As we prepare for the upcoming edition of ADE Green, we’re excited to share a look behind the scenes of how this year’s program is being shaped. From balancing practical tools to addressing the challenges facing our industry, this article offers an early glimpse at the conversation you’ll experience on Friday, October 24. We’re also kicking off ticket sales  — we’d love to welcome you into the room.

A Program with Purpose: How ADE Green Comes Together

As ADE Green enters its second decade, the role of the conference has become clearer than ever: not just to inform or inspire, but to connect. The people who gather here each October in Amsterdam come from across the music ecosystem — artists, bookers, brands, production managers, policymakers, and activists. For one day, they step outside the urgency of their day-to-day roles to meet, listen, and imagine what comes next.

Carlijn Lindemulder, Head of Program for ADE Green, has been shaping that one-day journey for years. But how does a program like ADE Green actually come together? What defines it? And what makes it worth showing up for?

“Culture can spark imagination, tell new stories. And that’s what we need right now: inspiring stories about change.” – Carlijn Lindemulder, Head of Program of ADE Green

A Platform with Reach

With thousands of conference visitors, the Amsterdam Dance Event offers visibility at scale, which has made it a powerful tool for agenda-setting since the beginning. But more than that, it offers the chance to put people in a room who don’t normally cross paths. A festival director might sit beside a policy strategist. An artist might meet a city official. This is where conversations begin that ripple far beyond the conference walls.

Not Just for the Experts

One of Carlijn’s key goals is making sure ADE Green doesn’t become a space just for the converted. “We definitely don’t want to be a conference only for pioneers or sustainability managers. You can make a huge difference from inside a brand, a music agency, a production company.”

That means designing a program that’s both deep and wide: from practical tools for event producers to reflective sessions on human rights, culture and ethics. Some talks draw a full house. Others are smaller, quieter, more future-facing. “Sometimes we program something we know won’t be packed, but it needs to be put on the agenda. And I believe that through this, conversations will grow.”

A Curated Balance

Each year, the programming team builds a framework across themes: social and environmental, practical and conceptual, for newcomers and seasoned professionals alike. There’s a conscious balance between urgency and inspiration.

One session might focus on navigating ethical partnerships in a complex world. Another might explore the emotional power of music in times of crisis. A third might break down energy grid solutions for large-scale festivals.

Topics are drawn from both industry insight and broader cultural shifts. The team also consults widely with peers across Europe to make sure the agenda reflects what matters now. “We ask: is it relevant? Can someone take this into their work? Will it open up something they hadn’t thought of before?”

A Place to Meet the Movement

For Carlijn, one of the most important roles of ADE Green is community building. She recalls early-career moments of feeling isolated, unsure where to begin. That’s why creating a space where people can meet peers, form alliances, and feel part of something larger is so central. You might leave with a notebook full of ideas, or you might leave knowing one new person who helps you build the next thing.

What You’ll Find This Year

While the full program is still under wraps, this year’s edition promises new depth in key areas. From the role of artists in climate storytelling, to how the sector defines and measures impact, to sessions on ethical business choices and collective goal-setting, the focus remains on relevance and application. “The people in the room have audiences, networks, platforms. If they take something away and act on it, the impact is exponential.”

Your Invitation To ADE Green

If you’ve never been to ADE Green, you’re exactly who it’s for. The program is built to be accessible, layered, and honest — not just informative, but energising.

“Come see for yourself. You don’t have to have the answers – just come curious. And maybe you’ll leave knowing how to take that first step.” – Carlijn Lindemulder, ADE Green

ADE Green Ticket Sales

Tickets for ADE Green 2025 are available now, get yours here. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with leading minds in sustainability, social change, and the music industry.