Editorial
Shambhala Music Festival 2026 Delivers Unforgettable Moments Across the Farm
Shambhala Music Festival 2026 delivered unforgettable performances, emotional debuts, surprise collaborations, and historic firsts across every stage.
Shambhala Music Festival 2026 arrived with one of its most diverse lineups in recent memory, and when the gates opened at the Salmo River Ranch, the festival delivered on the anticipation.
This Shambhala Music Festival 2026 Recap highlights the standout moments and unforgettable experiences. If you’re looking for a full Shambhala Music Festival 2026 Recap, read on for the highlights. Across six iconic stages, debut performances, emotional moments, surprise collaborations, and unforgettable sets reminded attendees why Shambhala continues to stand apart as one of North America’s most celebrated independent electronic music festivals.
While the lineup featured returning favourites and internationally renowned artists spanning house, techno, bass, hip hop, and beyond, it was the unique moments shared between artists and the Farmily that defined the weekend. To sum up, the energy and atmosphere truly embodied what Shambhala 2026 is all about.
The Living Room Stage Delivered Some of the Festival’s Most Memorable Debuts
The Living Room Stage became home to several standout moments throughout the weekend, beginning with Koji Aiken’s long-awaited Shambhala debut. Already an emotional milestone, the performance took an unforgettable turn when Aiken paused his set to propose to his girlfriend while performing an original song he had written specifically for her. It was one of the most heartfelt moments of the festival, with the crowd witnessing an intimate celebration of love against one of Shambhala’s most picturesque stages. Many in attendance felt the moment perfectly captured the spirit of Shambhala 2026.
View this post on Instagram
The stage also welcomed Damian Lazarus for his first-ever Living Room performance. Known for his genre-defying selections and immersive storytelling behind the decks, Lazarus brought a fresh energy that perfectly complemented the stage’s laid-back atmosphere, adding another unforgettable set to Shambhala 2026’s eventful weekend.
View this post on Instagram
Joining him was Amémé, who made history as the first major Afro House artist to perform at Shambhala. His debut reflected the festival’s continued embrace of global electronic music, introducing the Living Room audience to Afro House rhythms that have rapidly become one of dance music’s fastest-growing movements. The performance was a defining point in Shambhala 2026 for many fans.
The Grove Welcomed the Return of EARTHGANG
While electronic music remains at the heart of Shambhala, the festival has always celebrated artists that push beyond traditional genre boundaries. The blend of styles in 2026 Shambhala’s stages emphasized this value even further.
Returning to The Grove Stage, EARTHGANG once again proved why hip hop has an important place within the festival experience. Their energetic performance brought a different dynamic to the forest setting, blending live performance with crowd interaction and reminding attendees that Shambhala’s programming has always extended far beyond electronic music alone. The diversity present at Shambhala 2026 was clear as EARTHGANG took the stage.
Historic Firsts Took Place at Pagoda
Thursday saw another milestone as KÖL and the Raised By Raves crew became the first artists to officially open the Pagoda Stage on Thursday, kicking off the weekend on Shambhala’s iconic main stage. These historic moments are the kind of breakthroughs audiences expect from Shambhala 2026.
Their opening set established the tone for the days ahead, welcoming thousands of festivalgoers back to the Farm while showcasing the next generation of artists helping shape Canada’s electronic music community. Notably, Shambhala 2026’s commitment to new talent was on display throughout the stage’s programming.
Later in the weekend, Prayer Handz surprised fans by bringing out Rhiannon Roze to debut their brand-new collaboration live at Pagoda. The unexpected appearance quickly became one of the stage’s standout collaborative moments, giving the audience the first opportunity to experience the new record together. These unique collaborations are just part of the legacy that Shambhala 2026 started building this year.
View this post on Instagram
Crankdat Doubled Down Across Two Stages
Few artists left a bigger mark on the weekend than Crankdat, who delivered not one but two performances during Shambhala 2026.
After bringing his signature high-energy sound to Pagoda, he returned later in the weekend for a second appearance at The Village, giving fans two distinctly different opportunities to experience one of bass music’s biggest names. The dual performances highlighted both his versatility and the festival’s willingness to give artists room to explore different environments across the Farm. Fans at Shambhala 2026 experienced Crankdat’s range in unforgettable ways.
View this post on Instagram
Unexpected Collaborations Continued Throughout the Weekend
Elsewhere across the festival, surprise appearances continued to reward those willing to wander between stages. These special sets are what make Shambhala 2026 shine for devoted fans.
At the AMP Stage, Kurei and Bunny G joined forces as Two Girls One Laptop, delivering a collaborative back-to-back performance that quickly became one of the weekend’s most talked-about underground sets. Their back-to-back is another reason Shambhala 2026 will be remembered for breaking boundaries.
View this post on Instagram
Meanwhile, over in the Fractal Forest, Canadian duo Pineo & Loeb elevated their performance even further by bringing out Dragonette for a surprise guest appearance. The collaboration created one of Fractal’s defining moments, combining live vocals with the stage’s signature party atmosphere and cementing the reputation of Shambhala 2026 for creating unforgettable musical pairings.
View this post on Instagram
Another Year That Celebrated Community as Much as Music
Every edition of Shambhala creates its own story, and 2026 was no different. Indeed, Shambhala 2026 was defined as much by its community as its music.
From emotional proposals and historic debuts to surprise collaborations and unforgettable performances, this year’s festival demonstrated why Shambhala continues to occupy a unique place within the global festival landscape. Beyond the stacked lineup, it was the spontaneous moments, shared experiences, and sense of community that once again made the journey to the Salmo River Ranch feel like coming home this is the magic of Shambhala 2026.
For everyone who made the trip, Shambhala 2026 wasn’t simply another festival weekend. It was another chapter in a tradition built on connection, discovery, and unforgettable memories. Without a doubt, Shambhala 2026 raised the bar for what a music festival can be.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Editorial
Seven Stars 2026: 7 Most Anticipated Sets at GRiZ’s Cosmic Campout
As the second annual Valley of the Seven Stars approaches, bass music fans across the country are prepping their gear and locking in their set times. Taking over the Oak Ridge Estate in Arrington, Virginia from October 8–11, this gathering marks the long-awaited payoff of GRiZ’s two-year hiatus. The event has quickly earned a reputation as one of the bass community’s premier “homie” festivals, trading commercial refinement for deep curation and authentic energy. Whether you are hunting for ground-shaking low end or sunset grooves, here are the 7 most anticipated performances to highlight on your schedule:
7. Richard Finger
Set Time: Saturday, 4:50 PM – 5:50 PM
Operating entirely behind anonymous masks, Richard Finger has become one of bass music’s most intriguing underground phenomena. The mysterious duo popped onto the radar with relentless sound design and uncompromisingly heavy drops, rapidly earning a rotation in festival sets worldwide. While internet investigators continue trying to uncover their true identities, the project lets the sheer sound of low end rhythm do the talking. Catching them in the afternoon heat on Saturday is guaranteed to wake up the crowd.
6. Hedex
Set Time: Sunday, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Hedex has been at the forefront of the modern drum and bass explosion. He has been taking jump-up rhythms out of underground UK clubs and pushing them onto major American festival stages. This performance serves as the official launch for his North American “Nu Era” tour. Known for quick double drops and explosive crowd control, his Sunday slot will deliver a shot of pure adrenaline just as festivalgoers enter the final night.
5. GRiZ (Chasing The Golden Hour)
Set Time: Saturday, 6:05 PM – 7:20 PM
GRiZ has always known how to curate a vibe, but his Chasing The Golden Hour (CTGH) concept holds a legendary place in the scene. It was originally conceived as a mixtape series built around vintage samples, mellow hip-hop beats, and live sax riffs. CTGH offers a soulful counterweight to his heavy dubstep headline sets. Following packed-out demand at past events, this sunset window is made for collective unwinding. It is the defining emotional anchor of the weekend, best experienced surrounded by friends on an open hill.

