A practical on-the-ground guide for independent artists and labels heading to Amsterdam this week
Amsterdam Dance Event runs from Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 October 2026. It is five days of showcases, panels and late nights, and it is easy to come home with a camera roll of blurry clips and no clear idea of who you actually met. So this might seem like common sense, but pay attention with all the excitement, it might be what you need to read before getting on the flight.
The people who get the most out of ADE treat it as two jobs: meeting people, and capturing enough content to keep your audience engaged after the week is over. Here is how to do both, and how to make sure nobody who wants to reach you loses track of you.
Why this year is worth planning for
ADE 2026 is the event’s 30th edition, and it is a big one. According to Magnetic Magazine, the programme features over 3,600 artists across 1,300 events in 300 venues, from concert halls to clubs, record stores and museums. Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube Music are leading platform presentations at the ADE Pro conference.
Everyone you want to meet is in the same city, but so is everyone else. Being easy to find, remember and contact is what gets you the follow-up.
Swap USB sticks for QR codes
Nobody wants to carry home a pocket full of USB sticks, and most people will not plug an unknown drive into their laptop anyway. Have QR codes ready on your phone and printed on a small card instead. Set up a few that do different jobs:
A music link that opens a private streaming playlist of your three to five strongest tracks or upcoming releases. A contact link that saves your name, role, email, phone number and socials straight into someone’s phone.
A profile link to your Instagram, website or a one-page press kit with your bio, photos and recent highlights. Use something link Link-tree or Bitly.
Instagram, LinkedIn and WhatsApp all let you generate a QR code for your profile inside the app, which is the quickest option if you are short on time. Test every code before you fly. Scan it from a different phone, check it works on mobile data rather than Wi-Fi, and make sure any private links are set to viewable by anyone with the link.
For a deeper look at preparing your pitch kit and following up after meetings, read our guide to booking meetings, pitching demos and following up at ADE 2026.
Keep your phone charged, all day, every day
At ADE, your phone is your diary, map, ticket, press kit and camera. If it dies at 4pm, your day is over. Carry a fully charged power bank and the right cable, and recharge it every night. Top up whenever you sit down. Lower your screen brightness and download offline maps before you arrive so navigation does not drain your battery.
The official ADE app lets you browse the line-up and venues, build a personal timetable and save favourites. Set it up before you travel so you are not scrolling through 1,300 events on a dying battery.
Getting around also runs through your phone. I amsterdam confirms you can check in on trams, buses and metro with a contactless bank card or a phone using Apple Pay or Google Wallet. If your phone is also your travel card, a flat battery can leave you stranded, so keep a contactless card on you as a backup.
Make yourself easy to reach
Opportunities at ADE move fast. Someone hears your track at a showcase and messages you once. If you do not reply, they move on.
Before you travel, update your Instagram bio and link in bio to say you are at ADE and how to get in touch. Check your message requests regularly. Set an email auto-reply saying you are at ADE and can be reached on WhatsApp or Instagram for anything urgent.
When you meet someone, connect there and then. Scan their code or let them scan yours, then send a short message straight away saying where you met. It gives you both a thread to follow up on.
Content to capture while you are there
ADE gives you a week of content in one place. Plan a few simple formats before you arrive so you are not trying to think of ideas at 2am. “Where to find me” posts. Share which showcases and panels you will be at so followers and contacts can catch you.
Behind the scenes. Soundchecks, record store visits and moments before a set feel personal and suit Stories and Reels. Panel takeaways. A short talking-to-camera clip sharing one thing you learned shows you take the industry seriously.
Moments with other artists and contacts. A clip you can both share extends your reach. Always ask first. City b-roll. Canals, trams and venue exteriors are reusable for future release teasers and visualisers.
A recap. Cut your best clips into one short video after the week ends.
Film in short bursts, then put your phone away. Some Amsterdam venues actively discourage filming. Mixmag reported that A’DAM Tower operates a no-phones policy on the dancefloors at Shelter and The Loft. Respect venue rules and the people around you, and save your filming for outside, backstage or before the doors open.
Do not post everything in real time
Post Stories live to show you are there, but save your stronger content for the weeks after ADE. Spreading it across November keeps your profile active while you follow up, so contacts who check your page see momentum. Back up your footage to cloud storage every night so a lost phone does not wipe out your week.
Leave room for the unexpected
The most useful moments at ADE are often unplanned: a conversation in a queue or a chance meeting at a record store. Leave gaps in your schedule, eat properly and pace yourself. The people who make the best impression on Saturday are the ones who did not burn out on Wednesday.
Turn ADE momentum into results
What you do with your contacts and content after the week is what builds your career. MN2S Label Services helps independent artists and labels with release planning, distribution, PR and social media, so the momentum from ADE turns into something lasting. Get in touch to talk about your next move.