30 YEARS ADE
Explore what’s in store for this year’s ADE
30 years of electronic music – coming together at ADE
Shaped by many, moving as one
30 years ago, electronic music gathered in Amsterdam, a unique breeding ground for an ever evolving and agile culture. ADE began as a meeting point for a growing scene, and that idea still sits at the core of ADE Pro today. Each October, the electronic music community returns to Amsterdam at a moment that connects different stages of electronic music, where established names and new voices move through the same spaces with an open mind. It is here that experience meets new approaches and technologies, and where a clearer picture begins to form of how the industry is developing.
What began in basements has grown into a global culture, shaped by countless scenes, communities, and individuals along the way. The sound has never stood still. Over the past three decades, artists who once played small rooms have become names on global stages. At the same time, new generations continue to emerge from those same foundations, bringing fresh ideas, new influences, and different perspectives. As one wave rises, another begins to take shape. That cycle has always defined electronic music, and it continues to do so.
What drives this forward has always been collective. Sounds shaped by many, always moving forward.
30 YEARS ADE ICON SERIES
The first 30 years of ADE established a global platform for electronic music to connect, grow, and evolve. What lies ahead for ADE builds on that foundation, expanding further into culture at large, where music continues to intersect with art, technology, as well as social and cultural exchange. For this year's anniversary, ADE presents its 30 YEARS ADE Icon Series, a cultural expression of its momentous anniversary showcasing standout events throughout the ADE program tracks that reflect on the legacy and the future of electronic music culture.
30 YEARS ADE ICON SERIES
The first 30 years of ADE established a global platform for electronic music to connect, grow, and evolve. What lies ahead for ADE builds on that foundation, expanding further into culture at large, where music continues to intersect with art, technology, as well as social and cultural exchange. For this year's anniversary, ADE presents its 30 YEARS ADE Icon Series, a cultural expression of its momentous anniversary showcasing standout events throughout the ADE program tracks that reflect on the legacy and the future of electronic music culture.
ICON SERIES: News & updates
ADE 30 YEARS presents Swan Lake Remixed for ADE at Gashouder on opening night
Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Boris Acket presents EINDER for 30 YEARS ADE, with performances by Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Elias Mazian and Joep Beving
Tuesday, 11 August 2026
KI/KI makes Ziggo Dome debut with new KI/KI 5 HOURS show
Tuesday, 24 March 2026
David Guetta’s Monolith Show leads AMF 2026 lineup
Monday, 23 March 2026
Jean-Michel Jarre guest of honour for 30 YEARS ADE: Opening Concert, keynote interview and more
Monday, 09 March 2026
ICON SERIES: Festival program
ADE Opening Concert: KYBBA & Metropole Orkest + special guests
ADE 30 Years Icon Series
Jean-Michel Jarre
Rush Hour
Speedy J presents STOOR Live
Donato Dozzy, The Fear Ratio, Wallis, Speedy J
PAUL VAN DYK
Open To Close - Amsterdam Dance Event
AMF: Johan Cruijf arena 2026
AFROJACK, AMELIE LENS, ARMIN VAN BUUREN, ARTBAT, D-BLOCK & S-TE-FAN, DAVID GUETTA, KOROLOVA, MARLON HOFFSTADT
Fabric X Loud Contact
Jeff Mills, Marcel Dettmann, Gabrielle Kwarteng, Helena Hauff, FJAAK (live), Quest, Quelza, Binh, Lumiere
Gashouder Presents: Job Jobse
KI/KI - 5 Hours (Day / 1)
Drumcode - Awakenings
Drumcode
Gashouder Presents: Armin van Buuren & Benwal
Hot Since 82’ x Overbruggen
Hot Since 82’ & More TBA
10 YEARS OF STMPD RCRDS - ADE
DGTL | Folamour All Day Long
Folamour
Dome Concerts presents: COLIN BENDERS + OTHERNODE
A monumental audiovisual concert
Into the Woods ADE Festival Friday
