Editorial
Why EDC Thailand 2026 Is Worth Extending Your Phuket Stay
Why EDC Thailand 2026 Is Worth Extending Your Phuket Stay to experience beaches, Old Town, nightlife, Hotel EDC and more beyond the festival weekend
Thailand is one of the world’s most popular destinations in December, and in 2026, EDC Thailand gives electronic music lovers another reason to make Phuket part of their year-end travel plans. Taking place from December 18–20, EDC Thailand 2026 brings three days of music to Rhythm Park during one of the busiest periods in Phuket’s tourism calendar. With warm weather, beaches, local culture and nightlife all within reach across the island, the trip can naturally extend beyond the festival weekend without trying to fit everything into three days. For international visitors already flying into Phuket, staying longer creates more time to experience the destination properly before or after heading under the electric sky.
What to Expect From EDC Thailand 2026
Returning to Rhythm Park, Phuket from December 18–20, EDC Thailand 2026 is set to close out EDC’s 30th anniversary year with three nights of electronic music across six stages. The lineup features Martin Garrix, Charlotte de Witte, DJ Snake, Dom Dolla, Tiësto, Above & Beyond, Vintage Culture, CamelPhat, Jamie Jones, Subtronics and more, alongside the large-scale stage production, carnival rides, performers, art installations and pyrotechnics that form part of the wider EDC experience. Beyond the festival grounds, Hotel EDC returns at Angsana Laguna Phuket from December 17–21, with resort stays, beach parties, daytime events and festival packages, while Phuket Takeover Week is set to bring official pre-parties, beach events and after-parties across the island around the festival dates.
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Beyond the Festival Weekend, Phuket Has Plenty More to Explore
With EDC Thailand 2026 taking place around Laguna Phuket, adding a few extra days gives visitors much more time to experience the island beyond Rhythm Park. Some of the strongest additions fit naturally around the northern and western side of the trip, while others take visitors further into Phuket for its beach clubs, nightlife, local food and history. Instead of trying to fit everything around three festival days, a longer stay leaves room to experience each part of the island properly.
- Watch Planes Descend Beside Mai Khao Beach: Located near Phuket International Airport and within practical reach of Laguna Phuket, Mai Khao Beach is one of the easiest stops to include around an EDC Thailand trip. Its southern stretch is famous for aircraft passing low over the shoreline before landing, with December generally falling within the period when this approach is more commonly seen, depending on wind and runway operations.

- Spend the Day at Café del Mar Phuket: Further down the west coast in Kamala, Café del Mar Phuket brings together a beachfront setting, pool, dining, DJs, sunset sessions and events that continue into the evening. For travellers already coming to Phuket for electronic music, it adds a full beach-club day to the trip while keeping music part of the experience.

- Keep the Party Going at Illuzion Phuket: The January 2026 edition of EDC Thailand already showed how the festival weekend can continue into Phuket’s nightlife. Illuzion Phuket hosted three consecutive official after-parties, with Beltran on January 16, FISHER on January 17 and Eli Brown on January 18, giving festivalgoers another reason to head into Patong and Bangla Road after leaving Rhythm Park.

- Discover Old Phuket Town Through Its History and Food: Old Phuket Town brings a different side of the island into the trip, with Sino-Portuguese shophouses, Chinese and Peranakan heritage, historic streets such as Thalang Road and a local food culture that helped Phuket earn recognition as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Hokkien and southern Thai influences can be found throughout the area, giving visitors something beyond beaches and nightlife to explore during a longer stay.

- Take a Day Out on the Andaman Sea: December falls within Phuket’s drier season, when sea conditions are generally better suited to boat trips, swimming and snorkelling. Islands such as Ko Racha and Ko Mai Thon give visitors another way to use an extra day around EDC Thailand 2026, especially for those who want to see more of the coast beyond the main island.

- Catch Sunset From Southern Phuket: Travellers with more time can head further south to Promthep Cape, one of Phuket’s best-known sunset viewpoints overlooking the Andaman Sea. It is further from Laguna Phuket, so it makes more sense as part of a fuller day exploring the southern side of the island instead of being squeezed around the festival schedule.

From Mai Khao and Laguna in the north to Kamala, Patong, Old Phuket Town and the southern coast, the experiences around EDC Thailand 2026 are spread across very different parts of the island. That is exactly why adding extra days makes the trip more worthwhile, giving visitors enough time for the beach, nightlife, local food, culture and the Andaman Sea without reducing any of it to a rushed stop between festival days.
Planning Ahead Allows You to Make the Most of the EDC Thailand Trip
Planning ahead allows travellers to make better decisions around EDC Thailand 2026, especially with the festival taking place from December 18–20, just before Christmas and New Year when Phuket is already experiencing some of its strongest tourism demand of the year. Hotel occupancy across the island regularly climbs during the high season, while fewer remaining rooms and stronger demand can push accommodation rates higher as the year-end period gets closer. Flights can also become more expensive once demand increases, particularly for travellers with limited flexibility around dates.
Booking earlier therefore gives visitors more control over the parts of the trip that can make the biggest difference, from choosing flight times that leave enough days around the festival to securing accommodation in the area that best suits their plans. Those staying closer to Laguna Phuket can prioritise easier access to Rhythm Park, while travellers planning more time around Patong, beach clubs or other parts of the island may want to structure their stay differently. With Phuket spread across several distinct areas and traffic becoming heavier during busy travel periods, deciding those details early can save both time and unnecessary expense once the trip begins.
With all of that in place, the final step is simple: book your flight to one of the world’s top beach destinations, grab your EDC Thailand 2026 pass and join the fun under the electric sky, all in one trip.
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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.
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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
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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.

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