Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix: the unexpected Denmark

Among concerts, festivals, and cultural events, one date makes petrolheads’ hearts race: the Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix.

Denmark is often associated with electric cars — in July 2025, nearly 88% of privately sold vehicles were battery-powered — but don’t be fooled. The country is home to a large number of motorsport enthusiasts, who express their passion at events like this, at regular club meetups, and even through the seasonal use of historic vehicles. This is where the term sommerbil (“summer car”) was born, inspired by sommerhus (“summer houses”), which for cars means tax exemptions and freedom from circulation restrictions. After all, passions are universal.Other gatherings are promoted by the Classic Car House in Kongens Lyngby, just outside the Capital: every Thursday, numerous historic cars meet there, accompanied by street food and, of course, beer.

The Car Gathering of the Year in Northern Europe

The Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix is the pinnacle of this automotive culture, bringing together all the previous meetups like pieces of a mosaic. It usually takes place on the first weekend of August, from Friday to Sunday, in the Bellahøj neighborhood and park, in the city’s Nordvest district. It’s not far from Bispebjerg’s Grundtvigs Kirke, nicknamed “Shrek’s Church” by social media trend followers.

The competitions include every kind of vehicle: from historic cars to youngtimers hand-modified by enthusiasts, sometimes with impressive results, other times with more eccentric touches — like a matte Opel Tigra with less-than-perfect paintwork and shark teeth for added aggressiveness.

Competitors set off from the park area, where the public greets them with applause, photos, and videos, boosting their enthusiasm. For each category, up to Class S, there’s a podium for the top three and a trophy for the winner.

At the top end, modern supercars are not missing: Ferrari SF90, Lamborghini Huracán (still too early to spot the Temerario), McLaren P1, and others — on which, for a fee, you can ride as a passenger.

Those who prefer to remain spectators, after paying the 500 DKK daily ticket (about €80), can stroll around the park. Here, the Danes’ love for Alfa Romeo stands out, with the Alfa Romeo Club Danmark occupying one of the main display areas.

Other gems are also on show, such as a Fiat Seicento Sporting, a first-generation Ford Puma, and several American cars, often coming from Sweden.

Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix

Between model cars from past Grand Prix editions, vintage dresses for ladies, and 1980s accessories, it’s hard to say if this is the best automotive event of the year — but it’s certainly the most unexpected piston-powered party in Northern Europe.

Not Without Protests

In recent months, rumors spread that the 2025 edition could be the last at Bellahøj Park, due to a municipal project to install permanent speed bumps and traffic islands on part of the track.

Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix

But Signe Karoline Liljekvist, the event’s director, clarified that these are only premature assumptions: authorization for 2026 will be evaluated, as always, after this year’s race. The organization is already in talks with the City Council to adopt removable solutions and keep the track unchanged, convinced that Bellahøj is the ideal location thanks to its proximity to the metro and the motorway.

Despite some noise-related complaints, most residents appreciate the event, and the team is confident they’ll be able to bring cars — and Italian flags — back to the track next year as well.