Viborg’s unique business ecosystem creates world-leading game and animation studios, harnessing Denmark’s collaborative and creative DNA.
Viborg is UNESCO’s only Nordic Creative City in the Media Arts category, a place where a unique ecosystem has been built and nurtured to create one of Europe’s most dynamic animation and gaming hubs. Anchored by The Animation Workshop, one of Europe’s top schools for animators and game creators, and supported by Creative Viborg, which builds bridges across animation, games, XR and visual storytelling, the Danish city celebrates its creativity at the Viborg Animation Festival, a week-long conference with international speakers and a desire to drive new thinking in gaming and animation.
“Creative Viborg is unique because we work across disciplines – animation, games, XR and visual storytelling – to build a shared ecosystem. It’s this collaborative spirit that makes Viborg stand out internationally and allows us to nurture world-class talent right here.”
Drawing on Denmark’s
cultural DNA
Danish games and animation studios often explore what it means to be human. Underpinned by Denmark’s cultural DNA, in a country where values of equality, storytelling, craft and collaboration are prized, their stories invite reflection and emotional connection, while remaining open to experimentation across formats and styles. The result is work that speaks to audiences in fresh and meaningful ways.
Thanks to the success of gaming studios such as SYBO Games, IOI, Tactile, Triband, and Ghost Ship Games, and animation studios including award-winning Sun Creature, Nørlum, Tumblehead and Ouros Studios, Denmark has become a respected hub for high-quality, emotionally resonant work. Together, the industries blend artistic ambition with technological innovation, often driven by public service values and cross-sector partnerships including education, health and sustainability. Leaning into Denmark’s collaborative DNA, Creative Viborg has worked hard to make an ecosystem in the city that bridges the industries and supports its development via a shared infrastructure, values system and talent pool.
At the annual Viborg Animation Festival (VAF), new ideas in media, storytelling and design are explored and international speakers, including Tomm Moore and Thibaut Delahaye, share their experiences and knowledge. Discussion forums highlight funding, inspiration and co-production opportunities, and a dedicated track for games and interactive media shines a spotlight on the rise of locally created games. The festival aims to drive the future of the industry and draws over 25,000 people for free film screenings and family workshops as well.
“At Viborg Animation Festival, we bring together the best from Denmark and the world – from award-winning filmmakers to emerging game developers. It is in this encounter between local talent and international voices that new ideas and collaborations are born.”
Global ambitions in animation and game design
Creative Viborg has been a driving force in turning the city into a creative powerhouse. As the city’s umbrella organisation, its goal is to establish Viborg as a leading creative hub in Denmark and internationally. To achieve that aim, it works as a bridge across animation, games, XR, and visual storytelling at home and abroad – and both within entertainment as well as applied art in sectors like healthcare and education. Among its many international projects, it is engaged in several EU projects to strengthen the European Creative Industries, positioning Viborg as a globally relevant creative city with a strong entrepreneurial spirit in the process.
The organisation partners with The Animation Workshop, a world-renowned school educating the next generation of animators, storyteller and world builders, as well as Arsenalet, an entrepreneurial co-working space for start-ups, freelancers and game and animation businesses, creating a pipeline from education to industry. Its gaming and animation studios continue to gain international attention.
With new national production incentives, Denmark is becoming a more attractive base for international animation and game productions. Viborg stands ready with talent, infrastructure, and a proven creative environment to drive the industries into a bold new future.
About Creative Viborg
Creative Viborg is at the forefront of digital creativity and storytelling in Denmark. Based in Viborg, a UNESCO Creative City, Creative Viborg acts as a single point of entry to the wide range of competencies within the creative industry in Viborg's ecosystem. The ecosystem fosters innovation across animation, gaming, XR, photography, drawing, visual design, and creative business development.
By fostering collaboration and innovation, Creative Viborg connects local and international partners to shape the future of digital creativity.
Among many of its creative strengths, Creative Viborg's ecosystem is acclaimed to have the 2nd best Animation School in Europe; The Animation Workshop, as well as an outstanding freelance and start-up environment in the coworking space Arsenalet.
