26 March 2021
Organisers have today announced the themes for free concerts taking place every night during Copenhagen 2021 this August.
Copenhagen 2021 – the joint celebration of WorldPride and EuroGames – is taking place in Copenhagen and Malmö from 12-22 August. As many as 750,000 guests are expected to join events across the eleven days. All events will be available to view online, with many live-streamed to social media and the event website.
Thursday 12 August
The first night of Copenhagen 2021 will see the opening of the WorldPride Stage in Malmö, with a mix of local and international artists delighting the crowds and really getting the event underway.
Friday 13 August
The Opening Ceremony in Copenhagen marks the official beginning of Copenhagen 2021 WorldPride and EuroGames, and this evening’s concert will see speeches to set the scene for the following days, and performances from artists both international and from Denmark and Sweden.
At WorldPride Park in Malmö, a mix of local and international artists will take to the WorldPride Stage to warm up the crowd for the Opening WorldPride Parade on Saturday.
Saturday 14 August
Following the Opening WorldPride Parade in Malmö, this will be the main WorldPride Concert for Copenhagen 2021 in Malmö with international artists taking to the stage alongside local talent from within the LGBTI+ community.
In Copenhagen, Under the Rainbow – Danish edition will showcase artists from within Denmark’s LGBTI+ community.
Sunday 15 August
For lovers of Melodifestivalen, this will be a Eurovision Night to remember in Malmö with artists reclaiming and reliving some of the amazing and memorable hits from Eurovision’s 65 year history.
In Copenhagen, the Stella Polaris WorldPride Edition will be an afternoon and evening of chilled entertainment and relaxed atmosphere. Stella Polaris is the world’s biggest free chill-out electronic downtempo festival and this year it celebrates 25 years.
Monday 16 August
International artists will take to the WorldPride Stage in Malmö for another night of incredible performances, and these will continue every night this week.
In Copenhagen, Unbound is the show where we focus on all sorts of other LGBTI+ relevant performing arts outside of standard concert music. Expect theatre, opera, dance and classical music!
Tuesday 17 August
Get in the sing-along mood with Take Me Back Tuesday in Copenhagen. A big band accompanies the show focusing on music and content appealing to a slightly older audience. Expect Eurovision, classic hits, disco and drag.
Wednesday 18 August
The EuroGames Opening Ceremony in Copenhagen focuses attention on the athletes and figureheads here for the sports activities. After athletes have walked the Proud Mile from the Sports Village, we’ll have speeches, presentations, and musical entertainment too.
Thursday 19 August
Probably Copenhagen Pride’s most iconic night, Drag Night returns but bigger than ever before, with a diverse range of talent including Drag Kings, Trans Kings and Queens, Bio Kings and Queens, Non-Binary and Genderfuck Drag and Drag Queens. This will truly be a night to remember and savour.
Friday 20 August
The WorldPride Stage in Copenhagen will be shining with the very best performances from LGBTI+ talent from around the world with the Under the Rainbow International Edition. This evening’s concert – coming after the final EuroGames tournaments have taken place and before the WorldPride Parade on Saturday – will really get the finale weekend underway.
Saturday 21 August
The WorldPride Concert and Closing Ceremony will be the biggest LGBTI+ celebration ever staged in Scandinavia. Expect major international music artists, speeches from world leaders, powerful advocacy and human rights messaging, and handovers of the titles of WorldPride and EuroGames to Sydney and Nijmegen respectively.
‘An event for the whole world’
Commenting on the announcement, Lars Henriksen chairperson of Copenhagen Pride, said:
“We really are creating a WorldPride for the whole world, and showcasing talent and artists from across the globe. We’ve taken the trusted model of Copenhagen Pride, and elevated and expanded it for the international LGBTI+ community. After a terrible and challenging 18 months for everyone, this will be an event to create hope, optimism and dreams of the future.”
Anna Tenfält, Managing Director of Malmö Pride, said:
“Our eleven nights of WorldPride Concerts in Malmö will really bring to life the collaboration between our two cities and make that 30 minute train ride worthwhile. We’ll be showcasing the very best of Swedish and international LGBTI+ talent and showing that in Malmö, whoever you are and whomever you love, #YouAreIncluded in our city.”
In addition to the WorldPride stages in both cities, other performances areas include Fluid Festival in Copenhagen and the WorldPride Park in Malmö.
Users of the Copenhagen 2021 smartphone app were given an advance preview of the themes yesterday, and the app will be updated with artist announcements in the weeks running up to the event.
Images (from top): Darren Gambrell, Anders Jung, Renato Manzionna.