Hard Bass is about to return to the GelreDome for one night only. As one of the most iconic hardstyle events of all time, its comeback fulfills a long-standing wish for countless fans around the world. Especially for B2S’ 25th anniversary, the mission is being rebuilt once again: “We secretly missed it quite a bit ourselves too.”
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B2S continued to notice just how much Hard Bass still meant to fans in the years following its final edition in 2019. Four teams in one stadium: many of us grew up in the stands of the massive venue and experienced its live sets in person, on DVD or from the dancefloor. The anniversary provided the perfect opportunity to bring the iconic team concept back one more time.
“It’s really cool to see that people are still so excited about Hard Bass”
According to B2S, the timing simply had to be right. “Over the past few years, we’ve consistently noticed how nostalgic people still are about Hard Bass. Of course, it has been an iconic event ever since the early days of hardstyle as a genre. For B2S, it’s one of the concepts that was there right from the beginning. So it’s really cool to see that people are still so excited about it.”
Seven years later, Hard Bass is finally back. “The timing for something like this has to be exactly right. B2S’ anniversary is a great opportunity to give something back to the fans. And of course, we’re really excited to enter the GelreDome again and put on one hell of a show. We secretly missed it quite a bit ourselves too.”
Four teams under one massive GelreDome roof
For those who have never experienced Hard Bass before, its team concept is perhaps its most recognizable feature. Four teams bring different artists and styles together inside the GelreDome. “Hard Bass has always been the event where hardstyle was celebrated in its purest form. Every layer of the genre came together, represented by the biggest names of that moment and brought together in four unique team settings. Those unexpected combinations created a musical dynamic and energy you simply couldn’t experience anywhere else in the same way.”
The Hard Bass show has also been highly praised throughout the years. “Music, lighting, video, lasers and special effects came together in one grand and immersive experience, within an unparalleled technical setting that was entirely built around the music. Together with the artists, we created countless musical moments at Hard Bass that became part of hardstyle history. At the same time, it was one of the scene’s biggest gatherings, bringing tens of thousands of fans and artists together under one roof on a scale you rarely see nowadays.”
Reliving the history of Hard Bass & hardstyle
That history forms the starting point for Journey Through Hardstyle during its comeback. “At the heart of the night is the module, which also played a central role in 2019. We’re basically continuing where we left off. Around this module, each of the four teams will carry out a mission: Investigate, Extract, Recover and Reprogram. Together, they have one goal: to secure the legacy of Hard Bass once again and complete the missing dataset with the music from the past seven years. Throughout these missions, the history of Hard Bass & hardstyle will be relived, from then to now. This way, the legacy of Hard Bass isn’t just restored, but also expanded with everything hardstyle has brought us since 2019.”
Musically, that means the night won’t be solely about looking back. “The legacy of hardstyle & Hard Bass and its artists will be at the heart of the entire night. But Hard Bass has also always been THE place for new music. We still want it to be that, even now. So there’s room for the past, present and future. Every set represents exactly that.”
Back to the night
While many major hardstyle events nowadays take place during the day, Hard Bass is deliberately returning to the night. “Because we believe that vibe fits the overall Hard Bass experience. A space mission like this unquestionably belongs at night. We also want to bring back part of that old, iconic feeling. Entire generations barely know what nighttime events are like, even though that’s where this scene came from. So there’s also that feeling of spending the entire day anticipating the night ahead, followed by sleeping half the day away on Sunday, haha.”
Still, the show won’t simply be a copy of previous editions. “It is and will remain an indoor experience of the highest level. Just like it has always been, with every edition being unique. Technically, we’ve skipped seven years, and a lot has developed during that time. The drive to innovate has always been an essential part of our team and the Hard Bass identity, and that’s still the case now. So this set-up will definitely feature new and different elements that you haven’t seen before.”
The familiar team transitions and major show moments will return as well. “The night still begins and ends with major show moments, and the teams will still be introduced in a grand and immersive way. An important part of this journey through time is paying tribute to exactly that. We deliberately chose not to introduce any new live acts in the line-up this time because of the legacy aspect, but there will definitely be innovation within the live acts themselves.”
One more Hard Bass
Despite the strong interest, B2S remains committed to one key principle: the return of Hard Bass will remain a one-off. “What makes this return so iconic is precisely the fact that it’s happening only once. The anticipation, the euphoria and the realization that you’re going to experience this one more time are what make it so special. Old and new generations will soon stand together inside the GelreDome, which makes this edition even more special. It’s undeniably a success, but that’s also exactly where its strength lies for us: celebrating a high point and then having the courage to let it go again. This edition isn’t the beginning of something new, but a new chapter in the legacy of Hard Bass.”
Afterwards, B2S mainly hopes that the shared feeling of Hard Bass is what stays with everyone. “It’s the interaction between the music, artists, crowd and production that makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts. That feeling of being able to completely lose yourself in it, while above all, it’s about a shared passion and being united under one roof. If people walk out of the GelreDome at 07:00 feeling like they’ve experienced something truly special together, something that only happened once, then that’s exactly what we hope to leave behind.”
Hard Bass – Journey Through Hardstyle takes place on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the GelreDome. With 97% of all tickets already sold, only the final tickets remain. Those who want to experience this one-off return of Hard Bass will have to act fast. Head to the event’s official website for the final tickets and more information.
