What is CODA Oslo International Dance Festival?
CODA International Dance Festival is an annual dance festival held in Oslo and its surrounding areas. The festival celebrates contemporary dance and attracts both national and international dance companies, artists, and performers. The festival offers a diverse program with performances, workshops, and seminars, serving as a platform to promote the art of dance while creating opportunities for collaboration and networking among professionals in the dance field. CODA aims to engage a broad audience and inspire dialogue about dance art.
When is the CODA Festival held?
Wondering what's happening in Oslo during the autumn darkness? The CODA Oslo International Dance Festival is held every October, illuminating the city with performances, conversations, and cultural experiences.
In 2025, the festival will take place from October 9th to 19th, right in the peak season of arts and culture in Oslo.
What is contemporary dance?
Contemporary dance includes a variety of movement forms, techniques, and expressions, giving artists freedom to explore new ideas and concepts. Contemporary dance may involve improvisation, interdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary collaborations. With the creative and expressive body at its center, contemporary dance responds to various cultural influences and societal conditions—making it an art form in constant development.
What can I expect from the festival program?
At the CODA International Dance Festival, you can expect an exciting program that includes:
1. Performances: Leading and emerging dance companies and performers from Norway and internationally present their latest works and creative expressions. You can experience a diverse mix of artistic expressions within contemporary dance – from street dance to experimental, performative forms. The performances reflect aesthetic trends and developments in contemporary dance, as well as current issues and challenges in today's society.
2. Workshops: Audience members, students, and dance artists are invited to participate in various workshops, where they can learn from international and Norwegian professional dancers and choreographers.
3. Seminars and panel discussions: Discussions on current topics within the art of dance, artistic practice, and the challenges faced by the industry and society.
4. Networking: The festival serves as a platform for artists and professionals to meet, exchange ideas, and build networks.
Where is the festival held?
The festival takes place at several of Oslo's most important cultural venues for performing arts and contemporary dance. Our main partners are Dansens Hus, The Norwegian Opera and Ballet, Black Box teater, Bærum Kulturhus and Riksscenen.
In addition to established performance venues, we also host events in unconventional spaces and public locations in Oslo, such as parks, city squares, and subway stations — to provide you with surprising and accessible dance experiences in Oslo.
How does the ticket system work and where can I buy tickets?
Most tickets are sold through the venues' own ticket systems. Find the performance on the schedule you want to see, and click on "buy ticket" – then you will be directed to the current ticket system. Festival program 2025
How do I purchase and use a festival pass?
Would you like to attend as many performances as possible during the CODA International Dance Festival? Then our festival pass is the best solution! With the festival pass, you gain access to all dance performances throughout the festival days, offering a unique opportunity to explore contemporary dance in Oslo. Here's how it works:
1. Purchase the festival pass here.
2. You will receive a code via email once your purchase is complete.
3. Find a performance and reserve tickets: Go to our program and select the desired performance. Click on the ticket link for the chosen show, and use the code in the venue's own ticketing system. Select the ticket category "CODA Festival Pass." The code you received will now be used either to unlock the category or in the discount code field at checkout. If there is no specific category for the festival pass, choose 'regular price' and enter the discount code there. Your ticket price should be 0.
4. Keep the ticket you receive from the venue when reserving your seat. Present this along with your festival pass ticket at entry.
Note! Even if you have a festival pass, you must reserve seats for the performances you wish to attend. There is no guarantee of a seat if events become sold out.
Is there an age limit for the events?
It is rare that our events have an age limit, but they may have a recommendation. Some of the performances are specifically aimed at children and young people. Inside each event, you will always find detailed information about accessibility and any triggers.
Is it possible to participate in workshops or seminars?
The program consists of a series of seminars, courses, and workshops. All programs are published and continuously updated here.
CODA also collaborates with PRODA (Professional Dance Training), which focuses on supporting and developing professional dancers in Norway. This partnership offers a varied program of workshops, where participants have the opportunity to learn from leading international choreographers and dancers. Through this collaboration, dancers gain access to resources that enrich their artistic development and stimulate professional exchange. The aim is to strengthen professional dance in Norway and promote a vibrant dance scene for both performers and audiences.
