Venues

Upside Down Festival takes place in the beautiful city of Ghent. 

The day program will take place in Dok Noord. You can easily ping-pong around the venues, as they are on 5-minute walking distance from each other.

For the parties at night we have two new venues this edition!

We will party for 4 days at a stunning ballroom in Ghent: Concertzaal Vooruit. This venue is located in the Centre.

For New Year’s Eve, we move to “Het Balenmagazijn” (the Bale Warehouse). It’s a 30-minute walk or 8-minute bike ride from Dok Noord.

If you have no access to a bike, we recommend that you find accommodation in the Northern part of Ghent. If you can bike, then it’s all very close by!

Concertzaal Vooruit/VIERNULVIER

Concertzaal (”Concert Hall”) Vooruit is a magnificient place with a superb wooden floor and fascinating history. We are stoked to dance in this iconic building for 4 nights straight!

Place to be: for the parties on Dec 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th

Address: Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 23, 9000 Gent

Accessibility: Party spaces and bathrooms are and accessible for wheelchair user with an elevator. Toilets will be gender-neutral.

Het Balenmagazijn

This placed used to be the warehouse where bales of cotton were stored. Nowadays, it houses a social restaurant. People with less means enjoy a delicious meal at a low price, prepared and served by people with reduced employment opportunities on the mainstream labor market. We transform it into a ballroom for the Festival!

Place to be: for the party on Dec 31st (New Year’s Eve)

Address: Getouwstraat 10, 9000 Gent

Accessibility: Party spaces and bathrooms are ground level and accessible for wheelchair users. Toilets will be gender-neutral.

De Expeditie

De Expeditie is a cozy co-working spot that houses 7 social organizations. It will be the center of our afternoon hang outs, as well as for classes and workshops.

Place to be: : for Jazz Café incl. Tap Jam, Second-hand market, Upside Down shake… + for some of the Pick ‘n’ Mix activities (28, 29, 30 Dec)

Address: DOK Noord 4/F, 9000 Gent

Accessibility: The space is on ground level and is accessible for wheelchair users. The toilets are gender-neutral.

Doxtudio

This event location has studios equiped with music installations and mirrors – perfect for dancing. Attention: Doxtudio is not on ground level, so you might not spot it so easily. Take the staircase or escalator to go up. It’s right there.

Place to be: for Tracks and some of the Pick ‘n’ Mix activities (28, 29, 30 Dec)

Address: Dok Noord 7 – 107, 9000 Gent

Accessibility: The rooms are located on the first level and can be reached via an elevator (next to Delhaize) for wheelchair users. You could also use the parking elevator. There are bathrooms for wheelchair users, and two gendered bathrooms.

Wisper

Wisper organises courses in dance, theatre, music, photography, visual arts, literature… in short, all kinds of artistic classes for adults. Wisper is located close to De Expeditie.

Place to be: for some of the Pick ‘n’ Mix activities (28, 29, 30 Dec)

Address: DOK Noord 4D-001, 9000 Gent

Accessibility: All rooms and the downstairs bathroom are easily accessible for wheelchair users. There is an elevator to go up to the studios on the first and second floor. Toilets are gender-neutral.

Jazz Cafes in the centre

Before and after, we meet in some of Ghent’s finest jazz pubs! Vibrant live music + a solid dancefloor = a steaming party for sure.

Place to be: for the pre and after parties

Address: TBA, but around Korenmarkt

Accessibility: These pubs are less accessible for wheelchair users due to their location (cobblestones and staircases) and narrow dimensions. Toilets are gendered.