• Monarch – Christian IX^[1]
• Prime minister – J. B. S. Estrup

Undated edit

• The Danish Photographers Association is founded as the first organization for professional photographers in the world.^[2]
• The Thingvalla Line is founded.
• The Foreningen imod Lovbeskyttelse for Usædelighed is founded.
• Prince Valdemar visits St. Croix in the Danish West Indies.

Theatre edit

• 21 December – Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House premieres at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen.

January–March edit

• 5 March – Søren Marinus Jensenm wrestler (died 1965)
• 11 March – Kristian Hansen Kofoed, politician (died 1951)

April–June edit

• 16 June – Sigurd Swane, painter (died 1973)

October–December edit

• 18 November – Edvard Weie, painter (died 1943)
• 29 November – Jacob Gade, violinist and composer (died 1963)

January–March edit

• 24 January – Carl Frederik Sørensen, marine painter (born 1818)

April–June edit

• 6 May – Louis Aumont, painter (born 1805)
• 5 June – Kristian Mantzius, actor (born 1879)

July–September edit

• 5 August – Andreas Aagesen, jurist (died 1826)

October–December edit

• 30 November – August Bournonville, ballet master and choreographer (born 1805)