Guided walk in Bogense in the company of storyteller Gitte Madsen, with visits to places from Leif Davidsen's life and books, including Davidsen's childhood home and school route, and locations from "Djævelen i Hullet" and "Fjerne Voksne."

In Leif Davidsen's Footsteps

Bogense Rådhus

A lecture in which the Danish language gets a health check. Free admission, but tickets must be booked. Limited capacity.

But What Really Threatens the Language Is

Journalist and author Louise Voller on fiction, truth and Bogense – about the novel that traces threads to the Bhopal disaster in India and the author's own childhood. The thrillers about Astrid Pedersen are based on real events.

What Is True, What Is Free Fantasy

Sprogense

A new publication about Verner Panton and his upbringing in North Funen, published to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Verner Panton's North Funen Roots

Galleri Knægt

An atmospheric musical journey through church music and expression from the Renaissance to the present day, seasoned with historical anecdotes and communal singing. Admission 50 kroner, including a glass after the concert.

The Language of the Church in Words and Tones

Bogense Kirke

A lecture on the history of the Danish language and its loanwords, taking listeners from the present day back to the language's roots. Speaker: Rasmus G. Bjørn, Research Assistant, Ph.D., University of Copenhagen, Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics.

Danish for 6,000 Years

Morten Ramsland talks with moderator Louise Eltved Krogsgård about his work in both literature and visual art, and about the differences and similarities between the two forms of expression. Through books and paintings, the colorful narratives of Ramsland's universe are explored in depth. Free event. Limited number of seats. Ticket reservation required.

The Power of Storytelling at the Intersection of Image and Language

Gallerie Rasmus

A conversation with journalist and author Leif Davidsen about life, writing, journalism and his new novel Requiem for Rusland. The conversation is moderated by Anette Hyllested.

Leif Davidsen: A Conversation About Life, Writing and Journalism

Bogense Skole

An hour of debate about the Danish language and the work of the Danish Language Council, driven by questions from the audience. Topics include dictionaries, the development of the language, new words and Danish Sign Language. The event is free, but tickets must be booked. Limited capacity.

Twenty Questions for the Director of the Danish Language Council

A festive evening of concert and buffet in the company of TØRFISK – Irish-inspired folk music, original compositions and West Jutland humor. Program: 5:30 p.m. doors open with buffet; 7:45 p.m. welcome by Nikolaj Vang and concert with TØRFISK.

TØRFISK

Kulturhuset Støberiet

Film screening and conversation with documentary filmmaker Jesper Dalgaard and journalist Adrian Hughes about the documentary film "Mors Drenge" and the Dreyer family's story.

Jette's Letter, Adrian's Book, Jesper's Documentary: The Story of the Mors Boys

Spoken storytelling with Vigga Bro. Free event in collaboration with Fortællere i Danmark.

The Living Word

A creative workshop for children and their grown-ups, where you make your very own ABC. The workshop is most fun for children around 6-8 years old and their parents. Free to attend, but a ticket is required. Limited number of spots.

Make Your Own ABC

Bibliotekspavillonen

A talk by photographer Søren Solkær on photography as language, focusing on the projects Photographers Posed and Black Sun, plus a small exhibition of original works and the chance to buy signed books after the talk.

Photography as Language

Harridslevgaard Slot

A lecture on how the media covers rape cases and the ethical considerations around language, press ethics, and consideration for vulnerable sources. Based on the book "Mediernes rolle i voldtægtssager" by Lærke Helene Askholm.

From Courtroom to Commentary Track: The Power of Language in Rape Cases

Language belongs to everyone, and so God and everyone have opinions about it – and about what is right and wrong. With examples of variation in the pronunciation of Danish across time and place, we discuss why mistakes are not simply mistakes – but what they are, then. Free, but tickets must be booked. Limited capacity.

Are There Rules for Pronunciation?

A walk combined with a lecture by author, news presenter and walking enthusiast Mikael Kamber. During a two-hour walk along the water, you will hear about how language and walking evolved together, in one and the same process.

Walking with Language

Bro 14 - Wolf Camper

A language treasure hunt in Bogense's old town. Nature adventure combines outdoor play, storytelling and word games for families with children, free of charge and without registration.

