SKIVE 700 YEARS – The Economic Affairs Committee has given the thumbs up to another of the anniversary year’s lighthouse events: the World Championships in Medieval Martial Arts at Spøttrup Borg.
There will be the sound of swords, armor and international format when the Skive region celebrates Skive’s 700th anniversary as a market town in 2026. The Finance Committee has just approved that the World Championships in Medieval Combat Sports at Spøttrup Borg will be the fifth of seven lighthouse events and granted DKK 650,000 to the project – and thus Museum Salling and IMCF (International Medieval Combat Federation) can now continue working to secure Skive Municipality as host.
Mayor Peder Christian Kirkegaard is delighted at the prospect of bringing a unique, international event to the Skive region for the anniversary year:
– “It’s great news that Skive Municipality is able to attract such a great event of international caliber. Spøttrup Borg is a perfect host venue for the World Cup, and with its historical weight and visual strength, the castle forms a strong framework for the meeting between local communities and international attention, says Mayor Peder Christian Kirkegaard.
The mayor also points out that even though Skive is the birthplace of the market town, there is an ambition to involve the entire municipality of Skive in the celebration:
– “The fact that one of the seven major events is being held in the hinterland and that Spøttrup Borg will play a leading role emphasizes the historical depth and geographical breadth of Skive’s anniversary celebrations. “We are very aware that the development of the market town is linked to its hinterland in Salling and Fjends, and this is also reflected in the way we want to celebrate the anniversary,” says Peder Christian Kirkegaard.
Spøttrup Borg as a world stage
The World Championship in Medieval Martial Arts is an international sports and cultural festival where some of the world’s best fighters compete in authentic armor over several days. In addition to thrilling fights, visitors will also be able to experience a vibrant marketplace, workshops and demonstrations with Denmark’s best-preserved medieval castle as a spectacular backdrop.
This is not the first time that Spøttrup Borg will host the World Championship in Medieval Martial Arts. The event also took place at the castle in 2017, when Aarhus was European Capital of Culture together with 18 other municipalities in Central Jutland.
– Back then, the event was a resounding success with thousands of guests from all over the world, says Head of Culture and Leisure Kent Sørensen.
He himself was among the guests in 2017, and as a first-hand witness, he has no doubt that a World Cup in 2026 will be one of the biggest crowd-pullers of the anniversary year.
Kent Sørensen also predicts that the event will leave a lasting impression, partly because Museum Salling and the international partner IMCF are promoting the event in collaboration with local associations, volunteers and other cultural actors:
– The World Championship in Medieval Martial Arts is much more than a sporting event. It is a strong example of an event that, based on history and culture, not only puts Skive on the world map, but can also help strengthen local community, tourism and business,” he says.
Anniversary celebrations for everyone
In the coming months, the program for the market town’s anniversary in 2026 will be organized with big and small experiences – and all citizens, associations and businesses are invited to participate, contribute and be part of the anniversary celebrations.
The anniversary year will feature several popular events, including seven major “lighthouse events”, five of which are currently decided: the World Championship in Medieval Martial Arts, an opening event with lystema, a musical created by the youth of the Skive region, a historical market in Skive city, and a spectacular anniversary weekend in August.
The seven lighthouse events are financed with a total of DKK 2.5 million from Skive Municipality and DKK 2.5 million from Spar Vest Fonden, which is supporting the anniversary celebrations with DKK 3.2 million. In addition, Sparekassen Balling has donated DKK 1 million – funds that are also intended for public events.
