Starlight Festival made a major entrance onto the global electronic music scene with a sold-out debut October 9–10, bringing more than 60 international and regional artists to a site overlooking Egypt’s Great Pyramids of Giza. Launched by award-winning EXIT Festival in partnership with P+US, the electronic music platform from Venture Lifestyle, the event welcomed fans from 114 countries for a historic gathering at one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks.
The first edition marked the first multi-day, multi-stage electronic music festival held at Giza. It was also the largest electronic music event at the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World since Jean-Michel Jarre’s millennium concert in 1999, giving the festival an extraordinary setting for two nights of international dance music.
The lineup featured Charlotte de Witte, Michael Bibi, Adriatique, Indira Paganotto, Enrico Sangiuliano, Vintage Culture, Pete Tong, and WhoMadeWho, among dozens of other performers. For Charlotte de Witte, the weekend marked her first-ever performance in Egypt, while the broader lineup brought together artists representing a range of sounds across the electronic music spectrum.
Production played a central role in the festival’s debut. Designed by multimedia studio Sila Sveta, known for its work on major international ceremonies and concerts, the main stage featured an elaborate light show that used optical illusions to make the pyramids appear to float above the stage. The visual concept integrated the ancient surroundings into the modern festival experience, creating a striking backdrop for the performances.
Beyond the main stage, EXIT’s No Sleep stage became one of the weekend’s busiest gathering points. The lineup included Charlie Sparks, BIIA, Layla Benitez, Paolo Ferrara, and Olympe, alongside Fiona Kraft, Floyd Lavine, Lanna, Coeus, Reblok, Clonee, Deer Jade, and regional artists. Live performances from WhoMadeWho, Satori, and Gioli & Assia also stood out, with Gioli & Assia closing the weekend during a farewell show in Cairo on Sunday.
The international audience added another dimension to the event. Fans from 114 countries traveled to Egypt, turning the festival into an opportunity to experience the country beyond the dancefloor. Between sets, attendees explored local attractions and enjoyed the warm desert nights with the pyramids visible behind the stages.
Several artists made the most of their time in Egypt, too. Michael Bibi brought his parents along for the weekend and later joined the crowd at the No Sleep stage after his main-stage performance, dancing incognito. Charlotte de Witte spent three days in the country with her father and friends, riding camels and sampling local food. Meanwhile, Indira Paganotto arrived with her 13-person ARTCORE crew directly from the closing celebrations at UNVRS in Ibiza. She remained in Egypt until Monday, taking a flight over the pyramids and cruising along the Nile.
The festival’s successful debut also carried broader significance for EXIT Festival. After publicly supporting student-led protests in Serbia, the celebrated festival was forced to leave its longtime home country and launched an international tour. Starlight Festival marked the culmination of that tour, placing the organization’s next chapter against the backdrop of one of history’s most enduring landmarks.
With its sold-out first edition, international audience, and ambitious production, Starlight Festival has established itself as a potential destination event on the global electronic music calendar. The festival is already looking ahead to its return on November 5–6, 2027, with pre-registration now open for those hoping to attend its next chapter at the Great Pyramids of Giza.