Awakenings‘ Upclose prepares for 2026 edition

The event takes place on May 16th and 17th at Spaarnwoude-Park.

Photo Credit: Elske Nissen

Awakenings has announced the complete programming for the 2026 edition of Upclose. The festival returns to Spaarnwoude-Park on May 16th and 17th, focusing on the intimate, progressive corners of club culture and techno.

The lineup features high-profile collaborations and rare live performances. Notable pairings include Ben UFO x Four Tet, Freddy K x Marrøn, and the return of Collabs 3000, the long-standing partnership between Chris Liebing and Speedy J. The schedule also highlights live sets from LSD—comprising Luke Slater, Function, and Steve Bicknell—alongside modular synthesis from Colin Benders x Dasha Rush.

Several artists will showcase alternative creative directions during the weekend. Alarico debuts his house-focused Kenji Hina project, while Joris Voorn is scheduled for a specialized vinyl-only techno set. Additionally, René Pawlowitz will perform a concept set under his Shed and Head High aliases.

Awakenings established  Upclose to provide a dance-floor-centric alternative to large-scale festival formats. By prioritizing niche sounds and local Dutch talent alongside global pioneers, the event maintains a focus on community and underground credibility.

Tickets for the event are available now. Grab yours here.