Enfnts Terribles

THURSDAY

Horst kicks off strong on Thursday with r.omy opening The Swirl. Expect deep electro grooves with emotional twists shaped by time spent between Belgium and Bangkok. It’s the perfect warm-up: intimate, groovy, and full of surprises.

Afterwards, grab a drink and float into the world of GiGi FM. Movement is central to her creative process. As a trained dancer, she translates movement into sound, creating sets that feel cosmic, physical, and philosophical. Later in the evening, For All Queens brings together a powerful collective: Arakaza, MAKADSI, Rokia Bamba, and Sadiq Bellamy. Each artist brings their own heritage and sound to the decks, from East African industrial pulses to NYC ballroom, Brussels’ Afrobeat spirit to deep-rooted soulful house. This is not just a party, it’s a statement.

At the same time: Surgeon (live), a UK techno legend known for raw, hypnotic sets that fuse industrial force with dubby depth. Also unmissable: Dresden (Ivan Smagghe & Manfredas), their b2b sets are cult favorites. To close the first day, we’ll see you at Moon Ra with BADSISTA. They already play earlier on a different stage, but trust us, you’ll want to see both. 

FRIDAY

Kick off your Friday with Papa ZG, the DJ alter ego of Zwangere Guy. Normally known for his powerful rap lyrics, this time he brings deep, dubby beats full of attitude. After the intense soundtrack for his hit series PUTAIN, he’s ready to bring raw Brussels energy to Horst.

Next up: Paquita Gordon, a true vinyl lover, she mixes everything from psychedelic sounds and spiritual jazz to house, techno, and dub. Her sets are personal, unexpected, and always full of feeling.

Beyond the beat

This year, Horst puts an even stronger focus on its arts program with There Will Come Soft Rain, a powerful exhibition that deepens the festival’s ongoing dialogue between music, architecture, and visual art. Among the many new additions: on a previously unexplored part of Asiat Park, architect Leopold Banchini and DJ DVS1 join forces to redefine the ‘wall of sound’, creating a structure where over 100 monitors form a sonic roof above the dance floor.

Eddie Peake presents ‘The Pervert’, a raw performance featuring gold-painted nude bodies moving to live soundscapes, translating themes like depression and desire into physical expression.

Marilyn Minter brings the iconic cooling towers to life with bold, sensual projections, in collaboration with Tick Tack Antwerp. Artist Esben Weile Kjær installs a giant inflatable sleeping rat as a surreal eye-catcher, while the Rotunda stage gets a sustainable facelift from Atelier Fanelsa, who transform invasive local plants into a living rooftop. Rounding it all out are a vibrant new skatepark by French architect Jean-Benoît Vétillard, and a rooftop stage designed by young Belgian talent Björn Vanoverberge.

If you don’t want to miss out on this year’s expanded vision, don’t wait – almost all tickets are already sold out. Only a limited number of Thursday tickets remain, so grab yours now before it’s too late.

Photography: Yan-Yango, Willem Mevis, Angelina Nikolayeva, Marc Leschelier