Amsterdam Dance Event News
This Was: BigCityBeats’ WORLD CLUB DOME 2023
The tenth edition of WORLD CLUB DOME took place from June 9th to 11th in Frankfurt Germany. WORLD CLUB DOME is one of Germany’s largest electronic music festivals hosting more than 180,000 attendees over the span of three days. Moreover, the festival is comprised of 25 stages with a stacked line up of more than 150 artists ranging from house music, to hardstyle, techno, and more!
Getting There
Of course, as I live in the Netherlands, getting to WORLD CLUB DOME was a bit of a journey consisting of multiple trams and trams. However, getting from Amsterdam direct to Frankfurt was about four hours. Then following that it took another 20 minutes or so to get to the hotel, which was about a 15-minute walk through a park (more like a spooky woods!) to get to the venue. We were lucky to be able to walk back and forth to the venue each day which allowed us the flexibility to arrive at the festival at our desired time without having to rush!
Venue
The festival venue, Deutsche Bank Park (also known as Waldstadion) is a sports arena located in the outskirts of the city. Despite the stadium being built on concrete there were various grassy areas and even a swimming pool! Notwithstanding the massive size of the stadium, everything was extremely well organized and easy to find. The festival grounds were very manageable and there were clear signs throughout the festival instructing people where to go in addition to the map incorporated within the festival app.
The stadium was your traditional professional sports stadium with tiered seating (which really came in handy when you got tired and still wanted to watch the show!). As with any major arena there were multiple entrances to enter and exit the stadium (which was the Mainstage). This came in handy as you could watch the Mainstage performances from various vantage points. Along the outside of the stadium were various smaller stages. For example, if you were to walk around alongside the stadium to let’s say go to the lockers you could pass by multiple small stages that although were technically part of the stadium, they faced outwards so that you could pass by while you dance.
The festival grounds went beyond the immediate stadium facility and into the surrounding wooded area. Which is surprising because if you look at the venue from the outside you would have no idea that there would be multiple stages nestled away in the forest.
Food & Drinks
There were a myriad of different types of food and drinks to choose from at the festival. The food was mostly what you would consider traditional festival bites (like hot dogs, burgers, and sandwiches) in addition to German delicacies like currywurst and my personal favorite… pretzels! According to my friend who attended with me, the currywurst, pretzel and burgers were the absolute best.
Prices were reasonable considering other festivals of the same caliper that I’ve attended in the last year. Rather than utilizing a token system (as most major festivals do in the Netherlands) or allowing people to pay by card or contactless, WORLD CLUB DOME implemented a chip system. Upon your receiving your festival wristband you can top up the chip on your bracelet either on the festival website, from a top up ATM type of a machine, or from a stand for those who preferred to pay in cash.
Regarding the drinks they had just about everything from summer cocktails to beer to “Shot Ice”. I’m embarrassed to say how many of those I ate but on a 30-degree day (86 Fahrenheit) nothing like sipping on a frozen watermelon vodka pop!
Additionally, there were multiple food areas, cocktail gardens, and lounge areas there were also multiple places to purchase festival merchandise. The festival sold fans, hats, shirts, lighters, and other paraphernalia sporting the logo. There were also small shops to buy sunscreen, sunglasses, and other summer festival essentials.
Stages
This year’s theme was Atlantis. Throughout the festival they had various nods to the theme including trippy underwater visuals and dancers.
As previously mentioned, there were in total 25 stages. Certain stages changed names and genres throughout the weekend. As we obviously we can’t dive deep into all 25, so here are a few notable ones!
Mainstage
The Mainstage was located inside of the arena. At the center of the stage were huge LED screens that projected images that corresponded with the DJ who was playing. There were also various images of the ocean and Atlantis flashing across the screen, fitting with this year’s theme. Inside the arena it was possible to enjoy the show from the floor or alternatively from the stands. There were times where it got pretty crowded (for example during Marshmello’s set) but with the stadium style seating and various levels there was plenty of space for everyone to see the show!
Outdoor Mainstage
In addition to the Mainstage inside the area, there was a second Mainstage outside located on a grassy field surrounded by various beer and cocktail gardens, hammocks, and inflatable areas. To the right of the stage was a hill with Hollywood sign style letters that said WORLD CLUB DOME. In the center of the grassy field outside the Outdoor Mainstage was a large fountain with statues that look like they were found underwater in the lost city of Atlantis. This was the perfect place to get that Instagram shot in addition to of course a double-sided photo wall.
