Food Festival

Seaweed Restaurant, Aarhus

Food Festival at Tangkrogen

When September hits Aarhus, Tangkrogen transforms into Denmark's largest food playground. The Food Festival is three days filled with fragrant stalls, curious tastings and meetings with both passionate chefs and ordinary foodies.
Here, families with children, groups of friends, couples and dog walkers walk side by side. All with the same mission: to taste all the best that Danish and Nordic food artisans have to offer.



Drink



Competitions



Practical

Guests pet a cow and meet farmers at the Food Festival in Aarhus

Festival guests enjoy food and drinks in the sun at the Food Festival in Aarhus

Taste, learn and play

At the festival you will find over 250 exhibitors, divided into eight areas, each with its own focus, from Torvet with famous chefs to Mad & Børn, where kids can bake snobrød, toast marshmallows and make pancakes over a campfire. The Conversation Kitchen buzzes with inspiration as skilled chefs and food historians share tricks, while Planteriget (new in 2025) invites you inside a world of fermentation, plant proteins and sustainable solutions.

Big competitions with lots of spectators

The Food Festival is also known for its audience favorites: the Grill Championship, the Cocktail of the Year and, not least, the Hotdog Championship. Here, hotdogs are elevated to art, served in small shows where chefs troop up to the judging panel on the red carpet, often with creative costumes and surprising presentations. The audience gathers tightly, and hotdogs are snatched away as they are served.

You can meet profiles like Mette Blomsterberg and Claus Holm, be challenged by Chili Klaus, try tiramisu in Danish or dive into pizza workshops, cheese tastings and legume inspiration. And don't worry, with three million taste samples given out over the weekend, there's plenty for everyone.

The judging panel at the Hotdog Championship during the Food Festival in Aarhus

Olive oil tasting with bread and local products at the Food Festival

A food universe filled with passion and specialties

The Food Festival is not just about the big competitions and famous chefs, it is also where you meet the little enthusiasts. All around the square are young entrepreneurs and small producers who work their magic at home with chocolate, syrup or other delicacies on a daily basis in their own kitchens. For them, the Food Festival is a chance to show off their passion, meet an audience and tell the story behind the products directly to the guests who stop by for a taste.

The same goes for the small companies with specialty products, from pickled novelties to unique spices. Many of them have their first major meeting with the public here, and the conversations at the stands give the festival a very special intimacy.

Wine, spirits and Nordic drops

For the adult taste buds, there is an entire area dedicated to wine, beer and spirits. Here you can delve into everything from small microbreweries to Nordic distilleries and taste new takes on cocktails and classic drinks in modern interpretations. You can meet the producers face to face, have a chat about the brewing process and maybe discover your new favorite among the many tastings.

Tastings with queues and anticipation

No matter where you go in the square, there's one thing you can't avoid: long lines for the most popular tastings. But the wait is part of the experience and the reward is usually worth it. From the smallest bites to the largest dishes, the Food Festival is a journey through all the best that Danish food culture has to offer.

Workshop in a tent with plants and an audience for a food presentation at the Food Festival

Barbecue area with open fire and tastings from grill masters at the Food Festival

The sea in focus and barbecue in all its forms

Down by the water you will find the area where fish and seafood are the focus. This location is no coincidence, here you can experience everything from fish auctions to tastings of freshly caught fish and learn about both tradition and sustainability in seafood cuisine.

One of the biggest draws is undoubtedly the Grill Championship. Here, each participant has their own tent, where the smell of smoke and glowing coals permeates. You can walk around between the tents, see the different grills in action and get tips directly from the passionate grill masters. The atmosphere is intense, and there are usually tastings, but be prepared for a queue, because the grilled dishes are extremely popular.