John Summit plans to step away from EDM shows in 2027 as he shifts his focus back toward club records and studio time

After a packed 2026 that has seen John Summit perform across the United States, Spain, Poland, Croatia, Belgium, Brazil and more, he is already looking at doing things differently next year. His schedule has included Ultra Music Festival, EDC Las Vegas, A State of Trance, Ultra Europe, Tomorrowland, Lollapalooza, Rock in Rio and a nine-week Experts Only residency at [UNVRS] Ibiza, alongside his upcoming CTRL ESCAPE Arena Tour. In a post shared this week, John Summit said he plans to step away from EDM festivals and shows in 2027, using the time to make more club records and “dig deeper again.” The comment follows a year in which he has also spoken openly about the demands of touring, while making studio time and club-focused music a bigger priority.

Why John Summit Is Pulling Back in 2027

What John Summit said about next year points toward giving himself more time to produce again after the scale of his 2026 schedule. Although he said he loves working on large events and the CTRL ESCAPE Arena Tour, he also said it will be “real fun” to spend 2027 making club records and “digging deeper again.” He has not explained exactly what that means musically, but the wording suggests he wants more studio time without the constant demands that come with major festival dates and arena shows.

i love working on these big events & arena tour, but it’s gonna be real fun to not play any edm festivals/shows next year so i can focus on making club records and digging deeper again

— John Summit (@johnsummit) September 16, 2026

That idea connects closely with the music that first brought wider attention to John Summit. Tracks such as Deep End established him through house music before his career expanded into larger festival appearances, Experts Only events and arena-scale productions. His CTRL ESCAPE Arena Tour takes that further in late 2026, following an already demanding year of international shows.

A Demanding Year on the Road

The pressure behind that schedule has become increasingly visible throughout 2026. In August, John Summit cancelled appearances at Pukkelpop, BBC Radio 1 Dance Malta, Creamfields and Touquet Beach Fest, saying he needed time to rest and recharge before the arena tour.

September then brought another intense stretch across Bogotá, São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, adding four South American dates within a matter of days. Following the Buenos Aires show, he also spoke publicly about the effects of touring, including the lack of sleep, constant airport travel and time away from home.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by John Summit (@johnsummit)

There is still plenty ahead before the year finishes, including Experts Only Festival at Randall’s Island Park in New York City on September 19–20 and the CTRL ESCAPE Arena Tour, which begins in October and continues through December. The contrast between that schedule and what he is describing for 2027 helps explain why he may want more uninterrupted time in the studio.

What 2027 Could Look Like for John Summit

One detail prevents his post from being read as a complete year away from performing. John Summit is still listed for Wildlands Festival in Perth on January 2, 2027, and the festival’s official lineup continues to name him as one of its headliners. Neither side has confirmed whether that booking will change.

His wording also leaves some questions unanswered. He specifically referred to not playing “EDM festivals/shows,” which is narrower than saying he will stop touring completely. Previously confirmed dates could still go ahead, while club appearances or selected Experts Only events may fall outside what he meant. Until he gives more detail, anything beyond that would be speculation.

If the quieter calendar gives John Summit more studio time, his reference to club records is likely to become the most interesting part of the story. His recent years have taken him into far larger venues than those associated with his earlier house releases, so 2027 could bring music that reconnects more closely with that part of his career. Whether that comes with smaller shows, selective bookings or a much longer break from performing still remains open.