Chicago’s flagship house and techno gathering is entering a new chapter. ARC Music Festival has officially revealed its 2026 lineup while announcing a major expansion to four days, returning to Union Park in Chicago from September 4–7, 2026 during Labor Day Weekend. Presented by Auris Presents, ARC has quickly become a global destination for electronic music, celebrating Chicago’s deep-rooted influence on house music while bringing together artists from across the international dance scene. The 2026 edition will be led by a diverse group of heavyweights, including Anyma, Michael Bibi, Mau P, Sara Landry presents ETERNALISM, Underworld, Chase & Status, Mochakk, Chris Stussy, Honey Dijon, and Vintage Culture B2B Damian Lazarus. Additional highlights include MEDUZA B2B GENESI, Green Velvet B2B Josh Baker, The Blessed Madonna B2B Lil’ Louis, KI/KI, Beltran, Prospa, Brutalismus 3000, 999999999, and Detroit Love featuring Carl Craig, Moodymann, and Stacey Pullen. According to ARC Co-Founder and Lead Talent Buyer John Curley, expanding the festival to four days was a natural evolution for the event. 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. By expanding to four days, we can showcase more of the talent we love and create even more unforgettable moments for our community. Alongside the expanded schedule, ARC will debut a brand-new stage concept called The Midway, joining the festival’s existing environments: The Grid, Expansions, and Area 909. The new stage draws inspiration from Chicago’s Midway Plaisance, the city’s Midway International Airport, and the historic Midway Gardens designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The concept aims to reflect the global journey of house music — a sound born in Chicago that has since traveled across dance floors worldwide. ARC’s popular ARC After Dark programming will also return in 2026, expanding alongside the festival itself. The citywide afterparty series will now run Thursday through Monday, giving fans even more opportunities to see festival artists in intimate club settings across Chicago. In 2025, ARC After Dark hosted 35 parties across 13 venues featuring more than 120 artists, and organizers expect the expanded schedule to grow even further. 4-Day, 3-Day, and Single Day passes go on sale Friday, March 13 at 12PM CT via arcmusicfestival.com. Fans who purchased 3-Day presale passes will not automatically receive access to the newly added fourth day. However, those pass holders will be able to purchase Monday tickets separately at a discounted rate.ARC Festival Announces 2026 Lineup & Major Four-Day Expansion
Introducing ‘The Midway’
ARC After Dark Returns
Tickets