Audio Obscura has announced the return of its flagship festival to the UNESCO World Heritage site Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam for 2026. The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2026, running from 12 pm until 11 pm. Following a sold-out debut edition in 2024, the organisers have revealed a Phase 1 lineup that includes heavyweights such as Chris Stussy, Honey Dijon, and Folamour.
Billed as a “temporary cultural intervention” rather than a traditional music festival, the event aims to merge electronic music with industrial architecture. The 2026 edition will utilise the entire outdoor area of the Van Nelle Factory, alongside its lofty halls, brutalist walkways, and hidden industrial spaces, creating a unique sensory route for attendees.
The Phase 1 lineup features a mix of international headliners and notable back-to-back performances. Highlights include sets from DJ Heartstring, Max Dean, and Prospa. Several collaborative sets have been confirmed, including DJ Gigola b2b Chloé Caillet, Obskür b2b Luuk van Dijk, and Jöella Jackson b2b Rayzir.
The full Phase 1 lineup is as follows:
- AAT
- Chris Stussy
- DJ Gigola b2b Chloé Caillet
- DJ Heartstring
- Eileen
- Folamour
- Honey Dijon
- Jöella Jackson b2b Rayzir
- Marsolo
- Max Dean
- Obskür b2b Luuk van Dijk
- Olive F
- Prospa
Organisers have confirmed that a Phase 2 artist announcement is coming soon. Tickets for the event are currently available via https://audio-obscura.com/festival/.
Audio Obscura states that their mission is to place electronic music in contexts traditionally closed to the genre, positioning the locations as “unexpected physical statements” rather than gimmicks. In line with this philosophy, a portion of the proceeds from the 2026 festival will be donated directly to the preservation of the Van Nelle Factory as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This event continues Audio Obscura’s history of utilising iconic Dutch locations. Previous events have taken place at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam Centraal Station, and the bicycle passage under the Rijksmuseum. Most recently, the brand made headlines for halting traffic on the A10 ring road for a rave as part of Amsterdam’s 750th-anniversary celebrations.
The Rotterdam festival serves as a foundation for the organisation’s philosophy, specifically designed to interact with the city’s raw industrial heritage. The open-air showcase is described as an experience where sound, space, and architecture amplify each other, lasting for just one day before disappearing.
Image credits:
Mark Richter
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