Organizers of Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) have officially stripped promoter brands Komplott and Overgave of their festival affiliation. The announcement comes after the promoter duo doubled down on their decision to host Shlømo for an upcoming showcase at Club Panama on Wednesday, October 21.
In an official public statement, ADE executive leadership made it clear that the promoters’ response regarding the controversial booking fundamentally conflicts with the festival’s core values, mission, and community safeguarding standards.
“Conflicts Directly with ADE’s Values”
While ADE operates as a decentralized, city-wide festival where individual venue programming falls under the purview of independent promoters, the organization maintains firm oversight over which events earn its official branding and backing.
In their public announcement, ADE clarified the scope and reasoning behind revoking the event’s official status:
Promoters Prioritize Commercials Over Safeguarding
The controversy surrounding the lineup gained significant traction after a formal criminal complaint detailing allegations of rape, psychological violence, and death threats against Shlømo was submitted to the Paris Judicial Court.
Despite other major global brands—including Teletech, Verknipt, and Dour Festival—promptly removing the artist from their programming as a precautionary measure, Komplott and Overgave issued a public response defending their decision to retain him on the billing. The move drew widespread outrage across social media and the wider Dutch dance ecosystem, prompting several artists to pull out of the show and causing fans to criticize the promoters for prioritizing ticket revenue over victim support and crowd welfare.
What Happens Next for the Event?
ADE confirmed that while it can revoke its official seal, logo, and marketing network from the showcase, it does not possess the legal authority to force the host venue to cancel the show entirely.
Under ADE’s decision:
- The showcase is permanently removed from the official ADE 2026 program, directory, and ticket ecosystem.
- Komplott, Overgave, and Club Panama retain the legal right to run the party as an unbranded, standalone event.
- The final decision on whether the party moves forward independently rests solely with the venue and promoters.
The swift intervention by ADE sets a clear precedent for accountability across the global conference and festival landscape, underscoring that commercial partnerships must align with fundamental community safety standards.
