Northern Europe's biggest music festival: 130,000 people, eight stages, and a week of camping, community, and headliners that justify the journey north.
Annual. Late June to early July.
Roskilde is Scandinavia's Glastonbury: a non-profit music festival that has run since 1971 and now draws 130,000 people to a field 35 kilometres west of Copenhagen. Eight stages cover everything from headlining rock and hip-hop acts to experimental electronic, world music, and spoken word. Past headliners include Kendrick Lamar, Radiohead, The Rolling Stones, and Beyonce.
The festival runs for eight days but divides into two distinct halves. The first four days (Saturday to Tuesday) are the warm-up: camping opens, smaller stages run, and the atmosphere is relaxed and communal. The main programme (Wednesday to Saturday) is when the Orange Stage headliners play and the crowds peak. Most backpackers attend the full week.
The camping is as much a part of Roskilde as the music. 80,000 of the 130,000 attendees camp, and the campsite develops its own micro-neighbourhoods with themed areas, pop-up bars, and communal cooking. Bring a tent, sleeping bag, and rain gear. Danish summers are unpredictable: expect anything from 25 degrees Celsius sunshine to 10 degrees Celsius rain within the same day.
All profits go to charity. Roskilde Festival has donated over DKK 400 million (roughly GBP 45 million) to humanitarian and cultural organisations since its founding. This is not a commercial music festival: it is run by a non-profit foundation and staffed by 32,000 volunteers.
Party hostels within reach of Copenhagen's main celebrations. Ranked by guest rating.
Train from Copenhagen Central to Roskilde takes 25 minutes. Free shuttle buses from Roskilde station to the festival site.
Day-by-day breakdown
Campsite opens Saturday. Smaller stages run from Sunday. Community events, workshops, and pop-up food stalls. The best time to set up camp and meet neighbours.
All eight stages running. Headliners on the Orange Stage from 9pm. Daytime acts across Apollo, Arena, Avalon, and smaller tents. Plan your schedule: stage conflicts are inevitable.
Last headliner on the Orange Stage. The traditional Saturday night atmosphere is the most intense of the week. Campsite teardown begins Sunday morning.
Realistic costs per person · Verified March 2026
Prices in GBP. Festival week prices may be higher than standard rates. Prices verified March 2026.
Other festivals and parties in the same region
Pre-booked private transfers and shared shuttles for your arrival.