The Mystery of the Missing Bell

Two children's stories with read-aloud and immersive storytelling, presented by illustrator and author Maiken Hilda Thim. Free admission, no registration required.

Skratterat og Den Lille Brune Rotte

Torvet

Bogense Antenneforening is updating its name and logo, and it needs help from the festival's language-loving guests. Share your best suggestion and take part in the prize draw for fine prizes. Free and no registration required.

Help Bogense Antenneforening Choose a New Name and Logo!

Bogense Antenneforening

Danish language historians unfold 6,000 years of language history across the whole world. With display boards, maps, language trees and dictionaries, you can travel across time and place, try writing your name in a foreign alphabet, and discover close and distant relatives of modern Danish words and grammar. Free experience.

Language History from the Stone Age to Today

Institut for Nordiske Studier og Sprogvidenskab, Københavns Universitet

The North Funen libraries offer language and literary activities during the SPROGENSE festival: an ABC workshop, read-aloud sessions for adults, visits with the library's reading dog, Shakespeare in the open air, Poetry Slam Fyn, and the mobile SPROGENSE reading den.

The Library Pavilion at the Square

Bibliotekspavillonen på Torvet

Booth at SPROGENSE where the Translators' Association and the Interpreters' Society share a stand. Activities, exercises, competitions and dialogue about language, translation and interpreting. Free experience.

Meeting with the Translators' Association and the Interpreters' Society

Free experience at the booth on the First Camp Bogense City campground: a talk about camping life and how the holiday format can be used for deeper immersion. Take part in the competition to win an immersion weekend in a cabin.

Words + Nature = Deeper Immersion

First Camp Bogense City

Guided Group Reading organized by Læseforeningen: a guided group reading where participants can listen or read along and comment on the text. No preparation or prior knowledge is required, and participation is free and without registration.

Come to the Guided Group Reading

Standen

More than 10 activities and experiences for children of all ages. Free activities centered on letters and language in the children's area in front of Bogense Town Hall.

Language Fun in Børnehøjde

An exhibition of the words chosen as Årets Ord (Word of the Year) from 2009 to 2025. Free admission.

Årets Ord – a Linguistic Time Journey

Reading dog Ziva helps children in grades 1–5 get excited about reading aloud. Free and no registration required.

Cheers to the Reading Dog

Anagram signs along Vægterstien by Bybækken in Bogense, set up for the language festival. Free experience.

Anagramstien

Vægterstien langs Bybækken

A conversation, quizzes and creative writing with author and poet Rasmus Andreassen on poetry, literature and personal growth. Free admission.

Digterstuen: Poetry and Freedom

Erik Grip interprets major Danish poets such as Frank Jæger, Grundtvig and Emil Aarestrup in an evening of songs and musical interpretations of poetry.

An Evening of Poetry with Erik Grip

Freestyle rap, fun, music and creative wordplay with LP & MC Caffe for children on the small stage in front of Bogense Town Hall. Free admission, no registration required.

Comedy Freestyle Rap with LP & MC Caffe

Free sign language workshop where you learn basic signs for everyday life. Hosted by the Danish Sign Language Department. Hosts: Elisabeth Holm Hansen & Karen Talks Olesen. Subject to change.

Sign Language Workshop for Youth and Adults

Dansk Sprognævn

A fun workshop where children can learn fun signs from Danish Sign Language, including how to say hello, introduce themselves, and other signs for everyday life. The event is free, but tickets must be booked. Limited capacity. Hosts: Elisabeth Holm Hansen & Karen Talks Olesen.

Sign Language Workshop for Children (Primary and Middle School)

Recording of the DR P1 culture program Parnasset with Josefine Ottesen, Emma Holten and Leif Davidsen, discussing who shapes the language in Denmark. Free admission, limited number of seats, online ticket required.

Parnasset: Who Shapes the Language?

Language Day and award ceremony for the Sprogprisen 2026, with the theme "May 1 – Political Communication." Free admission, but registration is required.

Sprogprisen 2026

In THE LANGUAGES, the Danish Chemical Society and the Danish Language Council have joined forces. Together we tell the story of chemical language from H.C. Ørsted to ChatGPT. Come and find out whether chemistry (finally) adds up. Of course, we also show a spectacular chemistry experiment! Free event. Limited number of seats. Ticket booking required.

