Cultural tips for ADE 2026

Deep Seeing Currents

Giving new meaning to “deep listening”, this immersive exhibition takes you down into the depths of the ocean. Surrounded by real marine life in the aquarium at ARTIS zoo, dive below and drift on the subaquatic currents, with this sound and light installation by world-renowned composer Olafur Eliasson. Vibrating and resonating with sounds from whale song to deep-sea mining, you will never come closer to experiencing life at the bottom of the ocean.

Deep Seeing Currents | Sunday 25 October | Open 09:00 - 18:00 | Entrance €16.25 – €30.50 |   ARTIS Aquarium 

Kara-Lis Coverdale & Lia Kohl

Tucked away in the Royal Concert Hall’s small recital room, this ADE you’ll find two of the most acclaimed musicians and sound artists. Kara-Lis Coverdale has long become a cult star among fans of electronic and ambient music for her lush, richly textured compositions, while Lia Kohl brings a little more classical flavour with cello and a host of non-traditional sounds from sirens to aeroplane engines. A cosy and mind-bending performance perfect to start off the week.

Kara-Lis Coverdale & Lia Kohl | Wednesday 21 October | 20:15 - 23:00 | Concertgebouw | €29

Djrum (live) x EINDER by Boris Acket

More than an excuse to party, ADE is a great opportunity to explore hidden and unusual venues all across the city. How about this gigantic market hall, tucked away within Amsterdam’s industrial Food Center? Throughout the festival, Boris Acket’s monumental artwork will be on display – an artificial sky of digitally-fanned fabrics, undulating and shifting in unpredictable patterns. And for one night only, legendary electronic musician Djrum will accompany the installation with his organic, earth-shattering set featuring self-built instruments: the kind of overstimulation ADE does best.

Djrum (live) x EINDER by Boris Acket | Thursday 22 October | 22:00 - 23:00 | Centrale Markthal | €31

Premiere: Two Seas and Sumuku

The ADE cultural programme excels when combining multiple art forms – taking electronic music’s hedonism to new dimensions. Few events this year capture that spirit better than this pair of audiovisual installations, live performance, discussion and … menagerie. EarthSonic is a global project and collective telling indigenous stories of climate change, here presenting “Roland's Electronic Petting Zoo”. Following this are two immersive installations, including one collaboration between Natural Symphony and Orbital’s Paul Hartnoll, a live AV set from Paranoid London, and a panel talk with everyone. A packed evening and feast for the senses.

Premiere: Two Seas and Sumuku | Thursday 22 October | 17:00 - 21:00 | Nxt Museum | €10

Slimfit x ADE x Our Lord in the Attic Museum

Another great chance to dive into Amsterdam’s secret spaces, this trio of concerts take place in the historic, hidden church, Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic). These hallowed halls are the perfect place for Sammie Tjon Sien Foek's musical experiments, aka Slimfit, a queer DJ and artist who plumbs the church’s history by remixing classical elements with live electronic performance and influences from their Chinese, Surinamese, and Dutch heritage.

Slimfit x ADE x Our Lord in the Attic Museum | Thursday 22, Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October | 19:30 - 21:00 | Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder | €tbc

Dreams of Films – Films of Dreams

Amsterdam DJ, sociologist and collector Moataz Rageb, better known as Disco Arabesquo, here invites you to discover the Egyptian film history that informed disco across the Arab world and beyond. Partnering with the Van Eesteren Museum, an architectural museum focused on and located in Amsterdam’s Nieuw West borough, he presents here collections of cassettes, film posters and other treasures from Rageb’s own archive – a glimpse into a less widely celebrated avenue of film and dance music history.

Dreams of Films – Films of Dreams | Thursday 22 - Sunday 25 October | 12:00 - 17.00 | Van Eesteren Museum | €5

Habibi's World

From Egypt to the Maghreb, North African culture will also be celebrated here at café40 – the central sister location to nightclub Garage Noord. Both locations have long nurtured an inclusive, conscious space, and this iteration of their daily ADE programme is no exception, bringing together music, food, fashion and art from the Arab diaspora. Come drink, eat, listen and form part of this vibrant community.

Habibi's World| Friday 23 October | 20:00 - 03:00 | café40 | Free

DISCO I’m coming out

It all started with disco. Which makes ADE a fine time indeed for a tribute in this new exhibition at the Wereldmuseum, which explores the origins of the legendary genre in New York as well as its travels across to Europe and influence on house music – journeys that would change the shape of music forever. Alongside the exhibition, the museum is hosting a celebratory night of DJ sets, performances and talks – including disco legends Eddy de Clercq, Sunny Jansen, and Thijs Weijland (Adonis/ Supernature). 

DISCO I’m coming out | Friday 23 October | 19:00 - 23.59 | Wereldmuseum | €19.50

DISCO (exhibition) | Saturday 10 October 2026 - 22 August 2027 | Wereldmuseum | €7.50 / €11 / €18 / Free with Museumkaart

UK Sounds Influencing House Culture

Part of that musical journey from the East Coast to Europe centred around the UK, where disco, northern soul, and Caribbean music found each other and created something entirely new. That melting pot, and the very British house music that came out of it, is remembered and vividly reimagined at ITA this ADE with a triple bill: a dance workshop, talk by DJ and critic Lynnée Denise and a closing jam session by DJ collective Chill on Tuesday.

UK Sounds Influencing House Culture| Saturday 24 October | 12:30 - 19:00 | ITA - Internationaal Theater Amsterdam | €12.50

The Future Sound of Nature & Community Kitchen

Another intersection of electronic music and nature, this cosy community evening welcomes anyone free of charge for a packed programme of music in harmony with the natural world. Artists including Matt Black (Coldcut) and Eli 'Soul Clap' Goldstein synchronise their performances with whalesong, melting ice and birdcalls, while diners feast on plant-based food provided by Testtafel’s Community Kitchen.

The Future Sound of Nature & Community Kitchen| Saturday 24 October | 18:00 - 23:00 | Mediamatic | Free

Sunday Selectors with Dave Clarke

A perfect way to wrap up ADE week: local legend Dave Clarke (the “Baron of techno” according to the late John Peel) closes things down with a special in-store session at classic record shop Concerto. Dave will be inviting special guests who each bring five special tracks and discuss how they affected them and their careers. Watch out though, this one will fill up fast.

Sunday Selectors with Dave Clarke| Sunday 25 October | 15:00 - 18:00 | Concerto Record Store | Free

Safety disclaimer and advice during Amsterdam Dance Event

We want you to have a fantastic time at ADE — but safety first. Know that the (mis)use of drugs is illegal, and there are real health risks involved. Stay hydrated, eat well, and avoid mixing substances. Through ADE's “Celebrate Safe” campaign, venues will have enhanced security, medical aid stations, and staff on hand to provide assistance. For your journey home (or between events), services like Diva Ride (female-driver option) are available to offer an inclusive ride. Take care of yourself and those around you. If anything feels wrong, physically or in your surroundings, don’t wait: get help immediately. Know your limits and respect those of others.