Zombie
It of course wouldn’t be an article written by me if we didn’t talk about the Hardstyle stage. The Zombie stage was in my opinion the most aesthetically impressive. Large columns surrounded the stage with statues aligning the top as if they were guarding the kingdom of Atlantis.
Pool Stage
The Pool Stage was the stage that surprised me the most! In my 13 plus years of raving I’ve never seen a pool stage so big! Traditionally pool stages are set up where the DJ booth is situated alongside side of the pool playing to a crowd of people dancing in and around the water. From the many festivals I’ve attended the pool stage or event hosted pool parties they are typically small and set off to the side. At World Club Dome however, the pool stage was HUGE and set upon a grassy field surrounded by vendors and then on the other side of the field was the large pool.
Pyramid/Masquerade
The Pyramid stage (Saturday) was in the same vicinity as the Pool Stage set aside almost in the forest. This stage was a bit hidden but once we found it, we’re glad we did! On Sunday this stage changed to the Masquerade stage.
Forest/Freud
One of the best hidden gems of the festival was by far the Forest stage (also known as the Freud stage on Saturday). Inside a tent in the forest was the place to go for techno (of course!). The pitch black tent was only illuminated by green and blue laser beams that transcended the crowd. Around the DJ booth were various plants giving it that real dark underground techno vibe.
Dixie Stage
It’s everyone’s favorite secret stage, the dixie stage! At one of the bathroom locations was a secret door leading to a secret stage! It’s not my first time discovering one of these types of stages but what set this one apart from other secret stages at festivals was how large it was inside. The stage was quite sizable for being nestled between porta-potties. Unfortunately there are no images of this stage (to keep it hidden!).
Visuals & Sound
Throughout the weekend the visuals were extremely high production. To lasers and fireworks to my personal favorite which was at the Zombie stage lines of fire shot through the air not only on the stage but on either side. This coupled with Hardcore and the energy of the crowd was a truly memorable experience.
One other notable moment was during the opening show at the main stage they had a visual presentation on the LED screens showing each of the ten years of the festival’s history up until today. This was a really memorable way to kick off the festival and to demonstrate how much the organization and the festival has grown.
The sound overall was crisp and clear with the exception of at certain times at the Zombie stage it was a bit quiet. Additionally, depending on where you were standing at certain stages there was sound bleed. For example, standing towards the back at the Zombie stage you could hear both the DJ performing at the Zombie stage and at the Outdoor Mainstage. There were a few times where I heard multiple stages at the simultaneously. There were also some technical problems during Timmy Trumpet’s set, but he kept the crowd going and engaged until the issues were fixed.
Atmosphere & Organization
WORLD CLUB DOME is extremely well organized. The layout was easy to follow and the staff and security were extremely friendly and eager to assist. As this was my first German outdoor festival (I’ve only attended indoor raves in Germany) so I had no idea what to expect and I absolutely loved the vibes. Everyone there was clearly there for the music and was respectful of each other’s personal space.
Music
Moguai
The first full set of the weekend for us was Germany’s very own Moguai at the Mainstage. Even though it was early on day one of the festival, the crowd was vibing to house hits like In Motion and Ill Behavior. Moguai set the stage (literally and figuratively) for the rest of the weekend!
Steve Aoki
Next up for us was the very much anticipated man of cakes, Steve Aoki. Despite being in the scene for over a decade, I never had the opportunity to see Steve Aoki live and boy does he put on one hell of a performance. He threw not one, but I think seven or eight giant sheet cakes into the crowd. I knew the cake moment was coming of course but had no idea he would throw so many! Good thing I was sitting far away as I am severely lactose intolerant but love the concept! Throughout the set engaging visuals such as Steve Aoki dressed up as Rose from Titanic while My Heart Will Go On was playing is definitely an image that will forever be in my mind. Additionally, during the set Steve Aoki announced his love and support for ten years of World Club Dome, which is a true testament to why this festival is so exceptional.
Timmy Trumpet
Speaking on putting on a crazy performance, Australia’s trumpet yielding power-house Timmy Trumpet, can best be described as a firecracker on stage. The amount of energy that he produces between the jumping, dancing, mixing, crowd interaction and of course playing the trumpet live is what makes him one of the front runners in the scene. Timmy Trumpet dropped some fan favorites like Drugs from Amsterdam and Push It. My favorite moment from the set is when he dropped GPF and encouraged everyone to start a mosh pit.
James Hype
James Hype on the Outdoor Mainstage was just what we needed on Saturday afternoon. The sun shined down on the crowd as we sang along to Kernkraft 400 (Zombie Nation) and Everybody’ Free. The great thing about the Outdoor Mainstage was that there was ample space to dance in the crowd or to relax on the lawn or on the hill.
