The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) has closed the curtain on the milestone 30th anniversary of what has become one of the biggest international platforms for electronic music. After an incredible 5-day, 5-night celebration of electronic music, ADE 2027 is set to take place 20-24 October 2027. Since its start in 1996, the Amsterdam Dance Event has become one of the biggest international events for electronic music, with the 2026 edition showcasing a diverse range of over 300 venues across Amsterdam. Iconic venues such as Gashouder, Paradiso, Melkweg, Ziggo Dome, Club RAUM, Shelter, Bajes and unique cultural spots like Centrale Markthal, ARTIS Aquarium, Wereldmuseum and Fabrique des Lumières have all been used.
On the first day of the celebrations, there were some amazing collabs taking place. A sold-out set was delivered by the Dutch National Ballet and ISH Dance Collective at Gashouder called Swan Lake Remixed for ADE. Kybba brought together the Metropole Orkest for a collab at Melkweg. Then Boris Acket delivered a multi-disciplinary set called EINDER with the Koninklijk Concertgebouw Orkest at Centrale Markthal on the opening night. Other collabs included Elias Mazian, Djrum and Choreographer Kianí Del Valle.
ADE 2026 had the official Guest of Honour, Jean-Michel Jarre, one of the pioneers of electronic music. He spoke about Artificial Intelligence and Spatial Sounds during roundtables at Felix Meritis and then delivered an amazing audiovisual set at AFAS Live. There were also lots of development opportunities, with ADE Lab offering two new streams at Westergas. ADE Lab Discovery offers a free program to help people new to the industry, and ADE Lab On Track is an academy programme.
The Amsterdam Dance Event also took steps to increase its cultural impact by launching the Nighttime Culture Index in partnership with VibeLab. They aim to measure the cultural energy of global nightlife by looking at over 12,000 line-ups, 3,000 venues and almost 30,000 cultural events. They have also taken opinions from experts and those working within the industry.
Read the full report here
Since starting in 1996, the Amsterdam Dance Event has helped electronic music become a huge part of our culture and one of the biggest creative industries in the world. Over the last 30 years, it has become a hub for artists, professionals, innovators and fans. It helps support new talent and allows everyone to get experimental. More celebrations, events and initiatives to mark 30 years of ADE will be announced in the coming months. The Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation is a non-profit organisation that works to support electronic music, culture and industry worldwide. They support new talent, encourage innovation and give opportunities to future generations. They create connections between professionals and communities worldwide. Amsterdam Dance Event started as an initiative by Buma and has become the biggest and most influential club-based electronic music festival and conference in the world. Over the 5 days, you can enjoy sets from DJs, live shows, industry roundtables and art/culture events. Typically, over 3,600 artists perform over 1,300 events in over 300 venues.
More information about ADE can be found here.
