December long and all the way to 5th January, into a Christmas lover’s paradise. Go on a magical train journey, browse the stalls, indulge in gløgg, and eat your body weight in æbleskiver every day from 11 am to 11 pm.
Art & Porn at Charlottenborg Kunsthal
Art & Porn marks the fiftieth anniversary of the legalisation of visual pornography and shows how the relationship between pornography and art has developed over the past five decades. What are the implications of changing the boundaries of what citizens may experience in public space? The group exhibition features artists such as Marina Abramović and Wolfgang Tillmans and will be on display until 12th January 2020.
Marsden Hartley at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
American painter and poet Marsden Hartley has been called “America’s first great modern painter of the 20th century” and “one of the most intriguing art historical subjects of all time“ and, yet, he remains relatively unknown to a European audience. This presentation at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art marks the first major retrospective exhibition of his work in Europe in over 60 years. It is on display until 19th January 2020.
Confessions of the Piping System at Kunsthal Charlottenborg
This autumn, Kunsthal Charlottenborg presents the first-ever solo exhibition of the critically acclaimed Czech artist Eva Koťátková in Scandinavia. The scenographic exhibition „Confessions of the Piping System“ features surrealism and institutional critique. It is open until 16th February 2020.
Lauren Greenfield: Generation Wealth at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
With “Generation Wealth“ Lauren Greenfield has created a unique document of 25 years of consumer culture which in the view of the artist has changed the values of the middle class to raw materialism, celebrity culture and undisguised narcissism. The exhibition is on display until 16th February 2020.
SPACE10 Gallery: Technology and the Furniture of Tomorrow
How can the digital technologies at our finger tips unlock future opportunities in furniture design? The exhibition showcases a research collaboration between SPACE10 and industrial design studio Ransmeier Inc, in which they address the intersection between industrial design and technology. On display from 12th December to 21st February 2020.
Vejen til Palyra (The Road to Palmyra) at Glyptoteket
„The Road to Palmyra“ is the first exhibition in Denmark focusing on the culture of the ancient city of Palmyra, an oasis in present-day Syria. In times shaped by globalization, migration and the meeting of different cultures, Palymira gained attention for its fascinating history of multiculturalism. The exhibition is on display until 1st March 2020.
Matters – Rethinking Materials at Designmuseum Danmark
In collaboration with art fair CHART, Designmuseum Danmark presents this exhibition of five young Nordic designers who rethink the use of material in the design process. The exhibition is on display until 29th March 2020.
Leonard Cohen: A Crack in Everything at GL Strand and Nikolaj Kunsthal
The world-renowned novelist, poet, and singer-songwriter, Leonard Cohen, has inspired generations of writers, musicians, and artists. “Leonard Cohen: A Crack in Everything“ is the first exhibition entirely devoted to the imagination and legacy of the global icon from Montreal, Canada. The exhibition will be on display until 13th April 2020.
If you’re a business or organisation that would like us to add your event to next month’s calendar, please contact us at hello [@] scandinaviastandard [dot] com. Thank you!
Get new articles, interesting links and upcoming events delivered to your inbox every month. No spam. Unsubscribe whenever you want.
