Amsterdam events calendar
Amsterdam’s year runs on a dependable rhythm of major events — an orange-drenched national holiday in spring, Pride on the canals in summer, electronic music in October, and light art over the water all winter. Here are the recurring highlights worth planning a trip around, with their typical timing.
King’s Day — April 27
Amsterdam’s biggest orange celebration takes over the whole city every April 27, with citywide street parties, free markets, and canal festivities from early morning until midnight. Boats jam the canals, locals sell their attic finds on the pavement, and Vondelpark turns into a children’s fair. Details for each edition are published by I amsterdam.
Pride Amsterdam — late July to early August
Pride Amsterdam fills the city with cultural programming, street parties, and its iconic Canal Parade each summer. In 2026 the city hosts WorldPride Amsterdam from July 25 to August 8, with the Canal Parade on August 1, 2026 — the biggest edition the city has ever staged (see our complete Amsterdam WorldPride 2026 Local Guide). Programme and dates are on the official Pride Amsterdam site.
Grachtenfestival — August
Every August, the Grachtenfestival brings classical music to the canals — concerts on pontoons, in courtyards, and aboard boats, many of them free (for nautical enthusiasts, note that the historic tall-ship festival SAIL Amsterdam is held every five years). Crowds are gentler than the summer’s party events, making it one of the most local-feeling festivals of the year. We keep a live guide to the current edition: see our Grachtenfestival guide.
Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) — October
Every October, ADE turns Amsterdam into the world’s electronic music capital, with conference programming by day and hundreds of club shows across multiple venues by night. The 2026 edition runs October 21–25 (read our essential tips for Amsterdam Dance Event). To filter the programme, save a shortlist, spot clashing sets, and export your schedule, use our ADE planner.
TCS Amsterdam Marathon — October
Amsterdam’s flagship marathon features a fast, scenic course through the city and along the Amstel, starting and finishing at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam-Zuid. The 2026 race is on October 18. Expect road closures around the course on race morning — registration and route details are at the official marathon site.
Amsterdam Light Festival — late November to mid-January
Amsterdam’s winter light festival turns the canals into an outdoor gallery, with illuminated artworks and night walks through the historic centre. The most recent edition ran from November 27, 2025 to January 18, 2026, and each winter follows a similar late-November-to-mid-January window. Artworks can be seen on foot for free or from the water on a cruise — see the Amsterdam Light Festival site for the current route.
Noordermarkt Saturday Market — every Saturday
Not a festival, but a weekly ritual: every Saturday from 9:00 to 16:00, Noordermarkt square in the Jordaan hosts its organic farmers’ market and antiques stalls. It pairs perfectly with a hofjes walk or a brown café lunch nearby — find both in our curated lists.
Visiting around one of these dates? Book accommodation early — event weeks sell out fastest — and check seasonal conditions in the weather guide before building your days with the itinerary planner.