Editorial
Festival Staffing Guide: Jobs at Tomorrowland, Ultra, and More
Music festivals attract millions of viewers every year, but behind the impeccable organization, stages, and light shows, there is an army of people whose work often remains behind the scenes. Who are these people? How can you join their ranks? And why is finding a job at a festival not just about hanging out, but also about serious career opportunities? Let’s dig deeper into staffing for the biggest festivals on the planet.
A festival is an enterprise
A festival is not just a celebration of music. It is a business platform that combines elements of logistics, security, creativity, PR, and hundreds of other areas. Tomorrowland alone attracted more than 200,000 viewers in Belgium this year. To serve such a number of guests, several thousand employees are required – from volunteers to technical specialists, from bartenders to stage engineers.
Organizers of the largest festivals, such as Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival, Exit or Sziget, start recruiting 3-6 months before the event. The recruitment is especially active in the spring and early summer. This means that those who want to get into this world should start looking at the beginning of the year.
A variety of vacancies you can join
Contrary to popular belief, vacancies at festivals are not only temporary work and work “on the fly”. Many positions require professional education and experience. Below is just a small selection of the roles in demand:
Main job categories:
- Operational staff: logisticians, coordinators, technical administrators;
- Technical sector: lighting and sound engineers, electricians, IT specialists for network support;
- Service staff: security, bartenders, cleaning, catering;
- Media and marketing: SMM managers, photographers, videographers, content producers;
- HR and volunteer coordination: team leaders, shift coordinators, recruiters;
- Medical and rescue personnel: doctors, paramedics, crisis managers.
Some of these positions involve payment from $84 per day (as Reddit folks say), and in the case of technical staff on large projects – up to $350-400 per shift. At the same time, volunteer programs are also possible for beginners, which cover accommodation, food and a pass to the festival.
The coveted ticket: volunteering as an entry into the industry
For those who have no experience, but have a desire, the ideal way to start your journey in the festival industry is volunteering. For example, Sziget annually selects over 1,000 volunteers, and the competition can reach 6 people per place. The requirements vary, but most often they are 18+, have fluent English, are stress-resistant, and are ready for physical activity.
The benefits are obvious:
- Access to the festival (including backstage)
- Meals and accommodation at the expense of the organizers
- A certificate that will come in handy when looking for paid work
Some volunteers become paid employees the following year – and this is not uncommon.
How to get on the team: a step-by-step strategy
Working at an international festival is not a lottery. It is a systematic process that requires preparation and understanding of the industry. Here is what a basic strategy for finding a vacancy looks like:
Start with research
Find out which festivals you are interested in and check out their official websites. As a rule, large events publish vacancies in the “Jobs”, “Work with us” or “Volunteers” sections. For example, Tomorrowland starts recruiting personnel during the spring wave – from February to May.
Prepare a professional resume
Even if you are applying for a bartender or volunteer position, your resume should be short, structured and in English. Don’t forget to include:
- Experience in a similar field (even if these are university events)
- Language skills
- Readiness to relocate and work nights
Use global job platforms
Is it difficult to track every festival manually? This is where job aggregators come to the rescue, such as Jooble, a platform that collects offers from all over the world. On Jooble, you can filter by keywords (“festival staff”, “event jobs”, “crew”) and country to see available offers from organizers directly or through contractors.
If you are looking for work at festivals outside your country, especially in Europe or the US, it is important to consider the issue of visa support. Many employers are willing to help with obtaining work permits, especially for technical specialists and coordinators. However, you need to be able to find such offers.
Jooble can also help. Its special feature is the ability to filter vacancies by key features, including the presence of visa sponsorship. This is especially useful for those applying for positions in the US, Canada, UK or UAE – countries where obtaining a visa often becomes a barrier for foreign applicants. Using such tools allows you to narrow your search to really achievable vacancies and save time on responding to positions that are inaccessible without citizenship or residency.
Take online training
Some festivals require certificates: on safety, first aid, basic work with visitors. You can take them online and attach them to your application. This increases your chances.
What path do professionals choose: from temporary work to a career
Stories of employees who started out as volunteers or seasonal workers at festivals often turn into full-fledged careers in the events industry today. Many venue coordinators, technical managers, and even brand directors of large festivals started out as temporary workers.
