Day Trip Festival Adds New Waterfront Stage for 2026
Summer in Southern California has a sound – rolling basslines over ocean air, sunsets painted in house music rhythms, and thousands of people dancing along the waterfront. In 2026, Day Trip Festival returns to Long Beach bigger than ever, expanding its footprint and debuting the brand-new Long Beach Amphitheater as a third stage for the first time in the festival’s history.
Set for June 27–28, 2026 at the iconic Queen Mary Waterfront, the two-day house and techno festival continues its evolution from underground party to one of America’s premier dance music destinations. What began years ago as a laid-back Sunday party on The Patio at Academy LA has grown into a full-scale festival that now draws fans from across the country – and increasingly, around the world – for a weekend of sunshine, skyline views, and nonstop house music.
A New Stage, A New Era
The biggest headline for 2026 is the debut of the Long Beach Amphitheater, set to open in Summer 2026 and already making history as the largest waterfront amphitheater on the West Coast. With a capacity of 11,000 and an open-air design overlooking the Long Beach skyline and harbor, the venue will serve as Day Trip Festival’s newest stage and help create the festival’s largest layout to date.
The amphitheater represents more than just additional space – it signals the continued growth of house and techno culture in Southern California. Designed to reflect Long Beach’s creative identity and diversity, the venue will bring global touring DJs and producers to a space built specifically for large-scale electronic music performances along the water.
The Sound of Day Trip
Day Trip has built its reputation by consistently booking some of the biggest and most influential names in house and techno. Past lineups have included artists like Dom Dolla, whose Grammy-winning productions and festival-ready bass house tracks have made him one of the most in-demand DJs in the world; Fisher, known for his explosive stage presence and chart-topping hits like Losing It; and John Summit, whose rapid rise has made him one of the defining names in modern house music.
The festival has also hosted UK house duo Gorgon City, known for blending deep house with pop and underground influences, and BLOND:ISH, whose Abracadabra label and global performances have made her a major voice in melodic and Afro-influenced house music.
Day Trip’s lineup philosophy has always balanced massive headliners with underground and rising talent, creating a festival that appeals to both longtime house heads and newer fans discovering the genre. The music typically ranges from groove-heavy tech house and bass house to melodic techno, deep house, and sunset disco-influenced sets – all fitting perfectly with the coastal setting.
The Queen Mary Waterfront Experience
Part of what makes Day Trip unique is its location. Few festivals in the United States offer a setting quite like the Queen Mary Waterfront — palm trees, boats in the harbor, the historic ship towering over the festival grounds, and Shoreline Village just steps away for food, drinks, and ocean views between sets.
During the day, the festival feels like a beach party with thousands of people dancing in sunglasses and summer outfits. By sunset, the skyline lights begin to reflect off the water while DJs transition into deeper and heavier sets. At night, the festival transforms into a full electronic music experience with lights, visuals, and bass echoing across the harbor.
From Backyard Party to National Festival
Day Trip is now entering its sixth edition, and its growth mirrors the rise of house music across the United States. What started as a small Sunday party in Hollywood has turned into a nationally recognized festival brand under Insomniac, the company behind Electric Daisy Carnival, Beyond Wonderland, and Nocturnal Wonderland.
Yet despite its growth, Day Trip has kept its identity — house music, good energy, coastal vibes, and a crowd that comes to dance first and everything else second.
Tickets and What to Expect for 2026
Two-day 21+ GA and VIP tickets go on sale at 12 PM PST on Friday, March 6 at DayTripFest.com. With the addition of the Long Beach Amphitheater and the festival’s largest footprint yet, 2026 is expected to be the biggest edition of Day Trip so far.
If Day Trip has become known as the unofficial start of summer in Southern California, then 2026 looks like it may be its biggest opening weekend yet — two days of house and techno, ocean air, skyline sunsets, and a brand-new stage that marks the festival’s next chapter.
For house music fans, beach lovers, and anyone looking for the perfect Southern California festival weekend, Day Trip 2026 is already shaping up to be one of the must-attend events of the summer.