NEW 4,000-CAPACITY FESTIVAL TO DEBUT AT ANCIENT GREEK TEMPLE IN SICILY WITH FRANCESCO DEL GARDA, OSHANA, ONUR ÖZER, QUEST AND MORE

This is the first in a series of extraordinary UNLOCKED events set in some of Sicily’s most iconic locations

The much-anticipated debut of Aura Festival will take place on 1st - 2nd May 2026 at the historic Castellammare del Golfo in Sicily. Positioned within the striking surroundings of the Parco Archeologico di Segesta, the two-day event brings a fresh daytime festival concept to the sun-baked island with the likes of Francesco Del Garda, Oshana, Onur Özer, Quest, Josh Baker, Traumer and more all playing one of Sicily’s most atmospheric and historic locations.

Aura Festival is an intimate electronic escape with a focus on high-quality production, carefully curated sound and scenic immersion. The promoters’ vision centres on bringing something distinctly new to southern Italy’s festival circuit as underground credibility comes to this culturally significant setting.

UNLOCKED has a significant history in the event production world and is the primary promoter behind Aura with more on the way, all with the aim of bringing something truly innovative and unmissable to Sicliy in breathtaking locations and with bold and adventurous line ups. 

Located in the hills of western Sicily near Castellammare del Golfo, the archaeological park is one of the island’s most significant heritage sites and is home to the well-preserved Doric Temple of Segesta and an ancient Greek theatre overlooking the surrounding countryside. It's a magical setting that makes the Aura Festival a truly unique getaway with music playing from day into night and switching moods to reflect the shift from dancing under the sun to under the stars. 

Say the promoters, "AURA was created to forge new connections between people, music, art, and places through an experience that focuses on perception. In an accelerating world, Aura chooses to slow down: it does not follow trends, but seeks meaning, depth, and balance. It is about electronic music dialogues with the history of Segesta, while people and their stories intertwine in a shared space." - Unlocked Events

The debut lineup reflects the cultured outlook go the festival with respected selectors and rising talents from across the house, minimal and tech scene including the cult selections of Francesco Del Garda, enthralling groove of Oshana, Onur Özer and Quest, new school sounds from Josh Baker, subtle swing and well crafted rhythm form Traumer, plus much more from Locklead, Bartolomeo, Sensazione Stupenda, Biondo, and Sebastian Capacity.

Set against the dramatic Sicilian landscape and ancient heritage of Segesta, this will be a sun-kissed musical journey that offers something alternative to traditional club environments. 

Further information and tickets are available at www.aurafestival.com

LINEUP

Bartolomeo
Biondo
Francesco Del Garda
Josh Baker
Locklead
Oshana
Onur Özer
Quest
Sebastian
Sensazione Stupenda
Traumer

ARC MUSIC FESTIVAL REVEALS 2026 LINEUP AND ENTERS NEW ERA WITH FOUR DAY EXPANSION

Announce New Stage Environment ‘The Midway

Union Park in Chicago This Labor Day Weekend
September 4 – 7, 2026

Featuring Anyma, Michael Bibi, Mau P, Sara Landry presents ETERNALISM, Underworld, Chase & Status, Mochakk, Chris Stussy, Cloonee, MEDUZA B2B GENESI, Green Velvet B2B Josh Baker, Honey Dijon, The Blessed Madonna B2B Lil’ Louis, Vintage Culture B2B Damian Lazarus, KI/KI, Beltran, Prospa, Brutalismus 3000, 999999999, Detroit Love (Carl Craig, Moodymann, Stacey Pullen), Derrick Carter, DJ Gigola B2B Skin On Skin, I Hate Models, Joy Orbison B2B Ben UFO, Nico Moreno, Nicole Moudaber B3B Paco Osuna B3B Dubfire, Nia Archives B2B X CLUB. + Many More

General Ticket On Sale – Friday, March 13 at 12PM CT 

ARC Music Festival – Chicago’s flagship house and techno event – unveils its 2026 lineup and announces an expansion to four days, returning Labor Day Weekend from September 4–7. Led by Auris Presents, the city’s leading force in festivals and events, ARC has become a global gathering point for electronic music’s most influential figures, emerging voices, and underground innovators, all set against the backdrop of Chicago – the birthplace of house music.

