Young people flock to Esbjerg for new Suset festival in Denmark

Young people are flocking to Skanderborg and Roskilde, and soon, they are expected to head to Esbjerg. This is the hope as the new festival, Suset, is set to open its doors for the first time on August 16 and 17. The festival aims to put Esbjerg on the map, similar to the renowned Smukfest and Roskilde Festival, according to Jesper Frost Rasmussen, the mayor of Esbjerg.

Suset is recognized as one of the major strategic initiatives for cultural experiences in the area. Artists like Nik and Jay, Andreas Odbjerg, and Medina are slated to perform at Esbjerg Harbor. To encourage young visitors, members of Business Esbjerg can bring a friend for free under certain conditions: the member must reside in Esbjerg Municipality, be a Business Esbjerg member, and the friend must be under 35 and live outside the municipality.

The number of young people moving to Esbjerg Municipality (ages 20 to 29) has declined over the past five years, prompting efforts to attract a younger demographic. For instance, Kathrine Smidt Nielsen, a student from Aarhus, sees the music festival as a positive draw to the city.

However, opinions vary on whether a festival alone can retain young residents. Peter Højrup Søder, a PhD candidate studying rural depopulation, expresses skepticism about a significant increase in young people choosing Esbjerg without additional structural support, such as good schools and job opportunities.

Mayor Rasmussen also acknowledges that the festival alone won’t guarantee attracting more youth but remains optimistic that it will evolve into a major cultural event. Esbjerg Municipality has signed a 10-year agreement with Live Nation, which includes financial backing of 24 million kroner, ensuring the festival’s annual return for the next decade.