Horst Festival announces Music Programme for 2026

The Vilvoorde-based organisation has just announced its 2026 music programme, marking a deliberate shift in direction. Returning to Asiat Park from May 14-16, 2026, the DIY-spirited festival presents a curated music programme shaped by (r)evolution rather than repetition, with over 120 artists spanning styles and genres, but united by their dedication to the transformative, celebratory and political power of dance music. Following this community centered approach, artists from the blossoming Belgian scene are billed alongside trailblazers and emerging voices from the rest of Europe and the world.

In a landscape increasingly shaped by fast, easy-to-consume electronic music, Horst provides a welcome rejoinder. From leftfield movements to niche subgenres, the programme foregrounds artists whose work contributes to the wider cultural conversation around club music, placing musical artistry and long-term influence at the centre of the dancefloor. Through this lens, Horst opens its doors to a lineup that speaks to the length and breadth of club music, across decades and continents.

“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. Every choice reflects how we understand club culture as something that keeps moving, not something to be looped.” — Simon Nowak, Head of Music

Evolution over echo

This holistic lineup features artists whose work has reverberated through decades; US garage messiah Todd Edwards, Detroit House originator Stacey Hotwaxx Hale, Gilles Peterson & MC Rob Galliano or dance music anthropologist Daphni, sharing space with artists that best represent an evolution; from Carré to DJ Swisha, Moxie, DJ Fart in the Club, Ehua or Yu Su.

Proving that ‘two’s company’, Horst also presents pairings that make musical sense, further showcasing the festival’s deep appreciation for community and scenes, revealing Call Super & Parris present Can You Feel the Sun, livwutang & Priori, Beatrice M. & Mankiyan, DJ Bus Replacement Service & quest?onmarq, Night Moves (Jade Seatle & Jane Fitz), and more.

As befitting a festival which values the imperfect, and sees beauty in the unpredictable, the programme also features a strong live focus, including Barker, Om Unit presents Acid Dub Studies, SnPLO (PLO Man & DJ Spence), Takuya Nakamura and OK EG. Elsewhere sees DJ/producers unite for live sets in imaginative groupings, including Priori & Patrick Holland perform as Jump Source, and Kaito Winse & Palmbomen II as Kaito-Kai.

Blooming, bending, becoming

The Belgian scene is b(l)ooming, and locals take a leading role in the 2026 programme. More homegrown talent than ever appears in prime slots, with DJs and live acts shaping the festival’s sonic identity across the full breadth of the programme. From club-focused selectors such as AliA, Altinbas, Ben Kamal, Clara D, DJ Rino, Mankiyan, Nefeli, ONEY, and Shabz to live performances by Natasha Pirard, PiP & Ambroos De Schepper, and Jan Loup & Mika Oki, Belgian artists are positioned at the core rather than the margins. This local presence reflects Horst’s ongoing role as a springboard where scenes grow through continuity, trust, and shared context.

Hybrid Theories

Across the site, boundaries between disciplines continue to blur. Hybrid performances and cross-genre formats dissolve the line between performance and dance floor. Gilles Peterson with MC Rob Galliano, Susobrino's Susonidos Block Party, DTM Funk’s Black Gravity Dance, premiering the hybrid live show from Belgian-Italian collaboration Front De Cadeaux, and a one-of-a-kind closing ceremony by Le Motel, put collaboration and live exchange to the front.

Finally, selected stage hosts add an additional curatorial layer to the programme. New York’s The Lot Radio and Brussels-based Kiosk Radio will announce their full joint streaming lineup in March, while Resident Advisor co-curates the Weaving Weeds pavilion, deepening last year’s focus on experimentation, wave, and bass music.

The Horst 2026 arts and architecture programme will be announced at the end of February - last remaining tickets available via www.horstartsandmusic.com.

Lineup (A-Z)

1morning – adobeprincess – Akua & Function – Alex Rita & Errol – AliA – Altinbas – Andy Garvey – Axel Boman & Robag Wruhme – babyschön – Barker (live) – Beatrice M. & Mankiyan – Ben Kamal – Bjeor – Bongo Hi-Fi – DJ Bus Replacement Service & quest?onmarq – Call Super & Parris present Can You Feel The Sun – Calm Roots with Alex Rita – Captain Starlight – Carré – Catalina & Selmz – Clara D – CYVIRA – Danilo Plessow – Daphni – Dave Huismans – DeepChord (live) – DTM Funk presents Black Gravity Dance – Dub Punishers (Elisethere & STDJ) & MALIMAN – Echo/Dawn – Ehua – EMA – Emma Caers – Essi – Exuvie – DJ Fart in the Club – Felix K – FOR ALL QUEENS! – Franziska Berns – Front de Cadeaux (hybrid live) – Gabrielle Kwarteng – Gilles Peterson & MC Rob Galliano – Helen Island (live) – Heléna Star – i-sha – Immy – Jaimy – Jan Loup & Mika Oki – Jana Joanna – Jesse G – Jorg Kuning (live) – Jump Source (live) – Kaito-Kai (Kaito Winse & Palmbomen II live) – Kanapee Nordwand – Karen Nyame KG – Keyser – LAURAVIOLI ft MC Divine – Le Motel presents Merry-Go-Round – Leese – Lefto Early Bird – Leonardd – livwutang & Priori – Lola Haro & Vera – Low End Activist (live) – Marc Acardipane – DJ MARIA. – moe. – Moogy Maserati – Moxie – Natalie Robinson – Natasha Pirard (live) – Nefeli – Nelly & Marius Bø – Night Moves (Jade Seatle & Jane Fitz) – OK EG (live) – OK Williams & Tasha – Om Unit presents Acid Dub Studies (live) – ONEY – Philipp Otterbach – PiP & Ambroos De Schepper (live) – Polar Inertia (live) – Radart (live) – Rhadoo – Rick Baguette & Rozevelt – DJ Rino – Shabz – Shungu – smut – SnPLO (PLO Man & DJ Spence) – DJ Sotofett presents Resonance Of Dub ft Ekowmania – spirit blue (live) – Stacey Hotwaxx Hale – Stella K – Studio Vaessen – SUCHI – Susobrino presents Susonidos – DJ Swisha – Takuya Nakamura (live) – Tia Cousins – Todd Edwards