De Parade is the travelling theatre festival of the Netherlands, and its grand finale takes place in Amsterdam: from 24 July to 9 August 2026, Martin Luther Kingpark on the banks of the Amstel fills with theatre tents, fairground lights and around 75,000 visitors.

A fairground of theatre

De Parade works like a festival of tasting portions: dozens of striped tents each host short performances of 30-45 minutes – theatre, comedy, music, dance and circus – so you can see three or four shows in one evening. Between shows, the festival terrain itself is the attraction: swings, food stalls from oysters to poffertjes, live bands and the famous merry-go-round.

How it works

• Entrance ticket gives access to the terrain; performances sell separate tickets (typically €5-€15)
• Book ahead or gamble: popular shows sell out daily, but queuing at the tent often works too
• Afternoons are family time with kids’ performances; evenings are for the grown-ups

Practical information

• Dates: 24 July – 9 August 2026
• Location: Martin Luther Kingpark, along the Amstel
• Getting there: tram 12 or metro 52 to Amstelstation area, or a beautiful cycle along the river
• Tickets: via deparade.nl

Insider tip: arrive by water. The Amstel route past the park is one of the prettiest stretches for a canal cruise on a summer evening – you’ll see the festival lights from the river.