The live events industry values people who have worked their way up from the bottom and understand the processes from the inside. In addition, with the growing number of events and the expansion of the geography of festivals, professionals with field experience are increasingly being poached by competitors. The demand for managers and technicians familiar with the rhythm of mass events is steadily growing: according to HR analysts, in the last three years, there has been an annual increase in requests for specialists in this field of approximately 20%. This is especially noticeable in countries actively developing cultural tourism, such as Portugal, Serbia, Croatia and Chile.
Final say
Working at a festival is not just a summer job. It is a unique chance to touch the world where creativity, logistics, technology, and multifaceted human interaction come together. And if you have dreamed of not just visiting Tomorrowland, but becoming a part of it, now is the time to start planning.
Use available resources, follow new trends, and don’t be afraid to apply. Perhaps your next work day will begin with sets from the best DJs in the world – somewhere behind the stage, in the very center of events.
Top female DJs of 2026 in honor of International Women’s Day 2026 as we celebrate the most influential women in the scene.
In honor of International Women’s Day 2026, we’re celebrating the incredible female DJs shaping the global electronic music landscape. Across techno, house, bass, trance, and festival EDM, women continue to break barriers, headline major festivals, and influence the future of dance music.
From underground innovators to global superstars, these artists are defining the sound of clubs and festival stages around the world. The Top Female DJs of 2026 represent a diverse mix of styles, cultures, and creative visions, proving that the electronic music scene is more exciting and inclusive than ever.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering new artists, here are 35 female DJs dominating electronic music in 2026.
Alison Wonderland
The Australian DJ, producer, and vocalist continues to blend emotional songwriting with powerful bass-driven drops. Alison Wonderland remains one of the most influential names in bass music with high-energy festival performances around the world.
ALLEYCVT
One of bass music’s fastest-rising artists, ALLEYCVT has been gaining momentum with explosive dubstep releases and energetic festival appearances.
Amelie Lens
Belgian techno powerhouse Amelie Lens continues to dominate the global techno scene with hypnotic, high-energy sets and her influential Exhale brand.
Anfisa Letyago
Italian techno DJ Anfisa Letyago continues to rise with high-energy productions and performances at major festivals.
ANNA
Brazilian techno artist ANNA is known for powerful melodic techno productions and atmospheric festival sets.
B Jones
Spanish DJ B Jones has quickly become a staple on the global festival circuit, delivering energetic EDM and house sets after making history on Tomorrowland’s main stage.
Blond:ish
Blond:ish combines deep house grooves with spiritual and organic sounds while promoting sustainability through the Bye Bye Plastic initiative.
Charlotte de Witte
Charlotte de Witte remains one of the biggest names in techno, known for her dark, driving sound and commanding festival performances worldwide.
CloZee
CloZee blends electronic bass music with world music influences, creating immersive sonic journeys during her performances.
Deborah De Luca
Italian techno DJ Deborah De Luca continues to captivate fans with powerful sets that blend melodic elements with hard-hitting techno beats.
DJ Mii
DJ Mii is quickly building recognition across the techno scene thanks to energetic sets and powerful club-ready productions.
Eli & Fur
London duo Eli & Fur blend melodic house and techno with atmospheric vocals, creating immersive sets that have made them a favorite on the global festival circuit.
Fatima Hajji
Spanish techno DJ Fatima Hajji is known for her intense, high-energy techno sets that dominate underground clubs and major festival stages alike.
Hannah Laing
Scottish DJ Hannah Laing has rapidly become a breakout name with euphoric techno and trance-inspired productions that energize dancefloors.
Honey Dijon
Honey Dijon is a globally respected house DJ and producer whose deep roots in Chicago house culture have made her a powerful figure in modern dance music.
HoneyLuv
HoneyLuv is one of house music’s fastest-rising stars, known for infectious groove-driven sets and releases on major dance labels.
Hysta
One of the standout names in hard dance, Hysta delivers relentless hardcore performances packed with high BPM energy.
Indira Paganotto
Indira Paganotto continues to rise in the techno world with psychedelic influences and powerful, hypnotic sets.
Jessica Audiffred
Mexican DJ Jessica Audiffred is one of the leading names in bass music, delivering heavy dubstep tracks and festival-ready sets.