House music is Chicago’s gift to the world – a culture built on joy, inclusivity, and community that has become a universal language across the globe. ARC exists as a living tribute to that legacy: a place where the past, present, and future of house music converge, celebrating the sound and lifestyle that has traveled from Chicago’s underground to the world.

“Every year we face the same challenge: we want to include more artists than the schedule allows. The global community is thriving, and ARC always flies by,” says ARC Co-Founder and Lead Talent Buyer John Curley. “Just as we hit our stride, the weekend is over, and we never want the music to stop. By expanding to four days, we can showcase more of the talent we love and create even more unforgettable moments for our community. This marks the beginning of a new era for ARC.”

ARC has enlisted a staggering lineup of world-class talent to welcome in this new era – led by the futuristic soundscapes of Anyma, peerless electronic legacy act Underworld, beloved global champion Michael Bibi, unifying Chicago dance icon Honey Dijon, and high priestess of hard techno Sara Landry. Highlights also include Brazilian fire starter Mochakk, meteoric house sensation Mau P, drum and bass torchbearers Chase & Status, globe trotting heavyweights Vintage Culture B2B Damian Lazarus. The billing expands with rave ready Berlin duo Brutalismus 3000, ascendant Dutch favorite Chris Stussy, revered versatile selectors Joy Orbison B2B Ben UFO, and foundational Chicago house architect Derrick Carter.

A core facet of ARC’s curation is its unparalleled showing of standout back-to-back sets and pairings that bridge generations of artists from both within the city and beyond. This year, team-ups include the pioneering Detroit Love (Carl Craig, Moodymann, Stacey Pullen), Chicago-rooted legends The Blessed Madonna B2B Lil’ Louis, and veteran meets new school pairings of Green Velvet B2B Josh Baker and Tiga B2B Brunello.

ARC will continue to spotlight some of today’s most in demand contemporary house artists such as British tech-house hitmaker Cloonee, Brazilian rhythm driver Beltran, rave revivalists Prospa, groove-heavy favorites Ben Sterling B2B Dennis Cruz, Italian exports MEDUZA B2B GENESI, and the newly introduced AFTER MIDNIGHT (Matroda x San Pacho). Additional highlights include dancefloor fillers Walker & Royce B2B VNSSA, veteran Chicago house producer Mike Dunn, Chicago-bred acid and dark dance riser Azzecca, bass house talent Odd Mob, and rising house purveyors Max Dean B2B Luke Dean and Omar+ B2B Obskür.

ARC remains a home for harder sounds and styles – spotlighting adept techno authorities Nicole Moudaber B3B Paco Osuna B3B Dubfire, French powerhouse Nico Moreno, enigmatic force I Hate Models, and Italian hard techno duo 999999999. Deep digging enthusiasts will also enjoy vinyl veterans Héctor Oaks B2B Quest, Amsterdam tastemaker KI/KI, cutting-edge Berlin stalwart DAX J Live, and melodic maestros such as Kevin de Vries B2B Chris Avantgarde and Korolova B2B Kasia.

ARC also retains its standing as a platform for forward-thinking artists who have branched house and techno influences off into new sounds for the next generation – with underground innovators Nia Archives B2B X CLUB., and DJ Heartstring B2B BAUGRUPPE90, among the billing, plus the eclectic sounds of DJ Gigola B2B Skin On Skin and high energy experimentalist MCR-T. Added highlights include Latin-rooted duo INVT, the jazz-inflected deep house sounds of Chaos in the CBD, and the high-bpm euphoria of salute.

ARC will again offer an immersive four-stage festival experience in 2026 – returning its environments of the titanic Grid, the tree-lined and sun soaked Expansions, and raw, gritty Area 909 – alongside the debut of a new stage, The Midway. The Midway takes its name from Chicago’s historic Midway Plaisance while also nodding to Chicago’s Midway International Airport and the architectural legacy of the original Midway Gardens, blending civic history with contemporary cultural identity. This stage channels the spirit of global jetset travel and the worldwide diaspora of house music, using the energy and aesthetic of an international terminal to both celebrate house music’s global reach and its Chicago roots.

