The 10 Biggest EDM Festivals in the US for 2026

Four days. 400,000+ people. Chicago's Grant Park becomes a temporary city of music fans every summer, and Perry's Stage delivers some of the best electronic programming at any multi-genre festival in the country. (Note: 2026 dates are expected but not yet officially confirmed.)

Lollapalooza isn't exclusively EDM, which is actually part of its appeal. You can catch a techno set at Perry's, wander over for a rock headliner, then close the night with house music. The festival contextualizes dance music within broader music culture in a way that pure EDM events can't match.

The downtown Chicago location means incredible food (seriously, some of the city's best restaurants set up shop inside), skyline views from the main stages, and a 10 PM curfew that feeds into legendary afterparties across the city's club scene.

Ultra Miami puts 165,000+ attendees in downtown's Bayfront Park, with the city skyline rising directly behind main stage. It's one of the most photographed festival backdrops in electronic dance music, and the setting creates an energy that feels distinctly different from festivals in fields or parking lots.

The crowd here skews more fashion-forward and international than most US festivals. You'll hear accents from every continent and see outfits that wouldn't look out of place at Miami's best clubs. If you care about festival style, this is where it matters most.

2026 brings 46 debut performances, with 80% of the lineup featuring new acts. Ultra has always been about showcasing what's next in electronic music alongside established headliners.

Movement is a pilgrimage. Detroit invented techno in the 1980s, and this festival honors that legacy with an uncompromising focus on house and techno. No pop-EDM crossover acts here, no mainstream concessions. Just authentic underground electronic music from legends and rising stars performing in the genre's birthplace.

2026 marks 20 years of Movement under Paxahau's production, a milestone for a festival that's become techno's spiritual home. The confirmed lineup already includes Carl Cox, Carl Craig, Richie Hawtin, Kevin Saunderson, Danny Brown, ANNA, Green Velvet, and Maceo Plex, with more names still to come.

Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit provides the backdrop, with the city's industrial architecture adding to the atmosphere. The crowd here skews older and more knowledgeable than at mainstream EDM events. People actually know the artists and the history.

(Real talk: Movement afterparties at venues like TV Lounge and The Works are as essential as the festival itself.)

HARD Summer draws around 80,000 attendees to Hollywood Park in Inglewood with a lineup that blurs genre lines like no other major festival. EDM shares billing with hip-hop, creating unexpected crossover energy and a crowd that's genuinely diverse in their musical tastes.

The Hollywood Park location (adjacent to SoFi Stadium) makes this one of the most accessible large-scale festivals on the list. Public transit actually works here, which feels almost revolutionary for LA.

Know before you go:

• August LA heat is brutal; sunscreen and constant hydration are survival necessities
• The festival runs 2 PM to 10 PM, which means reasonable hours and actual sleep
• Metro access means you can skip the parking nightmare entirely

Check out our HARD Summer outfits collection for pieces that handle LA summer heat.

If you're new to festivals, start here. Beyond Wonderland offers Insomniac's production quality at a friendlier scale, with around 65,000 attendees versus EDC's 400,000. Everything feels more approachable: shorter walks between stages, easier navigation, less sensory overload.

The Alice in Wonderland theme (from Lewis Carroll's classic story) creates an immersive storybook atmosphere with themed stages like Queen's Domain for main stage acts, Caterpillar's Garden for psychedelic sounds, and Mad Hatter's Castle for bass music. Costumes are encouraged, and people really commit to the aesthetic.

At around $180 for tickets, it's significantly cheaper than mega-festivals while delivering a legitimate top-tier experience.

Electric Forest isn't the biggest festival on this list with around 45,000 attendees, but it might be the most transformative. Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan becomes something otherworldly during festival weekend. Sherwood Forest, the illuminated woodland area at the heart of the grounds, features art installations woven through the trees and music floating through the air from every direction.

The lineup blends electronic music with jam bands like String Cheese Incident, creating a unique music culture you won't find anywhere else. This isn't a festival where people stand in front of one stage all night. It's about wandering, discovering hidden art pieces, and connecting with strangers who feel like old friends by morning.

Camping is mandatory here, and that's the point. The forest experience is the experience.

Bass Canyon happens at The Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington, one of the most beautiful music venues on the planet. The natural Columbia River Gorge creates a backdrop that makes every other festival venue look ordinary. Around 25,000 bass music devotees gather for Excision's flagship festival each summer.

The lineup is pure bass music: dubstep (heavy electronic music with intense low-end frequencies), drum and bass, and aggressive electronic sounds. If you love the heavier side of EDM, this is paradise. If you prefer melodic house, look elsewhere.

Know before you go:

• This is a camping festival; prepare for Pacific Northwest weather swings
• The Gorge is remote, so stock up on supplies before you arrive
• Bring quality earplugs you'll actually use because the sound systems here are no joke

For another epic bass music experience, check our Lost Lands guide. Browse our Bass Canyon outfits or the Lost Lands outfits collection for similar bass-ready aesthetic pieces.