As an EDM enthusiast myself, there’s nothing I relish more than the euphoric energy that pulses through the crowd at these electrifying gatherings. Let’s dive into the electric world of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festivals in the USA. A phenomenon birthed in the late 20th century, these festivals have grown to be a crucial part of the American music scene. Over the years, some of the best music festivals in the USA, like Ultra Music Festival and Electric Daisy Carnival, have left indelible impressions on fans, both for their mesmerising music and for their vibrant atmospheres. Without further ado, let’s journey together through 22 of the best EDM festivals the USA has to offer!
As you scroll through this guide, you might find that your dream music festival is sold out. Don’t panic! TicketSwap is your solution. Sign up now and stay in the loop about sold-out tickets going on sale!
1. Ultra Music Festival
March 22-24, 2024
Miami, Florida
www.ultramusicfestival.com
Ultra Music Festival is an EDM paradise, its stages nestled amidst Miami’s downtown skyline. It’s a world where the pulsating bass mingles with the ocean breeze, lasers slice through the balmy air, and confetti showers bathe revellers under the Florida moonlight. You’re not just an observer here; you’re part of a global family united by the power of music.
2. Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC)
May 19-21, 2023
Las Vegas, Nevada
www.lasvegas.electricdaisycarnival.com
EDC turns the Las Vegas Motor Speedway into a vibrant city of lights. Walk through avenues lined with glowing, alien-like flora, enjoy a moonlit ride on a carousel, or get lost in an interactive art installation. It’s a journey through a neon wonderland where every moment holds the promise of discovery and unity.
3. Movement Electronic Music Festival
May 27-29, 2023
Detroit, Michigan
www.movement.us
At Movement, the raw, industrial aesthetic of Detroit’s Hart Plaza converges with the fluid rhythms of electronic music. The festival is a musical pilgrimage, where you can immerse yourself in techno’s roots while simultaneously exploring its future. Against the backdrop of Detroit’s skyline, every beat resonates with the city’s rich musical legacy.
4. Electric Forest Festival
June 22-25, 2023
Rothbury, Michigan
www.electricforestfestival.com
The Sherwood Forest, with its intriguing installations and neon-dappled trees, is the magical realm of Electric Forest. It’s a place where music, art, and communal love intertwine. The festival’s diverse roster reverberates through the woodland, while surprises await at every turn, creating a multi-sensory feast.
5. Sonic Bloom Festival
June 15-18, 2023
Spanish Peaks Country, Colorado
www.sonicbloomfestival.com
Nestled in Colorado’s verdant landscapes, Sonic Bloom is a melting pot of music, art, and transformative workshops. The festival invites you to enjoy pulsating music sets, explore art installations, and engage in yoga and permaculture workshops. It’s an opportunity to connect with nature, self, and like-minded souls.
Want to discover more transformational music festivals? Discover my guide to 15 life-changing transformational music festivals around the world!
6. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
TBC April 2024
Indio, California www.coachella.com
Though not strictly an EDM festival, Coachella deserves a spot on this list. This iconic gathering in the heart of the Colorado Desert has a diverse lineup that often includes world-renowned EDM acts. The Sahara Tent, a mecca for EDM lovers, pulsates with infectious energy as DJs and electronic artists light up the stage. Between the Ferris wheel rides, art installations, and flavorful food, there’s a sense of playful magic in the air. Add in the chance to dance under the desert stars, and you’ve got an experience that resonates with the soul.
7. Imagine Music Festival
September 14-17, 2023
Hampton, Georgia
www.imaginefestival.com
Imagine Music Festival unfolds like an aquatic fairytale, transforming the Atlanta Motor Speedway into a fantastical, oceanic realm. As you explore this marine-themed festival, you’ll find stages shaped like enormous aquatic creatures, performers adorned in sea-inspired costumes, and immersive art spaces. It’s a sensory voyage that leaves you awash with unforgettable memories.
8. Hangout Music Festival
May 19-21, 2023
Gulf Shores, Alabama
www.hangoutmusicfest.com
Imagine dancing to throbbing beats while the warm Gulf Shores sand tickles your toes. That’s what awaits you at Hangout Music Festival. While the lineup is a blend of genres, the Beach House stage, dedicated to electronic music, lures you with its sun-soaked EDM parties. It’s the perfect combination of a palm-fringed beach vacation and a music festival.
9. Electric Zoo Festival
September 1-3, 2023
New York City, New York
www.electriczoo.com
As the beats intensify, Randall’s Island Park transforms into a vibrant zoo of melodies. Electric Zoo captures the spirit of New York: bold, diverse, and always buzzing with energy. From the sprawling main stage to intimate thematic stages, each corner of the festival offers a unique musical journey amidst the city’s skyline.
10. Nocturnal Wonderland
September 16-17, 2023
San Bernardino, California
www.nocturnalwonderland.com
When night falls, the Glen Helen Regional Park comes alive as a glowing ecosystem of music and art. At Nocturnal Wonderland, neon-lit art installations illuminate the landscape, while the music stages throb with beats from every electronic subgenre. It’s a place where night’s tranquillity blends perfectly with the electrifying festival energy.
11. Moonrise Festival
August 12-13, 2023
Baltimore, Maryland
www.moonrisefestival.com
Moonrise Festival paints the Baltimore sky with lasers, pyrotechnics, and the ethereal glow of the moon. Music stages come alive as celestial bodies, their LED screens mirroring the cosmic theme. As you dance under the starlit sky, the festival feels like a joyous dance with the cosmos.
