The Port of Aarhus expects a record 73 cruise ships in 2026. These calls could bring up to 257,000 guests and crew to the city. For the first time, Aarhus will receive cruise visitors in all 12 months of the year.
The current cruise season has not yet ended, but the outlook for 2026 already surpasses this year’s record. Next year’s 73 scheduled calls exceed the 61 cruise ships arriving in 2025. Many of the visitors are expected to go ashore to dine, shop and explore Aarhus and the East Jutland region.
“We are seeing growing interest in Aarhus as a cruise destination,” said Thomas Haber Borch, CEO of Port of Aarhus. “Cruise is an important business area for us, and I am delighted that we will welcome even more ships and guests in 2026. This is good news for businesses in Aarhus and across the region.”
Aarhus will host at least one cruise call in every month of 2026, marking a major milestone.
Port of Aarhus expects that up to 85% of cruise ships will use its shore power system next year. “Shipping companies show strong willingness to use shore power whenever possible,” Borch said. “When ships connect to the grid and shut down their diesel generators, we cut particle pollution and eliminate engine noise. This benefits both residents and visitors.”
The port introduced a green tax in 2024 that makes it more expensive for cruise ships to skip shore power. Ships that do not connect face an extra charge of up to DKK 80,000.
Aarhus will serve mainly as a destination for cruise itineraries in the Baltic Sea, Northern Europe, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland.
