This year, Bang & Olufsen reaches a historic milestone by celebrating its centenary. Founded in 1925 by Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen, the Danish brand has spanned the decades by constantly reinventing the audio experience. For its 100th anniversary, Bang & Olufsen is not content to look in the rear-view mirror. The manufacturer is reaffirming its commitment to creating equipment that combines technological excellence, sustainable design and exceptional craftsmanship. How did a company created on a farm in Struer, over 300km from Copenhagen, become a global benchmark for sound and design?
From radios to the smart home
The first piece of equipment marketed in Bang & Olufsen’s history was the Eliminator, released in 1926. It was an ingenious device that enabled battery-powered radios to operate on mains power. This first reference immediately revealed one of B&O’s core values: innovation to improve the daily lives of music lovers. By the 1930s, the Scandinavian brand had already established its style with the Beolit 39 radio, designed entirely in bakelite, a plastic material that extended the design possibilities for its two founders, eager for new horizons.
On the strength of this commercial success, the brand decided to explore new markets such as high-end television and hi-fi. The first television set, nicknamed the “wheelbarrow” because of its wheels that make it easy to roll around the living room, was launched in 1952. The Beogram 4000 turntable (1972), which inaugurated the automated tangential tonearm, also embodied this desire to design equipment that was both high-performance and aesthetically pleasing.
As a precursor of the smart home, Bang & Olufsen began developing the Beolink multi-room ecosystem in 1986, a solution that centralizes audio and video playback throughout the home. The Beolab 90 speaker, launched in 2015, marked a new stage, with sound reproduction capable of adapting to the room and the listener’s position.
Craftsmanship and sustainability, the pillars of the new century
At the dawn of its second century, the brand remains true to its DNA: designing iconic products that are made to last. “Bang & Olufsen has always been more than sound – it’s about leading the way people live with technology, and the constant pursuit of the extraordinary.” says Kristian Teär, the brand’s Managing Director.
Note from the expert 👀
Bang & Olufsen initiated a significant shift in 2021 with its Beosound Level Bluetooth speaker, the first to achieve the Cradle to Cradle certification. The latter identifies and promotes equipment designed to be part of a circular economy. The label assesses the environmental impact of products over their entire lifespan, from the selection of materials to the end of use. Material health, material recycling, renewable energies and ethical manufacturing conditions are all criteria taken into account. The aim is to encourage a replaceable, customizable and evolutionary approach to product creation. Today, nine of the brand's products carry this environmental label and feature replaceable components (battery, front panel, drivers, etc.). The brand's goal is to offer a fully certified range in the near future.
The Atelier program illustrates this vision, with highly customizable limited editions like the Beolab 90 Titan. Each object becomes unique, designed as a work of art to be passed on to futre generations. For its part, the Recreated Classics program gives a second life to icons of the past. Models such as the Beogram 4000 turntable or the Beosound 9000 CD player are fully restored, while incorporating modern technologies and connectivity adapted to contemporary uses.
Centenary program: celebrating 100 years of B&O
In 2026, Bang & Olufsen is organizing a number of events to celebrate its centenary around the world. A series of immersive experiences exploring the links between sound, design and culture will take place in cultural metropolises such as Paris, London, Tokyo and Seoul, as well as in Copenhagen, Shanghai and New York.
Struer Tours is also set to be a highlight of 2026. It’s an invitation to (re)discover the origins of the Danish brand through private tours and unique experiences drawn from archives in Struer, the birthplace of Bang & Olufsen. A comprehensive retrospective of 100 years of Bang & Olufsen design, innovation and cultural influence will also be published in book form. Finally, five iconic B&O products will be offered in limited edition throughout the year, starting with the Beolab 90 Titan Edition.
Beolab 90 Titan Edition: a 100th anniversary edition
On Thursday November 13, 2025, Bang & Olufsen officially launched its centenary celebration. The honor went to the legendary Beolab 90, offered in a limited Titan Edition. This speaker highlights the Scandinavian brand’s craftsmanship and pays tribute to the legendary heritage of the first generation, released 10 years ago.
“The Beolab 90 Titan Edition pays homage to our iconic flagship speaker – a product that has shaped much of our acoustic philosophy. But more than a celebration of our legacy, this edition showcases a level of craftsmanship and bespoke capability that only Bang & Olufsen can create. It is a bold statement of what’s possible when artistry, technology, and vision converge,” says Kristian Teär.
The Bang & Olufsen Beolab 90 Titan Edition floorstanding speaker dispenses with the fabrics of the previous generation to better reveal its acoustic structure. It features a 65kg aluminum cabinet, custom-made and enhanced by artisanal sandblasting with volcanic rock particles. In addition, laser-engraved inscriptions celebrate Bang & Olufsen’s centenary and the heritage of the original Beolab 90 speaker. Each fastening features a commemorative engraving, while discreet lettering around the edges of the speaker highlights the groundbreaking acoustic innovations of the original model, in a discreet nod to its enduring impact on high-end audio.
In celebrating its 100th anniversary, Bang & Olufsen pays tribute to a history of creative breakthroughs, technological innovation and sustainable design. True to its origins, the brand continues to create a dialogue between art and technology. For B&O, this new century begins in the continuity of a founding ambition: to create objects that stand the test of time.
