Copenhagen Distortion

Copenhagen Distortion is a celebration of street life and dance music often touted as a form of “orchestrated chaos.” The massive, five-day street party is a collection of parties held throughout the city that brings an average 100,000 to the city at the end of May.

Music stages are set up throughout the city’s alleyways in the popular Nørrebro and Vesterbro districts and feature an “anything goes” mantra in terms of musical styles — you’ll hear a little bit of everything. An average of 20 to 40 performances are held each year. At night the focus shifts to entirely new music during the Distortion Club event. Passes are required to attend once the sun goes down, and they tend to sell out weeks in advance.

At the end of the festival the musical showcase culminates in an enormous party at the harbor for Distortion Ø. The two-day rave sets up shop on an industrial island in the Refshaleøen district, the cultural center point of Copenhagen’s younger crowd. Distortion Ø features new dance music, ranging from hip-hop and trap to experimental and techno.

Copenhagen Distortion is not for the faint of heart — there’s plenty of drinking and, potentially, illegal substances involved, like any rave, and the crowd definitely skews younger. However, if you’re looking for the perfect place to cut loose for a few days and love to hear new music with incredible beats, it’s definitely the party for you.