The Chemistry of Language and the Language of Chemistry

An area for and with young people, featuring activities, quizzes, music, talks and cozy hangouts during the SPROGENSE festival. All events are free. The events take place outdoors or under a canopy.

YOUTH AREA: THE LANGUAGES

Den Gamle Købmandsgaard

At this event, the Danish Language Council presents its various publications and offers an insight into the work processes behind them. You will also receive practical tips on how best to find your way among the many books and journals.

Behind the Books: The Processes Behind the Danish Language Council's Publications

The opening talk of Language Day by Speaker of the Folketing Søren Gade on harassment and threats against politicians and democracy.

We Won't Put Up With Linguistic Gutter Brawlers

Prize presentation ceremony and speech for the Modersmål Prize 2026, where Emma Holten receives the prize for her book Underskud – om værdien af omsorg (2024). The conversation is moderated by Rasmus Gade.

Emma Holten Receives the Modersmål Prize 2026

A conversation between Folketing politician Trine Bramsen and author Anders Wedel Berthelsen about how to prepare for delivering a May Day speech, and what characterizes a good May Day speech.

How Is a May Day Speech Made?

We use our language to communicate with. We speak and write, and we listen and read. Speech and writing are two different modes of expression, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The topic of this presentation is the different possibilities and limitations found in writing and speech, respectively, and how we make use of them when we interact.

Language for the Ears and the Eyes

A guided tour of Harridslevgaard Castle that tells the story of the castle's current book collection and its former, richly stocked library. In 1661, the castle's collection helped found the Royal Library. The tour provides access to 1,200 m² of the main building across three floors, including the roughly 400 m² knights' hall, the largest privately owned one in Denmark, as well as the medieval cellar with its original dungeon.

Experience the Wing Stroke of History at Harridslevgaard Castle

Two reading caves (læsehuler) placed at Østre Mole in Bogense, created to promote the joy of reading in a different reading space, used during the SPROGENSE language festival. Free admission.

SPROGENSE Reading Caves

Stationære læsehule, Østre Mole

Read-aloud in the Library Pavilion on the Square. Librarian Anne Mach Rasmussen reads aloud from Jens Blendstrup's short story Mingdynastiet. Free, no registration required.

The Ming Dynasty

Launch of the new, revised edition of Kirsten Rask's Sprogrenserordbog, in an interview with Kirsten Rask, moderated by journalist Rasmus Gade. Published by Modersmål-Selskabet.

Have You Forgotten What It's Called in Danish?

Gyldensteensvej 2, 5400 Bogense

Rapper Emilio Hestepis performs absurd songs about everyday challenges, including the literary mixtape "Bygget kun 4 læsehest" and the sci-fi rapsical "Hjertets mekanik".

Emilio Hestepis

An event on language politics, the psychology of language, and the urge to correct other people's language use, with examples from everyday life. The talk is given by Philip Thinggaard, interpreter and language teacher. Free admission, but ticket booking is required.

Sprogpolitik

Listen in as callers receive answers from the Danish Language Council's language helpline live, and bring your own language questions when senior researcher Peter Juel Henrichsen is on duty. Limited number of seats.

The Language Helpline Live

Private view with paintings by Morten Ramsland, Kim Pihl and Ann-Lisbeth Sanvig, and ceramics by Søren Wullum and Martin Nybro, followed by an after-party with entertainment by Ole Falk and John Larsen and a chili con carne buffet.

Private View and Get-Together

A lecture on the Retskrivningsordbogen (the Danish orthographic dictionary) and everyday language: when words enter the dictionary, when they disappear, how new headwords are found, and what role AI plays.

Neighborly, Neurodivergent and Nudge: On Word Selection in the Retskrivningsordbogen

Improvised freestyle rap and entertainment with Elias Ben Afia, Denmark's best freestyle rapper. Free event.

Elias Ben Afia

A lecture on public apologies: apology theory, official Danish apologies, and objections to the genre. Free admission, but tickets must be booked. Limited capacity.

When the State Says Sorry

Why does it make sense for Sprognævnet to have its own library, and what value do physical book collections hold in a digital age? Join a guided tour of the library and hear about the many considerations behind preserving the books.

Sprogense

May 2, 2026

In Leif Davidsen's Footsteps

May 2, 2026

But What Really Threatens the Language Is

Sprogense