Amsterdam Dance Event News
DIØN Is Unstoppable With ‘Traffic’ Official Anthem Of Verknipt Arena 2024
At first you barely hear it. Almost imperceptible, like a faint heartbeat under thundering drums and relentless rhythms. But you know it’s there. You can feel it. Then suddenly, two of the most recognisable notes in dance music history burst through in all their brilliance, demanding that a new generation of fans lose their sh*t on the dance floor.
The track in question is Tiësto‘s seminal masterpiece ‘Traffic’, the rework is by Techno star DIØN, and what’s about to drop is a hard dance cover for the absolute ages.
DIØN spoke about the significance the original single holds for him: “It was one of my first encounters with (electronic music). When I was really young my dad would pick me and my brother up from my grandmother who was watching us after school when my parents had to work. My dad always had this Tiësto CD playing in his car with this track ‘Traffic’ on it, and we would listen to it almost every time he picked us up. I never could have imagined that I would be doing a rework for this track.”
When it came to the production, DIØN knew how vital it was to walk the line between authenticity to both the original version, and his own, trademark style. “For me Tiësto is a real legend and this is my favourite track of his. I had to make something that would stick close to the original sound but also a track that I could play in my sets and have my own elements in it like signature drums and acid. My sold-out 10-hour set in Thuishaven in June was the first time I played it out and it went absolutely crazy, I saw the hole crowd just living in the moment of it, especially in the long and uplifting break. I’m very happy how it turned out.”
Weaving unforgiving ripsaw synths, depth-charged basslines, hardcore percussion and squelching, rave-style FX around Tiësto‘s iconic two-note riff like some sort of musical tornado, DIØN takes the original BPM and throws it out of the window without apology. His cover lands firmly in the heart of the hard dance arena, making it entirely appropriate that the track has just been named the official anthem for the Verknipt ArenA 2024 show in Amsterdam this summer, released on Verknipt Records.
DIØN‘s association with Verknipt has grown since the celebrated Dutch event gave their ADE stage to the youngster back in 2021. Delivering an explosive set that made the establishment sit up and pay attention, DIØN is now an integral part of the Verknipt family, headlining for them at shows around the world as they expand their global reach.
“DIØN’s rework of Tiësto’s ‘Traffic’ is a testament to his deep respect for electronic music history and his innovative approach to hard techno,” said Verknipt founder Mer Hajbarati. “By blending the iconic elements of the original with his signature hard-hitting style, DION has crafted a track that’s both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. This cover captures the essence of what the mission of Verknipt Records stands for- to champion the hard dance genres by providing an immersive platform for emerging and established artists. Our relationship with DION goes way back and we’ve grown together over the years, that’s why we can’t wait for him to play this track at the ArenA show, especially since it’s the anthem of the event.”
One of the most in-demand names in Hard Dance and Techno, DIØN courts support from some the genres’ biggest superstars, including Amelie Lens, Sara Landry, and Fatima Hajji. His ROUGH MATERIAL label showcase at legendary Dutch venue Paradiso earlier this year sold out in a matter of minutes, and in June he bought the proverbial house down with an epic, monstrous, 10 hour set at Thuishaven. As he prepares to unleash his take on ‘Traffic’ at arguably the biggest hard dance event of all time, it’s safe to say he’s cemented his seat at the A-list table.
DIØN – it’s a hard new world.
Stream this single on all platforms here.
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Amsterdam Dance Event News
ADE Announces Full 30th Anniversary Program
ADE announces full 30th anniversary program with 3,600+ artists across 1,300+ events and 300+ venues in Amsterdam
Amsterdam Dance Event will celebrate its 30th anniversary from October 21–25, with the full 2026 program now spanning more than 3,600 artists, 1,300+ events and 300+ venues across Amsterdam. The five-day edition will cover the festival, ADE Pro Conference and Arts & Culture program, with the latest additions including Armand Van Helden, Boys Noize, Hannah Laing, Jamie Jones, Martin Garrix, Mau P, Pete Tong, Chris Stussy b2b Job Jobse, Len Faki, Mama Snake and Speedy J.
