Kunstnacht 2026: an evening of wandering and wonder in Nijmegen

On Saturday, September 19, Nijmegen will once again transform into one big cultural journey of discovery. With a drag competition at Extrapool, a hidden exhibition behind a snack bar at Expo Bart, dance films by dance collective 155, and a multisensory experience bringing together taste, sound and art: the full programme for Kunstnacht 2026 has now been announced.

Across the city centre, 54 cultural partners and 11 artists in public spaces will come together for an evening filled with art, performance, dance, music, film, technology and spoken word. From 7 pm to 1 am, visitors can explore dozens of locations featuring exhibitions, installations, workshops, performances and unique collaborations between artists and cultural organisations from the Arnhem-Nijmegen region.

PRO­GRAMMEOVERVIEW

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

NYMA CLUSTER
NYMA x De Schoenfabriek – Je mot je bek houwe
An absurdist and humorous performance about the silence of fishing. Although anglers are expected to keep quiet so as not to scare away the fish, not everyone manages to do so. With all the consequences that entails.

Expo Bart x 171project.space x Simone Schuffelen & Siem de Boer
Through a hidden back door in a Nijmegen snack bar, visitors enter a temporary world of performance, sound, ritual and imagination.

HONIG CLUSTER
RUIS x Arnhemse Meisjes
Dance collective Arnhemse Meisjes brings the imaginative work of artist Yubin Lee to life in a choreography where dance and visual art come together.

DELT▲TUNE x Rosie's
Artist Pierre Estourgie spends a week building an experimental sound installation that comes to life during Kunstnacht. Visitors move through an organic network of sound, projections and electronics at Rosie's gallery.

Josje Eijkenboom x Marieke Mars
At Brebl, pole dancing, live music and immersive projections come together in an intimate performance where body, image and sound reinforce one another.

LINDENBERG CLUSTER
Besiendershuis x Poëziecentrum – Domweg gelukkig in de steenstraat
The 500-year-old Besiendershuis is transformed into a unique poetry experience during Kunstnacht. Watch performances by 10 local poets projected onto the building’s façade, listen to a ‘mystery poet’ on the special anniversary stage, or contribute to a collective poem that is performed every hour.

Valkhof Museum x Introdans
Get inspired by the ballet The Mirror and then step onto the dance floor yourself during an interactive workshop. Explore connection, reflection and emotion through movement.

MARIËNBURG CLUSTER
Extrapool x Poederdoos – Crowning the Queen of the Underground
Drag performers from across the country compete in this alternative talent show for the title of Queen of the Underground. Expect extravagant performances, underground fashion, DJs and a generous dose of queer energy.

Hidde Loek x Hankyul Jeong
A multisensory experience where taste, sound and visual art come together. The five basic tastes form the starting point for an evening at Merleyn, where visitors come together to taste, listen and look.

muZIEum x ArtEZ Muziektheater
Experience a music theatre performance in complete darkness. Without sight, sound, movement and imagination take over, allowing you to experience the world from a new perspective.

KEIZER KAREL CLUSTER
TG Greppel x AZOTH x Festival Jazz International Nijmegen
At De Vereeniging, theatre, jazz and nightlife come together in an ongoing programme of live music, performances and unexpected collaborations.

POST x Elky Rosa Gerritsen – Palimpsest
A poetic performance about mental baggage, memories and everything we carry with us.

SPECIAL LOCATIONS
Wereldlab x Hubungan x Stevenskerk
A meeting between traditional Moluccan culture and contemporary interpretations in the Stevenskerk. Featuring dance, music and stories, this programme complements the exhibition Sapa Punja. Molukse verhalen uit Nijmegen.

Grondlab x Festivalhuis
At Grondlab, an interactive installation invites you to travel together along the water through different natural landscapes. Look closely, because there is more to discover.

SIDE PROGRAMME
155 at LUX Open Air
The unconventional dance collective 155 brings the films WEST, NACHTKANON, GAT and LEER to Mariënburgplein, combining dance, humour and performance. Watch the films under the stars at LUX Open Air.

Macroplastics – Vera Meulendijks
Monumental sculptures shaped like microplastics transform Valkhof Park into a colourful playground. The tiny particles, blown up to absurd proportions, create a playful landscape while also inviting reflection.

Travel Guide – ArtEZ Teacher Education in Fine Art and Design
Students from ArtEZ have created an interactive travel guide especially for Kunstnacht, featuring prompts and observations that invite visitors to explore the different clusters in a new way.

Will you be join­ing us at Kunstnacht?

Get ready for an unforgettable journey of discovery through the city and experience Nijmegen on September 19 like never before. Get your ticket now!

Pay It For­ward: Buy a tick­et for some­one else

This year, Kunstnacht is launching a Pay It Forward initiative together with Stichting Vincentius. Through the Kunstnacht ticket shop, visitors can purchase an extra ticket for someone for whom attending Kunstnacht may be financially out of reach.

Buying a ticket for someone else through our ticket shop? Together with Vincentius, we’ll make sure your ticket reaches someone who could really use a helping hand.