TheAtomicOrchestra

News

Kursaal Oostende
Home of The Atomic Orchestra

15th of December 2026, OstendOfficial Opening Kursaal Oostende

The Atomic Orchestra is to become the resident orchestra at Kursaal Oostende. The 47-piece orchestra, which performed at the Marquee at Pukkelpop just last weekend, is finding an artistic home by the sea. Under the artistic direction of conductor Jo Hermans and filmmaker Gilles Coulier, this collaboration will not be a traditional residency but rather a multi-year partnership from which new musical formats, social projects and surprising live experiences will be created. The first major event is on 15 December 2026, marking the reopening of the refurbished Kursaal with an impressive live show by The Atomic Orchestra, featuring a lot of surprise guests.

Find out more ↗ Announcement video by William Van Bavel ↗ Tickets ↗

Recap

This was
Pukkelpop
2026

22nd of August, Kiewit

★★★★☆
“The Atomic Orchestra found the key to success at Pukkelpop—and it was not even dangling from Pommelien Thijs’s fingertip.”
De Morgen
★★★★☆
“Pommelien Thijs was the icing on the cake, but The Atomic Orchestra itself played the leading role.”
De Standaard
“Innovative r&b, scorching hardcore and a Flemish brass band: these were the best performances at Pukkelpop 2026.”
Humo
“Beforehand, we wondered whether the orchestra could still surprise us during a weekend when surprise guests seemed almost mandatory for Belgian artists—but it absolutely did. The only thing you get used to with this orchestra is its towering quality.”
De Morgen
★★★★★
“The Atomic Orchestra at Pukkelpop: from Amenra to Goldband, truly everything gets better with a brilliant orchestra.”
Humo
“The best Belgian selection since the Olympic road race.”
De Standaard
“The strength of The Atomic Orchestra: Music always connects.”
De Morgen
Winner of the 2024 Studio Brussels Festival Award
StuBru
“No smoke machines, no gimmicks, just pure musical fireworks.”
Humo

The Atomic Orchestra returned to the Marquee, Pukkelpop's biggest tent. After standout performances in 2024 and 2025, a long-awaited third chapter unfolded. Forty-seven musicians and a line-up of guest artists we had turned into the festival's best-kept secret. Who joined The Atomic Orchestra this time? Everyone who came, found out. And for everyone who didn't: the show is still up on VRT MAX.

REWATCH THE SHOW ON VRT MAX