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Beyond Darklands 2027: The Ember Dunes
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Beyond Darklands 2027: The Ember Dunes

What it is

Beyond Darklands is one of Europe's largest indoor fetish and kink festivals. It grew out of Leather Pride Belgium and ran for years as Darklands Festival before relaunching under its current name with a wider, more inclusive remit. It takes over the Waagnatie event halls on Antwerp's waterfront for a full week every February.

The festival has two halves. The Daytime Festival is the social, educational side: a vendor market spread across two halls, masterclasses on technique, safety and headspace, live shows, contests, food and drink in the Darklands Village, and the Community Zone. The nighttime parties, Homecoming, Storm, Fusion, Rage and Fury, are the club side of things and are run as male-centric spaces, with a separate FLINTA programme for guests who are female, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, trans or agender.

The part that matters most to us is the Community Zone. It's the biggest tent on the site and the festival hands it over, free of charge, to the clubs, organisations and grassroots groups that make up the scene. It's not a sales floor. It's where people find their corner of the community. Alongside us you'll find Camp K9 for the pups, Furry Land, The Stables, cigar and sneaker corners, games and quizzes, and a second-hand gear market.

Darklands welcomes the full spread of kinks and identities. Leather, rubber, pup, uniform, sports gear, and yes, diapers. Nobody there is going to look twice at a onesie.

Where we are: the ABDL Playground

We present the ABDL Playground in the Community Zone.

It's a soft landing spot. Somewhere to slow things down, sit on something comfortable, meet other kiddos and let your little side out in an open, judgment-free setting. Come in a onesie, bring your plushie, or just wander over because you're curious about what the fuss is about. There is no dress code inside the Playground and nothing you're expected to do.

It's deliberately not a show. The Playground isn't about performance or spectacle, and it isn't a play space for an audience. It's about company, comfort and taking a genuine break from the intensity of the rest of the festival. Sit down, have a chat, cuddle something soft, recharge, and head back out into the buzz whenever you feel like it.

You'll find ABU staff there throughout the Daytime Festival. Come say hello, ask us anything, and have a look at what we've brought with us.

Good to know

  • Who it's for: the Daytime Festival, including the Community Zone and the ABDL Playground, is open to everyone regardless of gender or identity. The nighttime parties are male-centric spaces with a separate FLINTA programme.

  • Ticket: you need a Daytime Festival ticket to reach the Community Zone. It covers all festival days and the Darklands Village. Party tickets are sold separately. Daytime passes have sold out ahead of the event in past years, so book early.

  • Age: this is an adults-only festival. Bring ID.

  • Dress code: the minimum for the festival floor is jeans and a dark t-shirt. Most people go a lot further. Inside the Playground, wear whatever feels right.

  • Getting there: the venue is on the Scheldt waterfront, about five minutes' walk from the MAS museum, on tram lines 7 and 24 and bus 17. Antwerp Central station is a short tram ride away and is well connected to Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne.

  • Care on site: free condoms, lube, gloves and hand sanitiser throughout, free earplugs, a low stimulus room during parties, wheelchair access in most areas, and sign language interpretation for main stage performances.

  • First time? Go during the quieter daytime hours, earlier in the week. The market and the Community Zone are much easier to take in before the weekend crowds arrive.