Breakaway Carolina is going bigger than ever for its 2026 return

Catch up quick: Breakaway Carolina launched in 2017 and, over nearly a decade, has established itself as the Charlotte area's signature EDM event.

• The two-day event returns Sept. 25-26 to zMAX Dragway in Concord.
• The festival brings in some of the biggest names in electronic music. Last year, for example, featured headliners John Summit and Eli Brown.
• This year, organizers say they're putting as much emphasis on the experience as the lineup.

What to expect: More than three dozen artists will perform, including:

• Headliners: Tiësto, Kettama, Chris Lake and Cloonee b2b Chris Lorenzo.
• Additional acts: Beltran, Bonnie x Clyde, Cassian, Daily Bread, Hamdi, J. Worra, Kai Wachi, Nimino, San Holo, TroyBoi, Westend, What So Not and more.
• Back-to-back sets: Cloonee b2b Chris Lorenzo, ChaseWest b2b Discip, and Dreya V b2b Cole Knight.
• Local DJs: Bummy, Johnny!, Pharrö and Thrillbill.

Friction point: Many fans quickly noticed the lineup was listed alphabetically instead of using the traditional billing that puts the biggest acts at the top.

• Breakaway president Jarrod Fucci says the format gives organizers more flexibility to book artists without negotiating placement on the poster.
• "Going A to Z allows us to be a bit more dynamic with our booking strategy," he said. "We can bring a more diverse lineup together."
• That flexibility also allows Breakaway to book unique back-to-back sets, like Cloonee b2b Chris Lorenzo and ChaseWest b2b Discip, that fans won't find at other festivals, Fucci said.

What's new for 2026

Typically, Breakaway features two stages. This year, there will be five. The biggest change is the main stage, which is expanding from 80 feet to 200 feet.

• "We're talking about this huge grand production that rivals the biggest electronic festivals or touring festivals in the world," Fucci said.

Other additions include:

• A new Leave It All Behind (LAB) stage with a nightclub feel, overhead production and a focus on dubstep and bass music. Festivalgoers will cross through a tunnel to reach it on the opposite side of the drag strip.
• The Block/Beatport Stage, featuring local artists and surprise sets that have yet to be announced.

Returning this year:

• The second stage — the pavilion stage — near the festival entrance.
• The popular silent disco. "It's one of the most fun experiences at Breakaway. We will never get rid of it," Fucci said.

Zoom out: Fucci says the goal is to make Breakaway more than a music festival by adding more food, photo opportunities and interactive experiences throughout the grounds.

• The company even explored moving the festival — including to Uptown — but ultimately decided to stay at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• "We decided to stay out at the Speedway because we feel like it's the most sustainable way to grow and scale the show to bring the best talent and the biggest experience to consumers," said Fucci.

Yes, but: Fucci acknowledges getting to Concord is a commitment, especially without light rail service, so organizers are focused on creating a weekend that's about more than "just standing in front of a stage."

• Transportation has also been a pain point in years past, with rideshares often difficult to secure after the festival. Fucci says organizers are working to make that process more reliable this year.

By the numbers: Nearly 35,000 people attended the festival in 2025, according to an economic impact report shared with Axios.

• The event generated an estimated $11.4 million in local economic activity.
• Nearly 60% of ticket buyers traveled more than 50 miles.
• The festival generated an estimated 10,288 hotel bookings.

The big picture: Breakaway has become a destination event for electronic music and festival fans alike, drawing thousands of visitors from outside the Charlotte region.

• Charlotte is the festival's biggest market financially among the company's 13 festivals, with stops in Arizona, Utah and Massachusetts, to name a few, leading Breakaway to open a full-time office here.
• In terms of local impact, the closest comparison was Lovin' Life Music Festival, which sold out its inaugural festival in 2024 before ending after two years.

What's next: Planning for the 2027 festival is already underway.

• It's "full of surprises I can't disclose yet," Fucci said, but he says growth will continue to be a major focus.

If you go: Two-day GA passes start at $149, while two-day VIP passes start at $299.

This story will be updated as more details become available.