Get ready for an evening of awards, star power and special live performances as Jazz Danmark brings the Danish jazz scene together at Danish Music Awards Jazz 2026 at Bremen Teater on 7 December.

This year’s host, comedian and actor Rasmus Bjerg, will guide the audience through the evening as some of the most prominent and current names on the Danish jazz scene are celebrated and take to the stage: Cæcilie Norby, Nilsson/Kjærgaard/Davidsen, Hands on Fire and Bart Lewis 100 Year Jubilation.

The programme spans vocal jazz, Nordic piano trio, experimental punk jazz and traditional jazz – all performed by some of Denmark’s strongest musicians.

Tickets are on sale now: Get your tickets here!

One of Europe’s most influential vocalists

With a career stretching back to the 1980s, Cæcilie Norby is one of Europe’s most prominent and influential vocalists. Her career has taken her from the fusion band Frontline and pop success with One Two to a series of acclaimed solo albums on Blue Note Records and an ongoing, award-winning international jazz career. Norby is currently touring under the title My Blue Note Years and is sure to bring plenty of star power and world-class vocal jazz to DMA Jazz 2026.

A super trio between sparse beauty and explosive energy

Swedish-born, Denmark-based drummer, composer and bandleader Cornelia Nilsson has been one of the most sought-after musicians on the Danish scene for several years. She has received the Ben Webster Prize and Tivoli Jazz Prize, as well as multiple DMA Jazz nominations – including nominations for Musician of the Year and Jazz Release of the Year in 2024. At DMA Jazz 2026, she will perform with two equally distinctive and acclaimed musicians, Nils Bo Davidsen on bass and Søren Kjærgaard on piano. The trio’s music moves between explosive intensity and sparse, delicate beauty, with improvisation at its core.

A Copenhagen melting pot of jazz, punk and noise

Over the past year, the musical collective Hands on Fire has made a major impact on Copenhagen’s experimental scene. They describe their music as a no wave big band, bringing free jazz, punk and noise together across traditional genre boundaries – like Mingus’ ensemble expanded with Glenn Branca or Sonic Youth. The band has announced that their debut album will be released shortly before their DMA Jazz performance. Expect the unexpected when this exhilarating and unpredictable ten-piece takes the stage.

A spectacular finale to the 100-year celebration

Bart Lewis JUBILEE consists of three young musicians from different backgrounds, united by a shared passion for the earliest forms of jazz. They explore jazz repertoire from before the bebop era and place it in a contemporary context. In 2026, the trio has contributed an impressive range of projects to the centenary celebration of Danish jazz. For DMA Jazz, they will invite a number of prominent musicians from both the traditional and experimental jazz scenes, spanning several generations. The guest musicians will be Christina Dahl (saxophone), Rune Lohse (drums), Michaela Turcerová (saxophone), Mårten Lundgren (trumpet) and more. Under the title Bart Lewis 100 Year Jubilation, the performance will provide a spectacular finale to the centenary of Danish jazz, which Jazz Danmark is celebrating throughout 2026.

Rasmus Bjerg to host the show

For two decades, Rasmus Bjerg has been known as an actor, singer and entertainer. Among other things, he has portrayed Danish singer John Mogensen on screen and on stages across Denmark, toured with his own Christmas show and hosted the Danish Eurovision selection Dansk Melodi Grand Prix and Zulu Comedy Galla. Now, he takes the stage as host of DMA Jazz for the first time.

Join us for the biggest jazz celebration of the year!

After several years at other venues, Danish Music Awards Jazz returns to Bremen Teater. An evening of awards, live performances and celebration awaits as the Danish jazz scene comes together.

The following awards will be presented:

• Jazz Release of the Year
• Jazz Composer of the Year
• Musician of the Year
• New Jazz Artist of the Year
• Single of the Year
• Alternative Jazz Release of the Year
• Live Act of the Year
• Venue of the Year
• P8 Jazz Prize

Danish Music Awards Jazz 2026

7 December, 8:00 PM

Bremen Teater

Nyropsgade 39–41, 1602 Copenhagen

Admission: DKK 230 + booking fee

Buy tickets here

In the hours leading up to the show, we will once again invite the jazz community to Jazz+, the country’s largest industry day for the jazz scene, taking place at Café Kolme next to Bremen Teater. More information about the industry day will follow shortly.

Once the final award has been presented, we will invite everyone to dance, mingle and raise a glass at the afterparty in Bremen’s foyer, as usual.

DMA Jazz 2026 is produced by Jazz Danmark in collaboration with Bremen Teater and funded by Jazz Danmark, the Danish Arts Foundation, the Augustinus Foundation and a number of other foundations. P8 Jazz will cover the show and present its own award.