The State of EDM in 2026: What’s In and What’s Out as Told by Industry Voices

With each year, new trends emerge, and others are laid to rest. EDM Identity chatted with Justin Jay, Wax Motif, and more to gain insight into what’s next for the world of dance music.

The year 2025 marked a monumental step forward for dance music as a whole. On the precipice of a new chapter, we unpack the moments and trends that shaped the community before uncovering what comes next in 2026.

This year brought many firsts that propelled the community further into the spotlight. In a collaboration of titanic proportions, Tomorrowland and Insomniac joined forces to bring an unprecedented string of shows to the Las Vegas Sphere, including the venue’s first dubstep headliner, Subtronics. Breaking records was also a common theme as RÜFÜS DU SOL‘s Inhale/Exhale World Tour became the highest-selling electronic tour in history.

New trends emerged as UK garage finally found its footing in the United States and became more prominent on lineups. We saw a shift toward artist-curated events, from multi-day runs at The Caverns and Red Rocks to large-scale festivals. GRiZ made his awaited return at his first major camping festival, Seven Stars. Meanwhile, Knock2 and ISOxo threw their first Niteharts event, serving up a fan-centric experience to the West Coast.

Throughout the year, electronic music cemented its popularity in the mainstream, emerging as the most-booked genre at US festivals, as reported by Booking Agent Info. With more eyes on the dance music community than ever, 2026 proves to be another opportunity for growth and evolution of the scene.

Before we dive into a new chapter for dance music, we caught up with some of the voices that have contributed to the electronic movement to uncover what they believe will rise to popularity in 2026 and what will be left behind.

Photo Credit: @blazejzalewski

With each year that passes, we see a shift in the sounds that are driving the umbrella of electronic sounds forward. Tyler Marenyi, better known as NGHTMRE, weighed in, stating, “Drum and bass is in for 2026.” Hopping on the trend himself on his latest album, MINDFULL, the multifaceted producer believes the genre will play a major role in the landscape of EDM. “It’s always been a genre that I love! I can see it gaining more traction in America, which is really exciting to see,” he said.

Indeed, DnB has climbed the ranks among American ravers, becoming one of the hottest and most in-demand genres. More broadly, a shift has begun within dance music, with higher energy styles dominating dancefloors. Australian house producer Wax Motif believes faster tempos and Gqom will see a surge in relevance in 2026.

Gqom, stemming from the Zulu word for drum, is a percussion-heavy blend of African rhythms and classic house elements. This minimalistic style of house music plays perfectly into the rise of raw sounds, including the minimal tech movement spearheaded by Solid Grooves.

Photo Credit: @shutter.klick

Intentionality when planning and executing events is going to play a huge role in 2026. As costs for basic needs rise across the US, ravers have less expendable money to spend on live music. Many will be forced to change their habits and dial in on events that provide the ultimate experience. One thing the community has been vocal about is the need for reduced capacity at festivals and shows alike. John Hauldren of LEVITY echoed the call for change, saying he believes that crowd management will become key moving forward.

I think what’s in for 2026 is more space at shows. From venues and promoters selling below the legal capacity in a venue, to crowds allowing utilizing the space to their fullest. I’ve seen both done super well and have noticed the impact it’s had on people’s experiences & safety. I think that’ll be something that takes more steps in the right direction in the new year.
John Hauldren of LEVITY

Taking matters into their own hands, bass trio LEVITY has gone the extra mile to ensure their fans are receiving the best atmosphere possible at their shows. With a devoted and continuously growing fanbase, the DJ trio pulls in massive crowds at festivals across the country. While some artists may try to capitalize on the popularity, LEVITY did quite the opposite and reduced capacity for all dates of their ongoing Lasership Tour to better ensure comfort for all concert-goers.

Photo Courtesy of Emma Kapotes

Fan experience has proven to be one of the most important reasons why ravers gravitate toward specific events. Putting a larger emphasis on unique and immersive experiences, there’s been a burst of shows taking place in unconventional spaces. From Zeds Dead‘s pop-up at NYC staple Katz’s Delicatessen to Brownies & Lemonade‘s successful series of drum and bass shows at Dave and Busters, the desire for out-of-the-box events continues to grow.

Enjoying the move toward alternative events, Insomniac Radio host and festival content creator Emma Kapotes believes the next hot trend will be daytime shows. “My biggest ‘in’ for 2026 is daytime shows! I’m loving these morning shows in coffee shops, or late afternoon shows that end by 10pm,” she said. “What can I say, I love to party but also get my sleep in!”

Beyond the music, the scene’s culture continues to evolve. As the popular Y2K fashion style has flooded festival crowds and men have taken more creative liberties with their outfit choices, Hauldren playfully joked, “In: DJs in crop tops,” like the ones popularly sported by dubstep DJ Crankdat. Hauldren vocalized his desire to see more artists expressing themselves freely through fashion in 2026.

Photo Credit: @druenotdrew

As for what is (hopefully) being left in 2025, the community looks to leave the neglect of physical and mental health in the rearview. More artists than ever are preaching a healthy lifestyle, from speaking openly about sober living to working on health-conscious eating habits. NGHTMRE is hopping on the train, admitting, “Having candy on my rider is out in 2026; I have no self-control.”

With the increased dependence on and volatile nature of social media, many artists are participating in social media cleanses. Along with taking time off from being online, there’s been an uptick in artists taking a hiatus to protect their mental health in recent years. Genre-bending producer Justin Jay looks to improve his mental health and the outlook on his project, reminding himself that comparison is the thief of joy.

What’s out is looking at numbers and making comparisons. Everything becomes sooo much more fun when you really stop doing that stuff! Also, numbers really don’t tell the full story most of the time.
Justin Jay

Whether it’s judging yourself or others, negativity has no room in a scene that preaches PLUR. Kapotes weighs in with her biggest out for 2026: “Genre snobs or anyone acting too cool for school.” The media maven, whose bright spirit shines through her various endeavors, stated, “Our community should feel inclusive, and we should celebrate people or artists who share their journey authentically. We want to see the highs and the lows.”

If asked what my hopes are for 2026 and beyond, it’s for artists to continue to push the envelope, connect with fans, and create from the heart. While this article is a collection of opinions, as we look toward the future of electronic dance music, one thing is for certain: through investment in the dance community and the desire for progression, the sky is the limit.