ARC will again extend beyond the festival grounds with its expansive ARC After Dark afterparty series. ARC After Dark will run for five nights from Thursday through Monday, with a full slate added on Monday night as a result of the festival’s expansion. Fans can again expect a packed showing of sets from both festival lineup artists and special guests, alongside artist aliases, exclusive back-to-backs, label takeovers, surprise sets, and more. In 2025, ARC After Dark spanned 13 venues, 35 parties, and over 120 artists. ARC After Dark is available exclusively to ARC pass holders.

4-Day, 3-Day, and Single Day passes go on sale on Friday, March 13 at 12PM CT at arcmusicfestival.com.

UNUM FESTIVAL REVEALS PHASE 2 LINEUP FOR 2026

Gerd Janson, Arapu, Franco Cinelli, Cinthie, Doudou MD, Cap, Mateo Dufour and more have been added…

Five days and five nights of continuous music in the untouched paradise of Shëngjin, Albania just got even better.

UNUM Festival continues to build momentum for its 2026 edition with the announcement of its highly anticipated Phase 2 lineup, further cementing its position as one of the most essential dates in the global electronic music calendar and building on its success at the DJ Awards, where it was crowned Best Global Festival 2025.

Newly announced artists include Arapu, Ageless, Cap, DJ Tennis, Franco Cinelli, Gerd Janson, Prospa, Doudou MD, and Mateo Dufour and Isaac Carter adding fresh depth and dynamic range to an already standout program. A select number of special guests will still be revealed in Phase 3 in the coming months, strengthening what is set to become UNUM’s most comprehensive and forward-thinking edition to date.

Following its DJ Awards win, UNUM enters its seventh year with a rapidly growing international community and a carefully balanced blend of underground pioneers, contemporary tastemakers, and emerging talent.

The Phase 2 additions span deep minima of l, house, electro, and forward-leaning club sounds. They join an already heavyweight lineup featuring Ricardo Villalobos, Ben Klock, Raresh, Craig Richards, Cameron Jack, East End Dubs, Richy Ahmed, Dyed Soundorom, and Krystal Klear, alongside revered selectors such as Margaret Dygas, Dan Ghenacia, Praslea, Priku, Francesco Del Garda, Maher Daniel, Sahar, and Tobi Neumann.

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A Setting That Defines the Experience

Set between pine forest, mountain, and sea, UNUM’s three distinctive stages once again deliver its signature 24/7 journey:

The Pine Stage – the festival’s non-stop heartbeat, where music flows continuously beneath the forest canopy.

The Beach Stage – a sun-drenched meeting point of rhythm and coastline.

The Main Stage – anchoring the night with immersive, high-impact moments.

Among the most anticipated innovations for 2026 is a new panoramic afterparty concept overlooking the Adriatic. Hosted in a modern hilltop structure above Shëngjin and limited to just 500 guests, this intimate experience merges sunrise, architecture, and sound into what promises to be one of the festival’s most unforgettable moments.

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Tickets & Travel

Following record demand, Early Bird and Loyalty tickets are now sold out.

Tickets start at just €95, with full packages including accommodation, travel, and five days of festival access available from under €300 — offering one of Europe’s most immersive and accessible five-day music experiences.

Final tickets are selling fast.

Secure your place at unumfestival.com.

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“This is officially our fastest and biggest-selling edition to date, with more tickets sold than ever before. It’s a clear reflection of the growing demand for unique party spaces away from the usual, restrictive environments — spaces without barriers, built purely for connection and music.

UNUM has always been a party for the people — for those who value forward-thinking lineups, exceptional sound, and a truly picture-perfect setting. We can’t wait to reveal the full and final lineup, but for now we’re proud to share these latest additions and continue doing something genuinely unique with this year’s programme.”

— UNUM Festival Team