Live Nation Entertainment has reached an agreement to acquire Copenhagen’s Royal Arena from Realdania and Copenhagen City, adding another major European venue to its network. The company has operated the 17,000-capacity building since it opened in 2017, but will now take full ownership once the transaction closes in 2026. Financial details were not disclosed.
After the deal is finalized, Live Nation plans to invest in a series of improvements aimed at expanding the venue’s hospitality areas, strengthening VIP experiences, and modernizing backstage spaces for touring artists and crews. The company also outlined a sustainability plan that includes rooftop solar panels, full LED lighting throughout the arena, and two 4.5-megawatt batteries to store renewable energy. Combined, the upgrades are expected to generate annual savings of more than 800,000 kWh.
Royal Arena has become one of Denmark’s most active concert venues, hosting major international artists such as Billie Eilish, Justin Timberlake, Olivia Rodrigo, MØ, and Lukas Graham. The venue recently introduced The Vinyl Room in collaboration with Bang & Olufsen, offering fans a new lounge experience. This month, Royal Arena’s calendar includes shows from Radiohead, James Arthur, Lorde, and Big Time Rush.
Located in the Ørestad district, the arena was designed by Danish architecture studio 3XN, using Cradle to Cradle certified materials and recyclable wooden fins. Since its first concert in 2017, when Metallica performed on opening night, the building has played an important role in Denmark’s growing live music environment.
Anders Kjørup, CEO of Royal Arena, said the venue has been embraced by Danish fans from the beginning and described Live Nation’s move to full ownership as a long-term commitment to the arena’s future. Realdania CEO Nina Kovsted Helk added that the organization’s mission focuses on improving quality of life through architecture and urban development. She noted that Royal Arena was never intended to stay under Realdania’s ownership permanently, making the sale a natural next step.
The acquisition strengthens Live Nation’s presence in Denmark, where it previously bought booking and management agency PDH Music in 2019. Across Europe, Live Nation has reported strong attendance growth, including a 60 percent year-over-year increase in global stadium show attendance in Q3 2025, driven heavily by European and Mexican markets.
The company is also navigating regulatory attention. In Belgium, authorities recently opened an investigation into Live Nation’s acquisition of the Pukkelpop festival, examining how the deal could affect competition in festival production and the broader live entertainment industry.
Live Nation’s recent international moves include acquiring Team Event in New Zealand, adding a further 24 percent stake in Mexican promoter OCESA, purchasing SD Concerts in the Dominican Republic, and buying Hayashi International Promotions in Japan. The Royal Arena transaction marks another addition as the company continues expanding its network of concert venues and live event partners.
