ARC Music Festival Drops 2025 Lineup
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ARC Music Festival has announced its 2025 lineup, and it will be another awe-inspiring festival. The three-day event celebrates its fifth anniversary on the weekend of August 29-31 with a lineup that spans legendary pioneers, current stars and emerging talent that spans the electronic music spectrum.
For the second time ever, Eric Prydz is bringing back all three of his aliases – Eric Prydz, Pryda and Cirez D. The festival also locked in Jamie xx, hometown hero John Summit, techno queen Amelie Lens, Richie Hawtin and FISHER as headliners.
Since launching in 2021, ARC has become the festival that connects Chicago’s house music roots with the global scene. Festival co-founder Stuart Hackley puts it perfectly: “ARC is here to put house music and its origination point on a pedestal and scream that loud across the world.”
The lineup reflects this mission by featuring local icons alongside international stars. You’ll catch Chicago originators like DJ Sneak, DJ Heather and newer talents carrying the torch like HiTech, whose fusion of juke, footwork and techno represents the city’s evolving sound.
2024 marked four decades since house music first emerged from Chicago’s underground clubs and warehouse parties. At nearly the same time, Detroit-based artists were working on a parallel movement just a few hours away with the innovation of Detroit Techno. Together, these Midwestern cities sparked a musical revolution that would eventually transform nightlife and dance culture around the world.
These parallel movements created a foundation that continues to influence today’s artists. The Roland TR-909 drum machine – which Area 909 stage is named after – famously traveled between Chicago and Detroit producers during those formative years, a physical embodiment of their shared musical DNA.
This year’s lineup expands beyond traditional house and techno with Sub Focus performing ARC’s first-ever drum & bass set, UK garage from Skream B2B Hamdi and high-energy sets from Interplanetary Criminal B2B Malugi. Underground innovators Eris Drew B2B Octo Octa will further showcase how Chicago’s influence has spread globally.
The festival spreads across four distinct stages, each with its own vibe: The Grid, Elrow, Expansions and Area 909. As you move between stages, you’ll find art installations and production elements that tie the whole experience together.
ARC creates that rare festival experience that combines world-class music with genuine cultural meaning. As one festivalgoer described it during last year’s event: “It’s like a full-circle moment” seeing how Chicago’s house sound traveled the world and returned home transformed.
Three-day GA, VIP and VIP+ passes are on sale now.
