There are some events that never really disappear from hardstyle’s history. Hard Bass is undoubtedly one of them. So when B2S announced that the legendary event would return to the GelreDome for its 25th anniversary celebrations, expectations were naturally high. Bringing it back for one night only was always going to be a gamble, but after Saturday’s edition, it is safe to say that the organisers delivered something special.

With the usual team format, a stacked lineup and thousands of fans under one roof, Hard Bass offered a reminder of what makes this scene so unique. And while the event certainly celebrated its past, there was much more to the night than simply looking back at the classics.

The GelreDome: still the place to be

Hardstyle and the GelreDome go hand in hand. From legendary Qlimax editions to previous Hard Bass events, the Arnhem venue has witnessed some of the genre’s most memorable moments. Walking back inside for this long-awaited comeback felt like a fitting way to celebrate B2S reaching its 25th anniversary.

The atmosphere was one of the biggest highlights of the night. The venue was packed from start to finish, with a specially dedicated crowd. There was also a slightly older feel compared to many contemporary hardstyle events, which added to the sense of nostalgia without making the night feel stuck in the past.

Production-wise, B2S knew exactly what it was doing. Two DJ booths allowed the teams to switch between back-to-back performances and live acts, while moving stage elements kept things visually interesting. The lasers were arguably the biggest stars of the show, filling the GelreDome with spectacular displays throughout the night. If there was one minor disappointment, it was the sound level during the opening set, which could have been louder.

Still, the overall result was outstanding. Hard Bass looked, sounded and felt like an event worthy of its reputation.

Hard Bass 2026 was not a hardstyle classics event

Given the number of legends on the lineup, it would have been easy to assume that Hard Bass 2026 was going to be a classics party. That was not quite the case. Although the opening set leaned heavily into the sounds of previous decades, the teams generally balanced their most recognisable productions with newer releases and more recent highlights from their discographies.

In that sense, the first hours brought back memories of the final Qlimax edition. The artists, the atmosphere and the selection of tracks all carried a similar feeling, but Hard Bass had its own identity thanks to the team format and the unique chemistry between its performers. Deepack, Luna and Zany got things moving, setting the tone before the first major team took over.

Team Blue: anthems, live acts and one unexpected edit

Coone, Noisecontrollers and Wildstylez delivered one of the first major highlights of the night. Their set moved effortlessly between timeless anthems such as 'World Of Madness', 'Tonight' and 'D.W.X.', while newer tracks like 'The Upside Down' and '4 BY 4 BEATS' helped keep things fresh.

But perhaps the most unexpected moment came when Coone decided to troll the entire crowd with a zaag edit of 'Fight For Something'. Getting 30,000 people to react to something they probably never expected to hear was certainly one way to make the set memorable.

Brennan Heart then brought his LIVE concept to the stage, making particularly good use of the upper booth. Naturally, 'Imaginary' and 'Lose My Mind' were among the big singalong moments, with Wildstylez joining him for the latter. However, there was more to the performance than the obvious crowd-pleasers. 'LSD (Love, Sadness and Desire)' was a particularly nice surprise, while his upcoming remix of the hardcore classic 'Still Nr. 1' and his new collaboration with Ran-D, 'Heart Of A Dragon', added a more contemporary touch.

Team Green: the right balance between old and new

Atmozfears, Frontliner and Phuture Noize brought a different kind of energy to the night. Their back-to-back stood out because it felt like a genuine collaboration rather than three artists simply taking turns playing their own tracks. That might sound like a small detail, but it made a noticeable difference.

The selection delivered plenty of familiar moments, with 'Release', 'Fire' and 'Symbols' proving once again how effective these tracks remain on a big sound system. Special mention also goes to Galactixx’s remix of 'Discorecord', one of those tracks that has been particularly hard to get out of our heads this year.

B-Freqz followed with a much more direct approach, keeping the intensity high through a selection that highlighted both B-Front and Frequencerz’ individual catalogues, alongside their collaborative productions. It was a strong reminder of why this project remains so well suited to the harder side of the genre.

Team Yellow: when the hardstyle Avengers assemble

If there was one performance I had been particularly curious about, it was the combination of D-Block & S-te-Fan, Rebelion and Sub Zero Project. Three acts sharing a booth is already a recipe for chaos, but putting these names together felt like the hardstyle equivalent of watching the Barcelona Dream Team, Real Madrid’s Galácticos or Brazil’s 2002 World Cup squad take the pitch.

And the music certainly lived up to the expectations. With plenty of material from the 4444 OF A KIND era, the set brought together some of the biggest names and sounds in modern hardstyle. D-Block & S-te-Fan’s remix of 'Unethical' was a standout, while 'Shiverz', 'Never Back Down' and 'It Will Be OK' kept the crowd singing and kickrolling along. Closing with '4 THE SCENE' was the perfect way to wrap up the performance.

Rebelion, meanwhile, were surprisingly well behaved. There were no endless unnecessary edits, although 'Numb Very Numb' did make an appearance, with the duo even apologising for it. Fair enough, lads. One zaag a year never hurt anyone.

Rawstyle taking over for the last two and a half hours

After that, the mood shifted towards the rawer side of hardstyle. Gunz For Hire took over with their LIVE performance as part of Team Yellow, bringing the kind of darker atmosphere that has made the project such a staple of the scene.

Team Red continued in that direction. E-Force, Rejecta and Warface delivered a heavier selection that kept the dancefloor moving despite the late hour. As with the other teams, the balance between established favourites and newer material worked well, making the performances feel like a celebration of each artist rather than a simple trip down memory lane.

Bringing the night to a close was Minus Militia, the project behind some of rawstyle’s most recognisable anthems. Seeing Chain Reaction, Crypsis and Radical Redemption together again after several years was a fitting way to end an event built around the legacy of hardstyle. With Nolz adding his unmistakable presence, the trio delivered the kind of uncompromising rawstyle that made Minus Militia so important in the first place. It was a powerful finale for a night that had covered plenty of different eras and sounds without losing sight of what brought everyone together.

Hard Bass deserves another chapter

Hard Bass 2026 could easily have been a nostalgic exercise, relying on its name and history to sell tickets. Instead, B2S put together an event that felt relevant in its own right, combining established classics, newer productions and lineups that offered something beyond the usual individual sets.

The GelreDome remains one of hardstyle’s most fitting homes, and last Saturday proved that there is still a real appetite for this kind of event. Whether this was genuinely a one-off celebration or the beginning of something more remains to be seen.

For now, one thing is certain: Hard Bass made a very convincing case for its return. And after a night like this, it would be a shame if we had to wait another seven years to experience it again.