Return to Rio Halloween Festival Announced

Local News, Trending

Return To Rio has announced an incredible all-star, all-local lineup that’s guaranteed to send chills down your spine at Del Rio Riverside Resort this February 18 -20. Originally scheduled to be held over Halloween, the spooktacular soiree will now be seeing out the Summer of 2022 with a fun-fueled weekend of dancing, dress-ups and classic Rio-reveling.

In celebration of its highly anticipated return, the Rio crew has assembled some of the biggest and best names in dance and electronic music. Leading the charge are Australia’s dance-pop legends, Sneaky Sound System. ARIA award winners, UK & USA chart-toppers and purveyors of some of the finest house/disco/pop crossover hits, Sneaky Sound System are the quintessential summer festival act. Expect feel-good vibes when Connie takes over the mic on the River Stage. Backing it up by bringing the finest disco and house vibes is none other than Adelaide maestro, Late Nite Tuff Guy. DJ extraordinaire and superhero of soul, LNTG is synonymous with the best disco edits in the game. Rest assured, he’ll destroy the floor.

Grammy-nominated DJ and producer Dirty South is also locked in for the Rio festivities. Having dominated festival crowds across the globe since 2004 and remixed the likes of U2, Snoop Dogg and Depeche Mode, Dirty South will be whipping up punters into a hi-octane lather. On the progressive house and breakbeat tip is one of Australia’s most successful underground dance music exports, Anthony Pappa. Revered as “The DJs’ DJ” and master of the mix CD format (see his entries into the Global Underground and Balance series), Pappa is one of the most respected DJs on the international circuit.

Lovers of melodic techno will be treated to the epic sounds of DJ, producer and breakthrough artist Made In Paris. One of the country’s top underground stars and a firm Triple J favourite, Made In Paris certainly won’t disappoint. The All-Day I Dreamers can look to Double Touch for magical electronica blending live keys and organic percussion, backed by the haunting vocals of Reigan Derry (featured on Double Touch’s No. 1 hit ‘Greatest Day’). Also, representing from the All Day I Dream fam, are non-other than Nukreative and Luka Sambe.

Rounding out the top-tier of names on the stacked lineup, Melbourne progressive icons Kasey Taylor, GMJ&Matter and Karl Pilbrow promise plenty of cutting-edge underground sounds. And, for those seeking a little slice of the Balearic Islands down under, Ibiza staple Mo’Funk will deliver with his unique brand of summer eclecticism.

More than just a music festival, stepping inside the weird and wonderful world of Rio, punters will come face-to-face with flea circuses, alien stilt walkers, psychic drag queens and more devilish delights. Wellness and arts enthusiasts haven’t been forgotten either – with riverside deep house yoga classes, immersive indigenous clay workshops and drum and bass Pilates also featuring in the program.

With ‘Halloween’ the theme of the ultimate weekend away, rest assured that Return To Rio’s reputation as “Australia’s most vibrant fancy dress party” will be upheld, albeit with a freaky, funked-up twist. Get ready for the lush surrounds of Del Rio Riverside Resort to be given a weird and wonderful overhaul, transformed into an enchanted playground primed for devilish debauchery and spellbinding delights.

In addition to being one of the country’s liveliest and fun-filled gatherings, Return To Rio also prides itself on top-notch festival amenities. Expect a queue-free bar stocked with delicious drinks and mouth-watering eats from Sydney’s best street food with the site boasting premium facilities, from plenty of shaded spaces to a riverside dining destination. On the accommodation front, Del Rio Riverside Resort enjoys riverside air-conditioned cabins and hassle-free camping and luxury glamping options courtesy of Wow Tents.

Return to Rio party starter Ricky Cooper comments: “With two years off thanks to COVID, we’re back in Feb for a Rio reunion like no other. We’ve had plenty of time to put some serious love into this one, so it’s going to be extra spooktacular. After the years we’ve all had, it’s extra important to spread happiness around. We’re asking everyone to get involved in our Random Act of Kindness initiative and are encouraging spontaneous selfless acts to make people smile.”

Only a 90-minute drive from the Sydney CBD, this long-awaited edition of Return To Rio is shaping up to be the biggest and best post-lockdown celebration Sydney has experienced in years.

Return to Rio’s Halloween Weekender will be a COVID-safe event with all local government guidelines being followed.