Marshmello
A packed house as always for Marshmello. The stadium was wall to wall packed. From big room classics like Happier, Levels, and Sandstorm mixed in of course with plenty of headbanging dubstep. Since his back-to-back performance with Svdden Death at EDC Las Vegas this year, Marshmello has been dropping harder and harder dubstep and the crowd is all for it!
Miss K8 and Anime
Hands down my favorite set of the weekend, the queens of Hardcore destroyed the Zombie stage. As the sun went down the music got harder, fire shot into the air and there was so much confetti that exploded it became wrapped around our legs as everyone tried to hakken. This set was straight banger after banger. I would expect nothing less from Miss K8 and Anime and they once again did not disappoint.
Angerfist
As the weekend came to a close it was time for the one and only Angerfist! Dropping bombs like The Fist and the Hammer and Breinbreker we didn’t want it to end.
Peggy Gou
The very final set of the weekend was Peggy Gou B2B Ryan Elliot at the Pool Stage. I’ve been a fan of Peggy Gou for quite some time now but just discovered Ryan Elliot and am now hooked! What a way to close out the weekend.
Overall Impressions
I would 100% recommend World Club Dome to anyone who wants to experience a multi genre electronic music festival that is big enough to give you that fairytale land escape from reality experience but not so big that its unmanageable. The festival was also very clean, organized, and I really enjoyed the theme and diversity of the line up. I’m looking forward to attending another edition in the future!
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ADE Reveals 250+ Artists For 30th Anniversary Edition With David Guetta, Skepta, Armin van Buuren And More
Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), the world’s largest festival and business gathering for electronic music, has revealed the first wave of artists confirmed for its 30 YEARS ADE anniversary edition. Taking place from October 21 to 25, 2026, ADE 2026 has announced more than 250 artists in its first lineup release, including Avalon Emerson, DJ Nobu, Eris Drew, Folamour, Jyoty, Octo Octa, Scooter, Skepta, Skin On Skin, and more. Recent highlights include Skepta returning in 2026 with an even larger Más Tiempo show at Warehouse Elementenstraat, David Guetta bringing his Monolith show to AMF, and Gashouder finally back at ADE in its pre opening season as part of a broader new chapter for the venue. The first announcement also includes major program updates from MOJO, Melkweg, Paradiso, Intercell, DGTL, and Into the Woods, with the full ADE program set to grow to more than 3,000 artists across 200+ venues in Amsterdam.
ADE 2026 First Lineup Includes David Guetta, Skepta, Gashouder Return And More
Recent highlights from the first ADE 2026 announcement include Skepta returning in 2026 with an even larger Más Tiempo show at Warehouse Elementenstraat, while David Guetta will bring his Monolith show to AMF. Another major update is the return of Gashouder, which is finally back at ADE in its pre opening season as part of a broader new chapter for the venue. Eight shows have already been confirmed at Gashouder, including Armin van Buuren and Benwal, I Hate Models and Nico Moreno, Job Jobse, Mochakk, Franky Rizardo, Sammy Virji, and Josh Baker.
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The first announcement also shows how widely the 30 YEARS ADE program is already spreading across Amsterdam. MOJO branches out in 2026 with two KI/KI 5 Hours shows and OUTWORLD: Klangkuenstler All Night Long at Ziggo Dome, alongside Jean Michel Jarre as the 30 YEARS ADE guest of honour, 10 Years of STMPD RCRDS, and Unreal Germany at AFAS Live. Melkweg has confirmed the ADE Opening Concert: Kybba & Metropole Orkest, plus FACE 2 FACE, San Holo & Droeloe, Nimino, Starjunk 95, and Dave Clarke Presents: 30 Years of ADE, among others. Paradiso has also revealed the first part of its program, including Malugi, State OFFF, Lawrence Hart, Speedy J presents STOOR Live, and more.
Intercell, DGTL And Into the Woods Expand ADE 2026
The first ADE 2026 announcement also includes major promoter updates, with Intercell, DGTL, and Into the Woods adding a large part of the early event calendar across Amsterdam. Intercell has revealed more than 65 artists across 13 events, bringing in names such as Lola Edo, Ines Isla, MCR-T, Cleopard2000, Olive Anguz, GiGi FM, I-RO, Philippa Pacho, SPFDJ, 999999999, Blanka, Freddy K, Phil Berg, and Yanamaste. The announcement also adds to the already confirmed large scale shows, venue returns, and anniversary specials across the first ADE 2026 release.
