Cultural tips for Amsterdam this autumn

Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE)

Calling all electronic music fans, Amsterdam Dance Event is back again this year, taking over the city with parties, in-stores, lectures and lots of cool arty audiovisual stuff, no doubt. Along with the conference geared toward industry professionals, almost all of Amsterdam’s nightlife venues will be hosting DJ events by the genre's leading lights.

The official programme for 2024 is already out - try not to get lost in it, or keep an eye on our tips for ADE.

Amsterdam Dance Event | 16-20 October 2024 | citywide

International Storytelling Festival

Acclaimed storytellers light up the autumn nights at the spectacular Podium Mozaïek, a theatre located in a former church in Bos en Lommer. In this weekend-long festival, expect pacey plots, touching tales and real-life accounts from around the world as master storytellers demonstrate the art form of spoken word. Along with the shows, there are also talks, workshops, a masterclass, live music and a midnight saloon.

International Storytelling Festival | 6-10 November 2024 | Podium Mozaiek

IDFA

Amsterdam’s much anticipated International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam returns with another solid documentary selection. Expect films tackling life, love, politics and society, along with a trend-setting programme of talks, performances, and interactive and immersive projects. Screenings will take place at cinemas around the city, including at the festival's new permanent location dedicated to all things non-fiction: the monumental Vondelpark Pavilion.

Keep an eye on our documentary tips for IDFA 2024. 

IDFA | 14-24 November 2024 | various cinemas

Afrovibes Festival

Afrovibes Festival returns with an extensive program of contemporary dance, music, theatre and design by contemporary makers and artists from Africa and the diaspora. This year’s theme, RUPTURE | RAPTURE, once again shows the diversity and power of change in the continent, with a particular focus on West Africa. World-renowned choreographers, theatre makers and emerging talent will perform at Frascati, De Balie, Podium Mozaiek, Bijlmer Parktheater and CC Amstel.

Afrovibes Festival | 2-13 October 2024 | various locations

Unseen Photo Fair

Each September, international crowds flock to Westergas for Unseen Photo Fair, one of the major annual events in every photography-lovers calendar. Hosted within the unique shiny metal cylinder of the Gashouder - a former gas factory in the centre of Westerpark - the world’s most exciting photography galleries and cutting-edge artists are brought together for a weekend-long event. Along with the exhibition, you can expect a variety of talks, competitions and tours.

Unseen Photo Fair | 20-22 September 2024 | Westergas

Cinekid

This annual cinema festival in the autumn holidays has various film, documentary and animation screenings for children aged between 3 and 14 years, alongside interactive installations and workshops. This year’s edition, titled Is dit echt? (Is this real?) takes a fascinating look at Artificial Intelligence and its impact on popular media, film, visual language and storytelling. Children will learn to see AI as a creative ally, find out how it works, and learn about the risks of fake news and deepfake videos.

Cinekid | 19 October - 3 November 2024 | Ketelhuis Cinema

Nederlands Theater Festival & Amsterdam Fringe

To open the cultural season each September, Netherlands Theater Festival offers ten days of performances spread across the city’s top stages, with a broad range of language-no-problem shows in the programme. To coincide, sometimes referred to as the NL Theater Festival’s quirky little sister, Amsterdam Fringe is all about bringing avant-garde productions to light. Each year, 70 productions are created by unorthodox theatre-makers keen to impress with their vision. The venues where these eclectic performances occur can be just as unexpected.

Netherlands Theater Festival | 5-15 September 2024 | various locationsAmsterdam Fringe Festival | 5-15 September 2024 | various locations

Imagine Film Festival

For the best in fantasy, horror and science fiction, the Imagine Film Festival challenges viewers to question the future of humankind and society. Along with screenings, workshops, masterclasses and games, prescient themes such as disaster scenarios from eco-horror and Cli-Fi (climate fiction) are discussed in accessible talks which actively involve audiences. 

Imagine Film Festival | 24 October - 3 November 2024 | various locations

Camera Japan

The largest Japanese film festival in the Benelux, Camera Japan, is characterised by its diverse programme. In addition to the best, the weirdest, and the most unexpected feature films, documentaries and anime, attention is paid to visual arts, music, dance, fashion, architecture, food, and much more.

Camera Japan | 3-6 October 2024 | Lab111

TCS Amsterdam Marathon

When it comes to running events, you could say Amsterdam has a personal best: the TCS Amsterdam Marathon takes place annually in October, drawing in elite runners from around the world alongside thousands of amateurs sporting their new running shoes. The course starts from the city’s famous Olympic Stadium and passes many of Amsterdam's most notable landmarks and attractions while making its way back to the stadium.

TCS Amsterdam Marathon | 20 October 2024 | Olympic Stadium

Super Sonic Jazz Festival

The seventh edition of Super-Sonic Jazz Festival returns to Paradiso, De Duif and Rush Hour Records, showcasing innovative jazz musicians on the cutting edge of R&B, hip-hop, soul, folk, funk and electronic. The line-up this year brings Mammal Hands, Kokoroko, Theo Crocker, Sungazer, Gaidaa and Kassa Overall to the stage, among many others, with a special Sunday programme featuring only local artists.

Super Sonic Jazz Festival | 13-17 November 2024 | Paradiso

Read my World

Amsterdam's leading international literature festival returns to Noord’s Tolhuistuin in September. Dedicated to unearthing the stories beneath the sheen of daily news, the unmissable literary event brings writers, poets and performers from around the world to showcase their takes on the world’s most pressing issues. Spend three days immersed in topics like urbanity and discover literature’s power in making the significant questions of our time personal.

Read my World | 12-14 September 2024 | Tolhuistuin

Art fairs

Each autumn, curators, critics, and buyers (with big and small wallets) descend on the city for a succession of unmissable fine art events. From the Affordable Art Fair – where the clues in the name and budget-friendly art pieces are on sale – to PAN Amsterdam, which brings together the worlds of art, antiques and design in one place. You’ll also find the EuropArtFair, a curated collection of some of Europe’s best contemporary artists, and the NockNock Art Fair, where over 120 artists exhibit their most imaginative art and design pieces.

EuropArtFair | 6-8 September | Westergas

Affordable Art Fair | 9-13 October | De Kromhouthal

NockNock | 31 October - 3 November | Westergas

Pan Amsterdam | 24 November - 1 December | RAI