EDC's 2026 Lineup Drops as Vegas Strip Prepares for Raver Takeover

^{There are casinos even at EDC! Kandi Kasino is one of EDC’s wacky experiences beyond the music stages. (Photo: EDC Las Vegas / X.com)}

LAS VEGAS — Look alive, people. EDC is right around the corner.

The full 2026 lineup for Electric Daisy Carnival officially dropped last Wednesday, and it’s stacked with electronic dance music stars big and small. The festival returns to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway May 15–17, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with more than 200 performers.

Organized by Insomniac Events, the massive event is the pinnacle of “rave” culture and has already been sold out for months. It’s a testament to the kind of festival experience it delivers, considering thousands of fans buy tickets before knowing who will be performing. The reveal came during a Feb. 11 livestream, where founder Pasquale Rotella also announced that EDC will come with a World Techno Parade set to take over the Strip on Thursday, May 14.

The event is bound to impact nearby hotels and casinos, bringing the “wubz” to Las Vegas Boulevard as nothing else has before.

Hundreds of Headliners in One Place

This year’s lineup features new and returning EDM heavyweights, including Tiësto, Steve Aoki, Kaskade, The Chainsmokers, Martin Garrix, Subtronics, and Fisher, among many (many) others.

The full lineup of performers for EDC. It’s a shame there’s no Knock2 or IsoXO on that list! (Image: EDC Las Vegas)

Many of these popular artists regularly headline residencies at casino nightclubs across the Strip at properties like the Wynn, Fontainebleau, MGM Grand, Resorts World, and The Cosmopolitan. EDC essentially brings those familiar names together into one giant three-day experience, creating a festival that will forever be tied to Vegas.

You can’t talk about May in Vegas without thinking of EDC. It brings so many people to the city, especially people in some of the most creative outfits you’ve ever seen.

What began in the late 1990s as a warehouse party in Los Angeles has grown into one of the largest dance festivals in the world. EDC transforms the Motor Speedway each year into a neon city of unique stages, fireworks, and high-production value. 

Talking about EDC also means diving into rave-specific terms like B2B, wooks, kandi, and bass drops…but that's a whole other monster to get into. Just remember to always have PLUR (peace, love, respect, and unity!)

EDC Week Takes Over Casino Nightlife

The festival grounds sit far north of the city, but EDC Week is where casinos on the Strip really get to have some fun. Seeing some of these DJs on a random weekend is an afterthought for many locals interested in that scene. For example, Zedd plays at OMNIA Nightclub at Caesars Palace all the time. 

But for visitors, however, EDC Week offers a rare opportunity to experience multiple Vegas headliners at the festival or right on the Strip.

For the week leading up to May 15, dayclubs and nightclubs at casinos across the Strip feature DJs and entertainment curated for EDC attendees. Venues that normally play into hip-hop or pop often pivot toward techno, riddim, dubstep, and other EDM subgenres to match the raver crowd.

Even artists not officially performing at EDC often play shows at casino venues during that same stretch, giving fans multiple chances to see their favorite DJs without having to drive all the way to the Speedway. And it’s great for those who didn’t manage to get a ticket early on. (To be frank, it seems a little risky to purchase a ticket for a festival without knowing who’s going to be playing.)

In my own case, I’m a massive fan of the DJ Knock2, so it was a pleasure to find out that he would be performing at LIV Beach Club at Fontainebleau instead of not performing at EDC this year.

Even bigger than that is Hotel EDC, which will transform Virgin Hotels Las Vegas into a festival-themed hotspot right off the Strip for another year. Virgin Hotels has already proven it can host a variety of events, whether it’s the AVN Expo to the Bella Twins wine launch..

For the entire EDC weekend, the property is decked out in themed decorations and dancers in ravewear to keep people immersed from check-in to checkout. In 2023, I remember seeing ads for Hotel EDC when it was still at Resorts World. The FOMO was so real, to say the least.

How Casinos Cash In on EDC Weekend

Casinos are among the many backbones of the festival. 

Official shuttle stops are located near major resort corridors, including Rio Hotel & Casino, The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower, and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Standard shuttle passes are currently priced at $224.99, while premier shuttle passes range from $344.99 to $354.99.

Although EDC itself is not held at a casino, the flow of attendees through these properties translates into hotel bookings, dining, nightlife spending, and gaming revenue. When major festivals come to town, hotel rates typically surge (especially for properties located near shuttle routes or in the center of the Strip action).

If you want to be a savvy traveler, monitor hotel rates closer to the event before booking your stay. Unsold inventory can sometimes lead hotels to make price adjustments. 

Charging dining and entertainment expenses to a hotel room during festival weekends can also help build a spending history with a property. This can come in handy for your next Vegas trip, whether it’s for EDC or not. Who doesn’t love a discount or promotion, right?

Whether you’re heading north for three nights of bass drops or sticking to the Strip for EDC Week events, May in Las Vegas will continue to belong to the ravers for a 30th year in a row.