Recent World News

FINNS Beach Club Unveils Two-Day 2026 NYE Festival With Major Lazer, CYRIL and The Temper Trap
Bali’s New Year celebrations are set to get considerably bigger in 2026, with FINNS Beach Club revealing the first wave of artists for its newly expanded two-day NYE Festival, taking place across December 30 and 31 in Canggu. Leading the opening day is Major Lazer Soundsystem, joined by Australian electronic heavyweight CYRIL, while New Year’s Eve itself will feature a special DJ set from The Temper Trap. It is only the beginning, with FINNS confirming that further international and local artists will be added to both dates in the months ahead. The announcement represents a significant expansion for one of Bali’s most established end-of-year parties. Following a decade of sold-out New Year events, FINNS is transforming its traditional NYE celebration into a two-day festival for 2026, stretching the festivities across the final 48 hours of the year. Major Lazer Leads December 30 Few acts are better suited to an open-air Bali celebration than Major Lazer Soundsystem. The globally recognised electronic project has spent more than a decade blurring the lines between electronic music, dancehall, pop and sounds drawn from across the globe. Tracks including ‘Lean On’ with DJ Snake and MØ and ‘Cold Water’ featuring Justin Bieber and MØ became defining crossover records of the 2010s, helping push Major Lazer far beyond the traditional confines of the dance music circuit. Joining them on December 30 is one of Australia’s biggest recent electronic success stories, CYRIL. The Australian producer enjoyed an international breakthrough with his reworking of ‘Stumblin’ In’, followed by his remix of Disturbed’s ‘The Sound of Silence’, establishing himself as one of the country’s most internationally visible electronic artists. For Australian dance fans heading to Bali over the summer break, the pairing gives the first night of FINNS NYE Festival considerable firepower before the calendar even reaches December 31. The Temper Trap Take Over New Year’s Eve The Australian connection continues on New Year’s Eve, with The Temper Trap confirmed for a special DJ set on December 31. While the Melbourne-formed group is best known for its soaring indie catalogue, particularly the enduring anthem ‘Sweet Disposition’, the DJ format promises a different side of the band as they take control of the decks for the final night of 2026. The appearance also arrives during a renewed chapter for The Temper Trap. After an extended hiatus, the band returned in 2026 with new album Sungazer and a fresh run of international performances, putting one of Australia’s most successful alternative exports firmly back in the spotlight. Exactly where their NYE DJ set travels musically remains to be seen, but in a setting built around electronic music, sunset sessions and late-night celebration, it is one of the more intriguing bookings of the first lineup announcement. FINNS Expands Its Biggest Party of the Year Situated directly on Berawa Beach in Canggu, FINNS has become one of Bali’s most recognisable nightlife destinations, with its sprawling oceanfront complex regularly hosting international electronic talent. Its recent New Year celebrations have brought artists including Flume, Duke Dumont, MK and PNAU to Bali, with the venue reporting that both its 2024 and 2025 NYE events sold out ahead of time. FINNS says its 2025 celebration moved approximately 8,000 tickets. For 2026, the scale is increasing again. Rather than concentrating the entire program around December 31, FINNS will begin festivities a day earlier, effectively turning the countdown into a destination festival for travellers already making Bali part of their summer plans. With Major Lazer Soundsystem, CYRIL and The Temper Trap comprising only the first announcement, there remains plenty of room for the lineup to grow before December. Early Bird tickets are now on sale, with FINNS currently promoting savings of up to 50%, while general admission, VIP packages and VVIP private areas are being offered for the festival. Given the venue’s recent run of sold-out New Year events and the considerable number of Australians who descend on Bali during the holiday period, those considering the trip may want to move sooner rather than waiting for the full lineup to land. FINNS NYE Festival 2026: Event Details Event: FINNS NYE Festival 2026 Venue: FINNS Beach Club, Berawa Beach, Canggu, Bali, Indonesia Dates: Wednesday 30 December and Thursday 31 December 2026 Age Restriction: 18+ Wednesday 30 December Major Lazer Soundsystem CYRIL +More artists to be announced Thursday 31 December The Temper Trap DJ Set + More artists to be announced Tickets: On sale now Ticket Options: General Admission, VIP Packages and VVIP Private Areas Early Bird Offer: Up to 50% off selected tickets at the time of announcement Secure your tickets online here. Further artist announcements are expected in the lead-up to FINNS NYE Festival 2026.
Skrillex Unveils Brand New SOMA LP
