This was MOMO Festival 2026

From Afro Grunge to soulful crooners, from city residencies to world premieres: this was MOMO Festival 2026

For three days, Rotterdam served as the backdrop for a remarkable program

From 16 to 18 April 2026, Motel Mozaïque once again transformed Rotterdam into a playground for music, art and performance. Following last year’s anniversary edition of the MOMO Festival, this year’s event proved that the festival cannot be confined to a single sound or discipline, but instead thrives on an eclectic program in which established names, premieres and new discoveries stood side by side.

A program that provokes and connects

MOMO’s strength lies in its range. Obongjayar set Theater Rotterdam alight with a set that fused Afrobeat punk with pop, soul and raw energy. Weval brought the audience into a hypnotic electronic trance, whilst Wesley Joseph demonstrated why his future-pop is among the most talked-about sounds of the moment. At BIRD, anaiis showcased an activist sound with her innovative soul, whilst Joshua Idehen navigated charmingly between the dance floor and poetry. In between, there was the Afro Grunge of Boko Yout, the chaotic post-punk of Mandy, Indiana, and the raucous excesses of Man/Woman/Chainsaw from South London. And then there was Tyler Ballgame at Arminius, a performance that was frequently talked about in the corridors.

Premieres and residencies

On the opening night, Figures of Speech by Femke Gyselinck / GRIP & Lander Gyselinck had its Dutch premiere; with seven dancers and four percussionists, it set the tone for the days that followed. In addition, CHARLOT, Amber Docters van Leeuwen and Djuwa Mroivili premiered new work in Rotterdam. With The Error of Being, choreographer Tú Hoàng presented an exclusive preview of the new production by NEXT – Conny Janssen Danst. Following in the footsteps of caroline, Black Country, New Road and Tom Skinner, Nusantara Beat brilliantly fulfilled the role of Artist in Residence this year. The Dutch-Indonesian band performed for three days at the MOMO Festival, featuring an inspiring talk, a DJ set, an intimate set at Arminius, and pulling out all the stops in the main hall of Theater Rotterdam. For the Black Box Residency, NÉNÉ brought her Afrofuturist work to Rotterdam, in collaboration with Ghanaian artists, and demonstrated how wearable art can be a form of resistance and self-expression.

The city as a stage

For three days, Rotterdam served as Playground. Alongside a host of venues and surprising locations across the city, Schouwburgplein was transformed into Playground, featuring a free music program, talks, a market and workshops. My First MOMO introduced the youngest visitors to all facets of a festival, whilst the tours guided the public through unexpected corners and themes of the city. In this way, the city became a canvas for artists from diverse genres and corners of the globe, upon which visitors, creators and venues together provided surprises and new encounters.

MOMO Festival 2026 was exactly what a festival should be: a place where you arrive with expectations and leave with new discoveries and experiences.