The reports of EDM’s death in the United States has been greatly exaggerated and festivals have been roaring back stronger than ever this season with electronic dance music at the helm. Below we run down some of the best EDM fests in the US to check out this year.
Ultra Music Festival Miami 2023
March 24-26, 2023
Miami, FL
For EDM fans around the world, Ultra in Miami is a must-stop on the international circuit. While most of the United States is shivering in parkas waiting for the summer festival season, Ultra fans are dancing their asses off in sunny Miami. The show always delivers surprises – both in the musical acts and the fans that attend.
Featured Artists: Afrojack, Alesso, Armin Van Buuren, Carl Cox, Cedric Gervais, Chris Liebing, Dada Life, David Guetta, Deorro, Dubfire, Fedde Le Grand, Gareth Emery, Grimes, Hardwell, M.I.A., Marshmello, Martin Garrix, Nicky Romero, Rezz, Sub Zero Project, Swedish House Mafia, Tale of Us, Timmy Trumpet, Vini Vici, Vintage Culture, Zedd
Photo Credit: Ultra
EDC Las Vegas 2023
May 19-21, 2023
Las Vegas, NV
The Electric Daisy Carnival brings all the glitter and glam of Las Vegas to this three-day celebration of electronic music. Now a worldwide phenomenon, there's no place like home for the flagship version of EDC, which shows off hundreds of performers set to the backdrop of a full-sized carnival.
Featured Artists: Above & Beyond, Alison Wonderland, Alok, Andy C, Armin Van Buuren, Ben Ufo, Borgore, Boris Brejcha, Chase & Status, David Guetta, Deorro, Duke Dumont, Ellen Allien, Excision, Ferry Corsten, Fisher, Galantis, Gareth Emery, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Griz, Jeff Mills, Kaskade, Kaytranada, Loco Dice, Marshmello, Martin Garrix, Paco Osuna, Peekaboo, Sub Zero Project, Subtronics, The Martinez Brothers, Vini Vici, Warface, Yellow Claw, Zedd, Zeds Dead
Photo Credit: aLIVE
Electric Forest 2023
June 22-25, 2023
Rothbury, MI
The legendary Sherwood Forest, beloved by music festival fans around the world, sets the backdrop to Electric Forest. Located on the Double JJ Ranch in Michigan, Electric Forest has grown into a full-on destination fest. At night, the Sherwood Forest becomes alive with lights, art, and the creativity of the fans.
Featured Artists: Above & Beyond, Chromeo, Gorgon City, Illenium, Jamie XX, Odesza, Rezz, San Holo, Sofi Tukker, The String Cheese Incident, Zeds Dead
Photo Credit: Brian Spady
Beyond Wonderland 2023
March 24-25, 2023
San Bernardino, CA
It's time to journey back down the rabbit hole for this Alice in Wonderland themed fest. Insomniac's springtime EDM festival in southern California, the sister festival of Nocturnal Wonderland, features everything from house to trance to dubstep to drum and bass. We'll see you at the Mad Hatter's Castle.
Featured Artists: Alan Walker, Alok, Andy C, Borgore, Chris Liebing, Deorro, Dillon Francis, Ellen Allien, Excision, Felix Da Housecat, Ferry Corsten, Flosstradamus, Kaskade, San Holo, Sub Zero Project
Photo Credit: Jake West
Dancefestopia 2023
September 4-10, 2023
La Cygne, KS
A high energy music and camping festival, Dancefestopia takes place in the rolling hills just south of Kansas City. Over four nights, festies can party to nonstop music and one of the strongest dance music lineups in the region.
Featured Artists: Borgore, Excision, Knife Party, Zeds Dead, Zomboy
Photo Credit: Dancefestopia
Movement Detroit 2023
May 27-29, 2023
Detroit, MI
Long before the onslaught of the modern day electronic festival scene, the Movement Festival has brought the vibe to downtown Detroit over Memorial Day weekend. Running under a few different names since 2000, this festival brings in top talent to Hart Plaza and delivers an EDM urban experience far different than any other you’ll find over the summer.
