Elsinore 2032 serves as the secretariat for the Culture Night network, which is organizing the city festival on the evening of June 2, 2026, when Helsingør will celebrate its 600th anniversary as a market town.
When Helsingør celebrates its 600th anniversary as a market town on June 2, 2026, the Culture Night network invites residents throughout the municipality to a city festival featuring song and music. Under the theme “The City That Plays,” the streets, squares, and harbor will come alive, and the city will be transformed into one big stage where residents and visitors can experience the festivities, participate, and sing along.
The program is inspired by the French musical tradition known as Fête de la Musique, where music fills public spaces and is accessible to everyone.
“We’ve drawn inspiration from Fête de la Musique because it’s an inclusive way to use music. Music serves as the common thread throughout the entire festival, from the first notes in the streets to the community sing-along at the harbor. It’s about creating a city where people come together across generations and communities,” says Aslak Gottlieb, spokesperson for the Kulturnatten network, which has agreed to organize the city festival once the official daytime program for the city’s anniversary celebration concludes.
Four stages bring music to the entire city
The music will be heard throughout the city from four central stages located around town. There, both up-and-coming talents and established musicians—primarily from the local music scene—will set the mood throughout the evening.
“We’re not just putting on a single concert, but creating an entire city filled with music. With four stages and live music in many locations, it will be a feast for the ears no matter where you are,” says John Rønnenfelt, who is coordinating the evening’s music program, adding:
“There are a few spots left in the program on the four stages around town, if there are any musicians who want to perform. But otherwise, just stand on a street corner or on a balcony with your guitar and give it your all. It would also be great if cafés and shops hired musicians to celebrate the city.”
The program is updated regularly on Facebook …
Two local musicians, John Rønnenfelt and Sussie Chaline Lindstrøm, are the architects behind the evening’s music program for Helsingør’s 600th-anniversary city festival on June 2, 2026. Photo: Jørgen Henrik Nielsen.
Community Sing-Along as the Finale at Kongekajen
The highlight of the evening will be a sing-along at Kongekajen, where a new birthday song for Helsingør will be premiered.
“With input from the town’s residents, I’ve written the song *Sammen ved Sundet*, which the whole town can sing along to and create a magical moment for everyone, as we celebrate both our history and our sense of community,” says local composer and singer Sussie Chaline Lindström, who reassures us that the song has already been released, so people can practice singing it:
“We released it online last week so people can get the tune stuck in their heads. I also hope they’ll sing it at schools. That way, the children can teach the song to their parents and grandparents at home. After all, the city’s anniversary is an event for all generations.”
Community dinner, street theater, and the Girls’ Guard – and anniversary fireworks
But the city isn't celebrated through song and music alone, Aslak Gottlieb points out:
“Down on Stengade, Bedre Byliv and Helsingør Handel have set up a long table with room for 360 guests, who will be treated to a meal by the city’s restaurant owners. There will be street theater and, overall, a colorful program, which the participants in the Culture Night network are continuously announcing in the municipality’s joint cultural calendar, *Det sker i Helsingør*.”
It goes without saying that the city’s iconic Girls’ Guard is a central part of tonight’s program, but in fact, they have been assigned a very special role this evening, explains Aslak Gottlieb:
“With food, music, and events both in town and at Kulturhavnen, we’ll need the Pigegarden when we sing together on Kongekajen. We’ve planned a route for them where they’ll first form a procession with representatives from the town’s organizations. The procession will move through town, picking up more participants along the way. That way, we’ll form a long procession with 600 flags and pennants heading down toward the harbor. I hope everyone will support the procession so we can have the 100th-anniversary celebration that Helsingør deserves—not with pomp and splendor, but with community and togetherness as the celebration’s most important elements.”
The Girls' Guard leads the way as all organizations in the Municipality of Helsingør are invited to join the city’s residents in a festive parade through the streets of Helsingør, culminating in a community sing-along at Kongekajen.
Facts About the City That Plays
- Date: June 2, 2026
- Time: The mayor will kick off the festivities following the official anniversary program with a speech at Axeltorv at 4 p.m.
- From 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., a music program featuring primarily local musicians is scheduled
- At 3:45 p.m. at Axeltorv, Kronborg EL will present six anniversary awards of 10,000 kroner each to organizations and dedicated individuals
- The four scheduled performance venues are: Axeltorv, Wiibroe Plads, Simon Spies Plads, and Toldkammergården
- Everyone is welcome to perform songs and music in town
- Incidentally, the festival is organized along the same lines as Culture Night, where businesses, organizations, and cultural institutions each host their own event
- The long table on Stengade is open for dining from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- The parade, led by the Pigegarden, begins at Blomstertorvet at 8:00 p.m. and culminates with a sing-along at Kongekajen at 8:30 p.m.
- At 10:30 p.m., private organizers will put on a grand anniversary fireworks display over the Øresund. It can best be seen from Kongekajen or Nordre Mole.
- "The City That Plays" is supported by Helsingør Municipality’s anniversary fund, Bedre Byliv, Helsingør Handel, Kulturværftet, and Café Chaplin—as well as volunteers and dedicated enthusiasts
Confirmed Bands and Artists for "Byen der spiller"
- 10 Classes
- 50/50
- At your service
- Carina & Bertil
- Celena Brejner
- Chancing Dreams
- The Singing Slaps
- Delirium Cafe
- Human Sound
- The Railway Orchestra
- Jonatan Hessner
- Kronborg Brass
- Ore
- Maria Montell
- Mats Gormsen
- The Girls' Choir
- Space Hero
- The Shanty Choir
- Stig Skovlind
- Sussie Chaline Lindstrøm and John Rønnenfelt
- Undefined
- Up North
- The Vocal Group
Press Contact:
Aslak Gottlieb
kontakt@elsinore2032.dk | 41 40 49 58
