Gray Area’s Guide to ADE 2026
This year, the the iconic Amsterdam Dance Event turns 30 and it’s bigger than ever. But with hundreds of events taking place across the city, knowing where to spend your time is half the battle. So Gray Area’s done the work so you don’t have to.
What is ADE?
Only the world's largest annual electronic music conference and festival. Held across 5 days in Amsterdam, just about every corner of the music industry will land here from October 21st - 25th. And it’s massive. This year the city hosts over 1,200 events across nearly 300 venues, drawing hundreds of thousands of global visitors and professionals.
The event includes daytime conferences, industry networking and masterclasses alongside club nights and events spanning every genre of electronic music. It can be hard to know where to start, which is why we’ve done the hard work for you.
Big-name dance events
Friday 23 October, 10pm–7am — Jeff Mills, FJAAK & Helena Hauff
Fabric x Loud Contact — WestWeelde
Fabric and Loud Contact join forces for a heavyweight ADE takeover, bringing together techno legend Jeff Mills, Berlin trio FJAAK and electro/techno powerhouse Helena Hauff. With Binh and a strong supporting lineup on the bill, it’s ADE at its most uncompromising.
Friday 23 October, 3pm–11pm — CARISTA, Eris Drew & Jyoty
ZeeZout — het Rijk van de Keizer
A standout daytime party bringing together some of the most exciting names in contemporary electronic music, including CARISTA, Eris Drew, Jyoty, Octo Octa and Riria. Expect eclectic, high-energy sets across house, techno and everything in between.
Saturday 24 October, 6.30am–1pm — Hunee
Hunee takes over The Loft for a sunrise B2B with Stella Zekri and Suze Ijó, running from 6:30am until 1pm on Saturday 24 October. Expect house, disco and deep grooves in one of ADE’s more unusual settings.
Friday 23 October, 11pm–7am — Avalon Emerson, Aurora Halal & Sedef Adders
Avalon Emerson presents 9000 Dreams — De Bajes
Avalon Emerson brings 9000 Dreams to De Bajes, the club housed in the basement of a former prison. Expect a night of adventurous, genre-spanning selections, with Aurora Halal, Sedef Adasï, Ineffekt and Verraco joining Emerson behind the decks.
Thursday 22 October, 11pm–7am — Damian Lazarus, Manoo & Meera
MoBlack Records x La Nouba — Panama
An eight-hour Afro-house showcase bringing together Damian Lazarus, Manoo, Meera, MoBlack, Notre Dame and Tripolism.
Friday 23rd October, 14:00 - 04:30 — Juan Atkins, Scan 7, Octave One & Terrence Dixon
Elypsia Records x Metroplex Records — Q-Factory
Celebrating four decades of Detroit techno, Elypsia Records and Metroplex Records bring pioneering figures and a new generation of artists to Q-Factory. Expect DJ sets and live performances from Juan Atkins, Scan 7, Octave One and Terrence Dixon, alongside contemporary voices including Acida Dominga and Alinka. The event also offers a first look at Four Decades of Detroit Techno: Vol. 1, an upcoming compilation celebrating the artists and sounds that have shaped the Motor City’s electronic music legacy.
Talks & industry events
Date/time TBC — Emmanuel de Buretel & Pedro Winter (Busy P)
Because Music x Ed Banger: 20 Years of Collaboration — ADE Pro
Two decades after their partnership began, Because Music founder Emmanuel de Buretel and Ed Banger founder Pedro Winter (Busy P) look back at a collaboration that helped shape one of independent music’s most influential ecosystems. Expect reflections on their shared history and the future of independent music.
Thursday 22 October, 12pm–midnight — House of A x Bridges for Music
ARCA Bar @ art’otel Amsterdam
House of A takes over art’otel Amsterdam for a day-to-night celebration of African electronic music and culture, in partnership with Bridges for Music, the non-profit using music to create opportunities for young people in underserved communities. The daytime programme features panels, conversations and networking around Afro-house, artist development and cross-continental collaboration, before moving into an evening of music and performances.
Thursday 22 October, 12.15pm–1pm — Inside the MENA Music Ecosystem
Felix Meritis
A deep dive into the rapidly developing electronic music ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa. Karima Damir, VP of A&R and MENA music executive, joins moderator Georges Bou Saleh to explore the region’s artists, labels, producers and opportunities for emerging talent.
Friday 23 October, 1.30pm–2.15pm — Creating the Next Generation of Club Promoters
Felix Meritis
With rising costs, tighter regulations and increasing industry consolidation putting pressure on independent promoters, this panel asks what the future holds for grassroots club culture. Speakers from AVA, Encode and Gashouder will discuss fair booking, safer spaces, inclusive programming and building sustainable independent events.
Event access available with an ADE Pro Pass. Buy yours here.
Events for the underground heads
21–23 October — ZERØBPM ADE: 3-Day Ambient Meditation Ritual
Offering an alternative to ADE’s club-heavy programme, ZERØBPM turns De Thomaskerk into a space for deep listening and non-club sets across three days. The lineup spans ambient, techno, experimental and leftfield sounds, with artists including Rødhåd, Vril, GiGi FM, Nastia, Dasha Rush, Steve Rachmad and Portable.
Wednesday 21 October, 10pm–6am — Raving Charlie
A rougher, faster start to ADE, with Raving Charlie bringing hardcore, neo-rave and hard techno to the community-minded De Sering. A good choice if you want something raw and distinctly DIY.
Wednesday 21 October, 8pm–11pm — Nkisi, Crawler, 2K88, Rainy Miller & Bianca Scout
The Rest Is Noise — Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ
A night of experimental electronic music, bringing together live performances from Nkisi, Crawler and the collaborative trio of 2K88, Rainy Miller and Bianca Scout. Expect an ambitious mix of electronics, sound, visuals and performance, with three new works exploring the expansive possibilities of electronic music.
Thursday 22 October, 11pm–6am — CARISTA, ANZ & United Identities
Doka Studio x United Identities — Doka
A label takeover from CARISTA’s United Identities, spanning electro, house, techno, jungle and breaks. With Manchester’s ANZ and a roster of labelmates joining CARISTA, this is one for those wanting something more eclectic than the usual ADE techno marathon.
Thursday 22 October, 8pm–3am — Analog Kitchen & guests
Analog Kitchen presents: How We Play Live — Club Baggerbeest
A night dedicated entirely to live electronic performance. Expect hardware, improvisation, immersive sound and machine-driven techno, with Analog Kitchen presenting a special 4D sound performance.
Friday 23 October, 11pm–7.30am — Dave Clarke, Dasha Rush, DJ Stingray 313 & more
Dave Clarke Presents: 30 Years of ADE — Melkweg
A heavyweight underground bill spanning techno, electro, wave and bass. Alongside Clarke, the lineup includes Dasha Rush, DJ Stingray 313, Daniel Avery, DJ Hell, Luke Slater, DJ Mell G and Veronika Vasicka.
Final thoughts
ADE is a city-wide event and part of the magic is stumbling across a club night or DJ you never knew existed. So make sure to build in time to explore and leave space in the schedule to see what you’ll find. This is one of the most celebrated dates in electronic music for a reason!
For the full programme, head to ADE's official website.
