Paradise City Begins With Names

Paradise City does not arrive all at once. It starts with a list. Twenty six names released early, read slowly, saved, shared, discussed. The festival takes shape before summer through recognition. You know some immediately. Others take time. Together, they sketch the outline of what is coming.

The first names announced for the 2026 edition reflect how Paradise City moves through a day. There is patience in the selection. Artists known for long arcs and careful progression sit alongside faster, more direct energy. Richie Hawtin and Modeselektor return with the weight of experience. Jane Fitz, Marco Shuttle, ZIP, Ogazon and Lola Haro bring depth built over hours rather than moments.

As daylight fades, the programme shifts. DJ HEARTSTRING, Helena Lauwaert, Benwal and Malugi introduce momentum and release. Job Jobse’s return to the Forest Stage signals a familiar closing ritual, one where time stretches and collective focus deepens. These are not isolated bookings. They are placed with intention, shaping how people move across the site from afternoon into night.

UK influences remain central. Palms Trax and Floating Points arrive with record bags that travel across house, breaks and jazz inflections. Interplanetary Criminal adds a sharper edge rooted in garage culture. Live performance threads through the weekend, with Octo Octa, Steffi and Virginia, Takuya Nakamura and Mind Enterprises bringing texture and unpredictability to the landscape.

The setting matters. Kasteel Ribaucourt is not a backdrop but part of the experience. Stages respond to light, time and movement. Encounters happen between sets as much as during them. The theme Beneath The Surface plays out through pacing rather than spectacle. Details reveal themselves gradually. Attention is rewarded.

High demand confirms what regular visitors already know. Paradise City is built through consistency. Its identity comes from careful curation, environmental responsibility, and an understanding of how people actually spend time together. The first announcement does not aim to overwhelm. It invites you in, name by name, day by day, toward a summer that is already taking shape.

Paradise City Festival
Kasteel Ribaucourt
Kasteellaan 1, 1820 Perk, Belgium
www.paradisecity.be