Experience world-class photography at the Royal Danish Theatre's Old Stage
Experience world-class photography at the Old Stage during this year's Copenhagen Photo Festival
Copenhagen Photo Festival once again takes over the spectacular foyer of the Royal Danish Theatre's Old Stage with a series of international exhibitions as well as an exciting lineup of talks and events.
In an unconventional way, the festival brings photography into play in the theatre's curved foyer corridors in June 2026. Among other things, you can experience the first major solo exhibition with American Magnum photographer Carolyn Drake on Danish soil. With playfulness and irony, Drake expands the field between documentary and art photography, bringing important reflections on gender, culture, and identity to the surface. The festival showcases works from three of her most acclaimed projects: Knit Club, Men Untitled, and Glorify Yourself.
In addition to Carolyn Drake, solo exhibitions by four internationally recognized photographers will be shown. Roger Ballen presents Spirits and Spaces – dark, surreal interiors populated by skeletal figures and art brut drawings, presenting the world-famous "Ballenesque" aesthetic in color for the first time, revolving around the human mind and notions of the afterlife. In Gertrud, Maja Daniels revives the story of a young girl who triggered a wave of witch hunts in Sweden in 1667, using it as a mirror for contemporary fear and oppression. In Observations of a New Norwegian Fauna, Helge Skodvin maps Norway's unofficial wildlife – inflatable garden sharks, giant rabbits, and plastic dinosaurs – with humor and sharp observation, offering a satirical look at consumer culture and the biodiversity crisis. And in Rhi-Entry, Rhiannon Adam explores her time as a selected crew member on the cancelled DearMoon mission – a planned civilian journey around the Moon that plunged her into an existential investigation of power, ambition, and the fragility of dreams.
During the festival, you can also experience several special talks. The festival kicks off with an Opening Night Talk on June 11, where Carolyn Drake unfolds her experimental and performative practice – and the power structures she challenges in her work.
On June 15, award-winning film director Christina Rosendahl and theatre director and author Liv Helm meet for a "Fremkaldt" (Developed) conversation about transforming difficult upbringings involving abuse and family taboos into art that moves a broad audience.
You can also visit the festival's photo market on June 13-14, participate in guided tours, workshops, and masterclasses.
The festival launches with a Grand Opening on June 11 and can be experienced until June 17 at the Old Stage.
Stay updated on the full festival program here.
NB! The ticket grants daily access to the festival center. Tickets for special events such as talks and guided tours require a separate ticket.
Photo: Knit Club © Carolyn Drake
Translated using AI