MOMO Festival returns to Rotterdam with music, art and performances
From Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 April, MOMO Festival once again takes over Rotterdam. For three days, the city revolves around live music, art and performances. There is plenty to explore across different locations in Rotterdam.
MOMO Festival is known for its adventurous programming, where emerging talent and established names from the Netherlands and abroad come together. In addition to concerts, there are performances, art installations and artistic residencies to discover. And when evening falls, the festival continues during MOMO Nights, with club nights and live shows. In short, there is plenty to experience.
Below, you can explore the line up and festival highlights of MOMO Festival 2026.
Line-up MOMO Festival 2026
by Niek Hage
The line up of MOMO Festival 2026 once again features a mix of emerging talent and established names from the Netherlands and abroad. Musically, it covers a wide range, from indie and avant pop to jazz, electronic music and alternative pop.
Each festival day has its own highlights. On Thursday, the Dutch duo Weval brings their electronic live show to Rotterdam, on Friday Zimmer90 performs their dreamy indie pop, and on Saturday Obongjayar takes the stage.
Alongside these names, there are many more interesting artists on the programme. The versatile artist Wesley Joseph will also perform at MOMO. His music moves somewhere between avant-R&B, future pop and hip hop, and he has previously collaborated with artists such as Joy Orbison and Loyle Carner. In April 2026, his new album Forever Ends Someday will be released.
The London based band Man/Woman/Chainsaw is also one of the standout acts this year. Their music combines raw guitar outbursts with melodic pop structures and unexpected twists, which has earned them a strong reputation as a live band in recent times.
Further acts include The Orchestra (For Now) and BINA., alongside a broad selection of international artists across different genres. The free Playground programme also features music, including stay away from dante!.
Artist residence
In addition to the regular performances, MOMO Festival selects one artist each year to take on a special role within the festival: the Artist in Residence. This act appears at multiple moments and locations throughout the festival with performances created especially for MOMO.
Nusantara Beat
by Pasqual Amade II
This year, Nusantara Beat is the Artist in Residence. Across all three festival days, the band presents several special performances at various locations in Rotterdam. The full programme of this residency will be announced at a later stage.
The group, with members from bands such as Jungle by Night and EUT, is known for its distinctive sound, in which traditional Indonesian music from the twentieth century is combined with modern influences.
Black Box Residency: NÉNÉ
This year, MOMO Festival once again offers space for the Black Box Residency: a three day project in which one artist fully transforms an empty space according to their own vision and develops new work.
Rotterdam based artist NÉNÉ is this year’s Black Box Resident. In her work, which ranges from paintings to installations, she explores themes such as Afrofuturism, identity and colonial structures. During MOMO, she collaborates with Ghanaian artists Neal and Kwasi on wearable artworks in which hidden codes in textiles create space for self expression and resistance.
Nachtprogramma
by Niek Hage
Night programme
When the final concerts end, the festival continues a little longer. During MOMO Nights, the party carries on for two nights at 160K. With a Friday ticket or a festival pass, you can access the night programme. Separate night tickets are also available.
MOMO Nights invites: CIRCUS PAARDENRAVE
The Rotterdam club concept CIRCUS PAARDENRAVE takes over the MOMO night programme on Friday evening. Expect a high energy night, with DJs, performances and art blending together.
From Mysteryland to Blijdorp Festival and clubs such as Perron and 160K, wherever CIRCUS PAARDENRAVE appears, it quickly turns into a chaotic and imaginative night. During MOMO, the dance floor becomes a place where the tempo stays high and standing still is hardly an option.
MOMO Nights: afterparty
On Saturday evening, 160K transforms into the official MOMO afterparty. The club opens two rooms, where DJ sets and live moments alternate.
In one room, Kossa Kossa hosts a night of jam sessions. Musicians and vocalists can join in spontaneously, celebrating Black music that connects Rotterdam with Accra.
In the other room, Edna Martinez opens with a set full of African, Caribbean and Arabic sounds. Cheb Runner follows with a mix of Moroccan chaabi, deep techno and Dutch gabber. Rotational closes the night with a global selection of club sounds, from kuduro to baile funk.
Practical information
Dates
16 to 18 April
Location
Various locations in Rotterdam
Tickets
Do not want to miss it? A three day festival pass costs €100 and day tickets are available from €35. These also give access to the night programme. Prefer to attend only MOMO Nights? Separate night tickets are available for the club nights at 160K. More information and tickets can be found via: https://motelmozaique.nl/tickets/
by Dietrich van Gobbel
