Summer Festival Preview | Worth jutting out to the mainland

Pack your tent and head out into the big outdoors for a summer of festival fun in deepest Denmark

For those looking to escape the city walls and explore what the countryside of Denmark has to offer, there are loads of festivals to choose from. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly festivities, hardcore headbanging or smooth jazz, on this comprehensive list of festivals taking place outside of Copenhagen, everyone is sure to find something to their liking. 

The Ugliest Festival (Grimfest)
Again, this is not a festival exclusively for ugly people – you wouldn’t want to be admitted then, would you? This festival is the counterpart to the Beautiful Festival and this year marks the ten-year anniversary. The festival presents up-and-coming artists to the public as well as some well-known Danish acts. This year the line-up includes Tako Lako, The Floor is Made of Lava, The Broken Beats and a surprise anniversary show on the Friday.
Brabrand; starts Aug 1, ends Aug 3; festival pass: 395kr, with camping 495kr, one-day tickets 200-250kr; www.grimfest.dk

Nibe Festival
Living in Copenhagen, you might think that Roskilde is the only Danish music festival that attracts big names from around the world. But you would be wrong. Case in point: Nibe Festival – a four-day festival in northern Jutland where the line-up includes Rasmus Seebach, CeeLo Green, Ke$ha and Infernal. 
Nibe; starts July 3, ends July 6; festival pass: 1,450kr, day tickets: 595-650kr; www.nibefestival.dk

Beautiful Festival (Smukfest)
Given the title of this festival, you would be forgiven for thinking that it’s a festival for beautiful people only. Luckily, it’s not, as that would be highly discriminating. It’s called Beautiful Festival because of the beautiful surroundings of this festival in Skandeborg. Even better, the line-up this year is also beautiful, including Prince, The Raveonettes, Tina Dickow, MC Hammer, Kings of Leon and many more.
Skandeborg; starts Aug 7, ends Aug 11; festival passes: sold out, under-12s: 500kr, day tickets 650-1,050kr; www.smukfest.dk

Samsø Festival
If you wanted this summer holiday to include a music festival and a mini-break, why not hit two birds with one stone? Samsø Festival is held on the delightful island of Samsø, which is located between Jutland and Zealand. The island is the perfect destination for families as it is quite small with lovely green areas and beaches. This year sees quite a few big Danish names making an appearance, such as Alphabeat, Outlandish, Burhan G, Lukas Graham, Nabiha and Kim Larsen.
Strandskoven ved Ballen, Samsø; starts July 17, ends July 20; festival pass: 1,315kr, one-day tickets: 460-500kr, family ticket options available; www.samfest.dk

Tunø Festival
At this little island festival, the main focus is on jazz – performed by both renowned Danish artists as well as international ones. The line-up is rich this year, with appearances from The Hitmen, Le Freak, Bourbon Street Jazzband and many more.
Tunø Island; starts July 4, ends July 7; festival pass: 600kr, under-12s: free adm; www.tunofestival.dk

Tønder Festival
This festival is located in the most southern most part of Denmark, just by the German border. The festival is a celebration of folk music featuring both international and Danish acts, including Sinead O’Connor, Adam Cohen, Kristian Leth and Admiral Fallow.
Tønder; starts Aug 22, ends Aug 25; festival pass: 1,190kr, one-day tickets 500-600kr, under-16s half price, under-12s: free adm; www.tf.dk

Kløften Festival
Up in the far north of Jutland, this family-friendly, three-day festival has a very interesting line-up this year that includes Uriah Heap, The Raveonettes, When Saint go Machine and Vinnie Who.
Haderslev; starts June 27, ends June 29; festival pass: 875kr, children’s pass 420kr, one-day passes: 380-435kr, children’s passes: 220kr, weekend pass: 685kr, children’s weekend pass: 320kr; www.kloften.dk

Bork Havn Music festival 
This intimate harbour festival has grown over the past couple of years, and this year the line-up includes big names like Alphabeat, Kaiser Chiefs, and Kim Larsen & Kjukken.
Ringkøbing; starts July 31, ends Aug 3; festival pass: 1,095 kr, one-day pass: 400kr, weekend pass 650kr, under-12s: free adm if bought before July 30; www.borkhavnmusikfestival.dk

Ærø Jazz Festival
Ærø is a small island located south of Fyn. Each year it throws a festival that is a celebration of jazz music and features artists from all over Denmark. The festival is very kid-friendly with performances designed especially for children. The line-up this year includes Andromeda, Ibrahim Electric and the Six City Stompers.
Ærø; starts July 28, ends Aug 3; tickets at the gate or from www.sydfynsbilletten.dk; www.aerojazzfestival.dk

Don't miss our previews of festivals in other regions
 

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