Gaming turned upside down, and gender roles exposed

2girls1comp is a modding duo consisting of Marco De Mutiis and Alexandra Pfammatter, using video games as a form of critical counter-play. In Dancing Plague, Grand Theft Auto V is radically reprogrammed: press the H-key, and every male character begins dancing like a stripper.

The video reveals how stereotypical gender roles are deeply woven into the game, as these moves were originally assigned only to female characters. The hypnotic soundtrack by French-Tunisian producer Azu Tiwaline, blending electronic sounds with trance rhythms from the Sahara, heightens the ritualistic and liberating feel.

The work couldn’t be more timely: part of the Pinkpop audience is eagerly awaiting the release of Grand Theft Auto VI, finally arriving in November 2026 after 13 years.

An ode to 30 years of British dance culture

In this vivid collage of archival footage, Mark Leckey (1964, Birkenhead) guides you through British dance and music culture from the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s: Northern Soul, Acid House, and everything in between. Young people lose themselves in music, movement, and style, connected through a shared escape.

Since the late 1990s, Leckey has explored the intersections of popular culture and technology, along with themes of youth, class, and nostalgia. His practice is as eclectic as his subjects, combining sculpture, film, sound, and performance.

Slow motion, repetition, and visual manipulation amplify the emotional intensity of Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore, making you feel the energy of the dance floor.

The roots of techno, from Detroit to today

Techno has spent decades evolving from underground movement to mainstream culture, something you’ll recognise at festivals like Pinkpop, where electronic pop and dance acts often draw from house and club culture. Think of acts like Sofi Tukker (2026) and Purple Disco Machine (2025).

What’s less widely known is the true origin of techno: Black culture in Detroit.
With Black to Techno, Jenn Nkiru (1987, London) dives into this history.

The Grammy-winning director and visionary artist, known for Beyoncé’s Brown Skin Girl and co-creator of Jay-Z’s iconic APESHIT, portrays techno as a way of life through a collage of images: a method of processing alienation and conflict.

Mixing industrial machinery, Motown icons, Aretha Franklin, and working-class life, she highlights the power of rhythm, movement, and repetition.

Create Your Own Pinkpop-Pop
Labubu, Lafufu, PinkPOP??? Make your own festival buddy.
Choose, stick, and build a unique little companion to carry with you all weekend.

Black-out Poetry
Give old texts a new meaning. Grab a marker, black out words, and let your own poem emerge between the lines.

Collage Rave
Raving and subculture go hand in hand. Tear, cut, and paste your ultimate raver using colourful collage materials.