Featured Artists: Caribou, Carl Craig, Charlotte De Witte, Chris Liebing, DJ Seinfeld, Fisher, Green Velvet, Kaskade, Maceo Plex, Seth Troxler, Skrillex, Three 6 Mafia, Underworld
Photo Credit: Chuck Manley
Hard Summer 2023
August 5-6, 2023
San Bernadino, CA
Founded by Gary Richards, also known as the electronic artist Destructo, Hard Summer thrives each year on the root of its founder’s fame – electronic. Taking place in diverse locations within the Los Angeles city limits since its inaugural year in 2007, the festival is back home in the 213.
Featured Artists: 21 Savage, Bicep, Boys Noize, Deorro, Dillon Francis, Diplo, Emo Nite, Fat Joe, Gorgon City, Kaskade, Kid Cudi, Loco Dice, Ludacris, Peekaboo, Skrillex, The Martinez Brothers, Yellow Claw
Coachella Music Festival 2023
April 14-23, 2023
Indio, CA
Like a barometer always reading a temperature of awesome, the traditional kickoff to the summer festival season is dominated by Coachella. The glitz and glamour of Los Angeles migrates east to the Indio desert for back to back weekends of the biggest names in music. What started as a small electronic festival in the desert has transformed into a cultural touchstone for the festival season.
Featured Artists: A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Adam Beyer, Alex G, Ashnikko, Bad Bunny, Bakar, Becky G, Benee, Big Wild, Björk, Blackpink, Blink-182, Blondie, Boris Brejcha, Burna Boy, Calvin Harris, Cannons, Charli XCX, Christine And The Queens, Chromeo, Dannylux, Destroy Boys, Diljit Dosanjh, Doechii, Dominic Fike, Drama, Earthgang, Eric Prydz, Ethel Cain, Fisher, Flo Milli, Frank Ocean, Glorilla, Gordo, Gorillaz, Idris Elba, Jackson Wang, Jai Wolf, Jamie Jones, Joy Crookes, Kali Uchis, Kaytranada, Kenny Beats, Knocked Loose, Labrinth, Latto, Maceo Plex, Magdalena Bay, Marc Rebillet, Metro Boomin, Muna, Mura Masa, Noname, Nora En Pure, Paris Texas, Pi’Erre Bourne, Porter Robinson, Pusha T, Rae Sremmurd, Rebelution, Remi Wolf, Rosalía, Sg Lewis, Snail Mail, Sofi Tukker, Stick Figure, Tale of Us, The Blaze, The Breeders, The Chemical Brothers, The Comet is Coming, The Garden, The Kid Laroi, The Linda Lindas, TV Girl, Two Friends, Underworld, Vintage Culture, Wet Leg, Weyes Blood, Willow, Yung Lean, Yungblud, Yves Tumor
Photo Credit: Mike Ivankay for Coachella
Project Glow 2023
April 29-30, 2023
Washington, DC
Project Glow returns for a another year of dance music in the nation's capital!
Featured Artists: Benny Benassi, Ferry Corsten, Gorgon City, Green Velvet, Kill The Noise, Markus Schulz, Zeds Dead
Electric Zoo 2023
September 1-3, 2023
New York City, NY
Electric Zoo is New York City’s premier electronic music festival every Labor Day weekend. With stacked artists ranging from bass to techno and everything in between, Electric Zoo promises to not disappoint attendees. As the largest and longest-running electronic festival in the city, the park transforms into an electronic playground for a three-day jammed pack festival.
aLIVE Coverage for Electric Zoo
Global Dance Festival 2023
July 21-22, 2023
Denver, CO
As Colorado’s largest summer festival, Global Dance Festival is one of the premier cultural developments in a state with some of the top population booms in the country. While other festivals in the Colorado have lineups centered on specific genres, Global Dance Festival highlights all facets of the electronic scene. Each year the festival creators take over Empower Field at Mile High, home of the NFL Denver Broncos, into a carnival wonderland for festival attendees.
