Oerol Festival 2026

Oerol

Info & shops

Festival hub de Deining

Podium: de Vallei

Bostheater

West-End theatre

Street theatre

Visual art

Performance

Talks

Oerol late

Friends special

Professionals

Tonnenloods

Food

Workshop

Werkplaats

with festival wristband

with professionals wristband and ticket

with festival wristband and ticket

with Vrienden wristband and ticket

On the beach of Hoorn, seven floating objects move with the wind, together forming a choreography of surrender.

32. Valerie van Leersum

The Wanderers

Turbine Songs explores the sound of the energy transition using wind turbines that create music. Can humans, technology, and nature resonate together?

38. Dennis van Tilburg

Turbine Songs

The 100-year-old Magda marks her final hour, accompanied by the music of climate activist and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. What must be left behind as she enters her grave?

20. Cello Octet Amsterdam/Sophie van Winden

CODA

Take to the skies and discover the invisible bond that keeps us together.

2. Vriendenactie  | Chloe Loftus Dance

The Air Between Us

De Oare Kant dives into the inner world of a woman whose partner comes out as gay after a long-term relationship. A physical and visual trip.

28. Tryater / Romke Gabe Draaijer

De Oare Kant

Together with the audience, dancers traverse the emptiness of the open field. Driven by the rhythm of a ritual, a collective destination approaches, but we are Not Yet there.

14. Ivgi&Greben

Not Yet

Come and listen to the urban troubadour of Deventer, who has caught the ferry to her favourite island!

Vriendenactie | Vera Bon

Vera Bon

A conversation about ecological changes, both large and small, and the future of the sea – and the question of whether the tide can be turned.

Flow conversation: Veranderende zeeën

Vloedgesprek: Veranderende zeeën

Discover what the first Surinamese opera still has to tell us more than a century later.

31. Theater Rotterdam / Mathieu Wijdeven

Helstone in Het Pand der Goden

Elfie Tromp’s Late Night Show has become something of a cult phenomenon in her hometown of Rotterdam. For Oerol, she brings her sparkling evening of performance to pizzeria Isola Bella. Joined by a colourful line-up of eccentric and extraordinary acts, she creates a night inspired by the theme of homesickness, culminating in a jubilant karaoke finale with the audience.

Late Night Show met Elfie Tromp

Oerol Laat | Isola Bella

How does it affect parents and children when they don't look like one another? A musical theatre performance about motherhood, identity, and growing up in a culturally diverse society.

11. BonteHond

ZOEK DE VERSCHILLEN

In 'Luisterend Landschap', Dennis van Tilburg and Karlijn Hamer reflect on artistic practices that emerge through direct collaboration with the natural environment of Terschelling. Together with Staatsbosbeheer, they explore how sustainability can become not just a theme or policy, but an integral part of the artistic process itself. Dennis van Tilburg discusses his visual art project Turbine Songs, a wind-powered sound and landscape artwork in which energy production becomes audible and tangible. Karlijn Hamer shares the ideas behind NYX, an intimate listening experience that invites audiences to consciously experience the transition from day to night within Terschelling’s dark sky landscape.

Dennis van Tilburg, Karlijn Hamer & Staatsbosbeheer

Luisterend Landschap met Lin An Phoa

KRA solves all the world's problems, starting with pollution. How? By creating an action movie about climate heroes&amp;mdash;on the spot and together with you! Who inspires real change?

2. Mission Arnold Schwarzenegger

What do 'The Decoyman and the King', 'Aretas', and 'The Little Orange' have in common? Everything has its own history and its own tales.

Vriendenactie | De Terugreizigers

Wonderlijke Waarheden van Terschelling

BLAUWDRUK takes one last stand against the privileged position of Western humanity. A remixed trilogy by land, sea, and air.

37. Collectief Blauwdruk

Een Privilege Trilogie

Enchanting musical theatre that sprinkles love potion in your eyes and jolts you awake. About dreaming, being defiant, and daring to do something, or nothing at all.

3. Veenfabriek

Pucks Midzomernachtsdroom

Let yourself be swept away by high drama, mysticism, and the over-the-top melodrama of 90's Mexican telenovelas.

Vriendenactie | San Cha

San Cha

Artist and architect Rain Wu makes the ever-shifting boundary between the Oerol festival grounds and the surrounding nature visible. We call this boundary the Raaklijn.

35. SoAP / Rain Wu and Rita Hoofwijk

Raaklijn

Visit our service point for all your questions and a flying start to your festival. Pick up your wristband right away and get expert advice on the performances and everything else Oerol has to offer. Plus, you’ll find the best festival merchandise here to complete your Oerol outfit!

Service point & Shop

Theatre maker Davy Pieters explores the shifting relationship between water and the lives of those inhabiting coastal regions.