4. Mersiv
Set Time: Saturday, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
DJ & producer Anderson Gallegos, known professionally as Mersiv, has carved out a dedicated subculture with his trademark “Pretty Dark Loud” sound design. Mersiv crafts sets that feel simultaneously meditative and heavy by combining hypnotic downtempo atmospheres with distortion-heavy basslines. Dropping into Saturday prime time, his set will steer the valley into its deepest, most psychedelic sonic territory.
3. Seth David (R&Bass)
Set Time: Friday, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM (After Hours)
Returning to the Seven Stars lineup for a second run, Seth David brings his signature R&Bass sound to the Satellite Stage. The project fuses classic 90s and 2000s R&B vocals with sub-bass frequencies. This set gives night owls a refreshing alternative to the standard festival sound anding directly in the after-hours slot,
2. Distinct Motive
Set Time: Sunday, 6:50 PM – 7:50 PM
Hailing from Ontario, Distinct Motive has spearheaded the revival of pure 140 BPM sound system culture in North America. His productions emphasize sub-bass, surgical mixing, and deep roots in old-school UK dubstep. Since his anthem “Wait A Minute” dominated stages everywhere, his profile has skyrocketed. Sunday evening marks his debut on the mainstage, bringing chest-rattling low frequencies to the festival’s largest sound system.
1. Kaleena Zanders
Set Time: Thursday, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Revered as one of modern dance music’s most captivating vocal powerhouses, Kaleena Zanders channels gospel roots through classic house grooves. With major collaborative releases alongside fellow headliners, her live sets go far beyond ordinary DJ performances. Slotted into Thursday evening, she will set an uplifting, soulful tone for the entire cosmic campout before the heavier bass takes over.
With four days of music spread across The Valley, pacing is going to be everything. Set conflicts are inevitable when a lineup has this much variety. Be sure to leave room in your schedule to wander between stages and stumble onto artists outside your radar.
Grab the official festival app to stay updated on any last-minute schedule shifts and look out for your crew.
View this post on Instagram
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Editorial
MiNT XL: Leeds’ Newest Nightclub Opens With A Bang
MiNT XL opens its doors in Leeds with a sold-out party for 2,500 ravers, as Craig Richards, Enzo Siragusa and Sonja Moonear launch the new nightclub
MiNT XL officially opened its doors on Friday, 25 September, with a sold-out opening party featuring names like Craig Richards, Enzo Siragusa and Sonja Moonear. 2,500 ravers gathered in the heart of Leeds city centre to experience the latest addition to the city’s rich rave culture, marking a memorable beginning for MiNT XL.
Taking over the former nightclub, PRYZM Leeds, MiNT set themselves the challenge of giving the venue a new identity through their own production and iconic signature. In an interview with EDM House Network earlier this year, MiNT marketing manager, Mikey McMahon said they wanted people to walk into MiNT XL and feel like they were part of something forward-thinking. There is no doubt they have achieved this, with the opening night already setting MiNT XL apart from other venues in Leeds.

