The Rough Guide to ADE 2022

ADE 2022 takes place 19/20/21/22/23 October, 2022.

The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) is both a music conference and festival and is widely recognised as the global meeting point for the creative industry around electronic music. ADE consists of a daytime conference and arts & culture program as well as a nighttime festival, with more than 1000 events in nearly 200 locations. For five days and nights, the city of Amsterdam breathes electronic music.

The ADE Pro conference is set to make its long-awaited return to our iconic home base Felix Meritis this year, with a dedicated program running from Wednesday through till Friday featuring the core ADE Pro conference alongside a host of specialist sessions and other tracks.

As the ultimate business and inspiration gathering for the global electronic music industry, ADE Pro welcomes professionals from over 150 countries. ADE Pro features dedicated programming at the absolute forefront of our industry, with a number of focus tracks that serve electronic music's entire value chain – from creation to consumer. These range from the music business with strategies and inside knowledge for music professionals, to the future of the music scene with industry-changing innovations and developments and everything that the startup scene has to offer for electronic music, through to the topics such as sustainability, social change, (mental) health and rising scenes from around the world.

A number of speakers for this year's conference have already been revealed, including the genre-defying Diplo, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, synth pioneer Suzanne Ciani, African legend Youssou N’Dour, with many more to be announced very soon.


Aspiring producer or music professional? Keep an eye out...

Parallel to the core ADE Pro offering for seasoned industry professionals, fans of the previous ADE Sound Lab and ADE University tracks can look forward to a brand new track welcoming anyone with a slight or great curiosity to the electronic sounds, the culture and its vibes to experience, meet, play and learn.

The multi-day track has a strong focus on nurturing the next generation of creators and professionals through immersive and interactive workshops, first-hand knowledge from current industry leaders, hands-on personal sessions and the very latest in hardware and software to get your hands on in new and immersive ways.

Get the most out of your ADE Pro Pass by taking full advantage of ADE Pro's networking events, dedicated sessions, official Business Hubs and more. With over 9.000 global music professionals gathering in Amsterdam, thousands of new connections are made during ADE Pro each year — make sure you're one of them.

✓ Join dedicated networking events
Across all of ADE Pro's conference venues, an abundance of networking events, sessions and other opportunities are sure to provide you with an advantageous base for dealmaking and career advancement.

✓ Access to all ADE Business Hubs
Whether you’re planning a meeting with fellow delegates, looking for a comfortable spot to work or simply want to hang out between conference events, your ADE Pro Pass grants access to all of ADE’s official Business Hubs.

✓ Year round access to ADE Pro's networking platform & database
Get a head start: jump into the ADE Pro database and find exactly who you're going to need to meet. Over 50.000 messages are exchanged on the platform yearly, with new connections made on the regular.

ADE festival showcases a broad range of electronic music artists, from pioneers to upcoming talent. It is unique in its kind, with almost 140 participating venues including clubs, smaller and cosy venues, concert halls and stadiums, but also more 'one-off' locations such as museums or even Amsterdam Central Station.

The first confirmed artists and events have already been announced — explore ADE Festival here
Alongside their appearances at ADE Pro, Suzanne Ciani will also be showcasing her prowess live on the Melkweg stage in a one-off collaboration concert with Metropole Orkest, and Youssou N’Dour brings his band Super Étoile De Dakar for a live performance at Concertgebouw.

Moreover, Melkweg is set to host a week-long program, with Dave Clarke Presents, Hospitality, Monstercat Showcase, Oliver Heldens and other shows and club nights. Paradiso presents French producer CloZee, the return of Speedy J’s STOOR and Cloud 8 x Ziongate’s Tribes club night introduced last year, plus Gyedu-Blay Ambolley & his Sekondi band on the Tolhuistuin stage. DGTL announces live performances by Ben Böhmer and Worakls Orchestra, Alan Walker takes the stage at AFAS Live, and Into the Woods and Dockyard x Mystic Garden return with multi-day events. The first individual event tickets are now available over at the program.

✓ The ADE Pro Pass grants access to the complete ADE program, including all Festival* and Arts & Culture* events alongside all conference tracks, networking opportunities, business hubs and a number of other benefits.

* Limited capacity at venues – read more at our FAQ.

Electronic music is an ever-expanding movement, ranging from explosive energy on the dance floor to ultimate serenity and a sense of belonging. It can be both uplifting and empowering, or comforting and intimate.

ADE Arts & Culture explores the edges and new frontiers of electronic music and visual arts, with Tamara Shogaolu’s transformation of the Westerkerk church into an oasis of tranquility, a journey through light and sound by Nick Verstand at Carré Theatre, alongside artist residencies in NXT Museum and Villa Buitenlust and much more.

ADE is a business conference and showcase festival which enables you to attend many events and see many artists with different backgrounds in one week. If you're planning on visiting multiple events during day and nighttime the ADE Pro Pass is your best option. All benefits can be found below. Please note that all day- and nighttime venues have limited capacity, so make sure to arrive in time with your wristband.