Skrillex Unleashes SOMA, A Global Club-Focused Statement from One of Electronic Music’s Most Influential Artists. Few artists have reshaped electronic music as consistently as Skrillex, and with the release of his latest studio album, SOMA, Sonny Moore once again proves why he remains one of the most innovative forces in modern dance music. Released via OWSLA and Atlantic Records, the 13-track project arrives as a confident and fully realised body of work that reflects the current state of global club culture. Spanning 42 minutes, SOMA captures the creative freedom Skrillex has embraced in recent years, blending festival-scale energy with underground influences drawn from scenes around the world. Rather than leaning into a single genre or formula, SOMA feels like a snapshot of electronic music in 2026. House, bass, techno, UK sounds, Latin rhythms and experimental club music all collide throughout the album, creating a listening experience that feels both expansive and intentional. Fans had already been given a glimpse into the project through a number of standout singles released ahead of the album. Tracks such as “Thistle”, the explosive ISOxo collaboration “Smoke”, and the high-energy Latin-inspired “Duro” hinted at the diverse sonic direction Skrillex was pursuing. With the full album now available, those early releases reveal themselves as key pieces of a much larger creative vision. One of SOMA’s greatest strengths is its collaborative spirit. The album brings together an impressive collection of producers, vocalists and songwriters from across the globe, highlighting Skrillex’s long-standing ability to connect different musical worlds. Production contributions come from respected names including ISOxo, Chris Lake, Nitepunk, Blawan, Randomer, Dismantle, Rom, Tracey and RHR, each helping shape the album’s constantly evolving sound. The vocal roster is equally diverse. Colombian superstar Feid appears on the standout track “Noche Without You”, which cleverly incorporates elements of Robert Miles’ iconic classic Children. Elsewhere, Puerto Rican artist Young Miko, UK drill talents Cristale and TeeZandos, Jamaican vocalist Beam, Brazilian artist MC Dricka, and emerging voices Naisha, ANITA B QUEEN and TAICHU further reinforce the album’s international identity. The release of SOMA follows another significant milestone in Skrillex’s expanding creative universe. Just weeks before the album’s arrival, he launched CONTRA, a new event platform developed in partnership with Berlin Atonal. The inaugural edition took place at Berlin’s iconic Kraftwerk venue across May 30 and 31, showcasing the same forward-thinking approach that has defined much of Skrillex’s recent output. At a time when electronic music continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, SOMA demonstrates why Skrillex remains at the forefront of that conversation. It is an album that embraces collaboration, celebrates global club culture, and further cements his reputation as an artist who consistently challenges expectations while keeping one eye firmly on the future.
EDC Las Vegas Expands To Two Weekends in 2027
EDC Las Vegas to Expand to Two Weekends in 2027 for the First Time in Its History. In a landmark move for one of the world’s biggest electronic music festivals, Insomniac founder Pasquale Rotella has confirmed that EDC Las Vegas will expand to two weekends in 2027, marking a major evolution in the event’s 30-year history. The announcement comes just days after the 2026 edition wrapped at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where more than half a million fans gathered to celebrate the festival’s milestone anniversary. Known for its immersive production, large-scale stage design and round-the-clock atmosphere, EDC once again delivered its signature experience under the electric sky. Looking ahead, the 2027 edition will take place across two consecutive weekends: May 14–16, 2027 (DUSK) May 21–23, 2027 (DAWN) In addition to the festival itself, Insomniac is introducing an extended “Dusk Till Dawn Experience”, spanning 12 days from May 13 to May 24, 2027. This expanded format will place even greater emphasis on EDC Week, with additional programming planned throughout the gap between weekends. Further details are expected to be announced in the coming months. A key change for 2027 will be a reduced capacity per weekend, a move designed to improve crowd flow and enhance the overall attendee experience. Despite the split format, both weekends will feature the same lineup, ensuring fans receive a consistent offering regardless of which dates they attend. Accommodation options including Camp EDC and Hotel EDC will also operate across both weekends, giving attendees greater flexibility when planning their stay. In a notable shift, organisers have also confirmed more accessible ticket pricing. General admission passes will start at $399 USD per weekend, while fans looking to attend both weekends can purchase a combined Dusk & Dawn pass for $599 USD. Speaking on the announcement, Rotella shared his vision for the festival’s future: “I hope you can feel the excitement and see the vision for what Dusk Till Dawn will become. I can’t wait to share this experience with you under the electric sky.” While many major global festivals such as Tomorrowland, Coachella and Ultra Music Festival have adopted multi-weekend formats over the years, EDC Las Vegas has remained a single-weekend event throughout its three-decade run. This shift signals a significant new chapter for the brand as it continues to grow its global footprint. Tickets for EDC Las Vegas 2027 will go on sale Friday, May 22 at 12pm PT (5am Saturday May 23 AEST), with GA, GA+ and VIP options available via Front Gate. Given the scale of the announcement and the festival’s continued demand, strong interest is expected across both weekends. For fans around the world, 2027 is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious editions of EDC Las Vegas to date; not just bigger, but more expansive than ever before.
