North Coast Music Festival, Chicago’s largest and most anticipated Labor Day Weekend celebration, officially kicks off its 16th year with the release of its Phase One lineup for 2026. Taking place September 4–6, 2026, the festival returns to the recently renovated SeatGeek Stadium campus in Bridgeview, Illinois – just 30 minutes outside downtown Chicago.
Renowned for its genre-spanning curation and deeply loyal community, North Coast continues to evolve while staying true to its roots as a home for music lovers of all backgrounds. The Phase One announcement features a powerful cross-section of electronic music’s most influential and forward-thinking artists, including BUNT, Crankdat, Fisher, Ganja White Night, GRiZ, Gryffin, Holy Priest, Illenium B2B Slander, (Surprise Guest) B2B Tape B, Porter Robinson (dj set), Sammy Virji Curates, Wooli, and Special Guest Chris Lorenzo. and more, with additional artists to be announced in the coming months.
The excitement continues with standout performers including genre-blending AlleyCVT, bass-driven ARMNHMR, melodic Dabin, party-fueled Deorro, forward-thinking Jace Cicada, vocal powerhouse Lilly Palmer, bass-heavy Mersiv, dynamic Restricted, future house innovator Tchami, and boundary-pushing Troyboi, each bringing their own signature energy to the festival.
Adding to North Coast’s unique edge, Sammy Virji will curate an entire stage for a full day, handpicking the artists and shaping the vibe from start to finish. Fans can also expect mind-blowing B2B sets like Illenium B2B Slander and (Surprise Guest) B2B Tape B, as well as the unforgettable Brownies & Lemonade Stage Takeover—each a one-of-a-kind, can’t-miss experience for festival-goers.
Hosted by Collectiv Presents and set across the expansive SeatGeek Stadium grounds, North Coast offers a unique and immersive festival environment. The campus includes a stadium, full-field indoor practice dome, and seven surrounding athletic fields outfitted with padded turf – allowing fans to enjoy the freedom of open space and grass without the muddy conditions typical of large-scale festivals. The site’s scale and layout make room for six distinct stages, each designed with its own atmosphere, sound, and top-tier production, ensuring a different experience around every corner.
More than just a music festival, North Coast has built a reputation as a community-driven cultural gathering. The festival proudly celebrates diversity, inclusion, and self-expression. North Coast welcomes everyone regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, class, style, or musical preference, and maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward hate or discrimination of any kind.
“This is your festival. This is everyone’s festival,” the North Coast ethos reads. “We don’t just accept differences. We celebrate them.”
Festival-goers can immerse themselves in a variety of “more than music” experiences, from the Chill Dome, a massive air-conditioned space with custom laser shows, Chicago-area DJs, and surprise headliners, to the NC Yacht Club, featuring two boats with photo ops, drinks, and hidden bars on deck and below. The Indendia Firepit offers fire-breathing domes and the Firepit Stage, home to North Coast’s hardest-hitting DJs, while the Rainbow Lounge blends art and relaxation with hammocks integrated into a striking scaffolding installation. Guests can snap photos with massive sculptures like Bass Bot, Sycamore the Giant, The Alien, and the Gnome, plus enjoy panoramic views from the Ferris Wheel. Roaming performers and interactive sidequests add games, prizes, and unexpected surprises, and food options abound with Michelin-starred chef Brian Fisher at Coastie Café and two diverse food courts. And there’s so much more: bubble machines, the Rainbow Road inflatable tunnel, no-cash Frick Frack Blackjack, free kandi-making stations, fireworks, and countless photo opportunities, making the festival an unforgettable, multi-sensory experience.
