Disco Arabesquo to Host Exhibition for Egyptian Cinema at ADE '26

Disco Arabesquo will host a visual and auditory exhibition celebrating the legacy of Egyptian cinema at the Van Eesteren Museum during Amsterdam Dance Event 2026 on October 23rd.

Over the past decade, the Amsterdam-based Egyptian DJ has carved out a niche as a cultural archivist, unearthing forgotten vinyl and cassette tapes filled with overlooked 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s bellydance funk, synth-pop, and Middle Eastern disco. His work has helped bring these sounds to dance floors around the world.

Titled ‘Dreams of Films - Films of Dreams’, the exhibition traces Egyptian cinema’s golden era back to Layla (1927), widely recognised as the first Egyptian feature film. Presented in collaboration with the museum, it explores the intersection of cinema, street billboard art, and cassette culture, following how Cairo’s classic film soundtracks travelled from the silver screen to cassette decks across the region. It will also showcase original movie posters, hand-painted billboards, and custom typography, spotlighting the often-overlooked calligraphers, printers, and street artists who shaped the visual language of Middle Eastern pop culture for decades.

At ADE 2026, ‘Dreams of Films – Films of Dreams’ examines how sound and image became intertwined, tracing the second life of Egyptian film compositions in living rooms and taxicabs across the Arab world during the cassette revolution. Drawing on Disco Arabesquo extensive collection of rare tapes and vintage memorabilia, the exhibition explores how soundtrack releases carried Egyptian cinema’s musical legacy across borders, revealing the enduring connections between Arabic film, visual art, and dance music culture.

Returning from October 21st to 25th for its 30th anniversary, Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) brings together the global electronic music industry for five days of club nights, live performances, industry discussions, and cultural programming across the Dutch capital. This year’s programme spans more than 1,300 events across 300 venues, featuring over 3,600 artists alongside a conference and an expanded arts and culture programme.