KI/KI
Dutch techno artist KI/KI has become a major name in the underground scene thanks to her fast-paced techno sets and rave-inspired energy.
Korolova
Ukrainian DJ Korolova has built a massive following with emotional melodic techno and progressive house sets.
Level Up
Level Up has established herself as a key figure in dubstep with heavy bass music and a distinctive horror-inspired aesthetic.
Lilly Palmer
German techno DJ Lilly Palmer continues to rise in popularity with deep, driving techno sets and a strong presence on the global techno circuit.
LP Giobbi
LP Giobbi blends piano-driven house music with uplifting dancefloor energy, becoming a standout artist through her performances and the Femme House movement supporting women in music.
Mary Droppinz
Mary Droppinz has become a rising name in house music with fun, groove-heavy tracks and energetic performances.
Merow
Merow is gaining attention across the festival scene thanks to dynamic sets and a growing global fanbase.
Miss Monique
Miss Monique remains one of the leading names in progressive house and melodic techno, gaining global attention through her livestream sets and melodic productions.
Nifra
Slovakian trance DJ Nifra continues to represent the global trance scene with uplifting, high-energy productions.
Nina Kraviz
Nina Kraviz remains one of techno’s most influential figures, pushing boundaries through experimental sounds and her трип (Trip) label.
Nicole Moudaber
Nicole Moudaber continues to dominate the techno underground with deep, powerful sets and her globally recognized InTheMood brand.
Nora En Pure
Known for her nature-inspired deep house sound, Nora En Pure continues to deliver melodic festival performances worldwide.
Nostalgix
Canadian DJ Nostalgix has built a reputation for energetic house and bass house tracks that ignite dancefloors.
Peggy Gou
Peggy Gou remains a global dance music icon, blending house, techno, and retro influences while shaping music and fashion culture.
RayRay
Taiwanese bass music star RayRay brings explosive energy with sets that fuse trap, dubstep, and future bass.
Rezz
Known for her hypnotic midtempo bass sound, Rezz continues to captivate audiences with immersive performances and dark electronic productions.
Sara Landry
Sara Landry has become one of the most talked-about names in hard techno thanks to her intense, industrial sound.
Tita Lau
UK-based DJ Tita Lau continues to make waves in the tech house scene with infectious club hits.
Zulan
Zulan is gaining attention as an emerging electronic music artist with energetic sets and a growing international following.
Celebrating Female DJs in 2026
The top female DJs of 2026 are shaping the future of electronic music across every genre—from techno and house to bass, trance, and hardcore. As more women rise to prominence behind the decks, the dance music scene continues to grow more diverse, creative, and inspiring.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the artists pushing boundaries, commanding festival stages, and inspiring the next generation of DJs around the world.
If you’ve ever been to a festival — and let’s be honest, most of us have — you’ve probably heard at least one horror story about someone losing their phone in the crowd. Between filming sets, coordinating meetups with friends, and navigating massive festival grounds, your phone has become an essential.
That growing concern is exactly what inspired ClutchLoop. The company originally launched its anti-theft phone tether as a simple solution to help festival-goers keep their devices secure in crowded environments without sacrificing accessibility.
Now, the brand is taking the concept a step further with the introduction of ClutchLoop II, an updated version of its phone tether designed to improve both security and everyday usability.
A Smarter Design
At its core, ClutchLoop works by attaching a phone to a retractable tether that connects to a bag, belt loop, or piece of clothing. This allows users to pull their phone out to film, text, or check directions while keeping it physically secured to them at all times.
ClutchLoop II introduces several upgrades aimed at making the system stronger and easier to use. The redesigned model features a reinforced retractable steel cable along with an improved anchor system that attaches securely to most phone cases.
The updated design also includes a magnetic locking mechanism that helps keep the phone in place when it’s not actively being used. This added stability can be especially useful in crowded environments where phones are frequently pulled out to capture videos or photos.
Moving Beyond Festivals
The launch of ClutchLoop II moves beyond festivals and into everyday life. As smartphones continue to function as cameras, wallets, navigation tools, and digital tickets, the importance of keeping them secure extends far beyond music events.
Grab yours here or use code ‘EHNCLUTCHED’ at checkout!
