Festivals and Parties in Eindhoven

Eindhoven knows how to throw a party. The calendar is full of festivals that make the city famous far beyond the Netherlands: Dutch Design Week in October, GLOW in November and carnival in February. On this page you will find all festivals, celebrations and big parties coming up in Eindhoven.

GLOW: the festival of light

Every November, GLOW turns the city centre of Eindhoven into a walking route of light art. For a week, artists from the Netherlands and abroad transform buildings, squares and parks with light installations along a route of about five kilometres. Admission is free, and the festival attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. In 2026 GLOW also includes, for the first time, a drone show at the Philips Stadion. GLOW refers to Eindhoven's nickname, the City of Light, which comes from its Philips history.

Dutch Design Week

Dutch Design Week is the biggest design event in northern Europe, with more than a hundred locations across the city for nine days in October. It is not a party in the usual sense, but the city is buzzing: exhibitions in old factories, installations on squares, and evening programmes at Strijp-S.

Carnival: Eindhoven becomes Lampegat

In February the south of the Netherlands celebrates carnival, and for a few days Eindhoven changes its name to Lampegat, roughly "lamp hole", another reference to the light bulb factories. People greet each other with "salaai", dress up in costumes, and celebrate in the streets, cafés and squares. There is a parade through the city, Stratumseind is the beating heart of the nightlife, and the festivities close on Tuesday evening, the day before Ash Wednesday.

King's Day and Liberation Day

On King's Day (27 April) the Netherlands turns orange. There are free markets where everyone can sell their old things, music on the squares and parties all day. On 5 May, Liberation Day, festivals across the country celebrate freedom. In Eindhoven, the liberation of 18 September 1944 is also remembered every year with the Lichtjesroute, a route of light decorations through the neighbourhoods.

Tips for festivals in Eindhoven

• Leave the car at home. During GLOW and carnival, streets in the centre are closed and car parks fill up. Take the train, the bus or the bike, or use a P+R location on the edge of the city.
• Plan your evening. At GLOW, weekday evenings are generally quieter than weekends. There is no fixed starting point: you can join the route anywhere.
• Dress up for carnival. You will feel out of place without a costume. A colourful hat and a scarf already go a long way.
• Mind your senses. Light festivals use flashing lights; GLOW advises people with photosensitive epilepsy not to visit.

Sinterklaas and the holidays

In mid-November Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands, and in Eindhoven his arrival is a big family event in the city centre. Later, the Christmas period brings lights, markets and concerts, and New Year's Eve ends the year with fireworks across the city.

Organising a festival?

Do you organise a festival, street party or celebration in Eindhoven? Add it to the calendar for free. For more plans, see our guide to nightlife in Eindhoven, the free events and the calendar by month.