PRE-REGISTRATION DE DUYSTERE MARKT GENK 2026

Location: Thor Central, André Dumontlaan 67, 3600 Genk, Belgium Date: December 12–13, 2026   Opening Hours Saturday: 13:00–22:00 Sunday: 10:00–18:00   Expected Visitors: ± 6,000 Vendor Booths: ± 300

By filling out this form, you are expressing your interest in participating as a vendor at De Duystere Markt Genk. Please note: this is a pre-registration only. Due to overwhelming interest, we apply a selective process. Every year it becomes more challenging to make our selections. We are committed to preserving the spirit and quality of the market by selecting vendors based on creativity, variety, quality, originality, and relevance to the event.

Following extensive feedback from both visitors and vendors through our recent surveys, several clear trends emerged.   Visitors are specifically looking for: • Curiosa and oddities • Handmade clothing • Occult home decoration • DIY kits • Occult and alternative books • Unique handmade creations • Handmade lifestyle products   Visitors are not looking for: • AI-generated products • Mass-produced items • Temu-style products • Large numbers of similar insect and butterfly vendors

As a result, we will continue enforcing our No AI Policy. We’re living in a changing world, and we can’t ignore AI anymore. Let’s not be naïve about that. But we believe AI shouldn’t be used to create art or replace human creativity.   Instead, let’s use AI to simplify the tasks we don’t enjoy, giving us more time to do what truly matters: creating, making, and expressing ourselves. Human creativity should remain human.   We also will be significantly more selective regarding insect and butterfly vendors. The number of jewellery vendors will also be limited to ensure a balanced and varied vendor lineup.   Over the years, the number of vendors offering framed butterflies and insects has increased substantially. To maintain variety and ensure a balanced market experience, we will strictly limit both the number of insect-related vendors and the amount of insect-related products present at the event.   Only a limited number of butterfly and insect vendors will be selected for this edition. In addition, vendors offering primarily butterflies or insects may book a maximum of two booths.

Pre-registration closes on July 19, 2026.   On August 2, 2026, all applicants will receive an email informing them whether they have been selected. If selected, you will receive a final registration and payment link through Qtickets. Please remember to check your spam folder.

Feedback from both visitors and vendors clearly shows that Genk remains everyone's favorite location. As many of you know, Thor Central is not the easiest venue. It consists of multiple floors, elevators, smaller rooms, and visitor flows that naturally spread throughout the building. However, we are fully aware that we are working inside a unique and monumental protected heritage building with an atmosphere unlike any other venue.   As organizers, we continuously invest in encouraging visitors to explore the entire building. This year, we will once again introduce several attractions and activities on the upper floors. For example: • Additional seating areas on the third floor • Food and beverage facilities on the third floor • Extra activities and surprises on the third floor   We do not accept requests regarding specific placements within the building.

Ground Floor (Floor 0) • Premium Booths • Standard Booths • Limited Basic Booths   First Floor (Floor 1) • Premium Booths • Standard Booths   Second Floor (Floor 2) • Standard Booths • Limited Basic Booths   Third Floor (Floor 3) • Basic Booths Only

Premium Booth – €55/m² (excl. VAT) Available sizes: 15 m² (3 available), 20 m² (1 available), 24 m² (6 available). Includes: Tables. Backwalls, Electricity, Listing on the official floor plan, Early setup on Friday from 12:00.   Standard Booth – €175 (excl. VAT) Includes: Table (180 x 80 cm), Back wall, Chairs.   Basic Booth – €90 (excl. VAT) Includes: Table (120 x 80 cm), Chairs, No back wall. (Generally located in smaller rooms and on the third floor.)

• Only weekend booths are available. • Booth dimensions are fixed as described above. • No items may be placed in front of or outside your assigned booth space. • Please ensure you book enough space for the products you intend to bring. • Corner spots cannot be guaranteed. • Electricity can be added during final payment for €30 (excl. VAT). • Please bring your own extension cords. • We strongly recommend bringing your own lighting, preferably battery-powered. • Booth types cannot be changed after pre-registration. • Booth types cannot be combined (for example: Basic + Standard).

• No AI-generated products. • No Temu-style products. • No mass-produced products or catalogue-based wholesale products (e.g. Nemesis Now and similar brands). • No counterfeit products. • No militaria. • Each vendor is solely responsible for ensuring that all products offered comply with applicable laws and regulations.   Vendors who applied for a Standard Booth but are placed on the waiting list will be offered a Basic Booth first (if available) before their application is declined.

• Cancel before September 30, 2026 → 50% refund (excl. VAT) • Cancel before November 15, 2026 → 25% refund (excl. VAT)

• Setup: Friday 14:00–22:00 and Saturday 09:00–12:30 • Premium Booth setup access: Friday from 12:00 • Breakdown starts Sunday from 18:00 (not earlier) • An unloading zone is available • Parking behind the building is not allowed • Police will actively enforce this rule and issue fines • After lengthy negotiations with the City of Genk and the management of Thor Park, we’re happy to announce that we’ve reached an agreement: parking will once again be free this year for both exhibitors and visitors. • Vegan and non-vegan catering available • Night security provided • Maximum 2 people per booth • Each booth receives 2 weekend wristbands (equivalent to two weekend tickets) • No illegal items allowed • Each vendor is responsible for all goods brought to and sold at the event • CITES documentation is required where applicable • Wi-Fi available throughout the building, including the basement • We strongly recommend bringing your own lighting, preferably battery-powered • Booth placements are assigned exclusively by the organization • Booking on behalf of another vendor is not permitted without prior approval • Bringing additional vendors under your booth registration is not allowed

We do not consider requests regarding placement during the placement process. If you wish to be placed next to another selected vendor, both vendors must contact us after the selection process. We can then arrange a combined payment, which guarantees side-by-side placement.

Please bring the type of products you registered for. If your social media showcases different products than what you intend to sell at De Duystere Markt, clearly specify in the comments section what you plan to bring. For example: If you apply with paintings, please do not arrive with butterfly displays instead. Certain product categories are limited, and selections are based partly on the information provided during registration. Important: Vendors are expected to bring the types of products described in their application. We reserve the right to refuse, remove, or relocate vendors whose products differ significantly from the information provided during pre-registration, or whose products do not comply with our vendor policies.

We do not accept tattoo artists as vendors. Other forms of artwork created by tattoo artists are, of course, welcome. We simply do not wish for De Duystere Markt to evolve into a tattoo convention.

Krampus & Winter Folklore

Approximately one month before the event, all selected vendors will receive a detailed information email. Please read this email carefully. Every year we include important practical information, special activities, unique surprises, and event updates. Booth numbers and floor plans will never be shared in advance. We deliberately do not publish floor plans before the event. Placements are assigned by the organization and communicated on-site.

info@deduysteremarkt.com