1–5 June 2022

Founded in 1998 and today a festival with upwards of 80K guests, Distortion has been a defining feature of Copenhagen nightlife since 2000. Equal parts street party mayhem and world class music festival, the event moves through the city’s neighbourhoods as an inescapable, euphoric and all-encompassing party leviathan.

9 July 2022

While techno reigns supreme in Copenhagen nightlife today, the city has a strong bass music tradition, with sound system events drawing crowds in the thousands during the summer. Bas Under Buen is the defining CPH bass event, held each July under an overpass between the Nørrebro and Frederiksberg neighbourhoods.

20-24 July 2022

Accessible only by boat, KUNE Festival is held in late July on Ungdomsøen (literally – the Youth Island) in Øresund between Denmark and Sweden. Features performances, workshops and art installations, as well as a killer lineup of spacy house, techno and ambient. Remember a sleeping bag, there’s no getting a cab back from this one.

13, 20, 27 August 2022

With an explorative approach to electronic music culture in all its wondrous variety, Strøm Festival presents a tightly packed and extremely well-curated programme each August. The festival balances a focus on both niche, underground-oriented events, as well as straight ahead party pleasers, whether artsy ambient sound installations or roller discos.

25-27 August 2022

Karrussel is a 3-day house, disco and techno DJ extravaganza with an extremely inviting setting, nestled in a woodland grove on the charmingly industrial Refshaleøen in central Copenhagen. Top-of-the-line programming with world class lineups, and a noticeable attention to detail when it comes to production and stage setups.

Perhaps the quintessential electronic venue in Copenhagen, Culture Box is a mainstay on the city’s club scene like no other. While genres grow and fade in popularity, ‘Boxen’ has been there through it all, and is today - rightfully - recognised as an essential cog in Danish club culture. Heavy house bent, and a very friendly crowd.

There are few venues in Copenhagen that offer the classic warehouse rave feeling, and with a capacity of around 350, Hangaren is among the very best. Fittingly, the place is located in a secluded spot on Refshaleøen, one of the only CPH neighbourhoods that retain some of the city’s industrial past. Great outdoor bar area during the summer.

Located in a former pumping station - hence the name -, Pumpehuset is among the best run and booked music venues in Copenhagen. The indoor concert venue regularly hosts packed drum and bass, hip hop or dancehall nights, while the outdoor venue Byhaven has quickly established itself as a favourite CPH summertime haunt.

Located in the centre of Copenhagen’s vibrant Nørrebro neighbourhood since the early nineties, Rust seemingly manages to reinvent itself every few years, pushing the CPH nightlife along with it. Today, the club features a lush interior, a strong safe space policy, and a jam-packed, varied, and well-booked calendar.

In an inner city Copenhagen basement you'll find Ved Siden Af – the home to one of the best and most diverse crowds in town. The venue is considered the center of Copenhagen’s blooming fast-paced bass and rhythmic beats scene. The club has a strong focus on the rave culture's political aspects including but not limited to safer space, queerness and togetherness

While Copenhagen has an extremely healthy electronic scene, the city isn’t exactly overflowing with record stores specialising in used dance music vinyl. 313 Vinyl does just that, however, with a strong focus on the heritage of Detroit techno and Chicago house. True-school stuff with friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Located on a corner just metres away from Vesterbro’s ultra-chic Værnedamsvej, Can Family oozes quality boutique vibes. Run by what surely must be one of Copenhagen’s hippest couples, the shop sells limited design and art - as well as exquisitely curated used records. Go there to buy your next Zambian funk masterpiece.

As one of the few shops specialising in upfront techno and house music in Copenhagen, Dorma 21 has made a noticeable dent on the city’s electronic scenes since opening in 2013. Head to the basement in Oenschlagergade, Vesterbro, for one of the selections in town, and keep an eye out for their ever-popular events.

Some record stores take on almost a Cheers-vibe, acting as social nexuses of entire social and musical scenes. Palmspree is very much one of those places: head there to gobble up the newest in Danish beat and jazz music, or get passionate broken beat recommendations by the owner Anthon. A Nørrebro classic.

One of the most forward-thinking music shops in Copenhagen with an eclectic and high quality selection of both new and used records, Proton Records also houses a booking agency with a strong emphasis on sound art, experimentation and a complete disregard for traditional genre definitions. Features regular lease concerts and Friday-bar vibes.

As Copenhagen’s only dedicated hip hop-vinyl store, Rekords is a classic Nørrebro haunt with a dedicated circle of customers spanning from local DJ legends to youths making their first foray into vinyl culture. The friendly owner Jakob also runs a label – aptly named Rekords Records – with releases from a veritable who’s who of DK underground rap and beatmaking circles. Regular in-stores, great selection and very friendly service.

A true hidden Copenhagen gem, ØEN has a cultural impact on several CPH scenes that go far beyond its humble location in a -very- small villa on Nørrebro. Their vinyl releases feature some of the city’s best electronic producers and usually sell out within days, while their in-house events take place on one of Copenhagen’s smallest, most intimate and loving dance floors. Just remember, kids – no man is an island.