A global choir event created in Ebeltoft is taking place on Sunday, with choirs in 18 countries across six continents singing for peace at 2 p.m. in their own time zone.
DR reports that the project, called Sing for Unity, was started last year by Vibe Bregendahl. She lives in the East Jutland coastal town of Ebeltoft, where the idea began.
According to Bregendahl, the idea grew out of a sense of powerlessness in a world surrounded by war and conflict. She wanted to create a shared project for people who want peace and want to connect across borders and cultures.
The format is the same everywhere. Choirs in different parts of the world meet on the same day and sing together at 2 p.m. in their local time zone. The singing begins in western Canada and then moves eastward through the time zones.
This year, 18 countries on six continents are taking part, DR reports. Africa and South America are represented for the first time. The choir in Ebeltoft is again among the participants.
About 15,000 expected to take part
Bregendahl expects around 15,000 participants this year, a figure that covers both registered choirs and audiences who show up. Her stated hope is that 30 countries will join next year.
As she told DR, many people feel the world is less secure than before. In her view, standing together around a higher purpose offers something valuable, regardless of who people are or where they come from.
Bregendahl also addressed the question of whether a shared song can change anything. She acknowledged that the project is unlikely to reach major powerholders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin. She said that is not necessarily the most important part.
Per her account to DR, the value lies in showing that many people around the world want to connect with each other. She added that the event creates conversations and reflection about how people can be better together across culture, religion and differences.
The event is held in connection with the United Nations International Day of Peace. The UN marks the day on 21 September, which in 2026 falls on a Monday. According to the UN, the day is observed annually with events tied to peace.
Sing for Unity is being held on Sunday instead, so that as many people as possible can take part, DR reports. Bregendahl said singing together has an effect on people. In her words, it can move people or make them happy, but it does not leave room for anger.
The first Sing for Unity was held last year, also starting from Ebeltoft. This year’s edition is the larger of the two, with the addition of two new continents.
