Amsterdam Dance Event 2026: Amsterdam celebrates 30 years of electronic culture

Five days, hundreds of venues and thousands of artists gathered in a single city. From October 21 to 25, 2026, the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) returns for a special edition: 30 years of history at the heart of electronic music.

For five days and five nights, Amsterdam lives to the rhythm of DJ sets, club nights and live performances. Here, there is no main stage or festival set up behind barriers: events take place across the entire city, from iconic clubs to concert halls and more unexpected cultural spaces. For this edition, ADE announces more than 3,600 artists, over 1,300 events and more than 300 participating venues. Enough to transform the Dutch capital into a true playground for electronic music lovers.

Techno, house, trance, hard techno, drum & bass or more alternative sounds: ADE brings together very different universes, featuring established artists and a new generation pushing the boundaries.

Among the announced names are Amelie Lens, Charlotte de Witte, KI/KI, Martin Garrix, Mau P, Jamie Jones, Boys Noize, Armand Van Helden, Len Faki, Pete Tong and Marlon Hoffstadt. The full lineup also gives pride of place to emerging scenes and collectives shaping today's electronic music.

The concept is simple: everyone can build their own itinerary according to their tastes. A techno night in one club, a house set in another venue, then a more experimental performance the next day… ADE lets you jump from one scene to another without restricting yourself to a single style. With so many events taking place at the same time, the hardest part will be deciding.

ADE is not limited to nighttime events. During the day, the ADE Pro Conference brings together artists, producers, labels and industry professionals for conferences, networking and discussions on the future of music. It is also a space to understand the inner workings of the industry and the developments shaping artists' careers.

The Arts & Culture program explores the links between electronic music, art and creation. Audiovisual performances, installations and projects presented in museums or unusual venues offer a fresh perspective on club culture. This diversity is part of ADE's identity: electronic music is not experienced solely on a dance floor, it is also built through an artistic scene and an international community.

With over 1,300 events on the schedule, it's best to identify the nights you're interested in before heading out. The official website allows you to check the lineup by artist and event. Please note: event tickets are generally sold separately by the organizers. The ADE Pro pass is aimed more at those who also want access to conferences and professional networking sessions.

A word of advice: don't try to do everything. ADE is interesting precisely because it offers the chance to explore multiple sides of the electronic scene. Pick out a few must-see artists, save time for local collectives, and leave room to change your plans along the way.

For its 30th anniversary, the Amsterdam Dance Event celebrates its history as much as the diversity of today's electronic scene. Whether you are passionate about techno, a house music fan, or simply curious to discover what is happening elsewhere, this is the perfect opportunity to experience five days up close with international club culture.