Credit: David Dumitru
Exploring The Venue’s Layout
Arriving at the venue, you could feel the excitement in the air as people made their way into the club. Music was bumping through the walls and the night was just getting started. Walking inside, the dark environment immediately made it feel like a rave and not a regular nightclub.
Heading up the stairs from the entrance, we reached the main hall of the venue, which houses two of the three rooms at MiNT XL, as well as an open-air terrace. The ‘Clubroom’ was the first room people encountered on the floor, while the main room, also known as the ‘Ballroom’, sits to the left of the hall.
The second floor is a great extension of what the main floor has to offer, hosting the venue’s third room, ‘Cage’, as well as an additional bar with sofas and seating for those wanting a quick break from the dancefloor. The VIP area is also located on this floor, providing a comfortable chill-out space with its own bar and seating area.

Credit: David Dumitru
The Rooms at MiNT XL
1. Ballroom
The largest of the three rooms, the ‘Ballroom’ is a warehouse type of space hosting the headlining names on MiNT XL’s line-ups. Some of the lighting features that stood out as soon as we walked into the room included the large ring structure above the dancefloor, as well as the linear rigs placed horizontally across the ceiling, which rotate to create a wave-like effect through light.
Another standout piece of the room is the newly installed Funktion-One Vero sound system, delivering bass that pumps through your body and an overall premium sound quality. The same system can also be found in the other two rooms, where its impact is even greater due to their smaller capacities.

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto
2. Cage
Probably the most interesting room of the three, and our personal favourite, ‘Cage’ delivers an experience like no other. Its design feels unique and fresh out of the box, while still maintaining a lush feel. Throughout the opening night, the room was lit up with orange lighting, creating a somewhat comfortable atmosphere amid all the chaos going on.

Credit: David Dumitru
‘Cage’ also has a few sofas placed around the room, helping complete its luxurious feel. The cherry on top, however, is the fact that the space will often welcome DJs playing on vinyl. We had the chance to witness this live, and let me tell you, seeing the artists flip and swap records behind the decks totally elevates the experience.

Credit: David Dumitru
3. Clubroom
With a large light panel on the ceiling covering the centre of the dancefloor, ‘Clubroom’ is an ode to MiNT Warehouse, the brand’s second ever venue. Sharing similar characteristics, the room brings the MiNT Warehouse spirit to MiNT XL, carrying over the energetic vibes that have become a trademark of the brand.
While the room has a great design from a production perspective, the air conditioning isn’t felt as well in some corners, often making it a very hot space.

Credit: David Dumitru
4. Terrace
An open-air space with a nice view of some of Leeds city centre’s tallest buildings, the terrace is a well-arranged spot for those who want to unwind a little and take a breath of fresh air. Located close to the ‘Ballroom’, the path to the terrace can, however, become very busy at times.

Credit: David Dumitru
The Music at MiNT XL
The venue opened with the brand’s own event series, ‘system.’, taking over the decks. Across the three rooms, a well-curated line-up delivered the soundtrack to MiNT’s new beginning.
From the perspective of EDM House Network, our highlights were Foehn & Jerome at the ‘Cage’, Craig Richards B2B Francesco Del Garda at the ‘Ballroom’, and then back to the ‘Cage’ for a vinyl session with Fumiya Tanaka.

