Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE)

Amsterdam Dance Event is not your typical festival — it is the global summit of electronic music. For five days in October, the entire city of Amsterdam becomes a venue. Over 400,000 people attend 1,000+ events across 200+ locations, from intimate club nights to massive warehouse raves. ADE operates on two tracks: the Conference (industry panels, workshops, networking) during the day, and the Festival (club nights, showcases, open-air events) at night. If you work in electronic music, ADE is where deals are made and trends are set. The music spans every subgenre: techno at Gashouder, house at Paradiso, trance at AFAS Live, experimental at OT301. Every major label, artist, and promoter in electronic music is in Amsterdam during ADE. Getting there: Schiphol Airport (AMS) is 15 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal by train. The city is flat, bike-friendly, and has excellent public transport. You do not need a car. Pro tip: Buy individual event tickets early — headline shows sell out fast. The ADE Pass gives conference access but does NOT include most evening events. Plan your schedule in advance using the ADE app.