November Music 2026 – Contemporary Music Festival in Den Bosch

Welcome to the November Music 2026 in Den Bosch

November Music 2026, the 34th edition, runs from 20 to 29 November in ’s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch), the Netherlands. For ten days it joins contemporary composed music, jazz, electronics, pop and interdisciplinary work under the line “Where sounds become stories”. There is no single festival field: the two hubs are the Verkadefabriek (Boschdijkstraat 45) and Theater aan de Parade (Parade 23), with further concerts at Willem Twee, Podium Azijnfabriek, the Grote Kerk and Design Museum Den Bosch. A date for 2027 has not been announced.

Highlights & Attractions at November Music in Den Bosch

• Artist in Residence 2026 is Thomas Azier: the audiovisual piece Panorama with Philzuid, an exhibition at Design Museum Den Bosch from 5 November, and a role as co-curator.
• Opening Friday 20 November with GoGo Penguin, the North Sea String Quartet (ZONAR) and Spinvis at Theater aan de Parade and Podium Azijnfabriek.
• Ambient Night on Saturday 21 November, including SML, Dorian Concept, Eric Vloeimans (Canto Ostinato) and Adrien Pallot, spread across several rooms.
• Sunday 22 November: Het Muziek and Bang on a Can All-Stars with Louis Andriessen’s Hoketus and new work by Michael Gordon, plus Yarn/Wire.
• Friday 27 November: Grammy-winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth at the Grote Kerk, and Reinier Baas with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
• Clubnight on Saturday 28 November at the Verkadefabriek (19:00–00:00), including Club Guy & Roni, Maddie Ashman and Lander & Adriaan.
• Around the evening concerts: premieres in Bosch Labyrint, family pieces (Mispoes from age 4, Sound Explorers from age 6), free lunchtime concerts and sound installations.

Program & Schedule: What to Expect in 2026

The full programme has been online since 1 September 2026. There is no festival-wide pass: every concert has its own start time and room. Early pieces begin around 11:00 (SoundBites, family shows); evening concerts often fall between 19:00 and 22:30. Ambient Night and Clubnight run until about midnight. Some side events, including the Thomas Azier exhibition at Design Museum Den Bosch, open on 5 November, before the official festival start on 20 November.

The bill stays at the meeting point of new composed music, jazz, electronics and music theatre. Besides the names above, the edition includes Dutch premieres (Huba de Graaff, Camiel Jansen, Wilbert Bulsink, Celia Swart), Michel van der Aa, Ensemble Modelo62, Holland Opera, BLINDMAN (Donnie Darko with live music) and the industry afternoon NMConnects. Some tickets, including the GoGo Penguin / North Sea String Quartet combi, were already sold out by mid-October. Current times are only on novembermusic.net.

Tickets & Admission for November Music Den Bosch

There is no ticket for the whole festival. Four official types exist: single concert tickets, combi tickets (two or more linked concerts, cheaper than buying them apart), evening tickets and artist tickets for several shows by the same musician. Buy them at novembermusic.net, or by phone on +31 (0)73 681 8160. Prices confirmed at the Theater aan de Parade box office as of October 2026: Mispoes 5 euro, Sound Explorers and Composing for Grown Ups 10 euro each, Het Muziek 22.50 euro, GoGo Penguin 27.50 euro, Bang on a Can All-Stars 30 euro, Ambient Night 35 euro, and the GoGo Penguin plus North Sea String Quartet combi 45 euro. Some lunch concerts and installations are free. Other nights may differ — check the amount on that concert’s page. The early-bird window closed on 21 June 2026.

Visitor Tips: Travel & Accommodation in Den Bosch

• Getting there: ’s-Hertogenbosch station is about a ten-minute walk from the Verkadefabriek and about 15–20 minutes from Theater aan de Parade. Intercity trains link the city with Utrecht, Eindhoven and Amsterdam, among others. City-centre venues are walkable; leave time between rooms on the same night.
• Weather: November in Den Bosch is cool and often wet, usually single digits to low teens Celsius. Bring a coat, sturdy shoes and a compact rain layer. Halls warm up, so a layer you can take off helps.
• Where to stay: The centre is compact, and hotels and B&Bs near the station and the Parade fill up on festival weekends. Book early. Parking at the Verkadefabriek (P1, P2, P3, paid) or in city-centre garages for Theater aan de Parade.
• Build a route, not a day pass: Two or three concerts in one evening work if they share a building or sit a short walk apart. Combi and evening tickets are made for that. Check the exact hall before you leave — “Theater aan de Parade” covers Pleinzaal, Casinozaal, foyer and café.
• Sold out is not the whole festival: single tickets and other nights may still be open. Free items (sound walks, some lunch concerts, Moving Strings) often still need a reservation on the programme page. No date has been set for 2027.