Outsiders and Brennan Heart will finally get the chance to bring their special shows to the RED at Defqon.1 in 2027. Both artists were set to play major roles on the mainstage during the previous edition, but months of preparation went to waste when the festival was brought to an early end. During The Kick-Off, it has now been revealed that Outsiders will return for the Opening Ceremony, while Brennan Heart will once again take on The Spotlight.
ALSO READ: Defqon.1 reveals 2027 theme: The Deepening
Brennan Heart gets a second chance for The Spotlight
The Spotlight is one of the most special moments on the RED. For this show, Q-dance works closely with an artist to create an experience that goes far beyond a regular set. Lasers, lights, pyro and music come together in a show built entirely around the artist. In 2026, that honor went to Brennan Heart. The hardstyle icon spent months working on his own Spotlight, but due to the early cancellation of Defqon.1, the show never became reality.
“It really was a rollercoaster,” he reflects. “There was an emotional attachment and a whole creative process behind it as well. Once you’re on a creative rollercoaster like that, you keep giving it more. You think: this is sick, let’s do a little more of this, let’s invite a singer. It’s still painful.”
A few weeks after the cancellation, Brennan Heart sat down with Q-dance again. “They asked me: ‘Are you open to do The Spotlight in 2027?’ And I was like: yeah, let’s do it!”
Brennan Heart will therefore get another opportunity to develop a full Spotlight. One thing is already certain: the original concept for 2026 will not simply be transferred one-to-one to the RED. “Everything we came up with was for that moment, in that moment. It’s definitely not going to be copy-paste to the new year,” he explains. “What are you going to see in 2027? Definitely not the set that I had in mind for the edition of 2026, but something that will surprise the fans, but also something that’s typically Brennan Heart.”
Outsiders opens the RED during the Opening Ceremony
For Outsiders, Friday, June 25 will finally be the moment. Once again, he has been given the honor of taking care of the Opening Ceremony on the RED: the traditional moment when thousands of Warriors rush towards the mainstage to catch their first glimpse of its imposing design.
Outsiders was given that exact same honor for Defqon.1 2026. Months of preparation went into his special show, but due to the cancellation, that moment never came. Q-dance has now put its trust in him once again to open the RED on Friday. “As most of you guys know, last year I was given the honor to do the Opening Ceremony on the RED stage. We all know what happened, we don’t need to talk about that anymore,” Outsiders says. “I’m very happy and proud to be able to announce that I have been given the exact same show in 2027.”
The show will not be completely identical, however. “There were months and months of preparations that went into that show, so all that hard work was not for nothing. Of course, I’m going to do some new stuff. Again, a lot of months of preparation will go into next year.”
Defqon.1 2027 – The Deepening
Defqon.1 2027 will take place from Thursday, June 24 through Sunday, June 27 at the Holy Grounds in Biddinghuizen. With only 25% of all tickets still available, high demand is expected during the upcoming sales moments.
Ticket sales will be divided across three moments. The DEDIQATED Sale starts on Tuesday, October 27, giving members priority access. The Travel Sale follows on Thursday, October 29, before the General Sale starts on Saturday, October 31. Availability is limited, and a DEDIQATED Membership does not guarantee a ticket.
The Defqon.1 2027 Wishlist is also available now, allowing visitors to prepare for the upcoming ticket sales. Visit the official Defqon.1 website for the Wishlist, tickets and more information.
