How Le Guess Who? is Fostering a Platform for Arab Artists in Utrecht

Born in Utrecht, the Netherlands, Le Guess Who? has built a reputation as one of Europe's more forward-looking music festivals. In recent years, the three-day event has placed particular focus on artists reshaping the MENA region’s musical landscape, championing boundary-pushing acts driving new genres and movements from the region. Each edition transforms Utrecht’s city centre into a network of venues, foregrounding substance over hype and prioritising meaningful representation beyond metrics or online visibility.

At Le Guess Who? 2025, SceneNoise spoke with the festival’s founder and artistic director, Bon Van Heur, unpacking how the festival has evolved into a cultural event by focusing on deeper artistic exchange, encouraging musicians to share stages, collaborate, and build lasting creative relationships. He also reflects on the growing presence of Arab artists within the programme, emphasising that while curation is rooted in artistic merit, these voices have become an integral part of the festival’s evolving ecosystem.

Watch the full interview below: