Royal Arena is the big indoor venue Copenhagen didn’t have until 2017 — large enough for arena-scale concerts and world championships, but still intimate enough to feel close to the stage from the upper deck. It sits in the Ørestad South district, a short metro ride from the city center, and has become Denmark’s go-to stop for international touring artists, esports finals, and Olympic-sport world championships alike.
This guide covers everything you need to actually plan a visit: how capacity and seating change by event type, how tickets and the box office work, where to park and which metro stations to use, the bag policy, and the full list of landmark events the arena has hosted since Metallica’s opening-night concert.
Quick Answer
Royal Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Ørestad South, Copenhagen, that opened on February 3, 2017 with a concert by Metallica. It holds up to about 17,000 for concerts, roughly 12,500 for ice hockey, and about 13,000 for handball, and it’s reached via the Ørestad or Vestamager metro stations. Tickets go through ticketmaster.dk, and the official site for current event dates, prices, and hours is royalarena.dk.
Capacity: How It Changes by Event
Royal Arena’s bowl is designed to scale, which is why its stated capacity shifts depending on what’s happening inside. For concerts and other cultural events, the arena can hold up to around 17,000 people combining seated and standing configurations. For ice hockey, the number comes down to about 12,500 because of the rink footprint and sightline requirements, while handball — a sport the arena was specifically built to accommodate at the international level — tops out around 13,000.
That flexibility also works in the other direction: the venue can curtain off sections and run much smaller shows using only part of the bowl, so Royal Arena hosts everything from stadium-sized tours down to more intimate seated concerts without feeling empty.
Tickets and the Box Office
Tickets for Royal Arena shows are sold through ticketmaster.dk, which is the venue’s primary ticketing partner. For events that haven’t sold out, a box office at the main entrance (Entrance A) also sells tickets and handles will-call pickup, typically opening a couple of hours before showtime — bring photo ID if you’re collecting tickets held under your name.
Most entrances use self-scanning for digital tickets, so having the Ticketmaster app or a screenshot of your barcode ready speeds up entry considerably. For exact showtimes, pricing tiers, and on-sale dates for a specific event, check the listing directly on the official Royal Arena website, since both vary show to show and change throughout the year.
Getting There: Metro, Train, and Parking
Royal Arena sits at Hannemanns Allé 18-20 in Ørestad South, and the Copenhagen Metro is the easiest way in — Ørestad and Vestamager stations are both a short walk from the entrances, and the ride from Nørreport or the Central Station area takes only a few minutes. Bus 500S also runs directly to Ørestad Station, and regional trains reach Ørestad Station in about six minutes from Copenhagen’s main railway station, Hovedbanegård.
If you’re driving, there’s an on-site parking garage plus several nearby public garages (including facilities named Hannemann, Ejler Bille, Kay Fisker, and Edvard Thomsen, and additional parking at the Field’s shopping center). On-site parking is metered by the hour, and on event days vehicle access to the arena’s own garage is typically restricted to its lower levels. Given how close the metro is, the venue itself recommends public transport or cycling over driving for most events.
Bag Policy and Accessibility
Royal Arena enforces a standard bag-size limit — generally up to 40 x 40 x 20 cm — though some shows set tighter restrictions, so it’s worth checking the specific event page before you pack a bag. Lockers (45 x 30 x 30 cm) are available for rent inside the venue through the Royal Arena app for guests who need to leave larger items behind.
The arena has wheelchair-accessible seating on every level, elevator access at Entrance B, and accessible restrooms throughout. A staffed cloakroom on Level 1 can store mobility aids like rollators during a show, and a limited number of accessible parking spaces are set aside in the arena’s garage.
A Venue Built for Big Nights
Royal Arena was designed by Danish firm 3XN working alongside arena specialists HKS Inc., with construction starting in mid-2013 and the building opening on February 3, 2017 after a budget of roughly DKK 1 billion. The design prioritized sightlines and acoustics for both sport and music, which is part of why it became an immediate fixture for major touring artists visiting Scandinavia.
Metallica played the opening-night concert, a fitting choice since drummer Lars Ulrich is Danish. A second scheduled show on February 5, 2017 was postponed after frontman James Hetfield fell ill and was ordered by doctors not to sing; that date was rescheduled and played in September 2017. It was a rocky start, but the arena quickly settled into its role as Copenhagen’s default home for large-scale concerts — a gap the city’s smaller halls and outdoor stadiums hadn’t been able to fill.
More Than a Concert Hall: Championships and Esports
Beyond music, Royal Arena has hosted a steady run of major sporting and competitive events: the 2017 European Short Course Swimming Championships, the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, the 2019 World Men’s Handball Championship, and Denmark’s first-ever UFC event, also in 2019. It’s also a regular esports venue, hosting Counter-Strike tournaments and, in 2024, The International Dota 2 championship.
That dual identity — top-tier concert hall and championship-grade sporting arena — reflects exactly what the building was designed for: giving Copenhagen a modern, flexible venue large enough for events its older spaces simply couldn’t hold.
What’s Next for Royal Arena
In December 2025, Live Nation announced an agreement with Realdania and the City of Copenhagen to acquire Royal Arena, a venue it has operated since it opened in 2017. The deal is expected to close sometime in 2026 and comes with planned upgrades, including expanded VIP experiences, enhanced backstage facilities for touring artists, and sustainability investments like rooftop solar panels and battery storage for renewable energy. The change in ownership isn’t expected to affect the arena’s capacity or its lineup of concerts and championships.
Photos
Soak it, wear it, stay cool through a sun-baked afternoon set.
Three modes in one plug: quiet, full-volume concert, and a setting in between. Protects your hearing without muffling the mix.
Take the dangerous peak off a loud show and keep the music sounding clear. They fit in a tiny case on your keychain.
Royal Arena Copenhagen FAQs
When did Royal Arena open?
Royal Arena opened on February 3, 2017, in the Ørestad South area of Copenhagen, Denmark, with an opening concert by Metallica.
What is the capacity of Royal Arena?
Capacity varies by event type: up to about 17,000 for concerts, around 12,500 for ice hockey, and about 13,000 for handball.
Who played the first concert at Royal Arena?
Metallica played the arena’s opening concert on February 3, 2017, featuring the band’s Danish drummer, Lars Ulrich. A second planned show on February 5 was postponed after James Hetfield fell ill and was rescheduled to that September.
How do you get to Royal Arena by public transport?
The Ørestad and Vestamager metro stations are both a short walk from the arena, and regional trains reach Ørestad Station in about six minutes from Copenhagen’s main railway station.
Where do you buy tickets for Royal Arena?
Tickets are sold through ticketmaster.dk, with a box office at the main entrance for unsold events and will-call pickup before showtime.
Is there parking at Royal Arena?
Yes, there’s an on-site metered parking garage plus several nearby public garages and additional parking at the Field’s shopping center, though the venue recommends the metro or train given how close they are.
What is the bag policy at Royal Arena?
Bags are generally limited to about 40 x 40 x 20 cm, though some shows set stricter limits, and rental lockers are available inside the venue for larger items.
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