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More Artists Join ADE 2026
The final release adds another large group of names across house, techno, trance, garage and experimental electronic music. ANNA, Carl Craig, Chris Liebing, Enrico Sangiuliano, Ferry Corsten, HoneyLuv, Interplanetary Criminal, Louie Vega, Nastia, Sebastien Léger, Young Marco and BLOND:ISH are among those confirmed, alongside hundreds of artists playing throughout the city.
That scale is a long way from where ADE began in 1996, when around 300 professional delegates attended and its nighttime events covered just three venues. Thirty years later, the event now reaches clubs, concert halls, museums, churches, record stores and cultural institutions across Amsterdam, bringing its festival and professional conference together across the same week.
ADE Pro Brings Artists And Industry Leaders Together
The ADE Pro Conference will feature artist conversations, industry sessions and discussions around the future of nightlife. Armin van Buuren joins Jean-Michel Jarre, Lady Starlight and JakoJako for Music & Machines: A Conversation Between Artists from Different Generations, while Afrojack, Mau P, Max Cooper, HoneyLuv, Sofiya Nzau, Joseph Capriati, Reinier Zonneveld, Cruel Santino and DJ Scratch are among the other names joining the conference.
Major music and technology companies will also take part through the Insider Knowledge series, with sessions involving Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube Music, NVIDIA, Helix Records, Believe, Warner Music, Sony Music, Universal, Armada and Sziget. Elsewhere, Why Humans Still Need Dancefloors? will bring Eris Drew, Alice O’Grady and Sven Bijma together, while ADE and VibeLab will present the Nighttime Culture Index, mapping the cultural vitality of nightlife across cities around the world.
30 Years Of ADE Across Amsterdam
The anniversary edition will also introduce the 30 YEARS ADE Icon Series, bringing together 30 events that look back at electronic music’s history while also focusing on its future. Jean-Michel Jarre joins the week as Guest of Honour, marking the 50th anniversary of Oxygene with a show at AFAS Live, an exclusive ADE Pro keynote and further appearances during the event.
The series also includes Boris Acket’s EINDER installation with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Elias Mazian, while Swan Lake Remixed for ADE brings the Dutch National Ballet and ISH Dance Collective together at the Gashouder. The wider Arts & Culture program will continue through museums and cultural spaces, with Slimfit, Thomas Azier, Colin Benders and Othernode among those presenting performances and new work during the week.
ADE will also look back at its own development through the 30 Years of ADE session, featuring Anna Knaup, Maria Jimenez, Richard Zijlma, Jan-Willem van de Ven, Gary Smith and moderator Dave Clarke. The discussion will trace how the event grew from 300 professional delegates and three nighttime venues in 1996 into the global electronic music gathering it has become today.
With the full program now confirmed, ADE’s 30th anniversary will bring together club nights, conference sessions, orchestral performances, installations and cultural events across five days in Amsterdam. Three decades after its first edition, the 2026 event will celebrate the people, scenes and ideas that have shaped ADE while giving a new generation of artists and industry figures their place in its next chapter.
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Amsterdam Dance Event News
STMPD RCRDS Unveils Huge 10-Year Anniversary Lineup for ADE
STMPD RCRDS unveils huge 10-year anniversary lineup for ADE 2026 with Martin Garrix, R3HAB, DubVision, Third Party and more
Ten years after Martin Garrix launched STMPD RCRDS, the label is bringing its anniversary celebrations back to Amsterdam with one of its biggest events of the year. Set for October 22 during Amsterdam Dance Event, the show will take over AFAS Live and bring together artists closely connected to the label across the past decade. The lineup already includes Martin Garrix, R3HAB, DubVision, Julian Jordan, Matisse & Sadko, Third Party and more, with further names still to come.
