In 2026, we mark an extraordinary anniversary: 100 years of jazz in Denmark. It has been a century since the music of the 1920s swept across the country with fresh, groundbreaking tones. Jazz Danmark initiates a celebration of this milestone with a full year of concerts, festivals, exhibitions, and new stories that highlight the diversity of jazz and its enduring drive for renewal.

100 Years of Jazz in Denmark

From the first swing rhythms of the 1920s to the golden age of Danish jazz, the explosive developments of the 1960s, and today’s experimental soundscapes, Danish jazz has always been characterized by curiosity, openness, and an international outlook. The anniversary year celebrates both the pioneers and the new generation of musicians who are shaping the future of jazz—rooted in tradition, yet looking ahead to the next chapter.

A full year of experiences

Throughout the year, audiences across the country can look forward to more than 100 events that together tell the story of Danish jazz through music, images, voices, and shared experiences. The program includes everything from large festivals to intimate club concerts spread across the country, and features both rediscovered treasures and brand-new works that challenge and expand the boundaries of jazz.

Major highlights of the year

The anniversary celebration includes several significant initiatives, including:

• 100 Voices: Composer and musician Anders Malta brings together 100 musicians in an ambitious collaborative work, performed at two of the major summer festivals.

• JAZZ100MOBIL: A traveling exhibition that brings jazz history to audiences nationwide.

• Jazz Movements: An international research conference on the cultural movements of jazz.

• 100 Years of Jazz Heroines: A three-day concert program focusing on women’s often overlooked place in jazz history.

• Two new podcast series: Farlige Fugle and Hvor Jazzen Kommer Fra, bringing history to life and exploring jazz’s global roots and Danish branches.

Download the full programme here (in Danish)

Keeping the story alive

As an important legacy of the anniversary year, Guide to the Danish Jazz Collections will be published—the first comprehensive mapping of Denmark’s jazz archives. The publication will serve as a key resource in the ongoing work to preserve and communicate jazz history for the future.

Stay tuned – more is coming

Events will take place across the country and involve musicians and organizers across genres, generations, and communities. New events will be added continuously, so keep an eye on your local concert listings as well as livejazz.dk, which will keep track of the 100-year events via the tag here.