Amsterdam Dance Event ADE 2022 - Felix Meritis (Credit Coen van Tartwijk)

The 8 parties you can’t miss during Amsterdam Dance Event 2022

From techno to mainstream big room, Amsterdam Dance Event 2022 program satisfies every taste.

You’re going to Amsterdam for the annual Amsterdam Dance Event and you feel overwhelmed by the number of parties during the week? Don’t worry! This is the feeling everyone has once they see the massive list of parties, initiatives and events during ADE.

To help you better navigate the 2022 program of the Amsterdam Dance Event we have listed a series of parties that, in our opinion, you can’t miss during this year’s edition. Continue to read this article to find out more about that.

If you’ve reached this page you probably already know what Amsterdam Dance Event is; for those who don’t know, ADE is an annual gathering of dance music fans, artists, insiders, and more in Amsterdam, usually on the third week of September.

This year’s Amsterdam Dance Event will kick off Wednesday the 19th all the way to Sunday the 23rd. With basically every dance music artist, music label, events organizer, and insider in Amsterdam for the event, the amount of parties and events is insane. To help you navigate the extensive ADE 2020 events list, these are the 7 parties you can’t miss.

1.  Awakenings

If you’re not into techno or underground music, Awakenings might not tell you anything. If so, you’ll just have to know that Awakenings can be easily considered the mecca of techno music. Their iconic Amsterdam venue, The Gashouder, has become famous all around the world for hosting the most thrilling performance and parties when it comes to techno music.

As every year Awakenings have a series of events lined up all week long. The opening night is set for Wednesday the 19th. Things got interesting on Thursday with Adam Beyer and his music label Drumcode at Gashouder. The lineup includes Ilario Alicante, ANNA, Pan-Pot, and more. On Friday, both Gashouder and Ziggo Dome will be taken over. This is the first time for Awakenings to host a party at Ziggo Dome; it will see Charlotte de Witte and her label KNTXT take over the massive arena.

On Saturday, Awakenings presents the insane number of four parties spanned across Amsterdam. During the day, Joris Voorn presents Spectrum at Gashouder meanwhile Carl Coxx will take over Ziggo Dome with his Awesome Soundwave. During the night and until 7 AM, Joseph Capriati and Tale of Us present Afterlife respectively at Gashouder, and Ziggo Dome will take over.

On Sunday, Amelie Lens will close the week with her Exhale label part.

Awakenings Amsterdam Dance Event ADE
Awakenings Amsterdam Dance Event ADE

2.  STMPD label night

Not a fan of techno music? Even if we suggest checking out at least one of the Awakenings parties, we have you covered anyway. The multiple times #1 DJ in the world, Martin Garrix, will bring his own label, STMPD, for an eclectic night.

Over the years we have been used to gathering on Friday night at Amsterdam RAI for the iconic Martin Garrix show. This year things are a bit more intimate with Martin Garrix joined by a stellar STMPD lineup (still to be announced) at AIR Amsterdam.

3.  Audio Obscura

Over the years Audio Obscura has become one of the most cutting-edge underground event organizations in the whole Europe (and maybe the world). Known for its one-of-a-kind parties at iconic locations also aimed to bridge the past and the future of techno and house music.

From the Amsterdam Central Station to The Loft, Audio Obscura has always delivered eclectic events during ADE and, this year is no less.

From Thursday to Sunday Audio Obscura will deliver five parties, two of them at the iconic loft on the A’Dam Tower. For this Amsterdam Dance Event 2022, the main location has been chosen as the RAW Factory.

On Thursday, Peggy Gou presents Gou Talk; a major league techno night with just the best in their field is planned for this Friday. Dax J, who ignited the crowd during our techno party at ADE last year, tops the program. Ellen Allien, a veteran DJ, and producer who has long been a major figure in German techno, will also be spinning records during the event. Ellen Allien is a resident of Berlin. Along with a host of outstanding local heroes, Blawan and beloved Herrensauna resident SPFDJ will be another act to watch.

On Saturday Adriatique will take over RAW Factory with Âme, Marino Canal, and more.

Two special events are also in the pipeline at the A’Dam Tower. The iconic The Loft will host Audio Obscura again for sunset and sunrise set on Sunday. Tickets will be sold only to the ones who pre-register on Audio Obscura’s website; a special link will be sent on the 4th of October.

Audio Obscura at Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ
Audio Obscura at Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AudioObscura/photos/a.570869199622140/3201924846516549/

4.  DGTL

From the 20th to the 22nd of October the iconic NDSM Warehouse will host DGTL in its biggest edition to date.

On the first day, Worakls will perform with a massive 30-piece orchestra for a performance that is expected to raise the bar for DGTL as well as the entire ADE. At night ARTBAT’s UPPERGROUND will take over across two stages inside NDSM Warehouse’s interior.

Friday will see Legendary Berlin DJ and producer Ben Böhmer delivering a 2-hour LIVE  set for a unique experience at Amsterdam Music Festival.

