📍 Sloterpark · Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam's lakeside rave returns to Sloterpark: two days and 80+ house and techno artists by the water, from the legends (Sven Väth, Sasha & John Digweed, Fatboy Slim) to the names running the scene now.
Loveland Festival took place from Saturday 8 to Sunday 9 August 2026 at Sloterpark, Amsterdam, Netherlands, across 2 days. 24 names are on the bill, led by Sven Väth. It is one of 74 Techno and House dates we list in the Netherlands over the coming months.
Born from a pool party Marnix Bal threw in 1995, Loveland sets up six house and techno stages every August on the west shore of the Sloterplas, in Amsterdam Nieuw-West, with a boat stage out on the lake.
Loveland began in 1995, when Marnix Bal organised the very first party under that name, a pool party according to the organisation's own account. What started as a foundation became Loveland Events, one of Amsterdam's major independent promoters, which still describes itself as active "since 1995". In 2022 Marnix Bal published "Fight For Your Right To Party", a book covering more than twenty-five years of parties and Loveland's run-ins with the city's events policy.
The festival settled in Sloterpark, Amsterdam's largest park, laid out in the 1950s around the Sloterplas lake. The 25th edition, planned for 8 and 9 August 2020 with more than 75 artists announced, did not happen: the Netherlands banned festivals until 1 September and events were pushed back a year. Loveland came back sold out in 2022, then grew to more than 80 artists on six stages by 2024. It marked its 30th anniversary on 9 and 10 August 2025, with a beach pre-party in Zandvoort reviving SANDDANCE, one of its earliest parties.
Loveland does not build its editions around a theme: the festival leans on its setting, a wooded strip of land between the road and the lake, where the Fire!, 909, Circle, Rise, Nest and Arena stages follow one another along the shore. It is a daytime festival, open from noon to 23:00, with no camping and an 18+ door policy. The organisers publish waste-per-visitor targets, have run a cup return scheme since 2018 and push cycling: in 2024 more than 90% of visitors came by bike or sustainable transport, by their own figures. Residents get a letter, discounted tickets and a site tour.
The latest edition took place on 8 and 9 August 2026, with Saturday sold out by July, featuring Sven Väth, Eric Prydz, Fatboy Slim, Sasha & John Digweed and Ben Klock, followed by afterparties at Lofi Amsterdam, a former bus depot. In late July 2026 a judge confirmed that Loveland and Mystic Garden keep exclusive use of part of the site, leased from Optisport. The official site announces the next edition for 14 and 15 August 2027: all 3,000 Weekend Blind Birds went in an hour, and the line-up has not been announced yet.
A stage tucked into a wooded island between Fire! and Rise, home to the weekend's longest progressive sets. In 2026 Sasha & John Digweed played three hours there on Saturday, and Hernan Cattaneo and Nick Warren went b2b for three and a half hours on Sunday.
The boat stage, launched in 2025 to give beginner and emerging DJs a first stage, playing as it sails across the Sloterplas. In 2026 it was hosted by Desperados, from 14:00 to 20:00 on Saturday and 15:00 to 20:00 on Sunday.
Rise, Nest and Arena line up along the water, from Circle to the entrance. Arena, closest to the gate, hosted Hot Since 82, Mau P and Jamie Jones in 2026; Rise saw Kölsch, WhoMadeWho, a live set by Stephan Bodzin and CamelPhat.
The site map includes pedal boats on the Sloterplas, between the stages and the boat's route. Nearby are a drum circle, a bierlokaal, a market and a Burenplein, the square set aside for local residents.
The heart of the Backstage pass: raised terraces by the water, with in 2026 a champagne bar, a restaurant run by Daalder, a dedicated entrance and access to the Fire!, Rise and Arena backstage areas.
Between the stages, the paths run beneath the park's trees. Mixmag NL noted in 2026 the bubbles drifting along the paths and the green corners by the lake where people take a break between sets.
Loveland calls itself a celebration of house and techno, and each stage holds part of it. The 909, named after Loveland's sister techno brand, gets the hardest line: Robert Hood, Ben Sims, Freddy K, Collabs 3000 (Chris Liebing and Speedy J), Rødhåd and Ben Klock in 2026. Circle is the stage for long progressive and melodic sets, Arena and Nest lean towards house and tech house, while Fire! and Rise host the names that close both nights.
The programme mixes historic figures and current headliners, with plenty of room for Dutch DJs. In 2026 Joris Voorn and Eric Prydz closed Fire!, Fatboy Slim closed the Nest, Sven Väth played from 19:00 to 21:00 on Sunday, and the official page listed 88 names and duos. In 2025 the 30th-anniversary bill brought together Adam Beyer, Amelie Lens, Jeff Mills, Dom Dolla and Sasha & John Digweed. The 2027 artists have not been announced yet.
Nearest station: Amsterdam Sloterdijk, where a shuttle of about ten minutes leaves, then a five-minute walk; in 2026 a return ticket cost €10 in pre-sale. The organisers push cycling (address: President Allendelaan 3, with signed bike parks). Kiss & Ride on Troelstralaan, taxis at Noordzijde, Park & Shuttle from Heining 43.
A daytime festival with no camping: in 2027, Saturday 14 August from 12:00 to 23:00 and Sunday 15 August from 13:00 to 23:00, last entry an hour before closing. The official afterparties need a separate ticket (at Lofi Amsterdam in 2026, from 23:00 to 06:00).
Tickets carry the holder's name and are sold on the official shop only, with no box office at the gate; resale only through Ticketswap, and never a single day of a weekend ticket. Blind Birds and the Loveland Card cannot be resold. For 2027 Blind Birds are gone and Early Birds will follow via pre-registration.
18 minimum, no exceptions, even with an adult. An original ID (passport, ID card or driving licence) is required; copies are refused.
The festival is fully cashless: bank card, phone, or a Cash Card sold for €1 at the entrance, topped up from €20, with any balance refundable within five days.
No re-entry, bags no larger than A4, no food or drink, zero tolerance on drugs with amnesty bins before the entrance. Electronic code lockers, a Safe Space on site, widened gates and accessible toilets.
The official site announces Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 August 2027 at Sloterpark in Amsterdam, from 12:00 to 23:00 on Saturday and 13:00 to 23:00 on Sunday.
All 3,000 Weekend Blind Birds sold out in one hour in August 2026. Early Birds come later, via pre-registration. There is no box office at the gate, and official resale goes through Ticketswap.
18, strictly, even with an adult, with an original ID.
By train to Amsterdam Sloterdijk and then the shuttle, about ten minutes, or by bike: in 2024 more than 90% of visitors came by bike or sustainable transport, according to the organisers.
No, Loveland is a daytime city festival with no camping, closing at 23:00.
In 2026, six stages on both days (Fire!, Arena, 909, Rise, Nest and Circle) plus the Talent Cruise boat stage on the lake.
No, everything is cashless: card, phone or a top-up Cash Card sold for €1 at the entrance.
