HAPPENING 31 JAN '27 | Rotterdam residents could soon find themselves attending a concert, comedy show or theatre performance in their neighbour's living room. Gluren bij de Buren returns on Sunday 31 January 2027 for its 20th anniversary edition, and organisers are looking for local performers and residents willing to turn their homes into temporary stages.
ROTTERDAM, 20 October 2026 - The nationwide living-room festival is preparing to celebrate twenty editions of bringing performing arts into people's homes. On Sunday 31 January, living rooms across Rotterdam will once again open their doors to audiences, offering an afternoon of music, theatre, dance, comedy and other performances by local talent.
The concept is straightforward. Residents volunteer their living rooms as performance spaces, while artists provide the entertainment. Visitors can then wander or cycle between participating homes, discovering performers and meeting neighbours along the way.
Gluren bij de Buren, which translates loosely as Peeking at the Neighbours, began in 2008 as a student project in Amersfoort. Since then, it has expanded into a nationwide amateur arts festival with winter performances in living rooms and summer editions in gardens. The organisers are aiming to create more than 1,500 temporary stages across the Netherlands for the 2027 winter edition.
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From Rotterdam living rooms to temporary stages
You don't need a large house or professional performance space to participate. The organisers welcome everything from small flats to spacious living rooms, with each location matched to a suitable performer.
Musicians, singer-songwriters, comedians, dancers, storytellers, choirs and theatre groups can register to perform. The festival is particularly interested in giving local talent an opportunity to reach audiences in an informal setting.
Each participating act performs three sets of approximately 30 minutes, with different visitors attending each session. Performances take place between 12:00 and 17:00, allowing audiences to explore several locations during the afternoon.
Previous Rotterdam editions have demonstrated how varied the programme can be. In February 2026, for example, audiences discovered queer Moluccan singer-songwriter Vangelis Sopamena, satirical band Buurtbeheer and singer Janine performing in homes around the city.
The personal setting is an important part of the experience. Rather than watching a performance from the back of a large auditorium, visitors find themselves sitting just a few metres from an artist, often with an opportunity to chat afterwards.
How to take part in the 2027 edition
Both performers and residents interested in hosting can register until Friday 11 December 2026 through the festival's website.
For residents, becoming a host means opening their living room to visitors and welcoming a performer selected by the local organisation. Hosts are responsible for providing a suitable space and helping create a welcoming atmosphere.
Performers can apply with music, theatre, comedy, dance, spoken word or another form of performing art. Participation is voluntary, although artists receive a contribution towards their costs from donations collected during the festival. The organisers generally prefer acoustic or lightly amplified performances, as most venues are private homes.
After registration closes, local coordinators will match performers with available living rooms. Participants are expected to hear whether they have been selected by the end of December.
Registration is free for both hosts and performers.
Applications can be submitted through the official Gluren bij de Buren registration page.
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Free performances across Rotterdam
Visitors don't need to register in advance or purchase tickets. All performances are free to attend, although voluntary donations are encouraged. Half of the donations collected nationally goes to participating performers, with the remainder supporting the festival's organisation.
Because each act performs three times, visitors can plan a route that takes them through different homes and performances. The intimate venues have limited capacity, however, so arriving early is recommended if there's a particular performance you don't want to miss.
The full Rotterdam programme, including participating artists, neighbourhoods and addresses, is expected to become available in early January 2027. Until then, the organisers are concentrating on recruiting performers and hosts.
Practical information
Event: Gluren bij de Buren, winter edition 2027
Date: Sunday 31 January 2027
Time: 12:00 to 17:00
Locations: Participating living rooms across Rotterdam, to be announced
Admission: Free, with voluntary donations encouraged
Registration deadline for performers and hosts: Friday 11 December 2026
Registration: glurenbijdeburen.nl/aanmelden
Rotterdam information: glurenbijdeburen.nl/gemeentes/rotterdam
The full programme and participating addresses will be published ahead of the festival, allowing visitors to plan their own route through Rotterdam's temporary living-room stages.
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