DGTL continues with more than 45 artists across seven events, including Joris Voorn, Kevin de Vries, Miss Monique, NTO live, Ashibah, EMILIJA, Faster Horses, Novah, Øtta, STAFFY, JAMIIE, Meera, Philou Louzolo, Tinlicker, Benwal, DJ EZ, Lammer, MPH, and Olive Anguz among its first names. The promoter updates continue with Into the Woods, which has revealed more than 25 artists including ANNĒ, Boss Priester, Clara Cuvé, Davyboi, Deer Jade, DJ BORING, ELIF, Essi, Freddi, future.666, Gaskin, KELLAR, Kyle Starkey, Lamsi, Marsolo, newtone, Obskür, ØTTA, Sam Alfred, and Young Marco, adding another major set of names to the first ADE 2026 announcement.
ADE 2026 Tickets, Pro Pass And 30th Anniversary Details
The first announcement represents the opening 8% of artists and DJs confirmed for ADE 2026, with the complete ADE program set to be announced in the coming months. Individual tickets are now available through ADE’s program, while the ADE Pro Pass is also available for those attending the conference and wider industry events.
The 2026 edition marks 30 years since Amsterdam Dance Event began in 1996. Over the past three decades, ADE has grown into one of electronic music’s most important global gatherings, bringing artists, labels, promoters, venues, and industry professionals together across Amsterdam each October. More specials, initiatives, and events celebrating 30 YEARS ADE will be revealed throughout the coming months.
photo credit: Enrique Meesters
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DGTL Announces ADE 2026 Lineup in Amsterdam, with eight shows across NDSM Warehouse and Kromhouthal
From Thursday, October 22 to Sunday, October 25, DGTL returns to Amsterdam Dance Event with a program spanning eight shows across two locations: the NDSM Warehouse and the Kromhouthal. For ADE 2026, DGTL brings a wider Amsterdam edition that stretches from daytime showcases to late night events, with the full Generator stage appearing in the daytime schedule for the first time and Frequency taking over the night shows. The lineup brings together Tinlicker, Joris Voorn, Kevin de Vries, Miss Monique, Nicky Elisabeth, Shimza, Lane 8, Yotto, Sultan + Shepard, Novah, and Folamour, with each day moving between live electronic music, melodic house, progressive house, Afro house, techno, disco, garage, and bass. Alongside the main NDSM Warehouse events, Kromhouthal adds two daytime shows to the week, including Lane 8 presents This Never Happened on Saturday and Folamour All Day Long on Sunday. With eight shows planned across four days, DGTL ADE 2026 gives Amsterdam Dance Event a broad electronic music schedule that connects bigger live shows, curated all day events, and late night warehouse sets across Amsterdam Nort.
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DGTL Expands Its ADE 2026 Run Across Two Amsterdam Venues
The addition of Kromhouthal gives DGTL a second Amsterdam North location for ADE 2026, with two daytime events running away from the main NDSM Warehouse schedule. On Saturday, Lane 8 brings This Never Happened to the former industrial hall on the IJ, joined by Yotto, Mees Salomé, Sultan + Shepard, Kasbo, and Ashibah for a daytime show centered on melodic house and progressive influences. The concept has long been tied to its no phone policy, which gives the Kromhouthal date a different feel from the warehouse shows happening elsewhere in the week. On Sunday, Folamour closes the Kromhouthal run with an exclusive All Day Long show, moving through disco, house, funk, and soul across an extended daytime set.
At NDSM Warehouse, DGTL keeps the four day schedule closer to its main ADE identity, starting with DGTL Opening Day on Thursday before Tinlicker bring their live show on Friday evening. Later that night, the venue turns toward progressive house and melodic techno with Joris Voorn, Kevin de Vries, Miss Monique, Nicky Elisabeth, and NTO live, while Saturday gives Shimza his first full DGTL curation with Âme DJ, Desiree, Bedouin, Arodes, and Stoffela. The late Saturday show then shifts into Novah & Friends, with Ciara Cuvé, Ueberrest, EMILIJA, Faster Horses, Øtta, and more placed around hard techno, trance, bounce, and rave influences. The split between NDSM Warehouse and Kromhouthal gives DGTL ADE 2026 a clearer four day arc, with live shows, curated artist events, no phone daytime concepts, and late night warehouse dates running across the same Amsterdam Dance Event week.
