With less than two months remaining until New York City’s biggest dance music weekend, John Summit’s Experts Only Festival has unveiled its full artist lineup, stage programming, and first look at the immersive experiences awaiting fans on September 19–20 at Randall’s Island Park.
Following a sold-out debut in 2025 that welcomed more than 50,000 attendees, the two-day festival returns larger than ever with expanded production, three uniquely curated stages, and one of the year’s strongest electronic music lineups. Produced in partnership with Medium Rare, Relentless Beats, and EMW, the event continues to establish itself as one of North America’s premier electronic music festivals.
Joining the previously announced roster are Max Styler b2b Adam Ten, Will Clarke, Broken Hill, Innellea b2b Korolova, No Static, and rSUN, rounding out an already stacked lineup led by John Summit, GRiZ, SUBJOHNICS (John Summit b2b Subtronics), Prospa, LYNY, Taiki Nulight, Devault, Dreya V, OMRI., Partiboi69, Jackie Hollander, Dansyn, Airrica, Gabbs, MADI (IT), Soraya, Mishell, Rohaan, Yetti, Partiboi96, Stello, JOSIE, B/AN/K, Philou, and many more.
Beyond the lineup, Experts Only Festival is introducing three distinct stage concepts, each offering its own visual identity and musical focus.
The Main Stage returns as the centerpiece of the festival, featuring large-scale production with towering LED displays, immersive visuals, synchronized lasers, dynamic lighting, and explosive special effects. It will host John Summit’s headline performances alongside a diverse mix of house, techno, indie dance, and bass music throughout the weekend.
New for 2026 is the LIV Stage Experience, an upgraded VIP option located directly beside the Main Stage DJ booth. Guests will enjoy premium table service, exclusive viewing angles, fast-track festival entry, bottle service with spirits and champagne, unlimited mixers, VIP lounges, dedicated restrooms, and access to premium viewing areas, creating one of the most exclusive festival experiences available.
The festival also introduces Mirror Field, a fully immersive stage surrounded by large-scale art installations and experiential activations. Designed to feel like a destination of its own, the stage will spotlight emerging artists while exploring sounds beyond the Main Stage’s programming.
Meanwhile, the Pwemium Lounge transforms the viral internet meme into a fully realized festival environment. Combining intimate production, curated design, immersive artwork, and indie dance-focused programming, the lounge offers fans a unique alternative experience unlike anything else on the festival grounds.
Throughout the weekend, attendees can also look forward to exclusive back-to-back performances, sunset sets, surprise guest appearances, and specially curated programming. Highlights include SUBJOHNICS (John Summit b2b Subtronics), Max Styler b2b Adam Ten, and Innellea b2b Korolova, alongside additional collaborative performances scheduled across the festival.
The return of Experts Only Festival further strengthens New York City’s electronic music landscape at a time when large-scale dance events on Randall’s Island have become increasingly rare. Its inaugural edition in 2025 quickly established itself as one of the year’s defining festivals, featuring standout performances from John Summit, Kaskade b2b Cassian, Green Velvet b2b Layton Giordani, LP Giobbi, Kasablanca, DJ Seinfeld, Pete Tong, and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (TEED).
Building on that success, the 2026 edition promises an even more ambitious experience, combining world-class talent, immersive production, and innovative stage design into a festival that continues to push the boundaries of large-scale electronic music events.
Weekend passes are available now, while single-day tickets go on sale Friday, July 31, with Cash App Visa Card holders receiving exclusive presale access beginning Thursday, July 30. Additional schedule details, artist set times, and festival experiences will be announced in the weeks leading up to the event.