Before the New Year, Jazz Danmark unveiled the program for the celebration of Danish Jazz 100 Years, which throughout 2026 will offer more than 100 concerts and special events nationwide. The spring program ranges from historical deep dives into 1920s jazz to visions of the big band of the future.

The celebration of Danish Jazz 100 Years has been created by the country’s promoters, musicians, and jazz clubs. The result is a diverse program that both honors tradition and points toward the future.

The header photo shows The Swinging Sisters. Photo: Peter Langwithz Smith.

From the sounds of the 1920s to new compositions

The young band Bart Lewis JUBILEE presents several ambitious projects that explore in depth the jazz of the 1920s—the period when Danish jazz truly took shape. History is brought into play in a special concert format and new compositions with contributions from jazz researcher Mikkel Vad and Absalon String Quartet.

The experimental jazz institution Alterations HY! Festival focuses on the unique cultural exchange between the Danish and Polish jazz scenes. The festival brings together Danish and Polish musicians in a program that both celebrates the heritage and explores new artistic encounters.

Generational encounters and new voices

The spring program features a number of notable generational encounters. Audiences can experience Lis Wessberg and Veronika Rud, as well as vibraphonist Viktoria Søndergaard, performing alongside the experienced trio Solborg/Banke/Heebøll.

The very youngest generation is also strongly represented. The youth big band AAYJO performs in an expanded lineup with their take on how the big band of the future might sound—respecting tradition while embracing new expressions.

Jazz across the country

The anniversary program unfolds throughout Denmark. Local jazz clubs and venues play a crucial role in the celebration, including Sønderborg Jazzclub, Bartof Station in Frederiksberg, Gladsaxe Jazzklub, and many more. From Sønderborg to Silkeborg and Aalborg, concerts are presented ranging from swing and mainstream to experimental and innovative jazz.

Danish Jazz 100 Years Events – Spring 2026

3/3 – DR Big Band & Mathias Heise: A Love Supreme – Klejtrup Musikefterskole, Hobro

6/3 – Lyden af Globalisering: Da jazzen kom til Danmark with Bart Lewis JUBILEE and music researcher Mikkel Vad – Århundredets Festival, Maritza Hall, Aarhus

6/3 – Family Jazz: På Tirsda’ På Tirsda’ – Gentofte Main Library, Gentofte

8/3 – Sønderborg Jazzclub celebrates Danish Jazz 100 Years: Coco Zhau European Band – Sønderborghus, Sønderborg

8/3 – Steen Kyed Trio ft. Peter Marott: Seks Søndage på Bartof – Bartof, Frederiksberg

11/3 – AAYJO Extended Orchestra: The Future of Big Band – Skråen, Aalborg

13/3 – AAYJO Extended Orchestra: The Future of Big Band – Maskinhallen, Frederikshavn

13/3 – Aarhus Jazz Orchestra presents: Hun Drømte i Toner – with Naya Buric and Karmen Rõivassepp – Århundredets Festival, Aarhus University, Aarhus

16/3 – Monday Night Big Band: Danish Jazz 100 Years with film screening from Tove Enevoldsen’s archives – Xenon, Copenhagen

19/3 – HY! Festival – Koncertkirken, Copenhagen

20/3 – Gladsaxe Jazzklub: The First 25 Years of Jazz with Tuxen Lockjaw – Mørkhøj Hall, Søborg

21/3 – Aarhus Jazzklub: Tuxen Lockjaw: 100 Years with Leo Mathisen, Ben Webster and Danish Jazz – Aarhus Jazzklub, Aarhus

22/3 – Sønderborg Jazzclub celebrates Danish Jazz 100 Years: Ellen Anderson – Sønderborghus, Sønderborg

25/3 – Jørgen Tellers JAZZ100 Duo with TS Høeg – CAP30, Copenhagen

28/3 – Nicolas Kock + The Swinging Sisters, Hede Hule Hot, Nana Rashid – Kedelhuset, Silkeborg

29/3 – Steen Kyed Trio ft. Lis Wessberg: Seks Søndage på Bartof – Bartof, Frederiksberg

10/4 – Hornbæk Jazzklub: Tuxen Lockjaw: 100 Years with Leo Mathisen, Ben Webster and Danish Jazz – Kulturhuset Bølgen, Alsgårde

16/4 – Artist Talk with Kresten Osgood – Odense Main Library, Odense

16/4 – Kresten Osgood Quintet – Kulturmaskinen, Odense

16/4 – Copenhagen Jazzexperience: Celebrating John Coltrane 100 Years – Paletten, Viborg

18/4 – Hede Hule Hot – Lunch Jazz – Skovsgård Hotel, Brovst

18/4 – Kresten Osgood Quintet + Lecture on Danish Jazz History – Turkis, Aarhus

19/4 – Sønderborg Jazzclub celebrates Danish Jazz 100 Years: Kiilstofte/Østergaard/Falkenberg Celebrating Piano Players – Sønderborghus, Sønderborg

19/4 – Copenhagen Jazzexperience: Celebrating John Coltrane 100 Years – Holbæk Jazzklub, Holbæk

19/4 – Jørgen Tellers JAZZ100 Duo with TS Høeg – Baghold, Copenhagen

25/4 – Waidtløw/Kristiansen Kvartet: Danish Jazz 100 Years – Svanekegården, Svaneke

26/4 – Steen Kyed Trio ft. Hans Ulrik: Seks Søndage på Bartof – Bartof, Frederiksberg

30/4 – International Jazz Day in Gellerup: Zara McFarlane etc. – Gellerup Church, Brabrand

30/4 – Performance of “Ekkoet af Tidens Tempo og Klang” with Bart Lewis JUBILEE & Absalon String Quartet – Koncertkirken, Copenhagen

30/4 – Giant Steps: Solborg/Banke/Heebøll feat. Viktoria Søndergaard – SIMAC, Svendborg

8/5 – Gladsaxe Jazzklub: The First 25 Years of Jazz with Søren Kristiansen Kvartet – Mørkhøj Hall, Søborg

17/5 – Sønderborg Jazzclub celebrates Danish Jazz 100 Years: Lis Wessberg/Veronika Rud – Sønderborghus, Sønderborg

31/5 – Steen Kyed Trio ft. Jakob Dinesen: Seks Søndage på Bartof – Bartof, Frederiksberg

Read more about the events and follow updates here.

Follow for more historic jazz experiences

Throughout 2026, Danish Jazz 100 Years, in collaboration with the country’s jazz promoters, presents events across Denmark featuring musicians across genres, generations, and scenes. New events are added continuously, so keep an eye on your local concert calendars as well as livejazz.dk, which will continuously gather the 100-year anniversary events via the dedicated tag. The program as it appeared on the launch date can be downloaded as a PDF here.