Experts Only Festival Is Returning to NYC in 2026
Following its explosive, sold-out debut, John Summit’s Experts Only Festival is officially returning to New York City on September 19–20, 2026. After drawing more than 50,000 fans in its inaugural year and making headlines across major media outlets, the festival is gearing up for an even bigger takeover of the city next fall.
Experts Only launched in 2025 at Randall’s Island and instantly became one of New York’s most talked-about dance music events. Rolling Stone, Forbes, the New York Post, and Dancing Astronaut all praised the festival for bringing major electronic energy back to NYC with coverage calling it:
“Huge success,” “a festival that reshapes NYC’s music landscape,” and “100 times yes.”
Now, John Summit and partners Medium Rare, Relentless Beats, and EMW are ready to push things furth
2025 Attendees Get First Access & Loyalty Presale Announced
To reward those who supported the festival from the beginning, 2025 ticket holders will receive exclusive first access to next year’s event. The Loyalty Presale begins: Tuesday, November 25 at 12pm EDT / 9am PDT. Tickets will be extremely limited and offered at the lowest tier.
If last year’s immediate sellout is any indication, these presale passes will be gone fast.
A Look Back at the 2025 Debut
The inaugural Experts Only Festival delivered two unforgettable days featuring a massive blend of dance music’s biggest names and community driven energy that felt truly Summit-coded.
2025 highlights included:
- Two headline sets from John Summit
- Kaskade b2b Cassian
- Green Velvet b2b Layton Giordani
- LP Giobbi
- Kasablanca
- DJ Seinfeld
- Pete Tong
- Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (TEED)
- more surprise moments and rising talent across house, techno, and melodic worlds
The excitement didn’t stop there; the multi-stage setup, massive crowds, and all-night energy made it clear that Experts Only wasn’t just a first-year success. It was a statement.
What to Expect for 2026
Organizers confirm that the 2026 edition will expand its footprint, elevate its production, and continue growing the event’s dedicated community. While the full lineup is still under wraps, fans can expect more high-profile debuts, b2bs, and John Summit-curated surprises.
More details, including the complete 2026 lineup, will be revealed over the coming months. But if you were at the 2025 edition, you already know Summit doesn’t play when it comes to production, scale, or energy.
