On 11 and 12 December 2026, Thunderdome takes place at the AFAS Dome in Antwerp. Two nights, indoors, right in the middle of winter. And that exact combination makes choosing your outfit trickier than you might think: outside it’s minus two degrees, while inside the temperature rises well above twenty degrees. Dress for the cold and you’ll be boiling after an hour. Dress for the heat and you’ll be shivering at the tram stop at four in the morning.

Below, you’ll find out how to solve that problem, what works on each of the two nights, and which mistakes you can save yourself.

In short

• Work with layers. Inside, wear a shirt or a lightweight tracksuit jacket; your coat goes to the cloakroom.
• Do bring a coat. Stepping into the Antwerp winter night while sweaty is not a good plan.
• No new shoes. You’ll be standing for hours on a hard venue floor. Wear something that’s already broken in.
• Two nights, two outfits. There’s no campsite, so you can simply change. And you should.
• Friday is all about the Golden Era. That calls for different clothing than Saturday.
• Order in time. Exchanges take a few days, and you don’t have those days to spare in December.

Two nights, two atmospheres

Thunderdome 2026 is split into two parts. Friday night is all about the Golden Era: the sound that started it all. Saturday covers the full spectrum, from the classics to what’s being played today.

You can see that difference in the crowd too. On Friday, people go for the classic style: Australian tracksuits in the recognisable colour combinations, old shirts, everything that feels like the nineties. If you have a tracksuit that has been going strong for years, this is the night to bring it out of the wardrobe.

Saturday is more relaxed. You’ll see new collections just as often, along with 100% Hardcore shirts and more modern combinations. If you’re going both nights, it’s fun to make that distinction — and practical too, because you don’t have to wear the same thing for two days.

The basic outfit

The tracksuit

For many visitors, the tracksuit is the starting point, and rightly so: it’s comfortable, you can move freely in it, and it’s the most recognisable part of the outfit. For an indoor event, however, pay attention to the material. A thick acetate tracksuit looks great, but it doesn’t breathe well — in a packed venue, you’ll notice that after an hour.

The practical solution is simple: wear the jacket open, or take it off and tie it around your waist when it gets too warm. You do need to wear something underneath that you’re happy to show, though. Which brings us to the next point.

The shirt underneath

A T-shirt underneath your tracksuit jacket isn’t a detail; it’s the core of your layering plan. Choose something you can comfortably wear all evening and that also looks good on its own. A long-sleeve shirt works too, especially during the first few hours.

If you prefer not to wear a full tracksuit, a shirt with tracksuit trousers is just as good a choice. There is no dress code. Comfort wins.

The shoes

This is where things most often go wrong. You’ll be standing and dancing for six to eight hours on a hard venue floor, and it won’t forgive shoes your feet aren’t used to yet. Nike Air Max is the classic answer, but whatever model you choose: make sure you’ve worn them a few times before you go.

Want new shoes specifically for that night? Order them at least two weeks in advance, so you can break them in first — and still have time to exchange them if the size isn’t right.

The jacket

You won’t need it inside, but you definitely will outside. A bomber jacket or winter coat goes to the cloakroom and waits there until you head outside. Expect the cloakroom to be busy at the end of the night; if you’re coming with a group, agree on where you’ll meet.

The accessories

A bum bag is more practical at an indoor event than a backpack: your hands stay free, it doesn’t get in anyone’s way, and your belongings stay with you. Do check the venue’s rules regarding permitted bag sizes, as these vary between venues. A cap and good socks also make more difference than you might expect.

What it costs: three ways to approach it

Entry level — up to around €75

An original 100% Hardcore or Australian shirt with tracksuit trousers you already own. You’ll look the part without having to buy a full tracksuit, and you can keep wearing the shirt afterwards.

Complete — around €75 to €175

A tracksuit with a shirt underneath. This is where most visitors end up: one purchase that can last you for years, because a good tracksuit will stand the test of time.

Statement — from €175

An Australian from the archive or limited-edition range. Limited production, instantly recognisable to those in the know, and exactly the kind of tracksuit that makes an impression at a Golden Era night.

