What started in 1996 has led us through 30 years of turning electronic music into the now widely recognised genre, art form, and thriving global industry that it is today. With Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) almost upon us, we can’t wait to see what it has in store this year. The world’s largest festival and business platform for electronic music is blessing 2026 with one of its biggest programs yet, centred around one monumental thing: the 30 YEARS ADE anniversary celebration. Over the past three decades, ADE has grown into the most influential breeding ground for electronic music, and will be welcoming many specials, new initiatives, and events celebrating this milestone in the time leading up to the festival, but here is everything we know so far.
Jean-Michel Jarre as the guest of honour
ADE kicks off its anniversary celebrations by welcoming a special guest of honour: electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre. Set to open the festivities with his standout Opening Concert at AFAS Live on October 21st, followed by an exclusive keynote interview at ADE Pro, and other appearances throughout the event’s program.
There are no such things as coincidences when ADE’s 30th anniversary lines up precisely with the 50th anniversary of Jarre’s Oxygène. The groundbreaking record still held up as one of the genre’s defining artistic statements, one that continues to shape the artists who’ve made ADE their home over the decades. As part of the festival’s Opening Concerts, Jarre makes his return to the Netherlands for an exclusive live show at AFAS Live, presented by MOJO and Insomniac, bringing his signature large-scale spectacle to one of Amsterdam’s most iconic venues.
“Electronic music, as well as ADE, has a history, a legacy and a future,” Jarre mentions. “The live show at ADE is going to celebrate its 30th anniversary, but also the 50th anniversary of Oxygène. I have the ambition to keep the suspense and go from one track to another, into a different atmosphere, different stage design, mapping, giant projections and architectures of lights and videos, to share that moment that can stay in your heart and your brain for the rest of your lives, this is the reason I’m so happy to be part of this celebration in 2026.”
First names confirmed
The first lineup announcement sets the tone for ADE, and opens it with a bang. With the opening names including: Avalon Emerson, Benwal, Chlär, DJ Nobu, Eris Drew, Folamour, Freddy K, Fumi, Funk Assault, Jyoty, Kyle Starkey, Lammer, Marsolo, Novah, Octo Octa, Paige Tomlinson, Pegassi, Philippa Pacho, Prospa, Scooter, Skepta, Skin On Skin, Tjade, Yanamaste, and many more. Unveiling roughly 8% of the eventual program.
Among the standout returns: Skepta is back with an upsized version of his Más Tiempo show at Warehouse Elementenstraat, while David Guetta touches down at AMF with his Monolith production.
MOJO also branched out for 2026 with two KI/KI 5 Hours shows and OUTWORLD – Klangkuenstler All Night Long at Ziggo Dome, alongside 10 Years of STMPD RCRDS and Unreal Germany at AFAS Live. Melkweg confirmed its ADE Opening Concert bill — Kybba & Metropole Orkest, FACE 2 FACE, San Holo & Droeloe, Nimino, Starjunk 95, and Dave Clarke Presents: 30 Years of ADE — while Paradiso revealed Malugi, State OFFF, Lawrence Hart, and Speedy J presents STOOR Live.
ADE promoters moved fast out of the gate too: Intercell revealed 65+ artists across 13 events, including Eris Drew, Lola Edo, Octo Octa, Fumi, DJ Nobu, Philippa Pacho, Skin on Skin, SPFDJ, and 999999999. DGTL confirmed 45+ artists across 7 events, including Folamour, Joris Voorn, Kevin de Vries, Miss Monique, Tinlicker, and Benwal. Into the Woods added 25+ names including ANNĒ, Clara Cuvé, DJ BORING, Jyoty, Kyle Starkey, Marsolo, and Young Marco.
Second wave
The second wave brought even more names to the show bringing the total past 1,500 confirmed artists, and the program to a 45% completion. New additions include Âme, Angel D’lite, Bad Boombox, BASHKKA, Ben Klock, Boris Acket, CARISTA, Colin Benders, DJ Stingray 313, Eric Prydz, HAAi, Het Nationale Ballet, Hunee, Kittin & The Hacker, Maceo Plex, Max Cooper, Miss Monique, Narciss, Paul Kalkbrenner, Scooter, Todd Terry, and many more.
What also stands out is the iconic Gashouder making its way back on the list during the pre-opening,with shows from Eric Prydz, Armin van Buuren b2b Benwal, Job Jobse, and MOCHAKK CALLING. In addition techno titan Paul Kalkbrenner brings his signature live show to Theater Amsterdam with Loveland, and Scooter takes over Ziggo Dome with SCOOTER CRUSHES ADE.
With the lineup nearing the halfway mark, ADE continues to bridge club culture with cutting-edge art: Boris Acket presents the monumental installation EINDER, Het Nationale Ballet and ISH open the festival with Swan Lake Remixed for ADE, Dome Concerts returns to ARTIS Planetarium and adds Fabrique des Lumières with shows from Max Cooper and Colin Benders, and the new ARTIS Aquarium joins ADE for the first time with an immersive 4DSOUND experience.
On the conference side, ADE Pro grows too: Jarre is joined by Lady Starlight for Music & Machines, Marcel Dettmann joins Luciano for a conversation spanning three-plus decades of electronic music, and speakers on stage include Tinie Tempah, Nastia, Thys (Noisia), Kikelomo, and Sofia Kourtesis. A 30 Years of ADE panel brings together key figures in the festival’s history — Anna Knaup, Maria Jimenez, Richard Zijlma, Jan-Willem van de Ven, Gary Smith, and Mariana Sanchotene — moderated by Dave Clarke, while an “Artists on AI” roundtable features Boys Noise, BT, Dave Clarke, Mathame, and Portrait XO. The Insider Knowledge Series brings in SoundCloud, Google DeepMind, Believe founder Denis Ladegaillerie, artist manager Troy Carter, and Warner Music, and ADE Startups returns with eight companies in its Chorus founder program: nowon, Smash, Sonura, AIDAR, Groovian, Exibeat, EventSynth, and zig~zag.
Promoters also kept the momentum going, as Awakenings revealed its full program across 8 shows at SugarFactory, including Adam Beyer, Ben Klock, Benwal, DJ Gigola, Jeff Mills, and Prospa. SPIELRAUM 55HRS at Club RAUM lined up BASHKKA, Dasha Rush, DVS1, Mary Lake, Kittin & The Hacker, and Octo Octa. Audio Obscura added 40+ artists across multiple events, featuring Amelie Lens, Bad Boombox, LAMMER, and WhoMadeWho.
What’s next?
The full ADE lineup is set to ultimately include more than 3,300 artists across 200+ venues throughout Amsterdam, running October 21–25, 2026 — the program will soon be complete and it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting editions to date. With the full lineup so far, individual tickets, and the ADE Pro Pass all available via ADE’s website.
