Brainwash Festival

In October, Brainwash Festival returns,  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.

Brainwash Festival 2026
At Brainwash Festival, you’ll meet leading thinkers, writers, scientists and artists. Together, we explore the world of today and tomorrow through thought-provoking conversations, fresh perspectives and inspiring ideas that invite you to see yourself and society in a different light.

Hopeful ideas for the world of tomorrow
Brainwash Festival returns this October. With an exclusive Opening Night featuring Deborah Levy on Thursday 29 October, a live recording of Het Filosofisch Kwintet on Friday 30 October, and a full festival weekend on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November, there will be plenty of room for sharp questions, uncomfortable insights and radical visions.
Together with philosophers, writers, scientists and artists, we question what seems self-evident, break open what appears set in stone, and explore hopeful ideas for the world of tomorrow.

The Shape of Us
At Brainwash Festival 2026, we explore our central theme, The Shape of Us, from different perspectives: a search for what connects us, what divides us and how we can shape the future together. Through performances, lectures, conversations, films and encounters that make new possibilities imaginable.

Line-up
Here’s who you’ll meet at Brainwash Festival: Deborah Levy, Etgar Keret, Tina Farifteh, Damiaan Denys, Hartmut Rosa, Ece Temelkuran, Didier Eribon, Minna Salami, Poezieboys, Hettie O'Brien, Alicja Gescinska, Sophie Straat, Haroon Sheikh, Maureen Ghazal, Frank Chouraqui, Nadia Bouras, Paul Verhagen, Simoon Hermus, Tom Hofland, Yasmin Ait Abderrahman, The Hmm, The Smartphone Orchestra, Kees Foekema, Jörgen Gario, Roan Kasanmonadi, Yentl van Stokkum, Lynn Berger, Floris Rijssenbeek, Kristien Hens, Mel Kikkert, Ingmar Heytze, Forugh Karimi, Roel Meijvis, Sarah Arnolds, Joost de Vries, Elfie Tromp, Anissa El Mazouzi and many more!

For more information and updates on the line-up, follow Brainwash Festival on Instagram.
 

Description of the programme

BRAINWASH SATURDAY
Saturday 31st of october 2026
Tolhuistuin Amsterdam

BRAINWASH SUNDAY
Sunday 1st of november 2026
Tolhuistuin Amsterdam

The language of the programs are both English and Dutch.

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