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto
Beyond the opening night, a wide range of renowned DJs are set to follow at MiNT XL, with the likes of Ewan McVicar, Riordan, Morgan Seatree and a Worried About Henry (WAH) takeover among those already announced. While so far only electronic music events make up the calendar, organisers have said they are excited to expand into new genres and live music.
Atmosphere Inside The Venue
MiNT XL operates a no-phones policy at all events, meaning attendees can fully immerse themselves into the music. Having experienced an event with such policy for the first time, it was impressive to see how big of a change it makes.
Seeing people living in the moment and having fun truly gave everyone a taste of what some mean when they say ‘raving was better in the 90s’. The no-phones policy genuinely made the night feel like a time machine that teleported us back to a time when people used to socialise and not chase Instagram clout at raves.

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto
With three state-of-the-art rooms, a 2,500-capacity venue, a sound system that blows the roof off and a no-phones policy, MiNT XL has real potential to become one of the best nightclubs in the entire UK. The opening party was not just the green light for a new venue in Leeds, but felt more like a statement that MiNT XL is here, and for good.
The club season is only just getting started, with a packed list of upcoming events already lined up at MiNT XL.
Friday 9 October – Marsolo Invites: Marsolo + more TBA
Saturday 10 October – Airspace: Notion, Kyle Starkey, Camille Doe + more
Saturday 17 October – Mint XL Presents: Cam Stockman b2b Tommy Phillips
Friday 30 October – Airspace: Riordan, Stef Davidse + more
Saturday 31 October – Ewan McVicar Presents: Halloween – Ewan McVicar, Special Request, Olive F
Saturday 7 November – Mint XL Presents: ALISHA, Robbie Doherty + more
Saturday 14 November – Mint XL Presents: Morgan Seatree + more TBA
Friday 20 November – Framework Presents: Ben UFO, Papa Nugs + more
Saturday 21 November – Jampacked Would Tour Leeds Edition: Jamback, Anil Aras, A For Alpha
Saturday 19 December – Framework x Mugpie Presents: Christian AB, Unai Trotti + more
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Amsterdam Music Festival News
EDM Festivals October 2026: Festivals We Can’t Miss
EDM Festivals October 2026: Festivals We Can’t Miss worldwide as major events fill the month across North America, Asia, Europe, and South America
October 2026 brings another busy month for the EDM festival calendar, with events taking place across North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. In the US, 808 Festival, Breakaway Utah, We Belong Here Central Park, Experts Only at the Gorge, Niteharts, Head Trip, III Points Miami, Escape Psycho Circus, BOO! Seattle, BOO! Arizona, and Hocus Pocus Miami fill the month. Meanwhile, EDC Korea and Chill O’posite Festival add major dates in Asia and Africa. No Art Lisbon and AMF represent Europe, while EDC Colombia and Ritvales bring two large weekends to South America. Here’s a full look at the EDM festivals taking place throughout October 2026.
808 Festival
Dates: October 2–3, 2026
Location: BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand
808 Festival returns to BITEC in Bangkok from October 2–3, 2026 for two days across two stages. The Phase Two lineup includes ILLENIUM, SLANDER B2B NGHTMRE, W&W, Argy, Ben Nicky, 999999999, Mesto, and KAAZE. Meanwhile, JUSTUS, RIVO, Dorian, Ian Asher, and Mary Droppinz are also confirmed. Several special performances are scheduled, including Adam Beyer B2B Chris Avantgarde and Nifra B2B Will Atkinson. Giorgia Angiuli will also perform live. More artists are still due to be announced before the festival returns to Bangkok in October.

Subscribe to our Newsletter
-
EDM Music3 weeks agoNew EDM Friday Sep 18: HALŌ, HUGEL, Sara Landry & More
-
EDM Festival News3 weeks agoLost Lands Announces Full Set Times and Streaming Details
-
EDM Festival News3 weeks agoTomorrowland Winter 2027 Dates and Ticket Sales Announced
-
EDM Music2 weeks agoNew EDM Friday Sep 25: Charlotte de Witte, Armin van Buuren & More
-
EDM Music4 weeks agoNew EDM Friday Sep 11: David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, Skrillex & More
-
EDM news4 weeks agoTiësto Revives ‘In Concert’ for 2027 Stadium Show
-
EDM Festival News4 weeks agoDjakarta Warehouse Project Unveil First Lineup Phase For DWP 2026
-
EDM news3 weeks agoNoisia Announces Return with Amsterdam Comeback Show


















