SUMMERTIME FESTIVAL 2026 | GROTE MARKT, THE HAGUE
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SUMMERTIME FESTIVAL 2026
From July 16 to 18 2026, The Hague will be immersed in Latin music for three days, offering a diverse program ranging from traditional folk music to Latin jazz and modern fusions. For the 19th edition of the Summertime Festival, Musicon—together with Stichting Popdistrict—presents a richly varied lineup featuring artists from Cuba, Suriname, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and the Netherlands. With thirteen concerts, public dance workshops, and an unparalleled open atmosphere, this free festival has become a vibrant summer celebration of artistic excellence and cultural connection.
LINE-UP
Thursday, July 16
Gerardo Rosales con Trombones
Venezuelan percussionist and producer Gerardo Rosales has been one of the driving forces behind the Dutch Latin music scene for many years. For Gerardo Rosales con Trombones, he brings together musicians from Cuba, Venezuela, Curaçao, Spain, and the Netherlands in a large salsa ensemble with trombones at its core. The repertoire is rooted in classic Caribbean dance music, featuring powerful percussion, rich horn arrangements, and an unmistakable focus on the dance floor.
Joggo
Surinamese-Rotterdam reggae singer Joggo has been active in the international reggae scene for nearly two decades. His music combines the warm sound of roots reggae with themes of love, spirituality, and social awareness. Since breaking through with the mixtape Beware, he has built a loyal following both in the Netherlands and abroad. Joggo’s relaxed stage presence and melodic songs have made him one of the best-known reggae artists from the Netherlands.
Grupo Los Melos
Anyone who thinks salsa is mainly about nostalgia has not yet encountered Grupo Los Melos. This international eight-piece band draws inspiration from the salsa dura of 1960s and 1970s New York while performing it with contemporary energy. Tight horn sections, driving percussion, and room for improvisation have made the group a favorite among both dancers and lovers of classic salsa.
Friday, July 17
Evelyn Dupuy
Cuban singer Evelyn Dupuy has been living in the Netherlands for more than ten years. Her music blends Afro-Cuban traditions, contemporary Latin sounds, and Caribbean rhythms. She has performed at venues such as the Concertgebouw, TivoliVredenburg, and Melkweg, and has collaborated with artists including Cimafunk and pianist Chuchito Valdés. Dupuy is regarded as one of the most distinctive voices in the Dutch Latin scene and actively advocates for greater visibility of female artists.
Jabuticaba
Jabuticaba performs Brazilian music without falling into clichés. The five-piece group combines folkloric influences with original compositions, funk, pop, and the light-hearted energy of the 1980s. The result is danceable music in which melancholy and celebration coexist effortlessly. Over the past few years, the band has performed at a variety of venues across the Netherlands, steadily building a growing reputation.
Reyes del Mambo
The mambo of New York’s legendary Palladium Ballroom serves as the starting point for Reyes del Mambo. This Dutch big band pays tribute to the golden era of Tito Puente and Machito without getting stuck in nostalgia. Seasoned veterans and emerging talents from the Dutch Latin scene provide a contemporary interpretation of a tradition that remains irresistibly swinging.
Saturday, July 18
Koló
Making music begins with listening, moving, and playing together. With this idea in mind, Drumdrumdrum developed the interactive family performance Koló. Children and parents are actively involved in a show that brings together boomwhackers, drums, percussion, singing, and body percussion. The title refers to the Papiamento word for “color,” a fitting starting point for a performance centered on creativity, connection, and the unifying power of music.
Tango Extremo
Since its founding in 2003, Tango Extremo has explored the boundaries of tango. Led by violinist Tanya Schaap, the ensemble combines Argentine traditions with classical music, jazz, and South American folklore. The group has become a leading presence in both the Dutch chamber music and tango scenes, performing throughout Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Asia. Their music continually moves between tradition and innovation.
Son Cinco
Son Cinco brings together a group of experienced musicians from the Dutch Latin and jazz worlds. The ensemble moves effortlessly between Cuban son, salsa, Latin jazz, and Caribbean music. Virtuosity is never an end in itself; the strength of Son Cinco lies above all in its ensemble playing and the natural way diverse musical traditions come together. The result is music that invites both attentive listening and dancing.
Plenomba
Puerto Rican bassist and composer Leslie López founded Plenomba out of her fascination with the rich traditions of Bomba and Plena, two of Puerto Rico’s most important musical styles. The group brings these heritage forms into the present through original compositions and contemporary arrangements. Percussion, vocals, piano, and horns combine to create a powerful sound in which Afro-Caribbean history, dance, and community take center stage.
Ronald Snijders 75: Bigi Yari
Flautist, composer, and ethnomusicologist Ronald Snijders is widely regarded as one of the most important innovators of Surinamese music. For decades, he has moved effortlessly between jazz, kaseko, fusion, and world music. In the year of his 75th birthday, he presents the project Bigi Yari at Summertime. Together with an expanded ensemble, he connects Afro-Caribbean rhythms with improvisation, jazz, and Surinamese traditions. A special anniversary concert by a musician who has been pushing boundaries for generations.
Brazilian Samba Machine
Brazilian Samba Machine showcases the remarkable diversity of Brazil’s musical culture. The musicians come from different regions of Brazil, each bringing their own musical background and influences. Their repertoire ranges from traditional samba to modern Brazilian styles and contemporary influences. Innovation and tradition go hand in hand, as they have for generations within Brazilian popular music.
