Photo credit: Alive Coverage/Electric Forest
The beauty of Electric Forest is hard to put into words. It has a certain energy and power to it that one can’t even begin to fathom until they truly submerge themselves into the Forest. And that is much more than just buying a ticket. It means stepping out of your comfort zone. It means dancing with strangers. It means taking it all in and seeing how the magic of Forest can transform you, the other 360 days that you aren’t at Rothbury. That’s when you’ll really see why so many people lovingly call this place home. Why so many people put in their time-off request at work as a “Family camping trip” even if they’re traveling alone. The magic isn’t just names on a flyer, but a collection of so many beautiful experiences.
That being said, artists are invited every year to be the soundtrack of this magic. To fill the hearts of forest goers with memories and safe place to dance and express themselves. We picked out some of our favorite artists playing this year. Hope to see you there!
Daniel Allan
The first time I saw Daniel Allan was at a show at Chop Shop in Chicago. He had his headlining show announced for a while before the unthinkable happened as a performer. Fred again and Sammy Virji announced a pop-up show the same exact night. But that did not even hinder Daniel Allan. Not for a second. He went to town on his organic marketing, even showing a real-time video of how long it took to get between venues to encourage attendees to go to both shows. We basically sprinted to catch his set and could not be happier with our decision. His blending of genres and overall energy is going to be the perfect fit for Forest.
Daily Bread
I know this one isn’t going to be a hot take and forest veterans already know the drill, but Daily Bread has consistently been on my ‘must watch’ any time he comes through my city or is at a music festival. He has mastered the art of balancing beats and bangers into a congruent set that scratches the itch for both and is ultimately one of the qualities that make Forest as magical as it is. Let Daily Bread take you through a carefully curated journey that only he can.
Sidepiece
In an ever-changing landscape of dance music and how it is presented I will never know if this is a hot take, but at its core I truly believe that dance music should be fun. Should be something you can smile when you think of it, and smile even bigger when you’re on the dance floor listening to it. And a Sidepiece set is usually an easy way to remember that. The side project between Party Favor and Nitti which turned into a Grammy-nominated powerhouse has been dominating dance floors with their viral remixes & originals. So get your dancing shoes and come dance, and remember, it’s supposed to be FUN.
Madeon
If you’ve been following the Madeon project since its inception, then you’ve quite literally watched him grow up. You’ve heard different renditions of the Madeon project and watched it grow in real time. He’s an artist that is never satisfied, and for that, all his fans are eternally grateful. His new album Victory is slated to be released on The Friday of Electric Forest so we will be lucky enough to see his first show post album release which feels like an absolute honor. His releases for the album thus far take a few steps away from the dreamy, ethereal sound that many may know Madeon for so be ready for something different. What better place to celebrate an album release than at Electric Forest?
Let’s star 95
The Starjunk 95 project continues to remain an enigma to me – and that’s one of the reasons I am SO drawn to it. Everything from the branding to the music is such a fun mix of old school and new school to create a collage of sounds that just is not around as much anymore. Some songs sound like something ripped straight from a Dance Dance Revolution game (Complementary), and some songs are just riddled with a mysterious UKG sound that is built for sweaty dance floors. Come in expecting all sorts of sounds, and leave happy.
Frost Children
Some of my favorite sets at Electric Forest throughout the years have been the ones that people ask me what they can expect to hear, and it’s hard for me to give a clear answer. Frost Children’s recent SISTER album is an absolute MELTING pot of genres and not just all under the EDM umbrella. It has pop-punk, hyperpop, and industrial sounds into such a complete album that elicits almost every single emotion across 14 tracks. If their most recent EDC set is any indication, we are in for an absolute chaotic treat.
MPH
American crowds being more amicable to the UKG sound that has been extremely prominent has been kind to so many performers. One of them is MPH, who seems to be one of the premier tastemakers in the genre right now with songs from his catalog popping up on DJ sets from prominent DJs all across the world. If there’s ever a set to make sure you have a full water bottle it’s this one, because this one’s gonna be a high-octane set. All gas no brakes. Let’s get it.
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7 Artists We Can’t Wait to See at Electric Forest 2026
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