Additionally, there will be open workshops for both experienced individuals and those who are simply interested, alongside an exciting professional program.
What should I consider before going to the festival?
The festival takes place at various venues in and around Oslo, both indoors and outdoors. As many know, October in Oslo can be both beautiful and unpredictable, so we recommend:
Packing warm clothes, especially if you plan to attend outdoor events.
Bringing a rain jacket, rain poncho, or umbrella.
Wearing good shoes, as there may be walking between stages and locations.
Can I be programmed as an artist?
CODA International Dance Festival is a curated invitation-based festival. This means that most of the artists we present are invited, often after we have seen their work live and had ongoing dialogue. At the same time, we are always interested in new artistic collaborations and strong works, and we welcome artistic proposals from both established and emerging voices. You are welcome to contact us to present your artistic projects: birgit@codadancefest.no
Programming takes place 1.5 to 2 years before the next festival, especially for foreign companies or larger works, and often by the end of March for the following year. Smaller works and outdoor performances may be of interest closer to the festival period, in October each year.
Can I volunteer?
YES! The volunteers are a big and important part of the festival organization. Volunteer registration usually opens at the beginning of September, so stay tuned.
If you want to be part of the inside of an international dance festival and help ensure that the audience and artists have an unforgettable experience, we warmly welcome you as a volunteer!
How do I get to the various performances?
Most of the venues are located centrally in Oslo, with many within short walking distance of each other. We are working on developing a map solution on the website so that you can easily navigate and plan your festival days. This will be published shortly.
For those who are not familiar with Oslo, it may be helpful to download the Ruter app. There you will find consolidated information and access to ticket purchases for buses, trams, and the metro. There is a train to Bærum Kulturhus, but you can also buy this ticket through Ruter.
Is the festival accessible to everyone?
CODA International Dance Festival aims to be accessible to a broad audience, with a clear focus on participation for all and accessibility. The festival organizes events with audio description, sign language interpretation, and a more relaxed theater environment to provide full experiences for everyone. For the 2025 festival, there is a special focus on audience development and inclusion of children, youth, and families. Events will take place at easily accessible and varied locations in the city center, including museums and libraries. In addition, there will be events at various venues around the city.
Most of our partner venues and screening sites are universally designed and well-equipped, but some locations may have limited accessibility. Detailed information about the accessibility of each individual event can be found on our program page.
Didn't you get an answer to what you were wondering about?
Contact us and we will be happy to help you!
Phone: +47 46 41 21 50
Email: info@codadancefest.no
CODA pushes boundaries in dance – and dance pushes boundaries within you.
CODA Oslo International Dance Festival is one of the Nordic region's leading festivals for contemporary dance. Every year in October, the festival creates a vibrant and diverse space for dance art in Oslo, in close collaboration with the city's established dance venues, as well as in unexpected public spaces.
Our goal is to make dance in Oslo accessible to everyone; whether you are a performing artist, a dance enthusiast, a curious audience member, or simply looking for something new in the city's cultural calendar.
We showcase dance art that broadens perspectives and opens up new ways to see, experience, and participate. CODA presents choreographic art across a wide range of formats. From grand performances on large stages to surprising experiences in parks, museums, and subway stations. The audience is invited to experience dance both as expression, as thought, and as a shared experience – through performances, conversations, workshops, and collaborations.
CODA's mandate is to strengthen dance as an art form in Norway through a festival program of high artistic quality, international collaboration, and professional development. As a meeting place for artists, audiences, and the industry, we work to make contemporary dance accessible, relevant, and dynamic – in tune with society and the times we live in.
The festival was first established as CODA Contemporary Dance Festival Oslo Norway by choreographers Lise Nordal and Odd Johan Fritzøe. The foundation was incorporated on May 11, 2001, and the first festival took place from September 24 to October 4, 2002, with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company as the opening performance at Oslo Concert Hall. The festival has alternated between being an annual event and a biannual one. Since 2020, it has been held annually.
In 2006, the festival changed its name to the current CODA Oslo International Dance Festival, and Lise Nordal was appointed as artistic and administrative director. She held the position until 2017 and played a crucial role in establishing CODA as a leading platform for contemporary dance in Norway and Europe.