Featured Artists: Alan Walker, Deorro, EDX, Green Velvet, Seth Troxler, Zedd
Photo Credit: Global Dance Festival
Northern Nights 2023
July 14-16, 2023
Piercy, CA
Connecting music and nature, Northern Nights Music Festival is one of the most sought after events held at Cook’s Valley Campground in Northern California. Promoted as a music and arts, camping, yoga and cannabis retreat, the festival features a varied lineup of primarily electronic artists. Still a small festival by industry standards, Northern Lights tops out at 6,000 attendees. The selective attendee limit and festival grounds play a large role in Northern Nights success. The campgrounds are home to swimming holes and the largest Redwood grove in the nation where camping is allowed.
Featured Artists: Big Gigantic, Mura Masa
Desert Hearts Festival 2023
May 6-7, 2023
Los Angeles, CA
The DIY Desert Hearts Festival boasts a dedicated community of underground electronic music fans who worship at the alter of house, techno, and love. The intimate gatherings are beloved by fans, who are inspired by the small capacity experience focused on art, music, and community.
Featured Artists: DJ Seinfeld, Skream
Photo Credit: Desert Hearts
Forbidden Kingdom Festival 2023
June 9-10, 2023
Orlando, FL
It's a fantastical journey into the world of the Forbidden Kingdom Music Festival in Boca Raton, Florida. Become immersed in a land full of bass music stars over two days in the most magical place of all - Florida!
Featured Artists: Borgore, Excision, Flux Pavilion, Kill The Noise, Modestep, Peekaboo, Zeds Dead
Photo Credit: Insomniac Events
North Coast Music Festival 2023
September 1-3, 2023
Chicago, IL
North Coast Music Festival is a collaboration of independent promoters in Chicago that have presented everything from small shows to selling out large scale concerts. Summer's Last Stand descends upon Union Park during Labor Day Weekend with the world's electronic, house, jam-band, indie, and hip-hop communities.
Featured Artists: Alesso, Alison Wonderland, DJ Snake, Duke Dumont, Flume, Gordo, Marshmello, Zeds Dead, Zomboy
Heatwave Festival 2023
June 10-11, 2023
Chicago, IL
Music meets imagination this summer at the Heatwave Festival, a two day banger of dance music in downtown Chicago.
Featured Artists: Cheat Codes, Deorro, EDX, Griz
Moonrise Festival 2023
August 12-13, 2023
Baltimore, MD
It’s off to the races with the EDM Moonrise Festival. Held just outside Baltimore at the nearly 150 year old Pimlico Race Course, Moonrise is growing organically into one of the largest electronic events in the Capitol Region.
Featured Artists: Above & Beyond, Alan Walker, Alison Wonderland, Alok, Big Gigantic, Borgore, Dillon Francis, Griz, Louis The Child, San Holo, Zomboy
Photo Credit: Alive Photo
Beyond Wonderland at The Gorge 2023
June 17-18, 2023
George, WA
Beyond Wonderland is heading to the legendary Gorge for the electronic dance music party of the summer! It's everything you love about the festival, but with camping in one of the best live music venues in the world.
Featured Artists: Afrojack, Andy C, Dillon Francis, Flosstradamus, Marshmello, Subtronics, Timmy Trumpet, Zomboy
Photo Credit: Jake West
Elements Music Festival 2023
August 11-14, 2023
Long Pond, PA
After 10 years of throwing wildly successful ragers in the big city, BangOn!NYC brings their style to the woods for a three day summer camp style party. This festival features seven stages, massive art installations, and plenty of fun camp games. Grab a cabin or bring a tent to the bucolic hills of northeastern Pennsylvania and be ready to dance.
Featured Artists: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Porter Robinson, Skrillex, Subtronics, Tokimonsta
Photo Credit: Chris Lazzaro
Electric Daisy Carnival Orlando 2023
November 10-12, 2023
Orlando, FL
Summer is still a long way out there, but Electric Daisy Carnival helps out their fans with an east coast edition of the famous festival. EDC Orlando brings two packed days of EDM to Tinker Field in Florida along with full-sized carnival rides, unique performances, and art.
Photo Credit: Insomniac