BEAUTY PARTY
Bøgeskoven, Skanderborg
The beech forest is not just a backdrop
Smukfest is the state where Skanderborg Dyrehave is transformed into Denmark's most beautiful party. Here, stages, bars and people melt into nature. There are 60.000 guests partying under the treetops, and it is the contrasts that create the magic. One moment you are standing in a tightly packed crowd in front of the Bøgescenen. The next you are sitting with your feet in the forest floor and a cold beer in your hand.
News 2026
Atmosphere
Practical
More space for large arm movements
Even though Smukfest has been around for over 40 years, time does not stand still in the forest. The festival is growing and changing. In the coming years, the festival site itself will be larger to provide more space. This means better flow between the stages and more space to be together. But the soul is the same. It is still about the quirky, the unexpected and the authentic atmosphere that you only find here. It is the balance between the professional machine and the wild forest party.
From the Book Scene to the Secret Nooks
The heart beats heavily in front of the iconic Bøgescene where the biggest names gather the entire square. But Smukfest is lived just as much on the smaller stages. It's the energy under the tent. It's the view of the lake from the Stjernescenen. And it's the small pop-up concerts you stumble upon along the way. The program is wide-ranging, but the common denominator is the intense contact between artist and audience, which the intimate setting in the forest creates automatically.
Gourmet hot dogs and 65 watering holes
Forget about boring festival food. Smukfest is a gastronomic playground with 80 different eateries. The level here is sky-high, whether you're after oysters and champagne or a saucy burger at three in the morning. The 65 bars are each little universes with their own theme. You can drink drinks in the treetops or find a brown bodega in the middle of the beech forest. It's abundance in a good way.
The city that arises in the grass
Outside the forest itself, the festival lives on in the camping areas. This is where the community really takes root. From the legendary KærligHeden to the quieter areas. This is where you recharge, share robbery stories and meet new people over a lukewarm can of beer. Camping life is the glue that binds the days together and makes Smukfest a total experience around the clock.
News from Smukfest 2026
The beech forest never stands still, and in 2026 the festival will take the biggest leap forward since the inauguration of the new beech stages in 2020.
Read below and get an overview of the biggest news that awaits in Skanderborg in 2026.
The Moon Moves to Sherwood
In 2026, the festival site will get a new visual landmark when the Moon stage moves from its current location to Sherwood by the main entrance. With a donation of 3 million kroner from the Salling Foundations, the stage will be reborn in a completely new design, created in collaboration with scenographer Christian Albrechtsen.
The new tent will accommodate 3.000 spectators under the cloth, while the structure is designed so that 10.000 guests can watch from outside. The move also marks a farewell to The Hood stage, as Månen takes over the central role in the area.
New food market becomes the social heart of the forest
When the Moon moves, a new central square will emerge in the middle of the beech forest. This area will be dedicated to food communities with plenty of seating and quiet meeting places where guests can enjoy their meals. The initiative is a direct response to the public's desire for more space for socializing around food.
The ambition is to create an absolute must-visit area where the most creative stagers and food enthusiasts can present their take on festival gastronomy.
EKKO: A new world of electronic music
Smukfest is expanding its musical universe with the new EKKO stage, dedicated exclusively to electronic genres. Here, sound, light and visuals merge to create a unique communal experience with space for around 5.000 audiences.
Although the big night parties at Bøgescenerne continue, the genre now gets its own permanent home in the forest, where the magic can grow even greater. The program for EKKO will be announced in the spring of 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions about Smukfest
When is Smukfest held?
The festival in Bøgeskoven always takes place in week 32. In 2026, the dates are from August 2 to 9. This is where Skanderborg transforms into the festival center.
Payment with wristband (Walther)
Smukfest is cashless, but works a little differently than other festivals. Here you pay with the chip in your festival wristband. You deposit money into your “Walther account” via the Smukfest app or in the machines at the site. This means you can leave your credit card deep in your pocket once you have filled up. Any excess money can be refunded after the festival.
80 restaurants and gourmet in the forest
You won't be living on boring fast food. Smukfest is known for its towering gastronomic level. With over 80 eateries and 65 bars, there is literally something for everyone. You will find everything from oysters and champagne to the classic steak sandwich and vegan specialties. Please note that it is not allowed to bring your own drinks into the festival site in the forest.
