Kunstnacht 2026 Rewind

Tussen Kunst en Nacht: Art in unexpected places

The day kicked off early with our brand-new warm-up program, Tussen Kunst en Nacht (Between Art and Night). Under bright sunny skies, art popped up spontaneously among daytime shoppers and terrace-goers, turning everyday visits to local barbershops and cafes into surprising artistic encounters.

Michiel van der Werf stirred up conversation at Cafetaria Vuurens with his political fries ('Frietjes politiek'), Niko Démoed set up raw art pieces at Café Goossens, and Johnny Buivenga brought art straighat to the chair at Daggers Barbershop. At Coffeeshop De Kronkel, Driegitakt (Nieuwe Elektronische Waar) crafted atmospheric soundscapes, while Marc Sylla enchanted guests at Kushiin with his live painting

Art across indoor and outdoor locations

As night fell, the city center, Honig, and NYMA terrains transformed into a vibrant cultural playground. Thanks to the warm September weather, visitors hit the streets early. The continuous programming and the addition of an extra hour allowed the crowds to spread out smoothly across the night, resulting in significantly shorter queues than in previous years!

Art also took over the streets, making the walk between venues an integral part of the festival experience. Visitors stumbled upon colorful, monumental sculptures by Vera Meulendijks (Macroplastics) and a surprising fountain disguised as a wheelie bin by Dirk Hoogeveen. For those looking for a unique ride, vintage 2CVs and the solar train offered transport filled with artwork by Bart Pols.

Exciting cross-overs at cultural venues

Cultural venues and makers teamed up across various disciplines to deliver one-of-a-kind experiences:

• Extrapool x Poederdoos turned the venue upside down with the dazzling drag performance Crowning, the Queen of the Underground.
• At De Lindenberg & Theater Oostpool, maker Florian Myjer held up a mirror to the audience with the tragicomedy The Drama.
• In complete darkness, muZIEum & ArtEZ Muziektheater joined forces for an immersive, sensory music theater performance.
• In the medieval vaults of De Witte Raaf, comedians hosted by Meneer Otis kept the audience laughing into the night.
• Dance lovers enjoyed Valkhof Museum x Introdans with the ballet performance The Mirror alongside an interactive workshop.
• At the Honig terrain, BLIK & Cultuur Academy closed out with LAGEN, a multidisciplinary performance by Eva Julia & Luc Voss set to live techno.