“Holland Dance Festival celebrates 40 years of passion for dance — discover the full programme!”
In February 2026, the Holland Dance Festival celebrates its 20th Jubilee Edition – a festive milestone in its 40-year history. From 4 to 21 February, the cities of The Hague, Delft, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Tilburg will be alive with dance – featuring world premieres, Dutch debuts, and internationally acclaimed choreographers.
The festive opening takes place at Amare in The Hague, with a world premiere by Jan Martens for Nederlands Dans Theater. What follows is a rich and diverse programme featuring major international names: American star choreographer Kyle Abraham returns with An Untitled Love, Hofesh Shechter Company presents its captivating Theatre of Dreams, and Gauthier Dance sets three cities ablaze with FireWorks.
Audience favourite Silvia Gribaudi makes her return with the irresistible Grand Jeté, full of playfulness, humour, and irony. The 20th Jubilee Edition also introduces exciting discoveries: the explosive British hip-hop company Boy Blue, the hypnotic Semâ by Compagnie Linga, and Alyssa Martin’s surreal Big Time Miss.
Emerging talent shines as well – the dancers of the Royal Conservatoire celebrate KC DANCE 70 Years. In Motion!, and the future stars from Codarts tour the country with Talent On The Move.
A rich history and international prestige
The Holland Dance Festival was founded in 1987 on the initiative of Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT). With the arrival of NDT’s new theatre in The Hague – the world’s first large-scale venue built specifically for dance, designed by Rem Koolhaas – NDT’s legendary managing director Carel Birnie approached Marc Jonkers, dance programmer of the Holland Festival, to establish a new international dance biennial.
The idea immediately resonated with Jonkers. The City of The Hague was approached for funding, and the Holland Festival managed the financial and productional aspects of the first two editions. From the third edition onwards, Holland Dance Festival became an independent foundation. Since the fifth edition, its offices have been located in The Hague – first on Amsterdamse Veerkade, later at Korzo, and since 2023 in Amare.
Marc Jonkers served as artistic director for the first five editions (1987–1995). Since 1995, Samuel Wuersten has been part of the festival – first as artistic director and, since 2000, as both general and artistic director.
Over its twenty editions, the Holland Dance Festival has built a unique archive of international dance history. Over the decades, legendary artists have graced the stages of The Hague: icons such as Pina Bausch and William Forsythe, dance phenomena like Mikhail Baryshnikov and Sylvie Guillem, and renowned companies including the New York City Ballet, New Zealand Dance Company, Rennie Harris PureMovement, and Les Ballets de Monte Carlo – an extraordinary line-up of world-class artists.
Dutch talent has always held an equally prominent place. Choreographers such as Jiří Kylián and Hans van Manen, long-standing collaborations with Nederlands Dans Theater and Korzo Productions, and special projects with Introdans and Scapino Ballet Rotterdam – all have contributed to shaping the festival into what it is today.
Dance with a mission
Since 1987, the Holland Dance Festival has grown into an internationally acclaimed platform that, from its home base in The Hague – city of peace, justice, and dance – continues to inspire and move diverse audiences. Alongside presenting top international companies, the festival is equally known for its strong social engagement. Initiatives focusing on older adults, inclusion, and dance in special education are central to its mission. Through its educational and outreach projects, the festival connects people and demonstrates the transformative power of dance in society.
Celebrate with us the 20th Jubilee Edition and reserve your tickets now!
