The Festival of Centuries
The Festival of the Century is a knowledge festival. With its mixture of knowledge, art, and culture, the festival each year turns the spotlight on a particular historical period to create a debate about the lives we live and the society around us.
Each festival has its own theme
In a mix of knowledge, art and culture, the festival each year highlights a historical period to create debate about the life we live and the society that surrounds us. In 2025, the theme of the Festival of the Century was “EUROPE” and in 2026 the theme is “THE WORLD”.
THE WORLD / 6 March - 15 March 2026
A global perspective has never been more relevant. At a time when connections between people, cultures and continents are evolving rapidly and unpredictably, we focus on the history, present and future of globalisation. Throughout the 20th century, global connectivity grew with the rhythm of the steam locomotive, the jet engine and the container ship. Globalisation has created new opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing and shared solutions - and it has shaped our everyday lives in ways we are only just beginning to understand.
At the same time, we are in a time of transition. US President Donald Trump's bold foreign policy choices and protectionist stance have challenged the global structures we have long taken for granted.
The festival looks both backwards and forwards. From the time of expeditions to the visions of life in space. From the great thoughts and masterpieces to the technologies and ideas that today connect us across languages, borders and cultures. We look at migration, trade, cultural encounters, inventions and world-changing events - but also the human ability to adapt, survive and innovate.
Contemporary crises - pandemic, climate change, war and supply challenges - remind us how interconnected we are. But they also point to a strong will to find solutions together. Global connectedness faces challenges, but is also full of potential and innovation.
Århundredets Festival
Århundredets Festival presents researchers, actors, musicians and artists side by side on the city's stages for intelligent, entertaining and sensuous events with knowledge as the common thread of the programme. To create debate about the life we live and the society that surrounds us.
The programme is currently being developed and will be published on the Festival of the Century website after summer 2025.