Wind, sun, sand and lightning revealed how deeply art and nature are intertwined at the 45th edition of Oerol. From intimate encounters in the dunes and enchanting cello music on the beach to breathtaking acrobatics high atop the Seinpaalduin, Oerol 2026 became a celebration of the island, imagination and the elements.
“After 45 years, Oerol continues to play an essential role in the cultural landscape, and Oerol ’26 proves that better than ever,” says Oerol’s Artistic Director Sabine Pater. “It is the place where bold makers gain experience, experiment, are allowed to fail, and sometimes suddenly emerge as the festival sensation. I want to thank everyone who makes it possible for us to create this together, especially in times like these.”
Interim Managing Director Joran de Boer looks back with satisfaction: “With dozens of locations spread across the island, highly relevant contemporary themes, a rich variety of artistic forms, and audiences eager to be surprised, this 45th edition attracted more than 45,000 visitors. Tickets were in high demand and we were fortunate to increase capacity for a significant number of performances. We sold nearly 90,000 tickets, and attendance for paid performances exceeded 90 percent. We are incredibly pleased with that.”
Nature as a Co-Performer
This year, the elements played a leading role. High atop the Seinpaalduin, Uitkijkers by Monki Business premiered in challenging conditions. Battling gale-force winds, performers balanced seven metres above the ground. On Friday evening, as a thunderstorm rolled across the mainland, flashes of lightning on the horizon transformed Threads by Remy van Kesteren into an experience that could only happen at Oerol. While large-scale projections by light artist Jurjen Alkema reshaped the landscape, nature itself added a spectacular light show.
Under the scorching afternoon sun, Spiral by Anne Suurendonk and Danstheater AYA unfolded as an explosion of energy. The dancers sought one another out, propelled each other forward, and repeatedly found connection in a performance pulsing with vitality and collective strength. Passing On by Werkplaats van de Woestijne received widespread acclaim as a quiet yet profound experience on the expansive beach of Hoorn, where visitors literally guided one another through the unknown. And there were rave reviews across the programme, including for Before the Story Starts by URLAND, praised by critics and audiences alike for its immersive and challenging search for the origins of storytelling.
A Multitude of Disciplines and a Pop-Up Museum
Street theatre was larger, broader and more accessible than ever, with the internationally acclaimed aerial acrobatics of Chloe Loftus Dance as one of the highlights. The Air Between Us demonstrated how artistic excellence, accessibility and inclusion can reinforce one another. The ten visual art installations spread across the island were visited more than 50,000 times in total, inviting audiences to look differently at landscape, climate, community and time.
Festival hub de Deining was embraced by both audiences and artists, with the Stamkroeg introduced as a new venue for music and talks. As always, Oerol offered established and emerging artists the opportunity to perform large-scale shows for adventurous audiences. Visitors flocked to performances by FLOSS, Rolando Bruno, De Andere Kant Van Hausmagger, C’est Qui and M2K. These days, an evening at De Deining traditionally ends with packed dance parties featuring local, national and international DJs.
Oerol 2026 may have come to an end, but those longing for one last taste of the festival can still visit De Streken, Marc van Vliet’s tidal land art installation on the Wadden Sea, until 6 September. Part of the pop-up museum in the Tonnenloods, showcasing the festival’s past, present and future, also remains open to visitors.
Oerol Festival 2027 will take place from 11 to 20 June.