In 2017, Stine Nilsen took over as festival director and artistic leader, guiding the festival’s continued development with a strengthened focus on audience engagement, professional development, and international collaboration. Under her leadership, CODA became an annual festival again starting in 2020.
From 2024, Birgit Berndt is the festival director and artistic leader, continuing the festival’s artistic and strategic work with a clear international and innovative profile.
The CODA Foundation aims to strengthen the art of dance in Norway by presenting a diverse range of national and international contemporary dance at a high artistic level. The festival provides an important platform for Norwegian and international artists and is a hub for development, collaboration, and dissemination of dance art – right in the heart of Oslo.
The program for CODA is curated by the artistic director and primarily takes place through invitations. We welcome suggestions for consideration, especially for innovative works created in dialogue with current times and the body as an expression. CODA prioritizes seeing works live, meeting artists, and building relationships before programming. We recommend sending a brief introduction and video documentation via email: birgit@codadancefest.no.
Programming for larger works typically takes place 1.5 to 2 years before the festival, while smaller projects and site-specific performances are considered continuously closer to the festival start.
CODA functions both as a local and global platform for artistic exchange. The festival collaborates closely with Dansens Hus, the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, Black Box Theater, Riksscenen, Bærum Culture House, and a number of other venues in Oslo and surrounding areas. We also actively work to create new spaces for dance through collaborations with public spaces, educational institutions, artists, and audiences.
Internationally, CODA is connected to networks such as Big Pulse Dance Alliance, European Dancehouse Network (EDN), VAP – Voices of Access and Participation, and participates in developing new collaboration models, co-productions, and world premieres. Through initiatives like The DEN – Dance Expo Norway, we strengthen the place of Norwegian dance in the international landscape and create important meeting places for professionals in the field.
Through co-productions, world premieres, professional programs, and networking, the festival plays an important role as a meeting place and driver in the Norwegian dance scene. CODA enhances artistic exchange and provides Norwegian artists with access to international opportunities, venues, and discussions.
CODA champions a world where all humans are treated equal and given the same opportunities. CODA has zero tolerance for discrimination. Discrimination is defined as the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of ethnicity, race, age, religious belief, functional ability, sex, gender or orientation. CODA also has a zero tolerance for any discrimination or unjust treatment of persons who notify occurrences of discrimination. The parties, and all personnel contracted to them for the activities in this agreement, will accept and abide by the zero-tolerance policy for the duration of the activities named in this agreement.
If a negative discriminatory act has occurred, the parties agree to notify each other immediately and act to protect the discriminated part as well as ensuring the continued development towards equality for all people involved in the activity named in this agreement.
CODA Oslo International Dance Festival aims to be accessible to everyone, regardless of disability, age, or background. We actively work to create an inclusive festival where everyone can experience contemporary dance in a meaningful way. The festival program also reflects a wide diversity, with artistic expressions and performances that challenge norms and highlight different perspectives, disabilities, and social issues.
To ensure accessibility, we organize performances with audio description and sign language interpretation, as well as a more relaxed theater environment. The festival also has an increased focus on audience development, with the goal of including children, youth, and families, among other things through events at easily accessible and central locations such as museums, libraries, and open urban spaces in Oslo city center.
Most of our partners and venues are universally designed with good accessibility options, but some locations may have limited accessibility. Detailed information about accessibility for each individual event can be found on our program page.
Regarding transportation, Oslo is well equipped with public transport that is accessible for wheelchair users and covers our main venues. We recommend all individuals with specific needs to contact us ahead of their festival visit so we can assist with relevant information and accommodations. Feel free to send an email to access@codadancefest.no
CODA will continue to work so that the festival remains a safe and inclusive space where dance can push boundaries — both artistically and for every individual audience member.
Responsible of treatment of your information
CEO and artistic director Stine Nilsen has top responsibility for all personal information related to the company's information and communication content. The responsibility is delegated to communication staff and other staff working on this field of work. The head of administration has top responsibility for all personal data relating to the company's production and agreement activity. The processing responsibility is delegated to project employees, manufacturers and staff who work with this field of work.
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Contact
Inquiries about which information is registered, corrected and deleted can send in writing to the following addresses: info@codadancefest.no, or CODA Oslo International Dance Festival, Vulkan 1, 0182 Oslo, Norway