🎧 Fun EDM Fact: In 2025 Tomorrowland's main stage burned down the day before the festival. The organizers
built an entirely new stage overnight and kept the show going!
World-Class EDM Festivals
Discover the festivals that define electronic dance music culture. Each event offers a unique atmosphere, incredible artists, and memories that last a lifetime.
Festival Quick Comparison
Festival
Location
When
Est. Attendance
Tomorrowland
Boom, Belgium
July
400,000+
Ultra Music Festival
Miami, USA
March
160,000+
EDC Las Vegas
Las Vegas, USA
May
500,000+
Project Glow
Washington, D.C., USA
August
30,000+
Featured Festival Profiles
🏰 Tomorrowland
📍 Location: Boom, Belgium |
📅 When: Late July (Two Weekends) |
🎭 Vibe: Magical & Theatrical
Tomorrowland's legendary main stage transforms each year with new themes. (Image Source: DJmag)
You may have heard Tomorrowland referred to as the greatest festival on Earth, and for good reason.
Set in the small town of Boom, Belgium, this festival transforms farmland into a fantasy world complete with
elaborate stage designs, immersive themes, and world-class production. While camping at this festival is a popular option,
surrounding towns offer a range of lodging options. The town of Boom itseld has several hotels that cater to festival goers with
elaborate decorations and themed experiences.
While Tomorrowland attracts over 400,000 attendees, that number is split over its two weekends. Its 16 stages also help to keep the crowd
feel managable despite its massive size. Tomorrowland as an institution has a rich history and culture, making its way accross the world.
Tomorrowland Belgium is the original and main event, but there are international additions such as the ski oriented Tomorrowland Winter in
the French Alps and Tomorrowland Brasil in South America.
What to Expect
Genres: EDM from house to hardstyle to hard techno, over 1,000 artists across 16 stages
Atmosphere: Magical fantasy, welcoming international crowd and locals, costumes and kandi abundant
Camping: DreamVille offers themed camping experiences from basic (tent) to luxury (en suite pod)
Tickets: Sell out immediately – join the wait list early, coordinate with friends with loyalty access, and
beware of resellers as scamming is common.
📍 Location: Miami, Florida, USA |
📅 When: Last Weekend in March |
🎭 Vibe: Urban & High-Energy
Ultra's main stage takes over Miami's Bayfront Park. (Image Source: DJ Life Mag)
Ultra Music Festival brings world-class EDM to the heart of Miami, FL during the legendary Miami Music Week (MMW).
Ultra anchors MMW, which has EDM artists from around the world cropping up all over Miami. Held at Bayfront Park for the last decade,
the Ultra mainstage has become an iconic visual for Miami's Brickell neighborhood. The location creates an unforgettable backdrop of palm trees and city lights.
Ultra has also expanded to include a variety of locations accross the globe including Ultra Japan, Ultra Europe (Croatia), and more.
Miami is the Ultra's flagship event, bringing in around 160,000 attendees over its three day span. Due to its timing typically coinciding
with Spring Break, prices tend to be higher and book up quickly. Some critics remark that the festival has become
more of a commercialized party atmosphere, rather than a PLUR oriented rave experience.
What to Expect
Music: Dedicated Bass, Techno, and Live stages with mixed acts at the Main Stage
Atmosphere: High-energy, Spring Break, Less PLUR oriented
Setting: Bayfront Park in downtown Miami – no camping
Pro Tip: Keep tabs on the UMF subreddit for announcments of other Miami Music Week events
📍 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
📅 When: Mid-May |
🎭 Vibe: Late Night Carnival
EDC's presence at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is awe inspiring. (Image Source: ModernLuxury)
EDC Las Vegas has become the largest EDM festival in North America, transforming the Las Vegas Motor Speedway
into an immersive carnival experience. Running from dusk till dawn, this festival is all about escaping reality and
embracing the night. Be prepared to experience a sensory overload of neon lights, carnival rides, massive LED stages,
and elaborate fireworks displays. The festival typically runs for three days from sunset until about 7:00am.
With over 500,000 attendees, EDC Las Vegas can be overwhelming for first timers. That being said, the community
that makes up that crowd is known for their friendliness and inclusivity. Totems are an honored tradition here, they
aid in locating friends and serve as a means of expressing creativity. Camp EDC often sells out and offers a range of options
from prefabricated tents to RV spots with power hookup (sold separately). Shuttles also run from the Speedway to
various downtown hotels, but be warned the lines for these can be long, especially at the end of the festival.
What to Expect
Music: EDM's biggest names in Dubstep, Techno, House, Riddim, and more
Atmosphere: Carnival rides, art installations, and even an EDC wedding chapel
Schedule: Sunset to sunrise each night – prepare for headliner sunrise sets!
Climate: Desert heat during the day (perfect for pool parties), cooler at night – bring layers
📍 Location: Washington, D.C., USA |
📅 When: Late May |
🎭 Vibe: Urban Metropolitan - 2 Days
Project Glow turns the dilapidated RFK Stadium into a vibrant wonderland. (Image Source: EDM Identity)
Project Glow is Washington, DC's biggest electronic music festival, celebrating
urban culture and cutting-edge sound in the Nation's Capital. Held in late May, it offers a vibrant metropolitan
experience over two days. A relatively new addition, Project Glow undergoes significant changes year over year as
it establishes its identity in a crowded festival landscape. The promotion company Club Glow was acquired by Insomniac events
(producers of EDC) in 2021, which gave way for Project Glow to become a reality in 2022.
Taking over the historic Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Grounds, Project Glow features three main stages with
a strong focus on tech house, bass, and local artists. Its urban setting, smaller size, and variety of artists
make it a great option for first time festival goers. These characteristics also tend to keep costs lower thank
larger festivals, making it an attractive option for budget conscious travelers.
What to Expect
Music: Strong tech house and bass focus with major headliners
Atmosphere: Urban energy, diverse crowd, 2-day event
Future: RFK Stadium is being redeveloped, but Insomniac states Project Glow will go on during and after construction
Pro Tip: Take advantage of D.C.'s Metro system to avoid surge pricing and traffic
