Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) celebrates its 30th anniversary from 21 to 25 October 2026. For five days and nights, the world capital of electronic music welcomes around 600,000 visitors, over 2,500 artists and more than 1,000 events spread across 500+ venues – from legendary clubs and warehouses to churches, museums and boats on the canals.

What is ADE?

ADE is both the world’s largest club festival and the most important business conference for the global electronic music industry. By day, the ADE Pro conference (21-24 October) hosts talks, masterclasses and demos; by night, the entire city turns into one big festival. Every genre is covered, from techno and house to drum & bass, trance and experimental electronica.

Highlights for visitors

• Club nights in venues like Paradiso, Melkweg, De School-style warehouses and the NDSM wharf
• Boat parties on the IJ and the canals – a uniquely Amsterdam way to experience ADE
• ADE Hangout and free daytime programmes across the city
• Anniversary specials celebrating 30 years of ADE in 2026

Tickets

There is no single ADE ticket: each event sells its own tickets, and the biggest names sell out within minutes. Keep an eye on the official ADE programme from late summer onwards and be quick.

Practical tips

• Accommodation: ADE week is the busiest hotel week of October – book your hotel months ahead
• Getting around: venues are spread across the city; trams and night buses run extra services, and cycling is the local way to club-hop
• Daytime recovery: a canal cruise is the perfect low-key way to see the city between club nights