The festivals you need to attend in 2026
All ravers Attention! Still recovering from last year? Or are you already dancing with your friends to your favorite DJ? The festival season has started again, and that is why we have THE go to Festivals of 2026 listed for you in chronological order. After doing plenty of dancing in 2025, we're going all out again this year.
A dream lineup for all Dutch-language music lovers. On Friday, July 3rd, and Saturday, July 4th, it's De Amsterdamse Zomer (The Amsterdam Summer). Featuring artists like Emma Heesters, Andre Hazes, and Yves Berendse, this is the place to scream your lungs out at "Back in Time" or "Leef." All these homegrown artists will gather at the Olympic Stadium for another smashing summer. We're not the only ones excited, as Saturday is completely sold out. But don't worry, Friday is still available.
With the tropical temperatures you sometimes have to brave at a festival like that, there is only one thing that is truly important: staying well hydrated. That is why we take our Mug
Speaking of wandering, Wilde Weide is a real treat. Kraggenburg is wandering and dancing 2.0. A true playground, with something for everyone. Three nights of dancing, if your body can handle it, that is. From numerous bands and acts to countless DJs, stage after stage, straight through the bamboo forest, over scaffolding, and past the numerous art installations. Yes, you can easily manage those 10.0000 steps a day here.
Down the Rabbit Hole (DTRH) is coming to Beuningen this year from July 3rd to 5th. Three days of intense dancing on a huge site. Want to experience every day and avoid the hassle of traveling home? Then make sure you stay at the "Rabbit Resort," which is essentially glamping. We have to be honest, we've looked at the lineup, and there aren't any standouts we recognize, but that doesn't make it any less fun.
Techno heads Attention: Awakenings returns to Hilvarenbeek for three full days of raving. Think: Amelie Lens, Pegassi, Josh Baker, Kettama, and Charlotte de Witte. Stages? Spectacular. Light shows? Magical. Energy? Through the roof. This is celebrating techno at its highest level, with a community that feels like coming home.
North Sea Jazz celebrates its 50th anniversary this year at Rotterdam Ahoy (July 10–12), and that always means an extra-big party. Besides names like John Legend and Charlie Puth, it is also largely about what is yet to come. The new generation of female soul, R&B, and jazz artists is stealing the show there: Sienna Spiro, of whom Material Lover al in The Devil Wears Prada 2 can be heard, and Joy Crookes with her quirky mix of drunk en alternative popAnd that fits the festival perfectly, which has had a nose for spotting talent early for decades. From Amy Winehouse and Adele to, more recently, Raye and Olivia Dean.
No Art is back on July 25th! What started in 2022 as a leap into the unknown has become an indispensable part of the festival landscape. Founded by the Amsterdam DJ duo ANOTR, No Art combines art and music like no one else does. The line-up remains a secret for now, but believe us: that only makes it more exciting.
Dekmantel, the Valhalla for electronic music connoisseurs. No fuss, no glitter bombs, but a line-up that even Berghain makes the Spanish feel anxious. From July 29 to August 7, 2025, the Amsterdam Forest will be ablaze again. House, techno, ambient, leftfield electro, broken beats, you don't have to understand the genres to be blown away.
If your music knowledge is up to par, you know what to expect: Job Jobse & PalmsTrax, Icon, DETAILS en Benny rodrigues. A deep dive into everything electronic, quirky, and extremely danceable. Also nice: Dekmantel collaborates with partners like Boiler Room, Bud, Crack Magazine en Resident AdvisorWith its beautiful greenery and many places to relax between DJ performances, the Amsterdamse Bos is the perfect location for a weekend of partying.
Festivals, we love them. Our ears, however, are less so, at least if you don't protect them properly. And that's a shame, because nobody wants parties to be less fun. The solution? Simple: wear earplugs. They're becoming increasingly available at festivals, but let's be honest: the quality often leaves much to be desired. Worse sound = earplugs out, and that's exactly what you don't want. So: be smart and go for it. Pluggerz from Better HearingThese earplugs filter out harmful noise while you continue to enjoy the music to the fullest.
Tickets for this year's Loveland aren't on sale yet, but you can pre-register now. On July 8th and 9th, 2026, Loveland returns to Amsterdam's Sloterpark for two days of electronic music, summer vibes, and next-level productions. Expect a carefully curated lineup featuring international headliners and emerging talent, spread across multiple stages surrounded by greenery. Loveland is known for its streamlined organization, inclusive atmosphere, and attention to detail, so that promises to be a big success. So pre-register now and you'll be among the first to go.
Lowlands! The favorite of many. Back again this year in Biddinghuizen on August 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. A convergence of various disciplines creates a wide, truly wide range of music, theater, film, comedy, literature, street theater, science, and visual arts. It's all there. A program that attracts a broad audience. Big names stand alongside young, undiscovered artists; there's a stage for everyone. Tickets go on sale Saturday, February 7th, and the first names will be announced. Will you be there this year?
After the first (completely sold out) edition, Audio Obscura returns again on August 29 in the iconic Van Nelle factory in Rotterdam. With halls, walkways and hidden spaces, you can really get lost during Audio Obscura. side questA whole day of pure partying with Chris Stussy, Prospa, Max Dean, and many more great names. Definitely get a ticket, because this isn't just any festival. Part of the ticket proceeds will be donated to the preservation of the Van Nelle factory, so you'll be doing something good too.