From July 16 to 18 2026, The Hague will be immersed in Latin music for three days, offering a diverse program ranging from traditional folk music to Latin jazz and modern fusions. For the 19th edition of the Summertime Festival, Musicon—together with Stichting Popdistrict—presents a richly varied lineup featuring artists from Cuba, Suriname, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and the Netherlands. With thirteen concerts, public dance workshops, and an unparalleled open atmosphere, this free festival has become a vibrant summer celebration of artistic excellence and cultural connection.
LINE-UP
Thursday, July 16
Gerardo Rosales con Trombones
Venezuelan percussionist and producer Gerardo Rosales has been one of the driving forces behind the Dutch Latin music scene for many years. For Gerardo Rosales con Trombones, he brings together musicians from Cuba, Venezuela, Curaçao, Spain, and the Netherlands in a large salsa ensemble with trombones at its core. The repertoire is rooted in classic Caribbean dance music, featuring powerful percussion, rich horn arrangements, and an unmistakable focus on the dance floor.
Joggo
Surinamese-Rotterdam reggae singer Joggo has been active in the international reggae scene for nearly two decades. His music combines the warm sound of roots reggae with themes of love, spirituality, and social awareness. Since breaking through with the mixtape Beware, he has built a loyal following both in the Netherlands and abroad. Joggo’s relaxed stage presence and melodic songs have made him one of the best-known reggae artists from the Netherlands.
Grupo Los Melos
Anyone who thinks salsa is mainly about nostalgia has not yet encountered Grupo Los Melos. This international eight-piece band draws inspiration from the salsa dura of 1960s and 1970s New York while performing it with contemporary energy. Tight horn sections, driving percussion, and room for improvisation have made the group a favorite among both dancers and lovers of classic salsa.
Friday, July 17
Evelyn Dupuy
Cuban singer Evelyn Dupuy has been living in the Netherlands for more than ten years. Her music blends Afro-Cuban traditions, contemporary Latin sounds, and Caribbean rhythms. She has performed at venues such as the Concertgebouw, TivoliVredenburg, and Melkweg, and has collaborated with artists including Cimafunk and pianist Chuchito Valdés. Dupuy is regarded as one of the most distinctive voices in the Dutch Latin scene and actively advocates for greater visibility of female artists.
Jabuticaba
Jabuticaba performs Brazilian music without falling into clichés. The five-piece group combines folkloric influences with original compositions, funk, pop, and the light-hearted energy of the 1980s. The result is danceable music in which melancholy and celebration coexist effortlessly. Over the past few years, the band has performed at a variety of venues across the Netherlands, steadily building a growing reputation.
Reyes del Mambo
The mambo of New York’s legendary Palladium Ballroom serves as the starting point for Reyes del Mambo. This Dutch big band pays tribute to the golden era of Tito Puente and Machito without getting stuck in nostalgia. Seasoned veterans and emerging talents from the Dutch Latin scene provide a contemporary interpretation of a tradition that remains irresistibly swinging.
Saturday, July 18
Koló
Making music begins with listening, moving, and playing together. With this idea in mind, Drumdrumdrum developed the interactive family performance Koló. Children and parents are actively involved in a show that brings together boomwhackers, drums, percussion, singing, and body percussion. The title refers to the Papiamento word for “color,” a fitting starting point for a performance centered on creativity, connection, and the unifying power of music.
Tango Extremo
Since its founding in 2003, Tango Extremo has explored the boundaries of tango. Led by violinist Tanya Schaap, the ensemble combines Argentine traditions with classical music, jazz, and South American folklore. The group has become a leading presence in both the Dutch chamber music and tango scenes, performing throughout Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Asia. Their music continually moves between tradition and innovation.
Son Cinco
Son Cinco brings together a group of experienced musicians from the Dutch Latin and jazz worlds. The ensemble moves effortlessly between Cuban son, salsa, Latin jazz, and Caribbean music. Virtuosity is never an end in itself; the strength of Son Cinco lies above all in its ensemble playing and the natural way diverse musical traditions come together. The result is music that invites both attentive listening and dancing.
Plenomba
Puerto Rican bassist and composer Leslie López founded Plenomba out of her fascination with the rich traditions of Bomba and Plena, two of Puerto Rico’s most important musical styles. The group brings these heritage forms into the present through original compositions and contemporary arrangements. Percussion, vocals, piano, and horns combine to create a powerful sound in which Afro-Caribbean history, dance, and community take center stage.
Ronald Snijders 75: Bigi Yari
Flautist, composer, and ethnomusicologist Ronald Snijders is widely regarded as one of the most important innovators of Surinamese music. For decades, he has moved effortlessly between jazz, kaseko, fusion, and world music. In the year of his 75th birthday, he presents the project Bigi Yari at Summertime. Together with an expanded ensemble, he connects Afro-Caribbean rhythms with improvisation, jazz, and Surinamese traditions. A special anniversary concert by a musician who has been pushing boundaries for generations.
Brazilian Samba Machine
Brazilian Samba Machine showcases the remarkable diversity of Brazil’s musical culture. The musicians come from different regions of Brazil, each bringing their own musical background and influences. Their repertoire ranges from traditional samba to modern Brazilian styles and contemporary influences. Innovation and tradition go hand in hand, as they have for generations within Brazilian popular music.
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Where is it happening?
Grote Markt, Den Haag, Grote Markt 27, 2511 BG Den Haag, Nederland, The Hague, Netherlands
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherSummertime Festival