12. Lollapalooza Chicago
August 3-6, 2023
Chicago, Illinois
www.lollapalooza.com
Lollapalooza, in Chicago’s Grant Park, is an amalgamation of the city’s charm and diverse music. The Perry’s Stage, dedicated to electronic music, is a euphoria-inducing universe where the city’s skyline serves as a backdrop for the mesmerising light shows and earth-shaking drops. It’s a multi-sensory experience rooted in Chicago’s vibrant culture.
13. Lost Lands Music Festival
September 22-24, 2023
Thornville, Ohio
www.lostlandsfestival.com
As you enter Lost Lands, you’re transported back to a prehistoric era where colossal dinosaurs reign supreme. The stages, adorned with dinosaur statues and volcanic structures, seem to echo with the roars of prehistoric creatures as the bass-heavy tracks drop. It’s a primal, high-energy experience like no other.
14. North Coast Music Festival
September 1-3, 2023
Chicago, Illinois
www.northcoastfestival.com
Set on the scenic Northerly Island, North Coast Music Festival brings an eclectic musical tide to Chicago’s shores. The Hangar Stage, the hub for electronic music, resonates with deep house grooves, euphoric trance, and hard-hitting bass. Surrounded by Lake Michigan’s serene views, it’s a musical exploration that enthrals all your senses.
15. Lightning in a Bottle
May 24-29, 2023
Bakersfield, California
www.lightninginabottle.org
Lightning in a Bottle is a transformative experience, nestled amidst Bakersfield’s rolling hills. With art installations that seem to converse with nature, wellness workshops, and a broad spectrum of electronic music, it’s a festival where self-discovery is as essential as the beats that fill the air.
16. HARD Summer Music Festival
August 5-6, 2023
Fontana, California
www.hardsummer.com
HARD Summer blends the vibrant Californian spirit with an electrifying lineup of electronic music and hip-hop. The stages, set up at the Auto Club Speedway, pulsate with energetic performances that keep the crowd in a perpetual state of motion. Under the sunny skies and during the starry nights, every moment at HARD is an adrenaline rush.
17. Escape Halloween
October 27-28, 2023
San Bernardino, California
www.escapehalloween.com
Step into a world where spine-chilling décor meets pulsating EDM at Escape Halloween. Explore haunted mazes, encounter roaming creatures, or let the goosebump-inducing tracks at the Grimm stage send a thrill down your spine. It’s a festival that beautifully combines the fun of a Halloween party with the energy of a music festival.
18. Holy Ship!
December 12-16, 2023
Departing from Port Canaveral, Florida
www.holyship.com
With the vast sea as your festival backdrop, Holy Ship! offers a unique festival experience. Beyond the non-stop music, enjoy island excursions, theme nights, and sunrise sets on the ship’s deck. It’s a festival where the journey is as exciting as the destination.
19. Groove Cruise
January 24-28, 2024
Departing from Miami, Florida
www.groovecruise.com
Groove Cruise takes the festival spirit to the high seas. Whether you’re dancing to an intimate set in the ship’s lounge or watching a DJ perform against a backdrop of the setting sun, every moment feels like an adventure. Themed parties and onboard amenities add another layer to this exhilarating musical voyage.
20. Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
June 14-18, 2023
Manchester, Tennessee
www.bonnaroo.com
Bonnaroo, held on a sprawling Tennessee farm, is a world where music, art, and nature coalesce. As you explore The Other Stage, the hub for electronic music, you’ll find yourself dancing to throbbing beats under a canopy of technicolour lasers. It’s a festival that unites the energy of a concert with the magic of a camping adventure.
21. CRSSD Festival
TBC March, 2024
San Diego, California
www.crssdfest.com
CRSSD Festival, set against the backdrop of San Diego’s sunsets and skyline, is a testament to the beauty of the California coast. As the electronic beats fill the air, dance barefoot on the grass, soak in the ocean views, or simply enjoy the festival’s laid-back atmosphere. It’s an idyllic musical retreat that feels like a slice of summer paradise.
22. Global Dance
July 21-22, 2023
Denver, Colorado
www.globaldancefestival.com
At Global Dance, the electrifying music and the mesmerizing light shows make the Empower Field at Mile High come alive. The festival, with its high-energy crowd and relentless beats, feels like a dance party that has taken over an entire stadium. It’s an exhilarating experience that perfectly captures the spirit of Denver’s thriving music scene.
Scrolled through this guide and noticed that your dream festival is sold out? Don’t panic! TicketSwap is your solution. Sign up now and stay in the loop about sold-out tickets going on sale!
Wow, what a ride! From Miami to Las Vegas, and from sea to shining sea, we’ve journeyed through some of the best music festivals in the USA. Each one of these EDM festivals in the USA promises a unique experience that you’ll cherish for a lifetime. Whether you’re an EDM veteran or a curious newbie, these festivals are bound to make you dance like there’s no tomorrow! So pack your bags, gather your squad, and get ready to embark on the musical journey of a lifetime through the best EDM festivals the USA has to offer!
Looking to discover international music festivals? Check out my festival guides for more or these quick links:
20 Best Music Festivals in Europe to Attend in 2023
Best Techno Festivals to Experience in 2023
20 Best Music Festivals in the Netherlands
Discover 17 Off the Beaten Track Music Festivals for the Ultimate Electronic Experience
The 19 Best Drum and Bass Music Festivals in Europe
*Disclaimer: dates and locations for these festivals are subject to change, so make sure you check each festival’s socials or website for the most up-to-date information.