And we're moving on to Draaimolen, deep in the magical forests of Tilburg. On September 4 and 5, 2026, Draaimolen Festival will return to the MOB complex For an edition packed with electronic music, art, and nature. Here, aesthetics and beats dance hand in hand, and they know like no other how to throw a truly great party. Don't expect a standard festival; here, art literally becomes part of the rave. Enjoy fantastic light shows, surprising b2b's and a line-up full of forward-thinking artists. Whether you come for ambient, hard techno or a trip to raw bubbling beats: getting lost (and dancing) in the woods until you drop, it's all part of it.
Draaimolen is for music lovers who choose creativity over commerce. And believe us: you can feel it in everything.
And to round off the summer and the festival season, we're ending with A Day At The Park (ADATP). This festival has become a regular fixture in Rotterdam's Kralingse Bos and is unmissable. What we like about ADATP is that, unlike many other festivals, it's still affordable. super early Ticket sales have already started, but the lineup hasn't been announced yet. What is known is that this year they'll have six stages to roam among all the artists. One last banger to close it all out?
The festivals below are behind us, but they are still great for drawing inspiration from for next year.
You can't really go wrong with DGTL, and this year it's definitely worth a visit with big names like Armand van Helden, Benwal, I Hate Models, and Luuk van Dijk. It starts Friday night, April 3rd, and barely stops until early Sunday morning, April 5th. DGTL is in Amsterdam at the NDSM 50, so you can easily get there by ferry from Central Station, making it easy to get there and back. The stage is always a eyecatcher and this year they are going for it again.
Burst is (almost) only a year old; they launched on King's Day 2025, and this year they're back. So, at Burst, we celebrate the king. It's small but mighty, with just one stage, to be precise, where all the acts like Chris Stussy, Benwal, Benny Rodrigues, and more perform in Amsterdam's Meerpark. To fully live in the moment, you have to put your phone in a special bag at Burst—no videos, no distractions, just right there with your friends.
Liberation Day should always be celebrated, and what better way to celebrate the liberation of the Netherlands than at Amsterdam's ultimate freedom festival: Het Amsterdams Verbond. As always, Het Amsterdams Verbond will be held at the Olympic Stadium. Het Amsterdams Verbond is a day festival, which we love, as it means you'll still be in bed on time and still have a fantastic day. But don't wait too long to buy your tickets, as they're almost sold out.
Personal favorites are at Music On this year, especially on Saturday. Franky Rizardo, Luke Dean, and Josh Baker are definitely the people we'd travel to Amsterdam's Meerpark for this year's Music On. The festival is in full swing on May 9th and 10th, but only weekend and Sunday tickets are still available (we understand), so get in quick or just wait. sniping on ticketswap.
Upclose (by Awakenings) is back On May 16th & 17th, Spaarnwoude will be feeling the effects of it again. After a fantastic first edition, the festival is returning. Expect a steaming dance floor surrounded by greenery, with community and culture taking center stage. This is one you'll be excited about from the very first moment. beat wants to be there. And then we also hope for those lovely spring temperatures, then we'll be completely sold.
Eindhoven is the craziest, haven't heard of Bontgenoten yet? Here you go! Bontgenoten will be held on June 6th at Karpendonkse Plas, Eindhoven's city park. Bontgenoten has six stages, each with its own unique sound, atmosphere, and intimate feel. The lineup is still a secret for now, making it even more exciting.
Not one, but two weekends this June, things are going completely wild in the Amsterdamse Bos. The Bacchus Wine Festival is back (yes!). Once again, with lots of wine and good times. Expect 300+ wines from all over the world, by the glass or bottle, from €4,50 to particularly exclusive. Everything in a real glass that you can even take home with you (so sneaking it in your inside pocket isn't necessary, wink). Don't drink wine? They've got you! There is regular beer from Two Chefs, cocktails, mocktails, 0.0% wines, and a regular bar with soft drinks. No one goes thirsty at Bacchus. And hungry? You won't go hungry either. You will also find food in all price ranges and for every taste. From oysters and caviar to Mexican tacos and the lobster roll from Sjefietshe. Fridays are for dancing with friends, and on weekends, kids (and four-legged friends) are more than welcome too. They are even free. For 25 euros, the kids get their own stamp card and can let loose all afternoon at Chateau Migraine. Every activity is a stamp – think: kids' disco, face painting, making mini pancakes, and more.
You can drink, eat, dance, and more on June 5-7 and June 12-14. Get here your tickets from 17,50 euros.
Ah, Pinkpop. A festival season staple since 1970, making it one of the oldest and most iconic festivals in the Netherlands. Three days of music, mud (or perhaps sun!), and above all, a fantastic atmosphere. This year? Zara Larsson, Teddy Swims, Suzan & Freek, and Roxy Dekker will take the stage. Add a dose of Limburgian conviviality and fries with "zoervlees" (sour meat), and you'll understand why Pinkpop is a party you don't want to miss, year after year.
