The Das Energi setting on the Great Salt Lake at sunset is a key draw for this mountain west EDM festival
Das Energi
I’ve been covering music festivals, DJing and the broader EDM market for the past three years. One of my key takeaways is that there is a Goldilocks size for music festivals. They can be too big as well as too small. Those located in island destinations tend to be right sized. Those in major American cities can be overwhelming. The Das Energi festival just outside Salt Lake City, Utah, from August 7-9 is just right. And despite its expansion in 2026 to four stages with bigger headliners than any previous year, it retains its right-sized status with a capacity of just 15,000 attendees per day.
Personally, this is my key qualifier in deciding whether or not to attend a given music festival. The next box I need to check is a compelling setting. What is the vibe and the overall environment like? Again, that’s why tropical island festivals are so attractive. As for Das Energi, it is uniquely located at The Great Saltair music venue on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. It gives serious Burning Man vibes because we’re talking about a dry lakebed encircled by mountains with so many art installations to enhance the experience. And not just any mountains. You have a full view of Utah’s famed Wasatch Mountain range to the east, where you’ll also find North America’s best skiing and mountain biking. And to the South you have the Oquirrh Mountains at over 9,000 feet, where the daily sunset looking across the Great Salt Lake is a key feature of the event.
The overall stage technology and execution is being leveled up for 2026
Max Taylor
After more than a decade as a two-day event, Das Energi is expanding to three full days, giving attendees more music, more experiences and more time to connect. This year’s theme transforms the festival into a futuristic world centered around connection, transformation, art and shared energy. Expect a more immersive environment than previous years. Organizers have announced larger stages, enhanced flame effects, bigger fireworks, additional art installations and significantly improved overall festival infrastructure. The main stage is being developed alongside Project Awake, bringing a fresh visual identity and creative direction to the festival. More shade structures, additional bars to reduce wait times, upgraded VIP Sky Decks, new air-conditioned VIP restrooms and a dedicated experiential team focused on fan engagement throughout the weekend. Again, a key box for me to check with any festival is its emphasis on and prioritization of the VIP amenities and experience, and this year will level up in a big way.
This it the Goldilocks festival size, where the proximity to the stages and artists is always good, and there is a strong sense of community
Max Taylor
What else is different for 2026? Das Energi is evolving from being simply Utah’s largest EDM festival into a full destination festival experience. The emphasis this year is on immersion, community and creating a world attendees can step into. The lineup continues expanding beyond a single genre, bringing together bass, house, techno, drum & bass, melodic bass and crossover electronic acts under one roof. According to organizers, “The festival’s message is more focused than ever around #TheCurrentThatConnectsUs, highlighting community and the shared experiences that keep people returning year after year.”
The Boomba Sound Car
Scatch
Some key highlights include headliners Cloonee, Matroda and Chris Lorenzo, all of whom represent a big shift toward house and tech house in balancing the festival’s history of showcasing the best of bass house and dubstep. You will also find a unique side stage in the form of the Boomba Sound Car, which is a military Humvee that’s been transformed with a Danley sound system and rooftop platform/DJ booth into a rolling party mobile. You won’t want to miss this unique experience during Sunday’s programming.
The out-of-state attendance for Das Energi has grown every year over the past decade. For 2025, it was more than 30 percent of attendees. There is a range of hotel options in downtown Salt Lake City, from where you can access dedicated festival shuttles. If you prefer private transportation, it’s easy to get a ride share to the festival venue. However, you’ll want to book a private car service for your return trip, as ride shares can be next to impossible to secure when the show is letting out.