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The Artists Joining STMPD RCRDS at ADE
Across the lineup, some of STMPD RCRDS’ longest-running collaborators are returning alongside artists who have become more closely associated with the label in recent years. DubVision, Julian Jordan, Matisse & Sadko, Mesto and Justin Mylo have each released music through STMPD. They have also worked repeatedly within the wider Martin Garrix circle, making their inclusion closely tied to the label’s first decade. Third Party brings its progressive house sound to the event, while R3HAB adds another major Dutch name.
That mix continues with Merow, Vluarr, Lavern, Curbi, Citadelle, Nova Blue, Nome. and Skytech. Their music covers everything from progressive and electro house to newer club-focused releases that have become part of STMPD’s recent catalogue. The selection keeps the anniversary from focusing only on familiar names from the label’s earlier years, while maintaining those long-term connections at its centre. The poster also confirms more artists will join the lineup ahead of the AFAS Live show.
Ten Years of STMPD RCRDS Lead Back to Amsterdam
Since Martin Garrix founded STMPD RCRDS in 2016, the label has grown far beyond a home for his own releases. Over the past decade, it has worked with an expanding group of producers and established a presence at major festivals worldwide. Its own stages have appeared at Tomorrowland, Ultra, Sziget and Lollapalooza. Through years of releases, collaborations and international events, STMPD has developed from a new independent label into a recurring name across the global electronic dance music scene. ADE
The 10-year anniversary has already taken that story beyond the Netherlands. STMPD has brought its anniversary tour to the United States, Canada, Brazil and Japan before returning to its home base in Amsterdam. The AFAS Live show now brings the celebration back to the city where the label began, during Amsterdam Dance Event, with artists from across its first decade appearing on the same date. ADE
The celebration will also continue outside the main show through an official Martin Garrix & STMPD RCRDS pop-up store at art’otel Amsterdam during ADE. The pop-up will feature live DJ sets from STMPD artists, exclusive merchandise and meet-and-greets. It gives the label another presence in Amsterdam before the 10-year celebration reaches AFAS Live on October 22.
With more artists still to come, the AFAS Live show gives STMPD RCRDS a fitting way to close out a decade that has taken the label far beyond its beginnings in Amsterdam. After anniversary events across several countries, the return to ADE brings the story back to the artists, collaborations and releases behind the label’s first 10 years.
Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster.
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Amsterdam Music Festival News
EDM Festivals October 2026: Festivals We Can’t Miss
EDM Festivals October 2026: Festivals We Can’t Miss worldwide as major events fill the month across North America, Asia, Europe, and South America
October 2026 brings another busy month for the EDM festival calendar, with events taking place across North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. In the US, 808 Festival, Breakaway Utah, We Belong Here Central Park, Experts Only at the Gorge, Niteharts, Head Trip, III Points Miami, Escape Psycho Circus, BOO! Seattle, BOO! Arizona, and Hocus Pocus Miami fill the month. Meanwhile, EDC Korea and Chill O’posite Festival add major dates in Asia and Africa. No Art Lisbon and AMF represent Europe, while EDC Colombia and Ritvales bring two large weekends to South America. Here’s a full look at the EDM festivals taking place throughout October 2026.
808 Festival
Dates: October 2–3, 2026
Location: BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand
808 Festival returns to BITEC in Bangkok from October 2–3, 2026 for two days across two stages. The Phase Two lineup includes ILLENIUM, SLANDER B2B NGHTMRE, W&W, Argy, Ben Nicky, 999999999, Mesto, and KAAZE. Meanwhile, JUSTUS, RIVO, Dorian, Ian Asher, and Mary Droppinz are also confirmed. Several special performances are scheduled, including Adam Beyer B2B Chris Avantgarde and Nifra B2B Will Atkinson. Giorgia Angiuli will also perform live. More artists are still due to be announced before the festival returns to Bangkok in October.

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