The 2026 edition of Electric Daisy Carnival – Orlando is underway! As in all the recent years of EDC, the entrance is on Church Street just west of OBT. There’s ID check, then Ticket Scan…..…..followed by Security Search. The lines were moving efficiently and swiftly yesterday although we imagine that as it gets darker and the crowds grow, it will take longer. Traffic was horrific near the Tinker Field festival grounds so if you’re driving, we recommend you park as far away as John Young Parkway to the west and walk over. You’ll save time versus trying to drive in the gridlock. They actually opened the gates yesterday about ten minutes earlier than the 1PM stated time. And in the early birds came! There are five music stages again this year at EDC and we began our tour at the neonGARDEN stage since it’s immediately adjacent the entrance.As in other recent years, they use a shipping container theme.With all the lights and sound intertwined with the containers.Local-favorite DJ Matthias (USA) opening the show over here. We last saw him perform at Elixir Bar downtown back in 2023 when he opened for DJ Max Styler (USA).Immediately across South Street brings us to the kineticFIELD main stage.Not as large this year as in some prior years, it’s still a sight to see.The owl is gone; it has a old skool boombox look to it.The opener DJ Zack Martino (USA) was playing during our visit.He was playing an EDM set.First time seeing this NYC-based DJ.View of Rio Grande Avenue. We had predicted last year that EDC-Orlando would likely have to relocate to Daytona or Tampa for this year’s event because of the massive reconstruction project taking place at Camping World Stadium. Somehow they are not only squeezing-in EDC but also Van’s Warped Tour next weekend and a whole slew of college football bowl games around the end of the year. Construction must be finished by August because the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League are playing their 2027 season here!Mi casa su casa. The third stage of music takes place at Casa Bacardi. This stage replaced the Corona Electric Beach stage a few years ago.The DJ booth faces the rear of the complex.The opener was playing from up there. DJ 2AR (USA)House music all day long.The daisyFIELDS picnic area is over here.Anchored by this massive structure for selfies.There’s lots of tables and expansive lawn for chilling. Continuing to the southwest corner of the grounds, home to the stereoBLOOM stage.Also scaled-down compared to prior years.The opening DJ was still playing here too.DJ Raje (USA) playing Deep House during our visit.Although he’s based here in Orlando, we’ve never seen him before.People always ask us if it’s worth the extra money to buy GA+ or VIP. For this reason alone, it is! With GA you get these port-o-poties, roasting out in the sun. With GA+ and VIP, you get air conditioned trailers! When you gotta go, you gotta go!This wall of shipping containers creates some separation of the music at stereoBLOOM from the music over at the fifth and final stage.The circuitGROUNDS secondary main stage.The largest crowed we’ve encountered so far was already gathering over here. Another Orlando-based act, the popular DJ Sloth (USA).This stage is home to mostly Heavy Bass all three days.Spotted on the circuitGROUNDS field after his 2024 EDC set, DJ Sloth.The crowd was growing quickly.Located beneath the stadium, VIP also got you access to this kandi station for making your own personalized kandi bracelets.And access to this free face-decorating venue called Volta Beauty Bar.And the 8Bit Barber shop.Shift change taking place during our visit.Switching to a B2B set between DJ Benda (USA) and DJ Vastive. And while Sloth’s set was on the Future Bass if not mainstream side of Bass, these two guys let loose with some heavy Dubstep!And they had the heads banging!While we were departing this stage we noticed all this sand and thought we might have spotted some remnants of the old baseball stadium Tinker Field. But no, it was just construction sand. If you’re interested in the history of why EDC takes place at historic Tinker Field, see our prior article on the subject HERE.The Daisy Lane toll bridge is back for another year. E-PASS, SunPass & E-ZPass accepted.Just kidding, it’s absolutely free. Time for another visit to Casa Bacardi. DJ duo Seeing Double (USA) were now playing.It’s not a party without Bacardi!EDM/House set from this Boca Raton-based duo.Bacardi‘s iconic arches are up here.We’re skeptical, lol.We met so many peeps that are in to the music scene. Some we knew but most were new.Thank you to everyone for your poses.kineticFIELD was considerably more-crowded now.For DJ JOA (CDN/USA).The former Toronto but now Miami-based DJ was pretty animated his entire set!We did not do our annual Festival Fashion guide this year but we can unequivocally state that Fluffies are now back in style. Dance singer Hayla (GB) came on next here on the main stage. Unlike all the other acts, she’s not a DJ and she was here to sing and you could hear her vocals throughout the EDC grounds!She sang not only her own tracks but songs from other hits that have female vocals on them.Singing “Shiver” from the 2024 John Summit (USA) hit. If you ever get to attend a Hayla live set, do it. There are SO MANY dance hits where Hayla provided the vocals. We last saw her at the Winter Music Conference closing party in Miami Beach in 2025.Sadly, we needed to depart the festival early. We had had arm surgery on Thursday (dermatological, nothing major) but in the heat the bandage kept sliding off the wound and dust was a big no no! EDC Day 2 today is SOLD OUT and Day 3 tomorrow is GA+ only. TICKETS. It was fun while it lasted and a good time was had by all.
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