Hjørring (Danish pronunciation: [ˈjɶɐ̯e̝ŋ]) is a town on the island of Vendsyssel-Thy at the top of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. It is the main town and the administrative seat of Hjørring Municipality in the North Jutland Region. The population is 25,794 (according to an official census carried on 1 January 2026). It is also one of Denmark's oldest towns, having celebrated its 750th anniversary as a market town in 1993.

Hjørring is centrally located in a sparsely populated area and serves as an urban center for large parts of especially the western and central Vendsyssel.

Although archaeological discoveries show that the area was already populated 10,000 years ago, it cannot be determined exactly when an actual urban community arose. However, the town is undoubtedly Vendsyssel's oldest market town, and has been significant throughout the Middle Ages. Around 1147–1150, coins were minted in the town. A found bracteate bears the inscription Heringa, which is the Latin name for Hjørring. Throughout the Middle Ages, the thing (assembly) for the syssel of Vendsyssel met in Hjørring. The town also became a meeting place for the clergy, and there are many indications that the bishop of Vendsyssel resided in the town at least in the 12th century.

Already in the early Middle Ages, three churches were established in the town: Saint Hans', Saint Olaf's and Saint Catherine's. The oldest known royal charter granting the city status as a market town were issued by King Eric IV of Denmark on 31 March 1243. The status was confirmed by new chartes issued on 19 April 1484, 30 October 1505 and 23 September 1514. The charter of 1505 gives an impression of the extent of the city: the medieval urban settlement was still located around the three churches at the top of the hill on which central Hjørring lies. The sysselting and assemblies of the clergy have at periods brought many people to the town and thus provided trade to the town's merchants and artisans.

The 16th century was a period of decline for Hjørring. The activities of the Sysselting ceased sometime in the 1520s. Also the Count's Feud, a war of succession that raged in Denmark from 1534 to 1536 and brought about the Reformation in Denmark-Norway became expensive for Hjørring, as it forced the citizens to pay heavy ransoms and compensations. As a consequence of the Reformation the nearby rich monasteries of Børglum Abbey and Vrejlev Priory disappeared which undoubtedly had business relations with the town. A comparison of tax levies from the towns in Vendsyssel shows that both Skagen and Sæby in this period were richer and larger than Hjørring. In 1548–53, Hjørring was once again the bishop's residence, and in 1549, the town had its own Latin school. Around 1570, a fierce fire probably ravaged the city.

In 1602 the town was hit by the plague, and during the Thirty Years' War, imperial troops were housed in the town in 1627–29. In 1644, during the Torstenson War, the city was occupied by Swedish troops, and after the war, Danish soldiers were housed. In 1647 another violent fire broke out, destroying 17 farms, and in 1657–58, during the Second Northern War, the town was again occupied by enemy troops, who starved the population through discharges and lodging.

A major fire burned down much of the town in 1819.

Economic growth really took off around 1850, and by 1900 the population had more than quadrupled. The street network was expanded, and on 15 August 1871, the Vendsyssel railway line between Aalborg and Frederikshavn was opened, after which exports went over this city. New iron foundries and machine factories were set up in addition to spinning mills and garment factories. In 1883 the Vendia Brewery began, in 1890 a tobacco factory was opened, and in 1891 the cooperative slaughterhouse was established. A power plant opened in 1896.