Insomniac Founder Pasquale Rotella Joins ADE Pro Program as Final Headline Speaker

Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) today confirms Pasquale Rotella, founder of Insomniac Events and creator of Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas, as the final headline speaker of ADE Pro program 2026.

Rotella will sit down with acclaimed music journalist Katie Bain, Director of Billboard Dance, for an exclusive keynote conversation on Thursday, October 22 at 14:30 – 15:15 at Felix Meritis in Amsterdam, as ADE celebrates its 30th anniversary edition.

The keynote will also be the setting for a major announcement from ADE and Insomniac. Details are being kept under wraps until the session itself and will be revealed for the first time, live in the room, in front of the ADE Pro audience. Media wishing to be first to the story are strongly encouraged to attend.

Rotella rarely takes the conference stage, making this one of the most significant appearances of ADE Pro Program. Rotella will discuss the importance of the live electronic music scene, his commitment to preserving rave culture, and why he believes its long-term survival depends on recognising and establishing rave culture as an industry separate from the traditional music business.

From organising underground gatherings in early ’90s Los Angeles to steering Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) into one of the largest live music spectacles on Earth, Rotella’s trajectory has run parallel to modern electronic music history for decades. Yet, as rave culture operates on an unprecedented global scale, the live scene faces vital questions: How can promoters grow without compromising the culture? What role do grassroots organisations play as events become more commercial? How can the industry protect and support independent promoters and the next generation of risk-takers as rave culture continues to grow?

In this exclusive keynote conversation, Rotella takes the ADE Pro stage to explore the current state and future of rave culture. The discussion will examine why shared, in-person experiences remain irreplaceable to the community, the importance of independent promoters and risk-takers, and why preserving the independent spirit that built rave culture is more important than ever.

Event: Pasquale Rotella on the Future of Rave Culture and Why it Needs its Own Industry
Location: Felix Meritis (Zuilenzaal) | Keizersgracht 324, Amsterdam
Date + time: Thursday, October 22 14:30 – 15:15
More information here