Restoration

The Circus Building has been a part of Copenhagen’s cityscape and cultural life since 1886. The iconic and listed building is steeped in history and has hosted everything from circus performances and World Cinema to talk shows and concerts.

Now, a new chapter begins. With great respect for the architecture and heritage, we’re giving the building a loving and thorough update. We’re preserving its unique character – while also preparing it for the many exciting events of the future with modern solutions and improved facilities.

On this page, you can follow the journey. We’ll be sharing glimpses from the process, behind-the-scenes photos, and small stories all the way up to the grand reopening on August 29, 2025.

Hidden behind the scaffolding, craftsmen are hard at work transforming the Circus Building – without compromising its soul. You can almost hear the tools sing behind the closed doors as the old house is brought back to life, one careful step at a time.

The façade is being gently restored, piece by piece. Original windows and architectural details are being highlighted and brought back to their former glory, allowing the building’s unique character to shine once more.

At the same time, modern technology is being subtly integrated: brand-new LED screens are being added to the exterior, creating a seamless blend of past and future.

Imagine stepping into a world of color and light. The foyer and bar areas are getting ready to be brought back to life with a recreation of Verner Panton’s iconic color and light universe – carefully reconstructed from his original 1983 design.

Soon, visitors will once again experience the bold colors and imaginative lighting effects that helped make the building so extraordinary in the first place.

“The use of color and lighting has been hugely important to the identity of the Circus Building, because Panton allowed light and color to engage in a dialogue with the architecture and its function. Through his work, he interpreted the circus theme – and that’s exactly what we’re bringing back with this restoration,” explains Signe Baadsgaard, architect and partner at Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects.

Inside the Circus Hall, the air buzzes with activity. Our technicians are busier than ever, checking and fine-tuning every piece of equipment to make sure everything is perfectly in place when we reopen.

As part of the renovation, the sound system is getting a state-of-the-art upgrade, ensuring a sharper and more immersive audio experience than ever before.

A brand-new, elegant carpet is being rolled out across the entire hall, and even the iconic dome above the stage is getting a much-needed refresh – ready to shine once again. Every detail is being perfected to ensure the ideal setting when the Circus Building reopens its doors.

You’d think you’d walked into the wrong place – our ticket booth, where we usually welcome guests, is completely unrecognizable! Everything has been stripped down to the bare bones so we can rebuild it from scratch.

Once the dust settles, a fully redesigned ticket area will be in place – more welcoming for guests and far more functional for our dedicated Customer Care team.

Right now, the area around the cloakroom and restrooms looks more like a demolition site. Bricks and rubble are scattered everywhere, dust lingers in the air, and chaos seems to reign.

But fear not – by August, this area will have undergone a complete transformation. The cloakroom and restrooms will be beautifully updated, bringing modern comfort and quality that meets today’s standards.

The mess you see today paves the way for a much better experience tomorrow – and we can’t wait to show you the result.

The restoration of the Circus Building is progressing as planned, and we are now well underway with the construction of our new ticket office.

In the photo, you can see the first walls being installed, and how the office’s new shape and color are beginning to emerge. The materials have been carefully selected to ensure both functionality and aesthetics, allowing the ticket office to blend naturally with the building’s historic architecture and the new design.

We are truly excited to open the doors and welcome you back to Circus Building — now in beautifully refreshed surroundings, where we have carefully preserved the history while elevating the experience to new heights.

The distinctive Alexander frieze, which beautifully encircles the facade of the Circus Building, is an important part of the building’s expression and history.

As part of the ongoing restoration, the frieze is now receiving a delicate treatment, where wear and damage are being carefully repaired. Specialized conservators are ensuring that the frieze continues to stand strong as part of the building’s visual identity – and can keep telling the story of a place that has hosted extraordinary experiences for generations.

The 45-meter-long relief depicts the victorious campaign of Alexander the Great (in Danish: Alexander den Store). It was created by sculptor Frederik Hammeleff in connection with the construction of the building in 1886. The frieze is rich in detail and dramatic scenes, showing Alexander’s troops in motion, in battle, and in triumph – designed as a striking feature meant to capture the attention of passersby on Jernbanegade.

After five months of restoration, the details are finally coming together. The new furniture has arrived for our two beautiful bars and is now being arranged.

Soon we can reveal the final result – a colorful universe that both celebrates history and gives our guests new spaces to gather.

We can’t wait!

The façade has been renewed with an impressive LED screen that integrates harmoniously into the building’s distinguished architecture, offering passersby on Jernbanegade a glimpse of the unique experiences inside.

At the same time, a glass window—recreated after the original from 1886—has been installed, beautifully adorning the building.

Together, these elements form part of a meticulous restoration that carries the house into a new era while honoring its rich history.