Blog

The new Festival Guide is out!

31/12/2025

In his own unmistakable way, Mr. Jay introduces the very first copy of the new Beyond Darklands Festival Guide and it makes an immediate impression. With 156 pages, this edition goes far beyond a practical booklet and becomes a true roadmap into the city that is Beyond Darklands. The guide brings together everything the festival […]

Doing the holidays your way

23/12/2025

A warm message from Mr. Jay and the Beyond Darklands team about taking care of yourself and each other during the holiday season. About responsibility, mental well-being and remembering that you don’t have to prove anything. Not online, not to others, not to yourself. Do the holidays at your own pace, in your own way. […]

A big thank you to our coordinators

11/12/2025

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.

Beyond Classic 2026

26/11/2025

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.

MOREPIXX? celebrates 10 years

28/10/2025

For a full decade, MOREPIXX? has captured the essence of international gay fetish photography. What started as a daring competition has evolved into a platform that celebrates raw talent, bold creativity and the beauty of fetish art. This year marks the 10th edition of the iconic MOREPIXX? exhibition at Beyond Darklands.

Casting Call

17/10/2025

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.

First look at Beyond Darklands 2026

15/10/2025

In this exclusive behind-the-scenes teaser, Mr. Jay takes you back to the iconic Waagnatie in Antwerp for a first glimpse at the world that’s taking shape for Beyond Darklands 2026. Standing amidst the raw concrete and steel of Hall 1, Mr. Jay reveals what’s next. For now, it’s just an empty shell filled with echoes, […]

The Hottest Pool in Maspalomas

15/10/2025

As part of Maspalomas Fetish Pride, Darklands Wet & Wild took over Axel Beach Maspalomas for a full day of sunshine, music and pure excitement. From the first splash to the last beat, the poolside turned into a playground where kink and fun came together. DJs ANDRO-G, William Sizen Bell and Alejandro Alvarez kept the […]

René Zuiderveld Photography

3/10/2025

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 […]