Three sold-out days, extreme and unusual weather conditions for Belgium, a magical atmosphere, and a wide variety of top-level electronic music. This was Paradise City 2026, the 11th edition of a Festival that has now established itself as one of the most relevant events of the European spring-summer season.
Photo Credit: Simon Leloup I Isaac Ponseele
A three-day event spread across the weekend, seven different stages, a magnificent castle overlooking the crowd, and a campsite where the party continued long after the main event had ended: Paradise City is a perfectly balanced mix of innovation and continuity. Every year, the perfectionist organisation introduces subtle improvements, while preserving the elements that have become defining features of the festival. The focus remains on high-quality, forward-thinking music, with an impressive ability to spot emerging trends and present them to the audience before they become mainstream. Equally important is the festival’s commitment to sustainability, renewable energy, reusable materials, and circularity, making it a unique example within the electronic music scene. And finally, there is the exceptional level of care shown towards the public, who this year had to face both an extreme heatwave and a violent overnight storm that forced Saturday’s programme to end earlier than planned.
This is a festival capable of embracing the entire spectrum of electronic music, from the live performances of Mind Enterprises and Modeselektor to the bouncing trance sounds of Malugi and Mischluft. At the Forest Stage, beneath the trees, where sunlight and shade constantly intertwined, Rossi. delivered an impressive set with his signature groovy touch. On Sunday, the handover from Floating Points to Palms Trax provided an ideal way to close the festival, taking the crowd on a cross-boundary journey through house, funk, and euphoric melodies.
Richie Hawtin’s closing set on Friday was yet another reminder of his remarkable ability to captivate a crowd with his unmistakable minimalist style. At the same time, Yousuke Yukimatsu was a spectacular surprise, pushing the audience to its limits and delivering one of our personal highlights of the entire weekend. Belgian rising star Helena Lauwaert, a long-standing friend of Paradise City, performed two very different but equally memorable sets: an intimate performance at the Barefoot Stage and a second appearance on the main Castle Stage, once again showcasing her outstanding selection, flawless delivery, and open-minded musical vision.
Many more artists completed the three-day line-up, from Belgian heroes like Marco Bailey to emerging local talents such as Disjoli, alongside Interplanetary Criminal, Marlon Hoffstadt, DJ Heartstring, Job Jobse, and many others.
The music was outstanding, but the atmosphere was even better. Thanks to the ravers, thanks to the organisation, and thanks to this incredible location. We can’t wait for Paradise City 2027.