EDC Las Vegas Reveals 200+ Artist 2026 Lineup
EDC Las Vegas 2026 to celebrate 30th anniversary with 200+ Artist Lineup. Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas has officially unveiled the artist lineup for its landmark 30th anniversary edition, set to take place May 15–17, 2026 at the iconic Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The milestone festival will feature more than 200 artists performing across EDC’s signature multi-stage landscape, with organisers expecting to welcome over 500,000 attendees across the three-day celebration. Marking three decades of dance music culture, this year’s festival introduces the theme “kineticJOURNEY” described by organisers as “a tribute to the vibrant path we’ve traveled together and will continue on” honouring EDC’s evolution from underground rave to global phenomenon. Main Stage Highlights EDC’s flagship kineticFIELD stage will host some of the world’s biggest electronic names, including Kaskade, John Summit, GRiZ b2b Wooli, Martin Garrix, and FISHER delivering a mix of melodic, bass and mainstage festival energy. Over at cosmicMEADOW, fans can expect a genre-spanning program featuring Underworld, San Holo, Seven Lions, San Pacho, and MPH. The stage will also host a dedicated HARD showcase, with performances from Interplanetary Criminal, MALUGI, Snow Strippers, The Prodigy, and Hannah Laing. A Multi-Genre Playground Across the wider festival grounds, EDC continues its tradition of championing every corner of electronic music culture. circuitGROUNDS will feature performances from Chris Stussy, Tiësto, Lilly Palmer, Nico Moreno, Beltran, Levity, and KETTAMA, while techno stronghold neonGARDEN welcomes artists such as Joseph Capriati, Eli Brown, Indira Paganotto, Klangkuenstler, Peggy Gou, and Prospa, with curated nights from Time Warp and Factory 93 Experience. Bass music remains a cornerstone of the festival, with Bassrush’s bassPOD hosting heavyweights including ATLiens, GHENGAR, HOL!, AHEE b2b Liquid Stranger, and INFEKT b2b Samplifire. Meanwhile, hard dance and harder techno fans will converge at wasteLAND, presented by Basscon and Unreal Germany, featuring Sub Zero Project, Holy Priest, Restricted, Lil Texas, GRAVEDGR, and Kuko b2b Johannes Schuster. House, Trance and Underground Sounds Insomniac’s stereoBLOOM stage will spotlight house and tech-house talent including Noizu, OMNOM, Wax Motif, BOLO, Luuk van Dijk, Luke Dean, and Josh Baker. Trance and melodic enthusiasts will find their home at quantumVALLEY, curated by Dreamstate and Interstellar, with performances from Gareth Emery, Paul van Dyk, Darude, Ilan Bluestone, Paul Oakenfold, Tinlicker, and Eli & Fur. Rounding out the experience, bionicJUNGLE programmed by LA collective Take It Outside, Beltools, and HARD Recs will deliver a cutting-edge underground program featuring DJ Tennis b2b Red Axes, MCR-T, Paramida, SALUTE b2b Chloé Caillet, BAUGRUPPE90, Heidi Lawden b2b Masha Mar, and HAAi b2b Luke Alessi. All tickets for EDC Las Vegas 2026 have officially sold out, reinforcing the festival’s status as one of the most in-demand events on the global dance music calendar. Fans still hoping to attend can register via the official Insomniac waitlist for three-day GA, GA+ and VIP passes. As EDC celebrates three decades of music, art and community, the 2026 edition is shaping up to be one of its most ambitious and culturally significant chapters yet.
Calvin Harris Draws Record 1.6 Million Crowd in Brazil
Calvin Harris Draws Record 1.6 Million Fans at Historic São Paulo Street Performance. Calvin Harris has added another milestone to his already record-breaking career, delivering a landmark performance to an estimated 1.6 million people in São Paulo, Brazil. The Scottish superstar headlined the Bloco Skol pre-Carnival street celebration on Sunday, 8 February, transforming the city’s streets into one of the largest electronic music gatherings ever witnessed. Stretching for kilometres, the crowd formed a sea of fans that effectively turned the event into a sprawling open-air dancefloor. The sheer scale of attendance has positioned the show among the biggest electronic music events ever staged in Brazil — and widely regarded as the largest single-artist DJ performance in history. Taking to social media following the event, Harris shared his astonishment and appreciation for the Brazilian audience: “1.6 MILLION people they told me and I didn’t believe them until I saw this video… nowhere else like Brazil 💛💚🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷.” Brazil has long held a reputation for hosting some of the world’s most passionate dance music crowds, and this historic turnout further cements the country’s standing as a global powerhouse for electronic music culture. Footage from the event continues to circulate online, capturing the staggering scale of the performance and the electric atmosphere that defined the night. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Calvin Harris (@calvinharris) Article Photos Source – Will Dias / Brazil News