Every seasoned raver knows: EDC Las Vegas isn’t just a festival—it’s a pilgrimage, a “final boss” of the electronic music world. While the official festivities run from May 16-18, the real magic begins long before the gates of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway swing open.
In true Vegas fashion, the city turns up the volume early, with pre-parties, legendary poolside ragers, and exclusive club events kicking off as early as Tuesday, May 14. From iconic residencies to after-hours sessions, EDC Week is more than a weekend—it’s a full-blown electronic odyssey.
Between the sheer scale of EDC and the nonstop chaos of Las Vegas, planning your weekend can feel overwhelming for veterans and newbies alike. That’s where EDM Maniac comes in.
We’ve done the digging, sorting through the sprawling lineup of events before, during, and after the festival to curate the ultimate weekend itinerary. From can’t-miss parties to exclusive VIP access, consider this your insider guide to navigating EDC Week like a pro.
Kickstarter Events
For those with the stamina, the budget, and a generous PTO policy, EDC Week kicks off well before the weekend hits. The pre-parties begin as early as Tuesday, building momentum day by day until the grand opening ceremony under the Electric Sky. In classic Insomniac fashion, the official EDC Week lineup pulls no punches, delivering a stacked roster of top-tier DJs to light up Sin City. The first major spark? A high-octane set from ARMNHMR at Omnia Nightclub on Tuesday night.
By Wednesday, the momentum hits full stride with a genre-spanning slate of pre-parties featuring heavy-hitters like Chris Lorenzo, Alison Wonderland, Beltran, and Mau P—each bringing their own signature energy to the midweek madness.
Thursday turns up the heat with a stacked daytime lineup that spans the spectrum of electronic sound. Bass lovers can dive into the chaos at the Bassrush pool party, featuring heavy-hitters like Basstripper, Jessica Audiffred, Riot Ten, Samplifire, and more.
For those craving a smoother groove under the sun, Day Trip offers a more laid-back vibe with sets from Adam Ten, Azzecca, Gorgon City, Jackie Hollander, and Riordan. And that’s just the start—Chris Lake, Deorro, Porter Robinson, MEDUZA, James Hype, Dabin, and Said The Sky are also set to take over venues across the city, delivering a Thursday that feels more like a full-blown festival day.
As the sun sets on Thursday, the energy only intensifies. Bassrush takes over the night with a thunderous lineup featuring AHEE, INFEKT B2B LEVEL UP, Kompany, Ray Volpe, Sol, SVDDEN DEATH, and YDG—guaranteeing a seismic start to the weekend. Over at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, techno heads will find their sanctuary with a relentless back-to-back from Sara Landry and Nico Moreno. And, of course, no EDC kickoff would be complete without dance music’s favorite duo: John Summit and Dom Dolla, who bring their signature swagger to the iconic LIV Nightclub for a night of pure mainstage magic.
EDC Week takes over Las Vegas with a citywide celebration hosted at the Strip’s most iconic venues. From legendary nightclubs like XS, Omnia, Hakkasan, Zouk, and LIV, to sun-soaked destinations including Marquee Dayclub, Encore Beach Club, Daylight Beach Club, and Tao Beach, the party spans every corner of the city.
Meanwhile, Camp EDC will be kicking the weekend off with a Camp EDC homecoming party hosted by Mochakk B2B DJ Gigola, MCR-T, and Alex Chapman & Zoe Gitter.
The full list of official EDC Week pre-parties can be found here with links for tickets.
For those seeking a more intimate, community-driven experience, iHeartRaves is bringing its signature flair to the Luxor Hotel & Casino with “Lux Rave”—a vibrant celebration of rave fashion, creativity, and connection. Expect exclusive meet-and-greet moments, curated style showcases, and a deeper dive into the culture that fuels festival life beyond the stages.
Pool Parties
You can’t party all day unless you start in the morning, right? Las Vegas wouldn’t be complete without daytime pool parties, and EDC Headliners love to be their host. Each day of EDC weekend, Virgin Hotels—home to the official Hotel EDC experience—transforms its pool deck into a day-to-night party paradise, soundtracked by a carefully curated roster of fan-favorite DJs.
Friday kicks off with high-energy sets from Audien, Danny Avila, Deerock, Yellow Claw‘s €URO TRA$H, MORTEN, Nostalgix, and TELYKAST. On Saturday, the vibes shift with a house-heavy lineup featuring Biscits, Carrie Keller, Malaa, Tchami, and Walker & Royce. The weekend closes in style on Sunday with performances from Adventure Club, Baby Savage, CHYL, Elephante, Luci, and MitiS—ensuring the poolside energy stays just as electric as the Speedway.
Beyond the Hotel EDC experience, Las Vegas’s top venues and resorts are diving headfirst into the action with their own high-octane pool parties all weekend long. On Friday, catch FISHER turning up the heat at Marquee Dayclub while Subtronics delivers bass-heavy mayhem at Encore Beach Club. Saturday keeps the momentum going with Eric Prydz commanding the decks at Marquee and The Chainsmokers bringing chart-topping energy to Encore. To close out the weekend, John Summit takes over LIV Beach on Sunday for a sun-drenched finale. And with world-class talent popping up across the Strip, expect standout sets to be sprinkled throughout every sun-soaked day.
For those opting to stay at Camp EDC, the festival experience extends beyond the main stages with exclusive pool parties right in the heart of the action. On Friday, the poolside vibe heats up with performances by Biscits, LF SYSTEM, and Noizu. Saturday brings an underground twist with sets from Andromedik, Drinkurwater, LAYZ, and SOTA. And to close out the weekend, Sunday’s pool party delivers a high-energy finale with performances from SIDEPIECE, Torren Foot, and Walker & Royce, keeping the tempo just as intense as the festival itself.
Meanwhile, for those looking to venture off the beaten path, Liquid Nightclub offers a refreshing alternative to the Insomniac-sponsored circuit. Running Thursday through Sunday, the venue will host a lineup of underground favorites including Cheyenne Giles, DJ Buza, Scooter & Lavelle, and DJ Shr3d—perfect for fans craving something a little less mainstream, but just as high-energy.
The Afters
In Las Vegas, the party never stops—and during EDC weekend, that energy hits another level, extending to the clubs until about 5AM. On Friday night, Brazilian sensation Alok takes over the decks at Hakkasan, while Saturday night sees Crankdat bringing the heat to Zouk Nightclub. To cap off the weekend, Afrojack will close out the festivities at XS on Sunday, delivering a high-energy finale. With DJs turning up the intensity all weekend long, expect legendary performances to keep the party going until the early morning hours at the city’s most iconic venues.
At Camp EDC, the party doesn’t wind down—it continues through the early morning hours, with top-tier artists setting the tone from 5-10AM each day. Saturday’s sunrise session features the smooth grooves of Funk Tribu, ØTTA, and Omiki, while Sunday morning kicks off with a powerhouse lineup of Baggi, Dennis Cruz, and Vintage Culture. As the weekend draws to a close, EDC bids farewell with an unforgettable send-off, as Ben Sterling B2B Beltran B2B ChaseWest and Slugg bring the beats one last time before the festival fades into memory.
For those looking to stretch the magic of EDC weekend into the week, the party continues on Monday night with two powerhouse sets. Kaskade takes over Zouk Nightclub, delivering his signature sound to keep the energy alive, while John Summit brings his electrifying beats to LIV Nightclub, ensuring the EDC vibes linger just a little longer.