Theaterproductiehuis Zeeland / Davy Pieters

Stories of the shore

Discover a growing atlas of changing coastlines and stories from the communities that belong to them, all around the North Sea. Come listen and help build the coastal landscape of the future.

Eva Koopmans / Wandelende Duinen

Entangled Shorelines

Roll up your sleeves for the island and make the beach plastic free with the Jutfabriek, Nullshima Studio and the Waddenvereniging.

Jutfabriek / Waddenvereniging / Sterke Yerke

Strandjutten met Wad Gaat Om

De Dagkrant is celebrating its 30th anniversary and that won't happen quietly. In this talk show, host Lin An Phoa sits down with editors-in-chief Fien Veldman and Willem Sjoerd van Vliet to discuss the renewed direction of De Dagkrant: from online experiments to 'De Nachtkrant' and everything in between. Naturally, there will be plenty of attention for one of Oerol’s most beloved traditions: lokroepjes. Expect a selection of remarkable, funny, touching, and delightfully chaotic messages from thirty years of festival history.

De Dagkrant & Lin An Phoa

30 Jaar De Dagkrant

Discover the plans of nine international artists for new site-specific works and stick around for the communal professionals' lunch.

IN SITU

IN SITU Immersive Lab: Artist Pitches

For those not ready to to call it a night, Oerol now goes Late! Head to De Stoep and celebrate the night with Zenmenn Live Karaoke. Feel young, sexy, and famous, throw your arms in the air, and sing!

Zenmenn Live Karaoke

Oerol Laat | De Stoep

Once again, you can hit the island streets in style with our latest Oerol merch! From festival classics like t-shirts, socks, and sweaters to brand-new items like our ultra-comfy beach bag and our special anniversary collection. Time to level up your festival look!

Shop

De Dansers invite you to step into their world. Join in with a choreography that unfolds on the spot, guided by Josephine van Rheenen and live music.

10. De Dansers

Building A Dance

In this glass installation, the weakening of global ocean currents is made visible. Though they remain unseen to the naked eye, these currents are the primary architects of our climate.

30. Suzette Bousema

Through visual, physical comedy, Bambie highlights the absurd complexity of contemporary nature management.

Bambie gaat tot de bodem

Immerse yourself in a world we know less about than the moon or Mars: the immense world beneath the water's surface.

26. Marjolijn Boterenbrood

Marine Migrants

Nobody knows anymore what is real and what is fiction in this psychedelic narrative trip. So, we are all the foolish hero with good intentions, Don Quixote. Or not?

6. Het Zuidelijk Toneel

Not Quichot

One last time towards the horizon: join artist Marc van Vliet for the grand finale of De Streken in 2026.

36. Vriendenactie | Marc van Vliet

De Streken

Alexander Moto is at war with the Sandman! On Schylge, the wordsmith aims to bury the hatchet in his pillows once and for all. Do you dare to dream along?

Alexander Moto

nimmen sliept sêft sûnder stilte

An investigation into solace: Marte Boneschansker &amp; Adelheid Roosen seek the feeling of solid ground in a wavering world.

17. Company Marte Boneschansker

A danced manifesto for peace in cocreation with Indigenous artists from North America.

29.  Nicole Beutler Projects / Rematriation

ROOM IN OUR HOUSE

Ecoshroom is an interactive installation that brings plants, fungi, artificial intelligence, and humans together in an autonomous living system, exploring how they can collaborate in symbiosis.

23. Ivan Henriques

Ecoshroom - S.O.I.L.

Exclusive, intimate performances in West-Terschelling’s stunning art deco theater.

West-end Theater

Various acts

Visit our service point for all your questions and a flying start to your festival. Pick up your wristband right away and get expert advice on the performances and everything else Oerol has to offer.

Service point

What does it feel like to be a polluted river, or a clear-cut forest? Like bodies living with chronic pain? In search of interdependence within a damaged landscape.

Toni Kritzer

we read our pain like coordinates

Share your island stories with Knaap and de Vos; together, we’ll forge your input into the ultimate, one-of-a-kind levenslied for the Friends of Oerol 2026.

IB. Vriendenactie | Knaap & de Vos

Atop the former water tower of Hoorn stands a viewing device designed to both face the unknowable and see it eye to eye. A glimpse of this familiar yet mysterious celestial body.

34. Thijs Ebbe Fokkens

Moon Gazer

How can construction systems be shaped by ecological processes? A living experiment with biobased shell blocks in the Wadden Sea.

Laurien Zwaans

WADWERKEN

After a container ship spill in the Wadden Sea, a plastic pony washes ashore. It has had a revelation and needs your voice.

18. Nullshima Studio

My Little Tragedy

Virtuoso harp, electronics, and light art in the dark landscape. Threads is an immersive experience at Oerol 2026.

