Dance music hits Massachusetts next month, and we’ve got you covered with all the essential info for Breakaway Mass 2026.
For the eighth stop on its nationwide summer run, the touring festival returns to the Palladium on August 21-22, marking Breakaway’s fourth edition in the state with performances from over 20 leading electronic DJs across two stages and a silent disco at the indoor-outdoor venue in Worcester.
On top of headline sets by Zedd, Gryffin, Excision, Crankdat, and it’s murph, there’s plenty to enjoy at the festival and across the city during Breakaway weekend. Check out the full rundown below.
Getting there
Situated in the center of Worcester, Breakaway Mass’ conveniently located festival site at the Palladium gives dance music lovers in the city and across New England the chance to catch a host of the scene’s biggest acts right in their own backyard.
One of the city’s longest-running music venues, The Palladium sits about an hour’s drive from Boston and less than a 15-minute walk from Worcester’s Union Station, which connects Boston, Newton, Wellesley, Natick, Framingham, and other Massachusetts cities on the MBTA’s Framingham/Worcester Line (about a two-hour trip from end to end), making for an easy festival arrival no matter where in the region you live. Major airlines such as American, Delta, and Jet Blue also offer service to Worcester Regional Airport (ORH), located roughly 15 minutes from the venue by car.
Those traveling in can book a headache-free stay with exclusive rates at one of 31 partner hotels through Breakaway’s 2026 Travel Packages. Fans can bundle their ticket and hotel purchases for additional savings. For more information, visit breakawayfestival.com.
Fuel up
On site at the festival, Breakaway Mass welcomes plenty of food and beverage vendors serving hot food, cold drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages, including branded activations and freebies from Celsius, White Claw, BeatBox, Jack Daniel’s, Hiyo, and Jimmy John’s. But to ensure you’re fueled before and after the party, there are plenty of local restaurants and bars where fans can grab a bite or sip a pre-fest cocktail.
For the pregame, grab a drink at divey staples like Steel & Wire, Ralph’s Rock Diner or Vincent’s (famous for their meatball sandwich), or challenge your rave fam to games at Free Play Bar Arcade. For a bite, sample local favorites like chili dogs at George’s Coney Island, Italian dishes at Mare E Monti, grinders at Regatta Deli, tapas at Bocado, or any number of cuisines on offer at Worcester Public Market. One of Worcester’s most unique fusion restaurants, Wooden Bar serves asian style dishes made with New England ingredients.
Bust a move
Breakaway Mass’ fourth edition features another hard-hitting lineup of top dance talent to keep you moving from doors until the fireworks fly. Unfolding across two primary stages, this year’s bill is led by global EDM stars like Zedd and Gryffin, dubstep heavyweights Excision and Crankdat, and viral house sensation it’s murph, but there’s even more depth in the undercard.
Elsewhere across the festival’s two primary stages, the lineup is ripe with leading bass artists like INZO, Effin, Know Good, Steller, Jkyl & Hyde, YDG, and a sunset set from Sullivan King, plus renowned house acts such as OMNOM, Devault, Wax Motif, and HILLS, as well as rising indie-dance favorite Tsu Nami.
Boston artists BreakBomb, BYEU, and COWSON make up this year’s local support on the main lineup, while the festival’s Jimmy John’s silent disco serves up sandwiches and beats by additional regional talent. Check out the full schedule below.
Party late
Breakaway Mass gives festivalgoers several options to keep the music going with nightly afterparties at the Palladium, while fans in Boston can catch two of the event’s headliners at Big Night Live.
After the main festival ends at 11PM, the Worcester party heads indoors for headline sets by INZO and Sullivan King. For night one, August 21, INZO will be joined by local pairing Tikiven B2B CHELON, while RLPZ opens for Sullivan King on night two, August 22.
In Boston, it’s murph and Crankdat play open to close at Big Night Live on August 21 and August 22, respectively. It’s worth noting that travel time and limited nighttime train operating hours will likely prevent attendees at the festival in Worcester from catching the night’s headliners and making it to Boston in time for the afterparties at Big Night Live.
To purchase afterparty tickets, visit breakawayfestival.com.
Breakaway Mass returns to the Palladium on August 21-22. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit breakawayfestival.com/festival/mass-2026.
Featured image courtesy: Breakaway. Credit: Kursza.