Us By Night 2025 is coming – get ready to be inspired (and party)

Last year’s edition of Us By Night (UBN) ended with a triumphant bang – that bang being none other than David Wilson putting on one of his rip-roaring cabaret performances, pink blow-up suit and all. The only thing that softened the blow of the festival ending was the knowledge that it would return in 2025. And now, it’s just around the corner. On 25, 26, and 27 September, Antwerp’s portside warehouse Waagnatie will be taken over by talks, marketplaces, installations, hands-on creative activations and (of course) DJs to see the night through. So get your tickets now, before it’s too late!

As has come to be expected from UBN, the line-up is truly unmissable. The key for founder Rizon Parein is to create something that facilitates “cross-pollination.” He says: “So many people stay within their own niche, but the real sparks happen when you mix it up.”

Some speakers he’s particularly excited about include designers Sabine Marcelis, Bráulio Amado (someone he’s been trying to book since 2018), Ana Cecilia Thompson Motta, and Vasilis Marmatakis, the designer of Yorgos Lanthimos’ film posters. “His work is so iconic, yet there’s so little about him online. That mystery makes his presence even more intriguing,” says Rizon. “I’m hoping we get a glimpse of his universe and the relationship between him and the director.”

Rizon also can’t wait for So Me to take the stage – the person behind the album artwork for Ed Banger Records and a key figure in Rizon’s nightlife years. “There’s a powerful link between nightlife and creative collaboration,” he says. “So many artists built their networks on the dance floor, and those connections often become lifelong collaborators.”

Across the stages over the three days, you’ll also find the likes of Studio Yukiko, Mindy Seu, Karlotta Freier, Dinamo, Stephanie Specht, Pablo Delcan, Nicole McLaughlin, and creative director Mandy Smith alongside lead designer Estefan Richter from the animation studio Buck, who will delve into the studio’s recent branding and design systems – and the thinking, craft, and collaboration that drive its approach.

When you’re not engrossed in a talk, there’s plenty more to explore. Rizon and the team always make the most of UBN’s massive space, and this year they’re taking things one step further – giving a sneak preview of what to expect.

Each year, the central focus of the space has been white car wrecks that people can get up close and personal with – writing messages, Instagram handles, or even bespoke little artworks. This time, the team is building a 75-metre-long, 4.2-metre-high wheatpaste wall and a makers lab where you can get prints to paste, or bring your own. Titled Billboard City, this activation celebrates all things print. “By the end of the festival, the wall will be one massive, collaborative art piece,” says Rizon. “We love that tension between digital and physical, and this project is all about embracing that contrast. In a time where everything lives on screens and AI is taking over, this is about making something raw and real.” (Don’t worry – the cars will still be there too!)

UBN loves to innovate, and alongside the wheatpasting wall, the team is about to reveal another surprise: a new app, developed in collaboration with November Five, designed to help you connect with fellow UBN attendees by day. Using a hotspot map of restaurants, cafés, galleries, and other great places to hang out, UBN visitors can create or join events – making it easier for the community to connect outside event hours and discover the city of Antwerp together.

Us by Night is running from 25-27 September. You can buy tickets here.