DGTL Brings Its Festival Stage Setup Into ADE 2026
Since its first edition in early 2013, DGTL has grown around a festival format where music sits alongside art, sustainability, social safety, and circular event production. Those parts of the brand are relevant here because Generator is coming into Amsterdam Dance Event from the wider DGTL Festival world, where stages are part of the event’s own structure instead of being used as simple room labels. For ADE 2026, Generator brings that festival connection into the daytime schedule, while Frequency keeps the later shows tied to a separate part of DGTL’s stage setup. It adds a stronger event identity to the week without needing to go back through the artist list or the venue split again.
The background also connects to Monumental, the event company behind Awakenings, which has been running events for over 29 years and welcomes around 300,000 visitors annually through the Awakenings brand. With DGTL now part of that wider portfolio, the press release places the festival alongside a larger push toward sustainable event production, lower ecological impact, and a broader electronic music range across house, techno, disco, and related sounds. That makes Generator and Frequency useful details for this section because they show how DGTL ADE 2026 is carrying the brand’s festival framework into Amsterdam Dance Event, while the earlier sections have already covered the dates, venues, artists, and show split
Tickets for DGTL ADE 2026 are available now through dgtl.nl, with presale starting on Wednesday, June 24 at 16:00 CEST and the regular sale opening on Thursday, June 25 at 16:00 CEST. Attendees can check the full timetable, compare the different show times, and choose which part of the week fits their Amsterdam Dance Event plans before tickets move into general sale. With press images and accreditation already shared alongside the announcement, DGTL’s latest ADE update also gives media and attendees a clear place to start planning for October. Visit DGTL’s official website for tickets, event details, and the complete ADE 2026 schedule
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David Guetta AMF 2026 confirmed for Johan Cruijff Arena on Saturday, October 24, 2026
AMF returns to the Johan Cruijff Arena during Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), announcing global icon David Guetta as the first headliner for its 2026 edition, returning after six years. The French superstar and number 1 DJ in the world brings his Monolith Show to Amsterdam on Saturday, October 24, 2026, marking a major moment for both the festival and the artist. Pre-registration is now open, with tickets going on sale Wednesday, March 25. Pre-sale tickets will be available from 12:00 CET, followed by the general sale at 15:00 CET via amf-festival.com.
David Guetta Returns to AMF After Six Years
David Guetta’s return to AMF places him back at the centre of one of ADE’s most visible stages, with the event continuing to close out the week inside the Johan Cruijff Arena. His previous appearances at AMF go back to the period when the show consistently filled the arena with crowds of around 40,000, with lineups that included Armin van Buuren, Martin Garrix, Hardwell, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and Tiësto across different editions. David Guetta appeared on lineups such as AMF 2019, before returning again in 2020, which is the last time he performed at the event.
That six-year gap is what gives this booking more weight. AMF has remained a fixed point in Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), but the names leading each edition have shifted across recent years. Bringing David Guetta back into that closing slot for 2026, which also aligns with ADE’s 30th anniversary, places him again within the group of artists historically tied to the final night of the week. While ADE unfolds across clubs and venues such as Paradiso, Melkweg, and Shelter, AMF stands apart as a single-night stadium show, which is where this return carries significance.
What the Monolith Show Actually Is
For AMF 2026, David Guetta is set to present his Monolith Show, a production format introduced across his recent large-scale performances. According to the official Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) announcement, the show is centred around a vertical LED monolith structure, supported by 3D mapping and a detailed lighting system designed for stadium environments. This gives a clearer picture of what is being brought to Amsterdam, especially within a venue the size of the Johan Cruijff Arena.
The same concept has been tied to upcoming stadium shows, including dates at Stade de France, where the production is described around the same monolith-based structure. That continuity suggests that the version presented at AMF 2026 will follow the same format, adjusted to the scale of the arena. In practical terms, this points to a set where visual production plays a central role alongside the music, consistent with how David Guetta has been presenting his recent headline performances.
AMF 2026 Ticket Sales and Pre-Registration Details
With David Guetta confirmed for AMF 2026, pre-registration is now open ahead of the first ticket release. This phase has been used consistently by AMF to manage early demand, particularly once the first headline name is announced and interest begins to concentrate around initial ticket phases.
Pre-sale begins on Wednesday, March 25 at 12:00 CET, followed by the general sale at 15:00 CET via the official AMF platform. In previous editions, the main floor inside the Johan Cruijff Arena has typically been the first to sell out, alongside premium and VIP options that offer designated viewing areas within the venue. With the first announcement now confirmed, further lineup additions are expected in the lead-up to Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) as the full AMF 2026 lineup is revealed.
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