Features
Amsterdam Dance Event wraps up stellar year and announces dates for 2024 edition
ADE 2023 welcomed a record number of 500,000 visitors throughout its festival and conferences, which took place over five days and nights
Amsterdam's dance music scene sparkled brighter than ever at the 28th Amsterdam Dance Event, the city's largest musical gathering featuring over 2,900 artists across 1,000+ events, held in more than 200 venues. The event marked a record-breaking attendance, with half a million global visitors and an impressive 650,000 tickets sold.
The ADE has firmly established itself as the epicentre of the electronic music universe, nurturing and amplifying the genre's cultural and creative pulse. This year, ADE showcased an eclectic mix of electronic music styles, live performances, and cultural collaborations, all part of its Festival and Arts & Culture programmes. The event prided itself on its diversity and inclusivity, both in its line-up and its audience. Highlights included the grand opening at the Rijksmuseum featuring upsammy, Metropole Orkest & Tinlicker, a unique b2b set between KI/KI and Armin van Buuren, and socially impactful initiatives by Music Moves. Returning favourites like Speedy J’s STOOR, Audio Obscura, and Martin Garrix’s age-specific gigs were complemented by fresh collaborations such as Andalusisch Orkest x Mary Lake and Het HEM x Horst.
ADE Pro Conference
Beyond the festival's sold-out events, the ADE Pro Conference expanded its offering to a four-day programme for the first time. At Felix Meritis, it welcomed an array of global artists and industry heavyweights, delving into the music industry's future strategies, opportunities, and responsibilities.
The conference saw industry titans and tech gurus from Google, TuneCore,
and SEG explore the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in
music. Platforms like Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and Beatport provided
insider insights, while the ADE Startups initiative launched a
year-round platform for innovative startup ventures. The future of
festivals was a hot topic among international event organisers.
Additionally, the conference featured stage appearances by DJ legends
like Grandmaster Flash, The Blessed Madonna, Röyksopp, and Max Cooper,
with the latter two offering exclusive live performances to attendees.
ADE Lab
Aimed at fostering young talent in electronic music, it had a
tremendously successful second year. Over 2,000 budding artists,
producers, and professionals gained insights from renowned artists like
Reinier Zonneveld, Mama Snake, Saoirse, Héctor Oaks, and A-Trak. They
engaged in collaborative music creation, received critiques on their
work, and showcased their skills in demo drops.
40 years of Mixmag Photography Exhibition
Mixmag kicked off their week-long exhibition at Amsterdam Dance Event, celebrating 40 years of Mixmag in collaboration with its official fashion partner A|X ARMANI EXCHANGE. Located at The Social Hub Amsterdam City, the exhibition featured 40 curated images from the Mixmag vaults — featuring the crowds, artists, and scenes of which we have worked tirelessly to preserve the stories of during the past four decades.
Next year’s edition of ADE will take place October 16-20, 2024. Check out some of the best images from ADE 2023 below.
