The annual celebration 2024
Aarhus University will celebrate its 96th anniversary in September. In the decades since its founding in 1928, the university has evolved into an international university that creates research breakthroughs, educates the workforce of the future and provides solutions for society. The day will be marked with a festive ceremony in the Main Hall with our valued partners and employees, followed by evening festivities in the Concert Hall Aarhus and a student party in the University Park.
The 2024 annual celebration will take place on 13 September
The celebration will begin in the afternoon with speeches, a celebration address, music, the conferral of honorary doctorates and presentations of awards and scholarships. The ceremony will take place in the Main Hall on Ndr. Ringgade.
The celebration will continues in the evening at Concert Hall Aarhus. At 19:30 there will be a concert for employees and external partners in Store Sal at the concert hall, conducted by Peter Vuust. Afterwards, all guests are invited to enjoy a glass of wine and snacks in the foyer.
Registration for the event is required.
Registration for external partners and AU management representatives
Photos from previous annual celebrations (AU Photo)
Programme for the annual celebration 2024
13:30-15:40 Annual celebration in the Main Hall
- Speeches by: Chair of the AU Board Birgitte Nauntofte, Rector Brian Bech Nielsen, Minister for Higher Education and Science Christina Egelund and student speaker Karen Porskrog Boisen
- Conferral of the Aarhus University Anniversary Foundation Teaching Prize
- Conferral of the HM Queen Margrethe II Travel Grant for Students
- Conferral of the Else Kai Sass Award
- Conferral of the Rigmor and Carl Holst-Knudsen Award for Scientific Research
- Celebration address by Professor Lotte Meinert, School of Culture and Society, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts
- Musical performance by the Vocal Line choir, conducted by Jens Johansen
- Presentation of the 2024 Aarhus University Distinguished Alumnus
- Conferral of honorary doctorates
- Musical performance by Vocal Line
17:00-23:00: The annual celebration continues at Concert Hall Aarhus
By special invitation only:
- 17:00: Arrival and welcome drink
- 17:30: Dinner in the café and restaurant
For all attendees:
- 19:30-21:30: ‘Bring on the night’:
Concert in Store Sal with Nabiha, Cæcilie Norby, Lau Højen, Søren Sko and Dopha – conducted by Peter Vuust. Master of ceremonies: Troels Lyby - 21:30-23:00: Wine and snacks in the foyer
- 23:00: The annual celebration ends
Registration for external partners and AU management representatives
External partners and AU management representatives will be invited by email on 5 August.
You are personally invited by the senior management team based on your relation and connection to Aarhus University. Your invitation is therefore personal and non-transferable.
Are you an AU management representative? Please note that you will also receive an email invitation on 6 August – just like all other AU employees.
We kindly ask that you register via the link in the personal invitation from 5 August.
Registration for AU employees
Employees will be invited by email on 6 August. Employees should register via the link in the email invitation.
Please note: Management representatives at AU will receive a personal invitation via email on 5 August. If this applies to you, register via the link in the email.
You can register for the afternoon ceremony and/or for the evening concert, with or without a guest. Registration opens on 6 August at 9:00. When registration closes on 22 August, KongresKompagniet will perform a ticket lottery among the registered employees.
Seats for employees at the afternoon event in the Main Hall in the afternoon and the evening concert in Store Sal in the evening are will be allocated proportionate to the number of employees at the five faculties and in the administration.
The results of the ticket lottery will be communicated by email in week 36.
If we are not able to offer you a ticket, you will automatically be placed on a waiting list. You will be notified via email if any seats become available. Any tickets that become available will be offered to employees on the wait list on a daily basis – up until 12:00 noon on the day of the annual celebration.
If you are unable to attend, please notify KongresKompagniet at meda@kongreskompagniet.dk, so that we can offer your seat to one of your fellow employees on the waiting list.
Show your tickets and admission cards in a printed version or on your phone at the entrance.