Cultural tips in Amsterdam this summer
Discover arts & culture with Bloomberg Connects
Sponsored content by Bloomberg Connects
Every institution has a story to tell – and on Bloomberg Connects, you can hear it straight from the curators, artists and experts who know it best. With location-based platform Bloomberg Connects – home to over 20 guides across Amsterdam and the region – you’ll be taken on an exclusive, narrated tour of the museum you’re visiting. Unearth the remarkable history of the H’ART Museum building and the Secret Annex at the Anne Frank House for 360-degree images of the room during Anne’s time there. Or head out into the region; lose yourself in the sculpture garden at Singer Laren and in The Hidden Life of Anna Singer, which traces the journey of the prominent American collector who moved to Europe at the turn of the 20th century. Built so every visitor can engage on their own terms, with audio description, captions, transcripts, image zoom and adjustable text across participating guides.
Rembrandt & Life
Sponsored content by Rembrandt House Museum
Join Rembrandt on his journey through life in the exhibition Rembrandt & Life, consisting of over 50 prints and two paintings by Rembrandt, exhibited in the artist’s own home. The exhibition concludes with Rembrandt’s Treasure Trove: a ‘slow watching’ space, where you are encouraged to take your time with the art. Here, you will find yourself face to face with two of his paintings; one of which is the renowned masterpiece The Anatomy Lesson of Jan Deijman (1656).
Rembrandt & Life - Rembrandthuis | 23 May - 7 September, Rembrandt House Museum
Holland Festival
For close to 80 years, Holland Festival has pushed artistic boundaries. This year’s edition opens with City of Floating Sounds by Huang Ruo, where audiences walk towards Carré from various starting points, accompanied by sections of classical music playing from their phones. The musical sections gradually converge as the walking routes do. Upon arriving at the theatre, audiences are greeted by a live continuation of the experience, performed by Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen. Holland Festival is a celebration of performance in all its forms, offering a deeply human take on what it means to connect on the stage.
Holland Festival | 3 - 28 June 2026, various locations
Summer Dance Forever
International dance festival Summer Dance Forever returns to Paradiso for a riotous celebration of hip-hop moves. Dancers from all over the world land for this week-long event that covers everything from dance battles on the atmospheric Paradiso stage to workshops on European hip-hop and curated club nights. Grab your comfiest sneakers for what’s bound to be a high-energy and exhilarating few days.
Summer Dance Forever | 25 - 31 August 2026, Paradiso
De Parade
Travelling theatre festival De Parade brightens the banks of the Amstel river once again this summer. With its lively, carnivalesque atmosphere and mix of performance, music and delicious food trucks, a night at De Parade’s whimsical fairground is nothing short of a perfect summer evening.
De Parade | 24 July - 9 August 2026, Martin Luther King Park
Boom Chicago Comedy Festival
This ten-day-long comedy bonanza promises laughs aplenty, showcasing both high and low-brow humour with a real knack for fun. While audiences are welcome just to sit back and enjoy the show, they are also encouraged to improve their own comedy chops through workshops open to all levels. They should, however, be wary of testing any newfound comedic ability on the performers, for fear of verbal annihilation at the hands of some of the world's best.
Boom Chicago Comedy Festival | 25 June - 5 July 2026, Boom Chicago
Kwaku Summer Festival
Zuidoost staple Kwaku enters its eighth edition for a riotous celebration of culture, food and sport. What began as a small, local football tournament has evolved into one of the country’s largest festivals, though the football tournament still makes up a crucial part of the event’s distinct flavour. Celebrating the richness and diversity of Zuidoost in Amsterdam, its signature blend of culture, music, food, football, and dance emerged from the city’s Afro-Caribbean diaspora. The festival is held in Nelson Mandelapark across four weekends, welcoming over 300,000 visitors. On its final Sunday, Kwaku goes Pink as part of Amsterdam Pride.
Kwaku Summer Festival| 11 July - 2 August 2026, Nelson Mandela Park
Vondelpark Open Air Theatre
This beloved Amsterdam institution returns with another diverse program of cultural events all summer long. Across May, June, July and August, this intimate stage smack-bang in the middle of the city’s popular Vondelpark will host everything from laugh-out-loud comedy and captivating dance and song, to children’s theatre and cabaret. Bring the whole family to experience the magic of performance in the city’s green heart.
