City and Planning Committee on 28 October 2026

City and Planning Committee to consider DKK 6 million for temporary Bispetorv on Wednesday

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Byudvikling og lokalplan
Kultur og fritid
Borgerinddragelse og høring

Document date: Expected 28. oktober 2026
Section: Committees
Status: Beta
Source: Aarhus Municipality meeting documents — City and Planning Committee on 28 October 2026 · item 4 (agenda + signed transcript + recommendation + note) ↗

Summary

On Wednesday, 28 October 2026, the City and Planning Committee will consider the recommendation to establish a temporary, flexible layout of Bispetorv in 2026–2028 for DKK 6 million from Budget 2024. The project is meant to bring life to the square and gather experience ahead of a later decision on the permanent layout.

What it means for you

If the committee (udvalg) backs the recommendation, the funds can be allocated so design, tendering and installation can proceed. The administration no longer expects the planned activity area to be ready before the end of the year; on-the-ground installation is now pointed to 2027. Along the way, the square is to test staying, play and movement in dialogue with residents, local stakeholders and businesses — including whether children and families also use the space in winter.

Background

Technical and Environmental Affairs and Culture and Citizen Service propose Bispetorv as a temporary, flexible urban space while the permanent solution is still missing. According to the recommendation, the square has strong potential as a place to stay and meet, but it does not work optimally today. Some 30–40 cultural events are held there each year, but between them the space can feel empty.

The first trial is envisaged as an activity area with movement and play. Culture and Citizen Service is to provide urban-space elements for movement, financed via the department’s investment plan for sports and outdoor facilities. Furniture from the temporary period can be part of a final layout or reused in other urban spaces.

The Municipal Executive recommended on 29 September 2026 that the City Council adopt the recommendation of 21 September 2026. Denmark Democrats, Socialist People’s Party, Liberal Alliance, Social Liberal Party and Red–Green Alliance entered reservations. The City Council referred the case to the City and Planning Committee on 7 October 2026.

Figures and facts

The project period is 2026–2028 with temporary, flexible layout of Bispetorv (Annex — Recommendation).
Funding: DKK 6 million from funds earmarked for strategic urban spaces in Budget 2024, split with DKK 2 million in each of 2026, 2027 and 2028 for construction and associated operations (Annex — Recommendation).
Some 30–40 cultural events are held on the square each year (Annex — Recommendation).
The layout is planned over three winters and two summers with changes roughly every six months; the first winter rollout was planned for December 2026 (Annex — Recommendation).
After the city council (byråd) referral, the December 2026 installation of the activity area is no longer realistic; the administration points to installation in 2027 once the funds are allocated (Annex — Note MTM 08.10.2026).
According to the administration, the pavilion can be scaled down to a budget of DKK 1 million or omitted entirely if the finances need tightening (Annex — Note MTM 08.10.2026).

Who said what

At the Municipal Executive’s consideration, Denmark Democrats, Socialist People’s Party, Liberal Alliance, Social Liberal Party and Red–Green Alliance entered reservations.

In the city council debate on 7 October 2026, several spokespersons stressed that Bispetorv is central but often stands empty between events. Jesper Kjeldsen (S) pointed to the need to see the city — and the square — as a whole. Albert Rosenkrantz Conradsen (SF) and Isabella Heilmann (EL) asked, among other things, about reuse materials, the pavilion’s function and what DKK 6 million can deliver in terms of urban life. Mahad Yussuf (RV) called for links to the Urban Life Pool. Gert Bjerregaard (V), Michael Christensen (LA), Gitte Sturm (DD), Thomas Kastrup Christensen (DF) and Nicolaj Bang (KF) supported the wish for more life on the square, with different emphasis on content and pace.

The administration’s note of 8 October 2026 answers, among other things, that suitable reuse furniture for the first phase has not been found, that the pavilion is envisaged as a flexible framework for involvement, exhibitions and possible outdoor serving, and that associations and stakeholders can apply to the Urban Life Pool for concrete activities on the square.

What happens next

The City and Planning Committee will consider the case on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. The recommendation is that the temporary layout be established in 2026–2028, financed with the DKK 6 million, and that Culture and Citizen Service deliver movement elements. Only once the funds are allocated can tendering, procurement and installation begin — with groundworks expected in 2027. The experience is later to feed into the decision on the square’s permanent layout.

Sources

Other annexes

Transcript

Transcript of the council debate with speakers named, from the official signed record.

Open in Transcripts →