On April 3, 2026, the next Schwarze Ball will take place at X-TRA Zurich.
7 bands, 2 stages, 12 DJs, and 3 dance floors will turn the night into a highlight of the dark scene.

Timetable:

◉ Main Stage:
19:00 – 20:00   TRAITRS
20:15 – 21:15   She Past Away
21:45 – 23:00   Forced To Mode
23:45 – 01:15   IAMX

◉ Luna Stage:
21:15 – 22:15   aux animaux
23:15 – 00:15   Emmon
01:00 – 02:00   Lone Assembly

◉ MTM Floor:
01:15 – 02:15   DJ M
02:15 – 03:45   Irrlicht & Simone
03:45 – 05:00   Jena & Soro

◉ Post-Punk Division (Forum):
21:00 – 03:00  Grau & Majka, Subton

◉ Electro Floor (Podium):
22:00 – 23:30  V404
23:30 – 01:00  Silent Batbeat & Anubis
01:00 – 02:00  Medea & Grim de Mortem
02:00 – 03:00  Eisenberg
03:00 – 04:00  Medea & Grim de Mortem

IAMX (UK)

Chris Corner’s journey to IAMX has been theatrical, transformative and deeply personal. From his breakthrough with Sneaker Pimps to founding IAMX, he has spent over two decades bending genres and interrogating identity through electronic experimentation, punk energy and intimate lyricism. Eleven studio albums later, his work explores identity, sexuality, mental health and existential longing. The latest album, “Fault Lines²” (August 2024), reached #1 on the German Alternative Charts, holding the top spot for six consecutive weeks. Corner speaks openly about depression, insomnia and autism, actively challenging the stigma surrounding mental illness.

She Past Away (TR)

She Past Away is a dark wave / post-punk duo from Turkey, consisting of Volkan Caner (vocals, guitar, songwriting) and Doruk Öztürkcan (drums, synths, production). Blending old-school synth aesthetics with stripped-down guitars, they have forged a distinctive sound carried by minimalist poetry sung in Turkish. Their music creates a dense, hypnotic pull—both personal and universal—moving between nihilism, existential questioning and nocturnal catharsis.

Forced To Mode (DE)

Forced To Mode are widely regarded as the “world’s best Depeche Mode tribute band” (including by Sonic Seducer) and have captivated audiences in 18 European countries. Press and fans alike describe their performances as tribute shows in a league of their own—over 4 million YouTube views and a remarkable fanbase underline that status. Their energetic live shows, uncannily authentic vocals and meticulous attention to sonic detail make every performance intense and faithful to the original. With constantly evolving setlists, rare tracks and special concept or acoustic shows, the Berlin trio have revived the spirit of Depeche Mode’s iconic eras in more than 500 concerts since 2011.

TRAITRS (CA)

TRAITRS are among the defining duos of the modern goth scene. In 2024, they stood out with international tours, millions of streams and the feature of “Thin Flesh” in the 2024 reimagining of The Crow. Their sound—icy guitars, melancholic synths and driving drum machines—captures the spirit of classic post-punk while staying firmly rooted in the present. Formed in Toronto in 2015, they broke through with Butcher’s Coin (2018); Horses in the Abattoir (2021) topped the DAC charts. Their new album will be released on March 13, 2026.

Emmon (SE)

Emma Nylén quickly rose to the forefront of Swedish electroclash with her 2001 project Emmon. With explosive one-woman performances, dynamic DJ sets and remixes of well-known acts, she became Sweden’s electro queen, releasing multiple albums and performing extensively across clubs, festivals and international tours. During the pandemic, she returned to her creative roots—the electroclash sound of the 2000s—blended with progressive old-school synths and postmodern production. In 2023, Emmon received the Swedish Alternative Music Award for Best Synth/Electro Act.

aux animaux (SE)

aux animaux is a Stockholm-based darkwave artist with roots in Istanbul. Inspired by 80s dark wave, goth bands, occultism and horror films, she creates a dark and distinctive sound. On stage, she sings while alternating between bass guitar and theremin—the only instrument played without touch, which she considers her personal source of sorcery.

Lone Assembly (CH)

Lone Assembly is a Swiss quartet blending new wave, romantic synthpop and dark, melancholic post-punk. With their debut EP “That Never Happened” (2024), they combine the haunting allure of the ’80s with precisely crafted modern production. Themes of unresolved grief, rejection and inner insecurity are shaped into powerful songs marked by cold-wave influences and contemporary sharpness.