Vondelpark Open Air Theatre | May - August 2026, Vondelpark
Grachtenfestival
With Amsterdam’s iconic canal belt as its backdrop, the 10-day Grachtenfestival spotlights the best classical and jazz performers in extraordinary locations. Watch an intimate string quartet inside a historic canal house, or groove along to a jazz performance on a pontoon floating over the city’s idyllic canals. As the country’s primary platform for emerging talent in classical and jazz music, the Grachtenfestival does what Amsterdam does best: blending tradition with innovation.
Grachtenfestival | 7 – 16 August 2026, various locations
Jazz Years – People, Migration, and Music at the City Archives
This exhibition at the City Archives focuses on the jazz scene that flourished in Amsterdam during the 1930s, featuring artists from the United States, Suriname, Eastern Europe and Amsterdam itself. Spend an afternoon moving through photographs, paintings, photography, personal objects, film footage, and, of course, music from the era – leaving your evening free to experience jazz out in the city.
Jazz Years | From 3 April 2026, Stadsarchief
World Pride Amsterdam
World Pride comes to Amsterdam for 2026, combining with the usual week-long Pride celebration that marks the city’s longstanding reputation as a hub for queer acceptance and culture and culminates with the famed Canal Parade. Take part in the street parties that crop up on virtually every corner, as well as a host of free organised events, including evenings of free cinema on Mercatorplein. Check out our full list of Pride cultural tips here.
WorldPride Amsterdam | 25 July - 8 August 2026, various locations
Amsterdamse Bostheater
Summer in the city is synonymous with the Amsterdamse Bos, and it’s here that you’ll find the Bostheater. A hidden amphitheatre in the forest, the Amsterdamse Bostheater offers a summer program of open-air performances under the hanging branches of age-old trees. From the flagship musical Spinoza, to pop, jazz and classical musical performances, a night at the Amsterdamse Bostheater is always one to remember.
Amsterdamse Bostheater | May - August 2026, Amsterdamse Bos
Dekmantel
This iconic multi-day electronic music festival takes place each August and grows in scope and popularity yearly. With the Amsterdamse Bos still serving as the festival's bucolic base, Dekmantel has since added several other locations for their Dekmantel aan ‘t IJ program. These include Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, Tolhuistuin, Parallel and Shelter, where you’ll find close listening sessions, live concerts, lectures and film screenings.
Dekmantel | 29 July - 2 August 2026, various locations
Julidans
Julidans, Amsterdam's premier contemporary dance festival, will take centre stage this summer. With a program that showcases groundbreaking performances from choreographers across the globe, Julidans will transform the city into an international hotspot for avant-garde dance, offering audiences an exciting glimpse into the future of movement and expression. This year’s programming includes the latest work by Nina Laisé, known for her fusion of cultures and art forms, and Serge Aimé Coulibaly, the Burkinaben veteran of both choreography and performance.
Julidans | 2 - 14 July 2026, various locations
World Press Photo Exhibition
A true highlight for photography enthusiasts, the annual World Press photo exhibition returns to the striking Gothic setting of De Nieuwe Kerk, one of Amsterdam’s oldest buildings. Presenting award-winning photojournalism, the exhibit captures poignant and powerful moments from around the globe. Catch this visual narrative of the bygone year's most pressing geopolitical events as seen through the lens of photojournalists who risked it all to tell their truth.
World Press Photo Exhibition| 24 April - 27 September 2026, De Nieuwe Kerk
Pluk de Nacht Film Festival
As the sun sets, snuggle under a blanket and enjoy a slice of lesser-known cinema. Pluk de Nacht (Seize the Night) brings unreleased films to Amsterdam’s summer nights at Het Stenen Hoofd in West, an idyllic waterside location. Genres range from absurd rom-coms, indie, and arthouse cinema to haunting horror flicks, documentaries, and animation. Many films are plucked from a star crop featured at major international film festivals and are screened in English or subtitled.
Pluk de Nacht | 19 - 30 August 2026, Stenen Hoofd
Red Light Jazz Festival
Amsterdam’s inner city comes alive every June with the Red Light Jazz Festival. While the historic Red Light District is often known for its seedier pursuits, in fact, it is one of the oldest and most beautiful parts of the city, with a rich and diverse cultural history and a tight-knit community. As the three-day festival unfolds, musicians perform in intimate local spots – from street corners to small historic cafes – offering audiences a slice of authentic Amsterdam life.
Red Light Jazz Festival | 5 - 7 June 2026, various locations around De Wallen (Red Light District)