Paradise City Festival 2026, dates, line-up, tickets

The story

The first edition took place on 4 and 5 July 2015 at Ribaucourt Castle in Perk, part of the municipality of Steenokkerzeel. Two young entrepreneurs, Dimitri Verschueren and Gilles De Decker, conceived it as a sustainable electronic festival: green electricity, filtered tap water, vegetarian food and an ecological plan drawn up with CO2logic, for some forty DJs and live acts.

The festival stayed at the castle and grew. In 2020 the pandemic reduced it to two evenings for 800 people, partly on rafts, followed online by more than a million viewers; in 2021 it returned in mid-August with the Covid Safe Ticket, some 25,000 festivalgoers over three days. 2022 brought a fifth stage and night trains from Vilvoorde; by 2024 it had seven stages.

Ecology is the backbone of the project, with figures to back it. The last fish dishes left the menus in 2023, and since 2025 all catering has been plant-based, from the food court to crew catering. A field of solar panels floats on the estate's pond, disposable party tents have been banned from the campsite since 2026, and the festival publishes the report of its auditor, A Greener Future, including what still needs work: audience travel.

In 2024 Paradise City was named the world's most sustainable music festival at the International AGF Awards, and in 2026 it received the "Outstanding" certification for the sixth year running, a world first according to the organisers. The 2025 edition, the tenth, was the first to sell out completely; the 2026 edition, themed "Beneath the Surface", sold out too, with 45,000 visitors over three days according to KET Brussels. The next one is announced for 2 to 4 July 2027.

Inside Paradise City Festival

Barefoot Stage

Created in 2025: shoes stay at the entrance and people dance on sand and vintage rugs under a transparent canopy. Soul, funk, hip-hop, R&B and groove, away from the energy of the big stages.

CUPRA Garage

A small, compact dancefloor tucked between the big stages, where things heat up fast. In 2026, three young DJs chosen through an open call with the VI.BE platform played there.

Festivalgoers on the lakeshore, in haze and light filtering through the trees. — Photo : Paradise City Festival

Le lac

The tree-lined lake around which the site unfolds. The stages are spread across the park to encourage wandering, and in 2022 a waterside stage was hosted by the Berlin label Giegling.

The floating solar field on the pond, with Ribaucourt Castle and the site's tents behind. — Photo : Paradise City Festival

Champ solaire flottant

Solar panels laid on the pond in front of the castle, producing power weeks before opening for build-up and breakdown. The rest comes from the grid, batteries and fixed connections, with Eneco.

Food court

Fully plant-based: in 2026, nineteen food trucks and one coffee truck, with the carbon footprint of every dish calculated by the festival's food curator, Petra Daniëls.

Angels of Paradise

Trained volunteers in pink vests who walk the site: they are the people to approach about harassment, and they can take you to the Healing Zone, a quiet space near the entrance.

The music

Paradise City is an all-electronic festival, but a broad one: techno at the Contrast Stage, house and disco, live electronics in the Concert Hall, jungle, UK garage and bass, and at the Barefoot Stage an interlude of soul, funk, hip-hop and R&B. In 2026 the seven stages were the Castle Stage, Contrast Stage, Forest Stage, Concert Hall, Sweet Spot, Barefoot Stage and CUPRA Garage.

The programming mixes legends with the new guard. In 2026, more than 113 acts: Richie Hawtin closing the Contrast Stage on Friday, Cassius's farewell show, Modeselektor live in the Concert Hall, Floating Points with a DJ set at the Forest Stage, LTJ Bukem, SHERELLE, Marlon Hoffstadt. Earlier editions hosted Laurent Garnier, Jeff Mills, Theo Parrish, Bonobo and Moodymann. The 2027 line-up has not been announced yet.

They played here

Laurent Garnier Jeff Mills Theo Parrish Richie Hawtin Floating Points Modeselektor Cassius Bonobo Dixon Moodymann KölschArt DepartmentRobag WruhmeTony AllenLil' LouisDJ KozeJoris Voorn Max Cooper Ben UFO Hunee Shanti Celeste Maribou StateMiss Kittin & The HackerChris Stussy KI/KISBTRKTMarcel Dettmann LTJ Bukem Helena Hauff Octo Octa

In pictures

The CUPRA Garage, a small graffiti-covered garage-shaped stage tucked between the larger stages.Photo : Paradise City Festival

The Pureto food truck at the fully plant-based food court, in 2024.Photo : Maarten Vandenhove / Paradise City Festival

Long tables under an awning, with Ribaucourt Castle in the background, in 2025.Photo : Paradise City Festival

Getting there, staying there

Getting there

In 2026: train to Vilvoorde, with a half-price SNCB event ticket from any Belgian station, then a free electric shuttle at least every fifteen minutes. Night trains to Ghent, Antwerp and Genk at 2:00 and 2:30 am on Friday and Saturday, 12:20 am on Sunday. By car, E19 exit 12 Vilvoorde; parking at €25 a day online.

Camping

Sweet Harmony, the official campsite, spreads across the fields next to the park: your own tent, pre-set tents or a campervan, 24-hour hot showers, plant-based breakfast included. Quiet hours from 1 to 8 am, disposable party tents banned since 2026. It sold out in under thirty minutes in 2026.

Tickets

Prices rise in waves: a Green Card presale for regulars and subscribers, then Early Bird, Regular and Final Wave. In February 2026 a Friday ticket cost €95 and a Sunday ticket €99. For 2027 a discounted presale is promised to newsletter subscribers; resale goes through TicketSwap only.

Age

According to the official FAQ, under-12s get in free and under-18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian; alcohol is only sold to adults, and free earplugs are handed out.

Payment

Cashless festival: your ticket is linked to a wristband topped up by card, banking app or at top-up desks, which accept cash. Top-ups capped at €500, balance refundable after the festival, €1.50 cup deposit.

Rules

No food or drink brought in, but an empty reusable bottle is allowed and drinking water is free. Glass, cans, spray cans, fireworks and umbrellas are banned; zero tolerance for drugs, violence and harassment, with searches at the entrance.

Frequently asked questions about Paradise City Festival

Where is Paradise City held?

In the gardens of Ribaucourt Castle in Perk, part of Steenokkerzeel (Flemish Brabant), about twenty kilometres from Brussels. Address: Kasteelhoekstraat 1.

When is the next edition?

On 2, 3 and 4 July 2027, according to the official website. Ticket sales have not opened yet: a discounted presale is promised to newsletter subscribers.

How do I get there without a car?

By train to Vilvoorde, then the free electric shuttle. In 2026, SNCB sold a half-price event ticket from any Belgian station, and night trains left Vilvoorde for Ghent, Antwerp and Genk.

Can I camp?

Yes, at the Sweet Harmony campsite next to the site, with hot showers and a plant-based breakfast included. In 2026 it sold out in under thirty minutes.

Can I pay cash?

Not at the bars: the festival is cashless. Wristbands are topped up by card, banking app or at top-up desks, which accept cash.

Is there meat at the festival?

No. All catering has been plant-based since 2025, from the food court to the campsite and crew catering.

Is there an age limit?

The official FAQ says under-12s get in free and under-18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian; alcohol is only sold to over-18s.

What happened in 2026?

On Saturday 27 June the site was closed around 10 pm ahead of a severe storm, in consultation with the authorities. Sunday went ahead as planned, and a free night was offered on 5 September at Place Noord in Brussels.

Sources

Official website

Paradise City Festival

About this event

Line-up

Location