Amsterdam Dance Event has unveiled the first major moment of its 30th anniversary edition, confirming electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre as guest of honour for ADE 2026.
The legendary composer will headline the Opening Concert at AFAS Live on October 21, take part in an exclusive keynote interview at ADE Pro, and appear across the program as the festival celebrates three decades as the world’s leading platform for electronic music.
The upcoming edition of ADE will take place October 21–25, 2026 and the announcement marks one of the most symbolic moments in the festival’s history: a meeting point between three decades of ADE and five decades of electronic music innovation.
A historic convergence: ADE at 30, Oxygène at 50
The 2026 edition represents a rare milestone for electronic music culture as ADE celebrates 30 years of shaping the global electronic music ecosystem, Jean-Michel Jarre reflects on the 50th anniversary of his groundbreaking album Oxygène.
Released in 1976, Oxygène is widely recognised as a pioneering artistic experiment that helped redefine the possibilities of electronic sound. Its influence continues to resonate across generations of producers, performers and innovators many of whom have found their creative home within the ADE community over the past three decades.
Jean-Michel Jarre to headline ADE Opening Concert at AFAS Live
As part of ADE’s iconic Opening Concert series, Jean-Michel Jarre will return to the Netherlands for an exclusive live performance at AFAS Live in Amsterdam on October 21.
The show is presented by MOJO and Insomniac and promises to translate Jean-Michel Jarre’s legacy of large-scale audiovisual performances into an immersive live experience inside one of the city’s most important venues.
Jean-Michel Jarre commented on the announcement:
“Electronic music, as well as ADE, has a history, a legacy and a future. The live show at ADE is going to celebrate its 30th anniversary, but also the 50th anniversary of Oxygène. I have the ambition to keep the suspense and go from one track to another, into a different atmosphere, different stage design, mapping, giant projections and architectures of lights and videos, to share that moment that can stay in your heart and your brain for the rest of your lives. This is the reason I’m so happy to be part of this celebration in 2026.”
Keynote interview and appearances at ADE Pro
Jean-Michel Jarre’s presence at ADE 2026 will extend beyond the stage, the legendary composer will also participate in an exclusive keynote interview at ADE Pro, the conference platform that gathers the global electronic music industry.
His participation will explore the intersection between technology, creativity and electronic music culture, reflecting on a career that spans from early studio experimentation to monumental live performances that have transformed entire cityscapes into shared listening environments.
Further appearances and program details involving Jean-Michel Jarre will be announced in the coming months.
30 years of Amsterdam Dance Event
Since its launch in 1996, Amsterdam Dance Event has evolved into the world’s most influential gathering for electronic music culture and industry.
What started as a focused conference and festival has grown into a global platform where artists, professionals and fans converge each year to shape the future of the genre.
Today ADE hosts more than 3,300 artists across over 1,200 events in more than 200 venues throughout Amsterdam, transforming the Dutch capital into the epicentre of electronic music for five days.
The program spans conferences, cultural initiatives, live performances and DJ sets, reflecting every dimension of the electronic music ecosystem.
As ADE celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026, the organisation will unveil additional special projects, initiatives and events in the coming months to mark three decades of impact on electronic music culture worldwide.
Tickets and passes
Tickets for Jean-Michel Jarre’s Opening Concert at AFAS Live will go on sale Friday, March 13 via MOJO.
The ADE Pro Pass Early Bird will be available starting Wednesday, March 11.
More information about ADE 2026 is available on the official ADE website https://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/en/