Camping and accommodation
Smukfest is also camping. The most popular areas such as KærligHeden often require you to leave quickly. If you have not purchased a specific accommodation type (such as Tenthouse or Hotelt), the general tent areas are first-come, first-served. Remember to check the rules for camping and gear on Smukfest's own website before packing your car.
Bus and train to the festival
Getting to Skanderborg is easy. With a special Smukfest bus ticket you can travel unlimitedly for 16 hours throughout the Central Denmark Region for a fixed price. The ticket is valid for all Midttrafik buses as well as night buses, the Light Rail and the Midtjyske Jernbaner. Remember that you must be able to present a valid festival ticket or wristband along with the bus ticket. From Skanderborg Station, shuttle buses run to the festival site and camping areas.
Free parking at the Giraffe and Elephant
If you are coming by car, aim for the festival's two large parking lots called Giraffen (Horndrupvej 4) and Elefanten (Hylkevej 3). Parking is free here. Follow the yellow signs for “Festival-P” as soon as you approach the city.
Shuttle buses run from the parking lots to the festival area. Important: Do not try to park inside Skanderborg town itself or on the residential roads. This will result in fines and traffic chaos.
Moments from the Beech Forest
It's about more than just the program. It's the feeling of being there. We describe the atmosphere on the site, life on the campsite and the energy in front of the scenes. Read along here and feel the rush from the forest again.
Punk Rock Factory gave Smukfest a punky Disney boost
What happens when you take the soundtracks of your childhood and give them double the tempo? The star stage exploded into an unexpected folk festival, where “Let It Go” turned into a mosh pit, and “Mamma Mia” had the whole place screaming along. It was disciplined chaos, nostalgia at its best, and proof that Disney works brilliantly as punk rock.
Carl Emil Petersen touched something deep in the Castle Church
A very special magic occurs when the bass of the festival is exchanged for the silence of the church. In front of the baptismal font we got very close when Carl Emil delivered a concert so intense that you could hear a pin drop. These were stories of fatherhood, roots and a presence that brought tears to the eyes on the church pews. A rare breather in the middle of the party.
Love at Smukfest
Here, you never say no to a beer bong. We went on a trip to the youthful parallel world, where bartenders look like Emil Lange, and where the concept of “joint scoring” has taken on a whole new meaning. It’s the story of new friendships, the importance of wet wipes, and the party that continues long after the music has stopped in the forest.
The beauty party ends peacefully
Sunday is the day when the forest breathes again. The crowds are gone, and the square is taken over by families with children and smiling guests, enjoying the last of the “Pure Love” at a leisurely pace. We caught the atmosphere as the Danish stars closed the party, while the first tired guests lined up for the bus with their backpacks full of memories.
Sex, glitter and the difficult dilemmas
What do you choose: A hot night or a week in the beech forest? We took the pulse of the guests with a series of sharp questions. The answers offered everything from philosophical reflections on wellies versus glitter to a clear winner in the duel between morning champagne and the sloppy night burger.
Smukfest is just love
It starts with a “hug card” from a stranger and ends with a euphoric party under the treetops. We were there on a Thursday full of contrasts, where Suspekt made the forest boil, before world star Sam Smith delivered a concert so present and moving that it felt like a collective embrace of 60.000 people.
Anti-everyday life and community across ages
How do you create a party where the average age is 39 but the energy feels like 20? We spoke to spokesperson Søren Eskildsen about the recipe for the special community in the forest. It's about the concept of "anti-everyday" and creating spaces where generations meet over a beer. Here you get the story of how music and whimsy bind us together.
Photo series: Reunion with the party in 2023
60.000 happy guests and over 200 concerts. We were right at the edge of the stage and deep in the forest to capture the atmosphere. Explore our large gallery and feel the rush of a summer filled with music, laughter and the unique community under the beech trees.
The Helpers: The Heart of Smukfest
17.000 volunteers make the wheels turn in the forest. But what makes people spend their holidays pouring draft beer and collecting trash? We met Maja, Christian and Preben for a chat about community, waiting lists and the special “Smukfest family”, where people return year after year.
Reunion with the party under the treetops
As you know, pictures say more than words. We have been in the archive and found a number of glimpses from recent years in Skanderborg. Here is dust, bazaar arms, hugs and the very special magic that occurs when the light breaks through the beech trees.
Culture in Aarhus
Copyright: Wyrle Studio and AarhusInside