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To mark fifteen years of Darklands we treated our coordinators to a special weekend in the Ardennes at the beautiful Château Modave. Every year we honor the people who keep Darklands moving, but this milestone called for something bigger.

Inspired by the tragic opera heroine Carmen, Beyond Classic 2026 dives into baroque and contemporary stories of desire, resistance and passion. Expect Carmen-inspired personas, a hint of tango and performances that blur the line between beauty and obsession.

We’re looking for 8 to 12 men to take part in a video shoot in Antwerp on Saturday the 13th of December 2025 for the Beyond Darklands visual project, the large-scale VJ projections that will light up the main screens during the festival. We’re searching for a diverse mix of men who are comfortable in front of the camera and not afraid to show their face while exploring different fetish aesthetics.

Capturing the spirit of the fetish community Anyone who has walked into Darklands over the years has likely come across the work of René Zuiderveld. His signature style captures the strength, vulnerability and playfulness of the fetish community like no one else can. Darklands has been collaborating with René for many years, not only because […]