2026: The sun shone over Verdensballetten

12 performances in warm summer sunshine – and only a single drop of rain, which disappeared almost as quickly as it came.

Once again, we travelled through the summer landscape with ballet, opera and live music under the open sky. We visited places we know and love, and set the stage at entirely new destinations where Verdensballetten has never danced before.

On Lolland, we visited Christianssæde Manor for the first time, where the green parkland and the historic estate provided the setting for a warm summer evening with an enthusiastic and welcoming audience.

At Dyvig Badehotel on Als, we also laced up our ballet shoes for the first time. With the red main building, the harbour and the water as a backdrop, a truly special, intimate atmosphere emerged – with the audience on shore and curious boat owners as extra spectators from the harbour.

That is precisely what we love so much about Verdensballetten: each venue leaves its own mark on the performance.

New works alongside the classics

As always, this year’s programme moved between the familiar and the new.

Audiences could experience beloved classics such as The Nutcracker, the Rose Adagio from Sleeping Beauty, Giselle and Roland Petit’s sensual Thaïs – alongside brand-new works created for this season.

This year, Astrid Elbo left her own choreographic mark on Verdensballetten with a new work inspired by Hamlet. Here, she explored masculinity, doubt and identity through a pas de trois for three male dancers – seen through her own strong artistic lens.

Kim Brandstrup and composer Katrine Grarup Elbo created The Weight of Wings, a new interpretation with threads to both Hans Christian Andersen and Camille Saint-Saëns’ The Swan. The work was danced by Sangeun Lee in July and Astrid Elbo in August, bringing classical inspiration together with a contemporary sound world.

And amid the poetic and reflective, Steven McRae stood ready with his trademark ease. Wearing tap shoes, he delivered yet another high-energy solo before the ensemble came together in the grand finale beneath the summer sky

Big stars – with both audiences and reviewers

This year’s artistic line-up brought together principal dancers from some of the world’s leading companies, including The Royal Danish Ballet and The Royal Ballet in London. But it is not only the individual performances that make Verdensballetten so special. It is the meeting of dance, music and opera – and the magic that arises when the art forms share the stage under the open sky.

This was highlighted by audiences in this year’s audience survey as well: “The magic that arises when the artists perform together across different art forms.”

Reviewers also gave this year’s programme a warm reception, rewarding it with both five and six stars. Kulturtid highlighted the balance between new and classic: “It is impressive to have so many new works that get us into the seats and paying that little bit more attention. At the same time, it is wonderful to be indulged with old classics.”

At Sceneblog, Kim Brandstrup’s newly created The Weight of Wings in particular sparked enthusiasm: “[...] danced with exquisite elegance by the South Korean star, and Brandstrup’s choreography is once again monumental.”

From Denmark to Switzerland

After the Danish tour, the season continued south with Ballet Sauvage in Switzerland.

Here we arrived in Lausanne, where the season’s final performance took place on the shores of Lac Léman with Évian and the Alps in the background. The collaboration with ASDAC – Association Suisse-Danemark pour les Arts et la Culture – has been central to the development of Ballet Sauvage, and after another strong season we dare to believe that a new Verdensballetten tradition is beginning to take root in Switzerland.

Now we turn our attention to 2027 – a truly special year, as Verdensballetten celebrates its 20th season.

See this year’s artists