Practical: indoors in December

The temperature difference is the key. Winter cold outside, a packed venue with thousands of people inside. Everything you wear needs to work at that second temperature, while everything you need for the first goes to the cloakroom.

Arrive at the cloakroom on time. There’s a queue at the start of the evening, and an even longer one at the end. If you get inside early, you’ll be done faster.

Think about the journey home. You’ll step outside, sweaty, into a Belgian December night, and often still have a journey home ahead of you. That’s exactly when people end up getting sick. A dry shirt in your bag sounds excessive until you’ve tried it once.

Antwerp, not Utrecht. Thunderdome takes place at the AFAS Dome in Antwerp. If you’re travelling from the Netherlands, the journey is longer than you may be used to — take the return trip and public transport times into account. If you’re coming from Flanders, you’re much closer.

Check the official website. Start times, house rules and information about what you can and cannot bring inside can be found on thunderdome.com. This information can change with each edition.

Six mistakes you can save yourself from

• New shoes on the night itself. Blisters after two hours, and you’ve still got six more to go.
• Dressing too warmly for indoors. It’s warm inside. Always. Dress for the venue, not the street.
• No jacket for the journey home. See above. This is the mistake with the longest aftermath.
• The same outfit for both nights. There’s no campsite and you’ll simply sleep in a bed. Bring something different.
• Everything in your trouser pockets. Jumping and full pockets don’t mix. Take a bum bag.
• Ordering in the final week. If it doesn’t fit, you won’t have time to exchange it.

For the gabberinas

The rules are the same, but the fit isn’t. In our women’s collection, you’ll find tracksuits, shirts and trousers made for a woman’s body, instead of a men’s size that you have to somehow make work.

The same applies here: work with layers. A fitted shirt or crop top under a tracksuit jacket gives you room to adjust when it gets warmer inside the venue. And choose shoes you can comfortably stand in all evening — that’s more important at an indoor event than at any outdoor festival, because you can’t simply sit down in the grass somewhere.

Frequently asked questions

> What should you wear to Thunderdome?

A tracksuit from Australian or 100% Hardcore, or a T-shirt with tracksuit trousers, combined with broken-in sneakers such as Nike Air Max. Because Thunderdome is indoors, dress lighter than the outside temperature might suggest: your jacket goes to the cloakroom, and underneath you wear something you can comfortably spend the whole evening in.

> Is Thunderdome indoors or outdoors?

Indoors. Thunderdome 2026 takes place at the AFAS Dome in Antwerp on 11 and 12 December. It’s an indoor event, so you don’t have to worry about rain or mud, but you do need to account for a venue that gets quite warm.

> Do you need a jacket at Thunderdome?

Not indoors, but definitely outdoors. It’s December and you’ll be heading back outside at night. Bring a bomber jacket or winter coat and leave it at the cloakroom.

> What shoes should you wear to Thunderdome?

Nike Air Max is the classic choice, with the BW, 90, 95 and TN being the best-known models. More important than the model is that the shoes are already broken in. You’ll be standing for hours on a hard venue floor, so this is not the time to try out new shoes.

> Do I have to wear a tracksuit?

No. A shirt with tracksuit trousers is just as much a part of the scene, and is often more comfortable in a warm venue. There is no dress code.

> I’m going both nights. Do I need two outfits?

You don’t have to, but it is more comfortable. There’s no campsite, so you can simply change at home or at your hotel. Friday night is all about the Golden Era, which lends itself well to a classic outfit; Saturday is more open.

> When should I order?

Order at least two weeks in advance, so you still have time to exchange the item if the size isn’t right. If you order before 4:00 PM on working days, your package will be shipped the same day. Orders over €45 are shipped free of charge.

Need help choosing?

We’ve been an official dealer of Australian and 100% Hardcore since 2005, and we attend the same festivals as you do. Not sure about your size or what works for this edition? Send us a message via WhatsApp — we’ll be happy to help.

View the tracksuits, the shirts or the outfit guide for other festivals.