Playground is the free program of MOMO Festival, shaped by Rotterdam. A space where local makers, artists, collectives and communities take the lead. Free to access, and spread across the city centre. Playground is where ideas that live in the streets and studios of Rotterdam step forward and invite you in. No ticket required; just curiosity.
From intimate talks to diverse workshops, from themed tours to new musical discoveries, Playground reveals what is already happening just beneath the surface. It connects you with the people who give the city its energy, voice and imagination, and offers space for local makers to share their perspectives and stories.
Open to anyone who wanders in, Playground lets you experience MOMO through the eyes of Rotterdam itself; up close, personal and unexpected.
Playground returns for MOMO Festival 2027. The full program and registrations open closer to the festival. To stay in the loop, sign up for our newsletter or follow us on social media. Explore what Playground looks like below.
Every Friday and Saturday of the festival, live music fills Schouwburgplein. The line-up spans genres and backgrounds, from soulful vocals to high-energy sets, established names alongside fresh discoveries. It’s the open-air heart of Playground, with everything happening out in the open and free to join.
For our Tours, we invite local artists to create their personal city maps. It’s not about facts or landmarks, but about perspective. About how streets, hidden corners and everyday encounters have shaped their artistry and way of being in this city. How you see Rotterdam depends on who you walk with.
Through movement, sound, storytelling or collective memory, they reveal the layers most of us walk past. They don’t simply guide you through Rotterdam, but show you their version of it: the places that formed them, the details they notice, and the spots you’ve passed a hundred times without seeing what’s alive there. You get a glimpse of the exchange between artist and city, and how one inspires the other.
At Playground, you can join some in-depth programming alongside the musical performances. We collaborate with various Rotterdam-based organizations to bring you interesting conversations about the cultural scene in the city. From discussions about nightlife, to explorations of how cultural backgrounds shape musical identity, these talks offer thought-provoking perspectives on arts, culture, and society.
At Playground, you can join a handful of workshops alongside the musical performances, hands-on spaces where making becomes a language of its own. Past editions explored textile as coded storytelling, DIY microscopes as tools of play, fan zines, lyric labs, and swarm dances through the city.
Bazaar, Alles Verrassing! brings together vinyl records, second-hand clothing, handmade jewelry, and unique prints in a vibrant community gathering. More than just a market, it’s a celebration of craft, art, and sustainability. Enjoy carefully selected tunes from live DJs while discovering one-of-a-kind treasures in this sensory experience. Join our community under one glass roof at MOMO and perhaps find your holy grail or a friendship for life. Visit us on Friday and Saturday.
Food and drinks at MOMO Festival are fully vegan and made with care for each other and the environment. At Schouwburgplein will be a bar with drinks.
Drop by, and join us for a vegan break!