Frederiksborg Castle hosts Icy Christmas from 31 October
Published on 11/14/2026 at 08:47 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSIcy Christmas and castle interiors
- The Museum of National History presents the exhibition in Hillerød from 31 October 2026.
- The installation occupies the Audience Chamber, while Valdemar Hall displays original costumes and H.C. Andersen material.
- Frederiksborg Castle was rebuilt after the fire of 1859, while its chapel largely survived.
- Hillerød Station is connected to the castle by S-train services and buses 301 and 302.
Frederiksborg Castle (Frederiksborg Slot) in Hillerød is presenting Icy Christmas - Hans Christian Andersen & The Snow Queen from 31 October 2026 to 3 January 2027. The exhibition brings a new winter-themed installation into the castle's Audience Chamber, linking the current programme to one of Denmark's major museum interiors.
Icy Christmas brings The Snow Queen to Hillerød
The Museum of National History is staging Icy Christmas in collaboration with the Royal Danish Theatre. The exhibition is based on H.C. Andersen's fairy tale The Snow Queen and runs at the castle from 31 October 2026 through 3 January 2027. The museum's official exhibition page gives the dates and identifies the venue as Frederiksborg.
Danish scenographer Benjamin la Cour has created the installation in the Audience Chamber. A monumental eye forms its centre, with light, reflections and wintry elements used to place visitors inside the story of Gerda and the Snow Queen. The programme therefore uses a historic royal audience room as the setting for a contemporary interpretation of a literary work.
Valdemar Hall adds original costumes from the Royal Danish Theatre production, together with texts and images about the story. Portraits of H.C. Andersen from the museum collection and historical objects connected with the author are also part of the presentation. A separate regional tourism listing places the exhibition at Frederiksborg in Hillerød and records its November and December dates.
The exhibition meets Frederiksborg Castle's reconstructed halls
The castle rises from Castle Lake and was built in the Dutch Renaissance style. It houses the Museum of National History, Denmark's National Portrait Gallery and a collection spanning art, royal history and decorative interiors. The building's rooms give the exhibition a setting that is part museum, part historic residence.
A fire on the night of 17 to 18 December 1859 destroyed most of the main castle's interior and roof structure. The exterior was subsequently rebuilt in its original style, while the outer and middle castle islands escaped the fire. The Castle Chapel was left virtually unscathed and retains its original decoration from the reign of Christian IV.
This history matters to the winter exhibition because its principal installation is not placed in a neutral gallery. The Audience Chamber is a Baroque dome hall reconstructed by Christian V after a fire in 1665, and its earlier royal function now frames a presentation of Andersen's tale and theatre costumes.
Visiting Frederiksborg Castle: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Icy Christmas runs at Frederiksborg Castle from 31 October 2026 to 3 January 2027, with the Audience Chamber and Valdemar Hall forming the main exhibition spaces.
- The presentation includes the installation in the Audience Chamber, original production costumes, H.C. Andersen portraits and historical objects connected with the author.
- Frederiksborg is in Hillerød, north of Copenhagen. Direct S-train services run to Hillerød Station, while buses 301 and 302 continue from the station to the castle and museum.
- The castle stands on an island in Castle Lake, with the Baroque Garden and Landscape Garden forming part of the wider setting. The main route from the station follows Castle Lake or Slotsgade.
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Frequently asked questions about Frederiksborg Castle
When does Icy Christmas take place at Frederiksborg Castle?
The exhibition runs from 31 October 2026 to 3 January 2027 at the castle in Hillerød.
What is shown in the Icy Christmas exhibition?
The exhibition combines a Snow Queen installation in the Audience Chamber with costumes, texts, portraits and historical objects in Valdemar Hall.
Where is Frederiksborg Castle and how do you get there?
The castle is in Hillerød, north of Copenhagen. S-train services run to Hillerød Station, with buses 301 and 302 continuing to the museum.
