π
2026-05-15 01:01
in Clubbing, Edc, Festivals
30 years!
EDC's Success, after 30 years, switching to 2 weekends, but better than Tomorrowland
EDC has been selling out more quickly every year, as I write this after the event is barely over, EDC Las Vegas expanded to weeks next year, and both are almost sold out already. That's a great and impressive success and I like that Insomniac did this better than Tomorrowland in that both weekends will have the same artists (baring last minute emergencies obviously), which is a huge huge plus compared to Tomorrowland where you have no idea who you will see on the week you are pseudo randomly picking.Something else that I find maddening with Tomorrowland is how difficult it is to get a ticket, even if you agree to massively overpay by getting a global entry package. I'm not going to say that the buying process was perfectly smooth for the 2 weekend format for next year, the queuing system for one was definitely broken and gave you 0 info on where you were in queue or if you were still in queue, but Insomniac did one thing better in my opinion, which was the price tiers: the later you ended up in the somewhat random queue, the higher the price, went. Of course some people complained it was a money grab, but on the other side, I would rather have a ticket at a higher price if I want to go badly enough (EDC), than not even being able to go at all (tomorrowland).
Interestingly, Insomniac also made the right call that die hards might want to go to both weekends, which was correct. They nicely priced it so that buying both was a bit cheaper than buying both separately (at least for GA/GA+, VIP was about the same price), which sure made things easier once you got to the top of the waiting queue. I think it was a charitable idea, but it also created the problem of people potentially buying both weekends with the goal of reselling one. That is against the rules, but it may be tricky to enforce without making the experience worse for everyone. My guess is that next time, buying both weekends may not offer a discount, which honestly would be fine by me, especially when you consider that people going both weekends are taking a spot away from people trying to get one (weekend 2 fully sold out within 3 days or so). Just like last year, Quantum Valley has a mix of trance, and other things. I'd say it was still more than 50% trance, and let's not forget both Above and Beyond and Armin played a sunrise set at Kinetic Fields, and Tiesto also played a good mix, so trance is definitely not dead ;) (of course, EDC has always had many kinds of EDM, and a good way to sample other kinds you don't normally listen to). Oh, and like every year, the stages are quite impressive, including Quantum Valley that had eyes that send beams into the crowd.
The People
Like every year, it's so enjoyable to meet our fellow EDM lovers:
The Grounds:
It is always a highlight every year, here are a few pictures. Took the Virgin shuttle this year:
the quantum valley stage had light beams inside the eyes, cool
Passport
sign in was very slow due to poor connectivity, even for the staff
great central views
Drones
The drone shows have become a bit better every year:
Fireworks
Great view from passport of course:
Day #1
Day1, let's go! good trance lineup at Quantum Valley:
Day #2
Back for day2:
Superstrings!
Paul Oakenfold
Andrew Rayel
Hi Afik :)
Day #3, High Wind Day
Day 3 had very high winds forecast, and they sure happened. Some people who didn't leave early, got stuck on the roads when they closed down for very high winds. Some shuttle stops had delays when their fences literally got blown off by the wind, but people got there eventually. Miraculously the fireworks and drone shows still happened later in the night. I also have to give credit to all the insomniac teams for being ready, and some stages did have to shut down for a while, but everything was handled well and stages re-opened eventually. Started with Circuit Grounds before the high winds had to shut it down:
we were asked to evacuate, likely because the wind came from the direction and things could fly in the crowds
the wind was fierce but music kept on going
Should you go?
I think the fact that the event got extended to two weekends, one is sold out already, and the other one probably not far from it, shows that EDC is special and worth it. My notes from last year mentioned that it felt crowded last year and I'll be honest that it was also true for this year. At times, getting around was quite challenging, and having a 30 to 50mn wait at VIP just to get a lanyard and a couple of souvenirs, felt problematic, at best. Obviously Insomniac knows this, which is why they already fixed that by splitting and hopefully the crowds, over 2 weekends next year. At this point, note that the text below is mostly the same as last years, since it's still valid :) I still believe that EDC Vegas is the most impressive EDM Night Festival in the world. Tomorrowland is a rival but it's not a night festival as more challenges I'm not as much a fan of. Like previous times:Conclusion/Other thoughts
Improvements
Links
And yet, I'll repeat: thank you to everyone at the insomniac team, all the performers, all the volunteers who put so much effort into making so many details right all over the place, with the great result that we all got to enjoy..
See more images for EDC Last Vegas, 30 Year Anniversary!