The quays alongside the river Scheldt have protected the city from the raging waters for centuries and are undergoing a much-needed renewal and reinforcement, including the section in front of our home, Waagnatie.

Although the venue itself will remain available, the surrounding area will be repurposed as construction site. For the vast outdoor festival site, a long hibernation awaits, well beyond 2030. And so ends the wondrous 15-year journey of this unique kink festival.

But, …, every ending bears a new beginning. A new destination emerges from the many exciting ideas that have been ripening, waiting for the right time to shine.

We have been preparing for this moment for a while now and are excited about the new concept we will be able to share starting in 2026. Instead of spreading out wide over the Waagnatie festival grounds …  we are going up … and deep.

Are you ready to discover what lies Beyond Darklands?

In the coming months more details will be revealed. We have an otherworldly concept, taking kink to a whole new level. With as much love and dedication as we did before.

With love from Antwerp

Jeroen Van Lievenoogen
on behalf of the Darklands team