About Haarlem Vinyl Festival

Haarlem Vinyl Festival is an annual weekend-long 'vinyl culture festival' in Haarlem with international allure, of which the third edition will take place during the weekend of September 26th to 28th, 2025. The festival is entirely dedicated to vinyl and its culture; from concerts to cover art exhibitions and from conferences to record fairs. Vinyl culture in a broad sense is showcased, including musicians and other types of creators. With the globally exclusive concept of 'Haarlem Vinyl Festival', the initiators aim to immerse festival visitors in the extensive culture and history of vinyl in an accessible way, giving Haarlem a boost and putting it culturally on the map both nationally and internationally, while also harnessing the (cultural) potential the city holds.

By whom

Haarlem Vinyl Festival takes place throughout the city and operates in collaboration with various cultural institutions, businesses, and organizations within the city under an 'open-source platform' model. This model allows businesses and organizations in the city to join the festival and, within the artistic and branding framework of Haarlem Vinyl Festival, independently shape their participation and programming. This includes stages, cafes, record stores, as well as clothing stores, galleries, and coffee shops. In 2024, nearly 40 locations participated.

For whom

Haarlem Vinyl Festival is for everyone; for both vinyl enthusiasts and music professionals. For the casual passerby and the avid culture explorers, for residents of Haarlem and audiences from the wider region, country, and even beyond. Through the diverse and creative program spread throughout the city, which includes concerts, a record fair, and a conference with national and international speakers, a globally unique concept has not only been born but also an event catering to all tastes. By involving all these different organizations and businesses, many entrepreneurs, institutions, and creators in the city will be interconnected and will also reap the benefits of Haarlem Vinyl Festival, both in terms of exposure and financially.

Vinyl is in high demand and more popular than ever, as evidenced by the significant and growing demand from artists and audiences and the long waiting lists for record pressing. In 2020, vinyl sales worldwide surpassed CD sales for the first time, with 17.1 million euros compared to 16.9 million, and this trend of popularity continues steadily. In 2008, the best-selling record of that year (Radiohead's 'In Rainbows') sold 1.9 million copies. In 2021, the best-selling record reached 41.72 million copies, with Adele's album '30' taking the lead.

Vinyl appeals to a wide range of audiences; from dedicated collectors who have been buying records since the '60s, to the new generation of teenagers purchasing vinyl from contemporary artists while also discovering old classics. From boomers to teenagers, this unique and unifying product is embraced, with a rich culture and numerous subcultures behind it. Therefore, the festival will appeal to a wide variety of people of different ages and backgrounds.

Haarlem Vinyl City

Haarlem and its surroundings have a rich history in vinyl and pop music and culture. As early as the '60s, the city housed various vinyl factories and labels. Even today, the Spaarne city remains a key player in vinyl and pop music. The largest record pressing plant in Europe, Record Industry, is located there, originally founded as Artone in 1958. Additionally, many emerging and established musicians, known nationally and internationally, have their base or origin in Haarlem.

With Haarlem Vinyl Festival, the organization aims not only to provide a platform for vinyl culture but also to raise awareness of this cultural richness and contribute to a boost for the Haarlem music scene, culture, and economy, while culturally positioning Haarlem both nationally and internationally.