Why this week feels different

Haarlem Live starts tomorrow: a new city festival from 12 to 16 August 2026. Five days of live music across the centre. Jazz, soul, funk, pop, dance and more. On Grote Markt, Botermarkt, Klokhuisplein and in dozens of cafés and bars.

The festival is an initiative of PHIL, Patronaat and De Pletterij, working with hospitality, artists and volunteers across the city.

What to expect

On the programme page you can filter by day, venue and genre. Wednesday 12 August includes a free screening of *Les parapluies de Cherbourg* at Schuur, plus evening sets in cafés such as Stiels and The Wolfhound. After that the squares fill with afternoon concerts and the bar circuit runs late.

Organisers say almost 95% of the programme is free. A few indoor shows need tickets. Those are marked clearly on the programme entry.

Practical notes

Haarlem Centraal is about a ten-minute walk from the main festival squares. Trains run from Amsterdam Centraal (about 15 min), Leiden (about 25 min) and Schiphol (about 20 min). Bus 300 stops at Verwulft, close to the old centre.

Prefer train or bike. Driving into the centre will be busy. Garages at Station, De Kamp, Raaks, Appelaar and Houtplein remain options if you do drive. More detail sits on the visitor info page.

Outdoor stages are wheelchair accessible. NIX18 applies. Outside food and drink are not allowed on the event grounds. Programme changes go out on Instagram via @haarlemlive.

Pair it with a walk

Got a gap between sets? Run a short self-guided walk through the centre. Start when you want, pause for a stage, then pick the app back up.

• Haarlem Highlights for a quick intro around Grote Markt
• Haarlem Pub Crawl if you are already hopping café stages
• Hidden courtyards for a quiet contrast between gigs

Source

Programme, venues and house rules: haarlem.live. Check that site before you go. Line-ups can still shift.