On Saturday 5 September 2026, Turnhout‘s Kasteelplein will host a first: Love Out Loud. This brand-new, completely free city festival aims to put Turnhout (in the province of Antwerp) and the Kempen (Campine) region firmly on the map with an event where music, LGBTQIA+ visibility and social connection go hand in hand. The festival promises a warm and inclusive experience that extends far beyond the boundaries of a standard concert venue, while remaining deliberately accessible to everyone.
Love Out Loud is the result of a shared sense of urgency and enthusiasm among a local group of friends from the Kempen region. Its goal is as clear as it is ambitious: to create a safe and vibrant space where everyone can be themselves.
“It was simply time for something to happen in Turnhout. We didn’t want to organise just another event, but rather a visible and inclusive platform where community takes centre stage,” the organisers said.
Recent events in Turnhout, such as what happened to Maro, unfortunately remind us that visibility, safety and respect remain essential today. The festival therefore serves both as a heartfelt response and as a celebration of diversity.
The beating heart of the festival will be the ‘Love Out Loud Village‘, which, from 12:30 to 19:00, will bring together a wide range of organisations. Established names such as Sensoa, with a mobile HIV testing stand, Huis van de Mens, Limburg Pride and the City of Turnhout‘s prevention service, Safer Cities, will all be present. Local partners including youth centre Wollewei and GIF Kempen will further strengthen the festival’s local roots. This area will be the place for encounters and dialogue, giving the event significant social value.
Musically, Love Out Loud will feature an impressive and diverse line-up, taking over the main stage from 1:00 pm until midnight. At this stage, Dino, winner of MNM Start to DJ 2026, has been officially announced as the festival’s first major act.
The remainder of the programme is being kept under wraps for a little while longer. However, the organisers have already teased artists with connections to Tomorrowland, Ibiza, major Pride events and national platforms such as De Nieuwe Lichting. Special entertainment and surprise performances will complete the festival experience. On Facebook, the names of Legolane, Dr. T, Trinxx, and AM2PM have been dropped.
To keep this socially relevant project entirely free of charge, the organisers are joining forces with the city and a range of supportive partners. Nevertheless, the festival is still seeking strong partners to help realise this ambitious vision.
“We are building an environment together where inclusion is the norm, and we warmly invite companies and organisations to join us in supporting this positive message,” the initiators said.
Close cooperation is also planned with local hospitality businesses, with the celebrations continuing after midnight during official after-parties in the city centre.
Combining a strong line-up, a lively activation village and a clear, widely supported message of love and acceptance, 5 September 2026 promises to be an unforgettable day. Love Out Loud invites everyone to come to Turnhout and celebrate love exactly as they are.
For more details about the programme, partnership opportunities and practical information, please visit the festival’s official channels: https://www.loveoutloud.be.
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