Dance Music and Depression: An Emotional Connection Through Movement, Memory, and Shared Experience
For many people, dance music is more than entertainment. It becomes a way to process emotion, release tension, and feel connected at times when mental health feels fragile. This experience now has growing support in research. A systematic review and meta-analysis titled Effect of Dancing Interventions on Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Older Adults by Tiago Paiva Prudente, Eleazar Mezaiko, Erika Aparecida Silveira, Túlio Eduardo Nogueira, and colleagues found that structured dance interventions were associated with significant reductions in depressive symptoms compared with control groups. Although the study focused on dance instead of specific music genres, it supports the idea that moving to music can play a meaningful role in emotional health. For people who turn to dance music during difficult periods, the combination of rhythm, movement, and shared experience can offer a form of emotional support that feels personal, physical, and deeply real.
How Movement to Music Can Help Ease Depression
Clinical and behavioral research shows that rhythmic movement affects multiple systems linked to depression, including sleep regulation, stress hormones, and emotional processing. Regular movement to music has been associated with reductions in cortisol, improved serotonin activity, and better emotional regulation, all of which are commonly disrupted in depressive states. In practice, this means that movement to rhythm can shift the body out of prolonged stress response and into a more stable physiological state. Unlike exercise alone, dance adds emotional and social layers that affect motivation and emotional engagement, which is why people who struggle to maintain regular physical activity often find it easier to move when music is involved.
@bobby.hendrickson EDM can cure depression?! 😢 . #edmmusic #edmlife #edmlifestyle #edmfestivals #edmfestival #housemusic ♬ original sound – bobbyhendrickson
This becomes visible in real dance music contexts. At events such as Anjunadeep Open Air, Boiler Room, or extended house and melodic techno sessions at venues like Club Space Miami, people often describe feeling mentally lighter after hours of movement, even when arriving emotionally heavy. The structure of dance music helps here. Tracks repeat patterns, slowly evolve, and provide predictability alongside variation, which supports emotional grounding rather than cognitive overload. Over time, this combination of movement, sound, and shared experience creates a form of emotional release that many people return to not just for enjoyment, but for relief.
Why Familiar EDM Songs Can Become Emotional Anchors During Depression
For many people experiencing depression, familiarity provides stability when motivation, focus, and emotional regulation feel disrupted. Well-known EDM tracks such as “The Nights” by Avicii, “Don’t You Worry Child” by Swedish House Mafia, and “Summer” by Calvin Harris work in this context because their structure, melodies, and emotional direction are already known. The listener does not need to process something new or make sense of unfamiliar sounds. The brain follows a recognised pattern, which reduces mental effort at a time when decision-making and emotional processing often feel exhausting. This predictability allows engagement without pressure, making it easier to return to these tracks during difficult periods.
These songs also carry emotional clarity without requiring introspection or explanation. “The Nights” by Avicii is commonly associated with urgency and freedom, “Don’t You Worry Child” by Swedish House Mafia centres reassurance and release, and “Summer” by Calvin Harris evokes warmth and forward motion such as the passing of time during pivotal moments in ones life. Even when lyrics are present, they are direct and uncomplicated, which matters during episodes of depression when complex emotional narratives can feel overwhelming. Beyond personal memory, these tracks are tied to shared cultural moments such as festivals, radio, and collective experiences that many listeners recognise instantly. Returning to them does not just recall a sound, but a time when connection felt possible. For people struggling with depression, that reminder alone can make dance music feel less like entertainment and more like a reliable emotional anchor.
When Dance Music Becomes More Than Just a Night Out
So the next time you find yourself reaching for dance music when things feel heavy, it is worth recognising that this instinct is not random or shallow. For many people, dance music becomes a reliable place to land when emotions are hard to name and energy feels low. It offers rhythm without pressure, emotion without interrogation, and connection without obligation. Whether it is putting on a familiar Avicii track alone at night, letting a Swedish House Mafia chorus play through headphones on repeat, or standing in a crowd where the music carries the weight for you, the experience serves a purpose that goes beyond distraction. Dance music does not promise to fix depression or replace professional support, but it can offer moments of steadiness when everything else feels unstable. In that sense, calling it a lifeline is not exaggeration. It reflects how music, movement, and memory can quietly support people through periods when simply staying present is already an achievement.
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