Timeline

Aalborghallen was built to show Aalborg what the world can do, but also, to a large extent, to show the world what Aalborg can do. By 1957, the number of visitors to Aalborghallen had already reached 1.5 million.

Aalborghallen gets a cinema. “Det Lille Teater” (now “1.04 Fakultetet”) is converted into Teater Bio with seating for 272 moviegoers. The cinema operates every evening until it closes in 1980.

Aalborghallen gains a more international profile when Ingvar Blicher-Hansen becomes CEO following the hall’s first CEO, Captain R. O. Løvschall. Due to his experience and connections from his time as an impresario, Blicher-Hansen had good opportunities to bring international artists to Aalborg.

Aalborghallen celebrates its 25th anniversary. The hall has had over 8,750,000 visitors since its official opening in 1953 and has been highly successful with everything from revues, guest performances, spring fairs, and conferences to concerts, large parties—yes, even boxing matches!

This year, the current inspector, Sven Bengtson, assumes the position of CEO. He knows Aalborghallen very well, having been employed there since 1956.

Danmarks Radio has had both studios and permanent staff in Aalborghallen for many years. However, in 1982, this comes to an end. DR moves to brand-new facilities on Frederik Bajers Vej in Aalborg.

Ernst “Trille” Trillingsgaard becomes the CEO of AKKC and holds the position for 32 years. One of Trille’s significant achievements has been creating the idea and foundation for sponsorships in the cultural sector, and today, the Aalborg model is used by many of the country’s cultural institutions.

Trille is known nationwide as the “culture merchant,” and throughout his years as CEO, he has played a major role in putting Aalborg on the map as a city of culture and conferences.

Cliff Richard is the first international artist to plant a tree in Kildeparken. It is CEO Ernst Trillingsgaard’s idea to start a tradition where international artists who perform in Aalborghallen plant a tree.

In 2012, the area is named the Park of Music, as music stands are installed by the trees, playing a medley of the artists’ famous hits. Over the years, more than 95 artists, including Mariah Carey, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Shakira, and Leonard Cohen, have planted trees in the Park of Music, a unique attraction not found anywhere else in the world.

Europahallen is constructed. The new hall, with seating for 625 guests, allows for multiple events to be held simultaneously. Europahallen gets its name from a naming competition, as Aalborg had been named City of the Year in Europe a few years earlier and, in 1990, was also named Europe’s Cleanest City.

In connection with the addition of Europahallen, the building receives its current name, Aalborg Kongres & Kultur Center (AKKC).

Aalborg hosts the first edition of the European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) at AKKC. The conference series has since led to remarkable milestones in local sustainable development across Europe. In 2024, the 10th edition of the conference was again held in Aalborg.

AKKC stakes half a million kroner to host the first fishing exhibition under the name DanFish International. The fair proves to be a huge success. Today, the DanFish exhibition is held every two years, attracting exhibitors and visitors from 47 nations and generating revenue for Aalborg of at least 39 million kroner.

The hotel adjacent to AKKC is constructed and integrated so that guests can move easily between the two. At the same time, AKKC’s sponsors approve the use of sponsorship funds to build AKKC with a large, impressive glass facade, bringing the building’s 40 meeting rooms and two large halls together under one roof.

AKKC celebrates its 60th anniversary and is now visited by more than 500,000 guests annually for cultural events, conferences, and exhibitions.

Nicolaj Holm becomes the CEO and intensifies AKKC’s efforts on sustainability. That same year, AKKC achieves its first certification, ISO 20121 for sustainable events, becoming the first in the industry to do so.

The focus on sustainability quickly positions AKKC at the forefront of the field, and AKKC also establishes its own sustainability department dedicated solely to advancing these initiatives.

Just two years after its first certification, AKKC obtains another—DNV’s Sustainable Development Goals Certification. With these certifications, AKKC commits to continuously advancing in the field of sustainability.

Covid-19 prompts AKKC to think outside the box by creating Denmark’s largest stay-at-home concert while the country is in lockdown due to the pandemic. The world-renowned Danish DJ and producer Martin Jensen performs a four-hour concert live from AKKC’s 35-meter-high stage tower, accompanied by 750 spotlights and 750 fireworks displays—plus a sea of towering flames. The concert is watched online by 1.5 million people.

AKKC has reduced its CO2e emissions by 28% compared to the baseline year of 2019. That same year, AKKC wins the Sustainability of the Year Award at the Aalborg Awards for its significant work in sustainability.