Brainwash Festival

In October, Brainwash Festival returns with a two-day (!) festival, for the first time at Tolhuistuin. We’ll once again be challenging the status quo alongside philosophers, writers, scientists and artists. We’ll be reviewing our beliefs, overturning assumptions and striding optimistically into the future.

At Brainwash Festival 2026, we will explore this year’s theme, the shape of us, from a variety of perspectives. Through performances, talks, lectures, films and encounters that make the new conceivable.

The theme this year: the shape of us 

Before our eyes, a world that long felt self-evident is shifting. Political systems are under strain, technology is pushing deeper into our daily lives, and autonomy turns out to be far less stable than we assumed. It is not just the world around us that is changing — it is the way we live together.

Can we still think in terms of a “we”? Shared values, a shared story? Or have we quietly unlearned how to do that?

As much we like to believe we can manage on our own, we need each other. Perhaps more than ever, in a world shaped by forces that pull us apart. It is precisely in the fractures that new perspectives emerge. Visions of the future that set us in motion.

During Brainwash Festival, we give shape to this search through performances, talks, lectures, films and encounters that unsettle, challenge and make the new imaginable.

Read all about the theme and sub themes here.

Line-up

The first names have been announced! Here’s who you’ll encounter at the Brainwash Festival.

• Hartmut Rosa

• Didier Eribon

• Alicja Gescinska

• Forugh Karimi

• Simoon Hermus

• Hettie O’Brien

• Sarah Arnolds

• Ece Temelkuran

• Roel Meijvis

• Roan Kasanmonadi

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Description of the programme

BRAINWASH SATURDAY
Saturday 31st of october 2026
Tolhuistuin Amsterdam

BRAINWASH SUNDAY
Sunday 1st of november 2026
Tolhuistuin Amsterdam

About our event partners

Tijdens Brainwash Festival komen filosofen, wetenschappers, kunstenaars en schrijvers samen om de grote vragen van deze tijd te verkennen en vanzelfsprekendheden te bevragen. We brengen gevestigde namen en nieuwe stemmen samen. Brainwash Festival is er voor iedereen die zin heeft om via een gezonde dosis verwarring tot nieuwe inzichten te komen.  Ons programma bestaat uit talks, voordrachten, debat en gesprek.

Location