There’s something refreshing about Horst Festival: building its own niche brick by brick, the Belgian three-day event is positioning itself as the new place to be — a place to discover artists you may not have heard of, or dance to subgenres you didn’t know existed. But, hey, they also bring more renowned artists like Gilles Peterson, Call Super, Todd Edwards, Daphni, Axel Boman, Danilo Plessow, or DJ Maria, among others. Today, the Vilvoorde-based festival releases the full lineup ahead of its new edition, returning to Asiat Park from May 14 to 16.
There are countless electronic music festivals in Europe, let alone the world, so standing out from the crowd is becoming harsher. Where some prefer to be louder and programme the same names that keep popping up in every lineup, Horst chooses to be a bit quieter but more coherent in its curation as well as its mission. “We’re not interested in repeating what already works. The 2026 programme is built around evolution, giving space to artists whose work carries depth, intention and a long-term cultural resonance,” comments Simon Nowak, the festival’s Head of Music. “Every choice reflects how we understand club culture as something that keeps moving, not something to be looped,” he concludes.
As the festival organisation explains, their programme “foregrounds artists whose work contributes to the wider cultural conversation around club music,” thus curating a lineup that balances local, Belgian voices like those of AliA, Ben Kamal, Mankiyan or PiP & Ambroos De Schepper, with other international artists that will bring live acts, DJ sessions, and b2bs. Standouts include Call Super and Parris presenting Can You Feel the Sun, livwutang and Priori, or DJ Bus Replacement Service and quest?onmarq. Among the live acts, there are confirmed artists like Helen Island, Barker, Polar Inertia, spirit blue, OK EG, or DeepChord, to list just a selection.
For three days, festival-goers will be able to enjoy many different types of electronic music, from leftfield movements to niche subgenres, in this festival that places “musical artistry and long-term influence at the centre of the dance floor.” There are very few tickets left, but next Monday, February 2nd, you’ll have one last chance to get yours. See you in Belgium!
