Denmark’s Roskilde Festival was first held in 1971.
The inaugural event took place near Roskilde under the name Sound Festival. It was organized by two high-school students, Mogens Sandfær and Jesper Switzer Møller, with promoter Carl Fischer involved in the early event.
The festival changed significantly after the Roskilde Foundation took over in 1972. Since then, it has developed into one of Northern Europe’s largest music festivals, with proceeds supporting humanitarian and cultural purposes through the foundation.
Roskilde is known for its broad international lineup, camping culture, and large Orange Stage. The 1971 starting date is sometimes confused with the foundation’s later role, but the festival itself began one year earlier, as a small Danish event.