Det Kongelige Teater (The Royal Danish Theatre) is Denmark's national performing arts institution, founded in 1748 in Copenhagen. It operates across three venues - the historic Gamle Scene at Kongens Nytorv, the Opera House on Holmen, and the Playhouse by Nyhavn - and is home to the Royal Danish Ballet, the Royal Danish Opera and the Royal Danish Orchestra. With nearly three centuries of continuous operation, it ranks among the world's oldest active theatre institutions. The theatre is a state enterprise under the Ministry of Culture, employing around 1,000 people.
The Royal Chapel went on an international tour with chief conductor Marie Jacquot and violinist Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider - with concerts at Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (21 August) and Menuhin Festival in Gstaad (22 August).
House director Anna Balslev (35 years old) was appointed as the new artistic director from August 2027, where she will succeed Morten Kirkskov, who has held the position since 2015.
The summer tour 2026 visited 24 Danish cities with free outdoor performances - opera and ballet in parks, on squares and at historic sites in May, June and August.
Season 2026/2027 was presented with 157 tour days, two world premieres of new ballet and guest performances by international stars such as Lise Davidsen and Antonio Pappano.
Ticket sales for season 2025/2026 opened with two ballet world premieres - The Art of the Fugue by Alexei Ratmansky and Lady Macbeth by Akram Khan - as well as Puccini's Tosca in Kasper Holten's production.
Young singers from the Royal Danish Theatre's Opera Academy perform classical opera works in the Colonnade Hall at Nivaagaard's Painting Collection, accompanied by piano.
A Royal Danish Theatre production dramatizing the story of Yahya Hassan's family, who speak publicly for the first time about his childhood in Aarhus and a life shaped by displacement and family trauma.
Ten young speakers share personal stories about human rights challenges facing young people in Denmark, with performances from the Royal Theatre's ballet and opera.