Saturday DGTL gears up for its gargantuan final day with The Blessed Madonna and her much-lauded return during the day. For the night, DGTL’s darkest programming yet on closing with Dax J, KI/KI, and Paula Temple.

DGTL Festival Amsterdam
DGTL Festival Amsterdam photo ©Jordy Brada

5.  Tomorrowland presents Eric Prydz

After the iconic 3-week summer festival in Boom, Tomorrowland is ready to come back in full force during Amsterdam Dance Event 2022. Tomorrowland is ready to bring one of the most in-demand artists of the moment: Eric Prydz.

Collaborating once again with the Belgian festival, the Swedish producer and one of the electronic music industry’s leading live artists will bring his spectacular HOLO show to Amsterdam for an exclusive European show in the fall.

This will be the sole appearance in Europe for the remainder of the year for HOLO. One of the unquestionable highlights of this year’s ADE program, Eric Prydz HOLO is renowned for its breathtaking three-dimensional visual elements and immersive one-of-a-kind production. It welcomes visitors from all over the world. Prydz’ distinctive and cutting-edge audio-visual innovations, along with the innovative use of visuals, have made HOLO one of the most admired live performances in electronic music.

Eric Prydz HOLOSPHERE
© Tomorrowland Eric Prydz inside the HOLOSPHERE

6.  Nxt Museum x Transmoderna present: AiR

For three nights, Nxt Museum and ADE will present audiovisual dance culture. Prepare for a multi-dimensional dance experience surrounded by 370 sq m of throbbing pixels and the newest in up-and-coming electronic music talent. Joining forces with them, Transmoderna is digital art and electronic music collective co-founded by internationally famous DJ Dixon.

The Artist in Residence initiative this year helps and unites talent from across the world, directing artists to produce specially commissioned digital artworks paired with live DJ performances. As the nighttime light awakens your senses, take off to the digital worlds of light, song, and dancing.

A hybrid collective called Transmoderna is located at the nexus of electronic music and digital arts. Co-founders DJ Dixon and creative director Ana Ofak combine their expertise in the music industry, VR cinematography, and game creation with a multidisciplinary team of new media artists.

The results upset the status quo. The first museum in the Netherlands devoted to art, technology, science, and music is Nxt Museum, the home of new media art. It presents and commissions ambitious, sizable new media art works that result from cross-disciplinary interaction between designers, sound engineers, technicians, and artists.

The founding aim of Nxt Museum, which is to seek out, display, and consider what comes next, guides the program.

Amsterdam Dance Event launch new Arts & Culture Program NXT Museum
Amsterdam Dance Event launch new Arts & Culture Program NXT Museum

7.  Defected, Glitterbox and Sondela at ADE 2022

After two years hiatus, the Defected and its sister labels, Glitterbox and Sondela will make their grand return at Amsterdam Music Festival 2022

Prunk, Hannah Wants, Dennis Quin, John Summit, Sam Divine, Melé, and Ferreck Dawn, among others, will perform at the two-day takeover, which begins on October 20th, in Amsterdam’s hottest club Ijland. The event is a must-attend celebration of the best in world dance music.

On Thursday, Sondela‘s outstanding line-up of DJeff, FNX Omar, Kitty Amor, Louie Dunmore, Sef Kombo, and Thandi Draai will be providing pure house music with a healthy dosage of Afro-electronic bliss.

Glitterbox, which will be soundtracking Friday with a special takeover, promises an incredible evening with Chicago’s Jamie 3:26, Riva Starr, Aline Rocha, The Shapeshifters, Italian trio Dirty Channels, Katie Goodman, and Art of Tones. Keep a look out for a later announcement regarding the further line-up for Melvo Baptiste’s The Remedy Project’s second chamber, which will include the best emerging genre-defying talent.

Getting ready to return to the Dutch capital, expect nothing less than the finest from this international electronic music festival.

8.  Circoloco x Loveland

The most famous Ibiza party is set to return to Amsterdam this year. As part of the Loveland program, the iconic DC-10 Circoloco will bring its craziness on Saturday at Mediahaven.

Born in 1999 as an after-party at Ibiza’s DC-10, CircoLoco evolved from a weekly underground music party into a neighborhood and eventually a way of life. Recently, it has developed even more: it is now a known global movement with a distinct, almost tribal sense of belonging that unites everyone who attends its events, no matter where they are held.

Circoloco ADE 2022 is part of the Loveland festival program, one of the leading event organizations in The Netherlands. With over 25 years of parties around the world, Loveland is now running six different event concepts during the year.

Circoloco NY Fashion Week with Tale of Us and Marco Carola
Circoloco NY Fashion Week with Tale of Us and Marco Carola photographed by offbrandproject.

Final thoughts

Running for 5 days, Amsterdam Dance Event is a must-go for fans, artists, and electronic music insiders. Even if the program could feel overwhelming finding the right parties and events for you is not an impossible operation. From techno to mainstream big room, Amsterdam Dance Event 2022 program satisfies every taste.

Do you think we have missed some events? Write us to let us know.