Clara Cuvé / Cynthia Spiering / DJ BORING / Kyle Starkey / Marsolo / Sam Alfred / Sidney Charles / Skin On Skin / Young Marco
DGTL | Tinlicker & Special Guests
Helsloot, Tinlicker (live), Tonic Walter (live)
ZeeZout - Friday
CARISTA, Djrum, Eris Drew & Octo Octa, Identified Patient, Ineffekt, Jyoty, Laura Meester, Riria, Sam Alfred, Two Shell, Xceptor
Audio Obscura ADE x EXHALE by Amelie Lens
Adiel b2b Haai, Anfisa Letyago, Blondex, Dax J b2b DJ Nobu, Ellen Trenn, Flour, Grace Dahl
909 x Loveland
SCOOTER CRUSHES ADE
Dave Clarke Presents: 30 Years of ADE
Ash Code (Live) / Brutuzz / Daniel Avery b2b Richard Fearless / Dasha Rush / Dave Clarke / Dirk Wiertz (Live) / DJ Godfather b2b Von Di / DJ Hell / DJ Stingray 313 b2b Mell G / Egyptian Lover / L.F.T. (Live) / Lizz V / Luke Slater b2b Rene Wise / Nastia Reigel / Parrish Smith / Risa Taniguchi / Rosa Damask (Live) / Veronica Vasicka / Cinema Program TBA
ICON SERIES: Arts & Culture program
Premiere: Two Seas and Vinorun
Presented by EarthSonic, ADE and the NXT Museum
DISCO I’m coming out - Wereldmuseum Amsterdam
Dive into the history of the DISCO scene
Elias Mazian (live) x EINDER by Boris Acket
EINDER will set the scene for Elias Mazian and his band.
Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest x EINDER by Boris Acket
Concertgebouworkest performs Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony beneath the art installation.
Special projects
In honour of 30 YEARS ADE, we have two special projects: Nighttime Culture Index and Crack Magazine.
Special projects
In honour of 30 YEARS ADE, we have two special projects: Nighttime Culture Index and Crack Magazine.
Nighttime Culture Index
Help ADE x VibeLab shape nighttime culture.
ADE and VibeLab are teaming up on a global first: the Nighttime Culture Index. This report is a public measure of the cultural vitality of the world's nights, launching at the ADE Pro Conference this October for 30 YEARS ADE.
Are you a part of nighttime culture in Amsterdam, Lagos, New York, São Paulo, Seoul or Sydney? Whether you live there, work there, or know its nights firsthand, we're curious to hear your input.
Take the community survey and add your voice to the first shared picture of nighttime culture in these cities.
Survey closes 11:59 PM CET, Sunday 30 August.
Crack Magazine
In collaboration with our partner Crack Magazine, the Crack x ADE 2026 print edition magazine explores the past, present, and future of electronic music culture. The magazine will be included with your ADE Pro Pass and features a special section curated by ADE's editorial team. Available to purchase or pick up in selected places across Amsterdam throughout ADE.
30 YEARS ADE: Iconic Venues
As part of 30 YEARS ADE, this new editorial series looks beyond artists and line-ups, towards the spaces in Amsterdam that carried electronic music culture across decades. Not simply as backdrops for events, but as places where memories accumulated over time, shaped by new audiences, sounds and movements while continuously evolving alongside the city itself.
30 YEARS ADE: Iconic Venues
As part of 30 YEARS ADE, this new editorial series looks beyond artists and line-ups, towards the spaces in Amsterdam that carried electronic music culture across decades. Not simply as backdrops for events, but as places where memories accumulated over time, shaped by new audiences, sounds and movements while continuously evolving alongside the city itself.
Our history as told by Gary Smith – Part One
This new editorial series tells the story of Amsterdam Dance Event's origins through the eyes of Gary Smith. A programmer and moderator at ADE Pro, Gary has been part of ADE since even before its foundation in 1996, giving him a front-row seat to its evolution over the past 30 years.
Our history as told by Gary Smith – Part One
This new editorial series tells the story of Amsterdam Dance Event's origins through the eyes of Gary Smith. A programmer and moderator at ADE Pro, Gary has been part of ADE since even before its foundation in 1996, giving him a front-row seat to its evolution over the past 30 years.