12. Remy van Kesteren

Threads

Discover the new artistic proposals of European talent during these intimate work-in-progress presentations as part of the IN SITU Immersive Lab.

IN SITU Immersive Lab: Artistic Gestures

Three top jugglers show what usually remains hidden: the failures behind the success. An ode to failure, performed with juggling balls.

8. Tall Tales Company

Droplines

The historical Tonnenloods on Terschelling is transforming from a workshop into a modern public center; until then, Oerol is staging a take-over. Visit film and multimedia projects that provide a unique perspective on Terschelling, the Wadden Sea region, and 45 years of Oerol.

TL. Oerol X Tonnenloods

Film- & multimedia

What if, in the noise, silence becomes audible? Experience the magic of the sunrise in all its glory.

36. Vriendenactie | Ilma Trip

Ochtendmeditatie op de Streken

Due to a remarkable twist of circumstances, we decided to do things differently. No nostalgia, no archive boxes, no “remember when”. Instead: a leap forward. We asked De Intuïtie Industrie to build a time machine and travel to the year 2071 — exactly 45 years into the future — to invite the owner of the legendary POESS POESS DISCO CLUP to bring the party back to 2026 for one night only. As a gift. As a love letter. To Oerol.

Poess Poess Disco Club

Oerol Laat | West aan Zee

Through Valerie van Leersum's artwork, we breathe life into the soulful stories of the Wadden Sea, fostering a deeper connection with our World Heritage site.

33. Vriendenactie | Waddenvereniging x Valerie van Leersum

Waddenvereniging x Oerol - Valerie van Leersum

What if you yourself become part of the story? Step into a Live Action Role Play (LARP) and determine the course of this family history.

27. Via Berlin

What happens when we meet?

Live television show by AVROTROS. From Monday till Friday, Opium op Oerol will be reporting live from the festival. Join us!

5.  AVROTROS

Opium op Oerol

Let the forest ranger set you up on a blind date and become buddies with a true Terschelling land goat!

Vriendenactie | Staatsbosbeheer x Oerol

Giro GeitGeitGeit

Ten people attempt to merge with nature. Voices, movement and percussion meld with the landscape. A musical performance in which you disappear.

15. Studio Vacuüm / NKK NXT

An Elegy

A sanctuary for creators seeking experimentation, nestled among the trees of the Formerum Forest.

various acts

DEGASTEN maakt theater in Amsterdam met jonge spelers en makers (van 13 tot 31 jaar). Ontwikkeling van spel, beweging, verbeelding en samenwerking staat centraal. Het maakproces van TIDE begon met een vooronderzoek op Oerol 2025. In oktober begonnen dertien spelers samen met makers Sem Jonkers en Adanma Okoro met trainen, spelen en het onderzoeken van de thematiek – de kracht van water. Hierna volgden het maken, repeteren, doorontwikkelen en monteren van wat uiteindelijk TIDE zou worden: een montagevoorstelling, bestaande uit verschillend materiaal en losse scènes. Op Oerol laten zij een bijzondere editie op locatie zien: jongeren die voelen dat het anders moet. Voor iedereen die durft te bewegen zonder precies te weten waar het eindigt.

DEGASTEN

TIDE

A tidal installation on the mudflats near Oosterend, continuously influenced by the ebb and flow. Experience the Wadden Sea in motion.

36. Marc van Vliet

De streken

From our humble beginnings on the pavement at Café de Stoep, street theatre has remained at the heart of Oerol. This year is no different, with Midsland, West-Terschelling, Hoorn, and at festival hub de Deining playing host to a bold mix of modern street acts, including several exclusive new commissions.

Various artists

It’s time to see the other side of Hausmagger: acoustic, raw, and damn good, journeying through all the gems that missed the setlist in previous years.

IB. Vriendenactie | De Andere Kant van Hausmagger

De Andere Kant van Hausmagger

Swap your theatre seat for a backstage crash course in the world behind the scenes.

6. Vriendenactie | Het Zuidelijk Toneel

Nothing but the Truth

Being yourself, losing yourself, finding yourself again. In Spiral, a group of dancers takes you on a collective journey to transcend the everyday.

16. Danstheater AYA / Anne Suurendonk

Spiral

Four acrobats portray the wildest dreams for the future on a seven-meter-high climbing structure. An invitation to look ahead and dare to fantasize together.

1. Monki Business

Uitkijkers

Master storyteller Thomas Dudkiewicz travels through the subconscious of the universe, asking himself: why does he tell stories? Every encounter brings him back to himself.

19. URLAND

Before The Story Starts

Klankkast is a walk and mini-concert by Arjen Boerstra in the smallest concert hall in Europe.