Both house and bass music echoed across New York City when John Summit’s Experts Only Festival took over Randall’s Island last weekend. This was my first year attending, and I was genuinely blown away by how above and beyond the Experts Only team went to make this an unforgettable weekend for attendees. The two-day festival, led by Chicago-born electronic music DJ and Producer John Summit and his Experts Only record label, featured a stellar lineup spanning house and bass, with performances from GRiZ, Levity, Soraya, LYNY, OMRI., Jackie Hollander, and more! As it was only the festival’s second year, it was remarkable how well the Experts Only team pulled it off. Aside from the main festival, the team curated a weekend far beyond Randall’s Island. Alongside the fest, they hosted several Experts Only events such as Lululemon fitness takeovers, a Max Styler pre-party at the iconic Manhattan skyline venue, The Edge, after-parties with surprise guests each night at the massive electronic venue, Pacha, and a fun merch pop-up in Brooklyn with house artists Will Clarke and Broken Hill on the decks. They also did a fun newspaper-stand marketing stunt in Manhattan before the festival, where fans could pick up a mock newspaper, The Summit Street Journal, and a lanyard that gave them access to a secret event that John Summit and Experts Only had in store for a limited number of fans. The secret was revealed on Friday night, when he surprised us all by playing a DJ set on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, one of the city’s most iconic institutions. This stunt was tied to his newest album, “CTRL ESCAPE,” and it was honestly genius. The album centers on his story of working as an accountant to becoming one of the most well-known names in electronic music today, which is inspiring for many. I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a video online, and I had a strong feeling that Experts Only Festival 2026 was about to be one of the most memorable weekends of the year.
This year showcased three stages: The Main Stage, Mirror Field Stage, and Pwemium Wounge. Each stage had its own distinct atmosphere and production style, creating a festival experience that felt intimate yet insanely electrifying. The Main Stage had captivating production, with mesmerizing pyrotechnics, lasers, and a massive Experts Only symbol hanging above the stage. It brought out performances from artists like Soraya, GRiZ, Subjohnics (John Summit b2b Subtronics), Devault, and more!
One of my favorite Main Stage sets was the highly anticipated Adam Ten b2b Max Styler debut. The duo delivered punchy grooves and a dynamic set that kept the crowd locked in a hypnotic vibe from start to finish. John Summit closed out Day 1 on the Main Stage, playing some new IDs, but also many classic hits like “Where You Are” and his iconic “Sweet Disposition” remix. Another highlight was Subjohnics, widely regarded as one of the most versatile B2B projects in today’s electronic music scene. They mixed Summit’s tech house rhythms with Subtronics’ explosive dubstep drops and signature riddim-chopping on-stage prowess, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats the whole time throughout. It was also the festival’s last Main Stage set, and it felt like a celebration of uniting house and bass music cultures.
photo credit: Emily Guzz
The Mirror Field Stage was probably my favorite out of the three, largely because of its innovative, reflective design. The production was immersive, with massive mirrors surrounding the area and fog machines that created an otherworldly atmosphere. I caught about half of LYNY at the Mirror Field Stage, and it was one of my top sets of the weekend. He unleashed a high-energy set mixing dubstep, trap, and 140. LYNY even snuck in a Silva Bumpa tune. Everyone absolutely lost it when he dropped “Kyoto” by Skrillex, and I could tell LYNY was stoked to see so many house heads loving his set.
A few other performances I caught on the Mirror Field Stage included Jackie Hollander, who’s seriously crushing it in tech house right now with her driving blend of groovy basslines and atmospheric synths. Also Australian DJ Partiboi69, who always delivers a chaotic, loud, and cheeky performance. His lethal tunes span from ghetto tech to electro to house, making for a high-energy performance.
If you’ve seen the “pwemium wounge” video of John Summit trying to pronounce “premium lounge,” then you’ll understand the clever humor behind the Pwemium Wounge stage. I absolutely loved the nod to one of Summit’s most memorable viral moments, and the stage itself was a vibe, having a massive canopy covering and wooden structures that made it feel like an actual lounge area. When I entered the stage, my first thought was, “This feels like a VIP area at a festival, but it’s not.” The Pwemium Wounge felt intimate and colorful, and it was a good place to chill away from the big crowds if you still wanted to vibe and listen to music. My favorite sets at the Pwemium Wounge had to be No Static’s hard-hitting tech house and Stello’s blend of progressive house, techno, and dubstep.
Randall’s Island Park is not that big, so it was easy to hop from one stage to another. Given the lineup was as strong as it was, I was happy that I could walk between stages in less than ten minutes, even when I had to make my way out of a massive crowd. I was also impressed by how minimal the sound bleed was for a park of this size. The sound bleed was really only noticeable in the center of the festival near the food vendors, but that was expected. I thought the sound systems they had were fantastic, crisp quality, especially at the Pwemium Wounge. You definitely needed your earplugs in for that one!
Getting off the island was an experience in itself, adding another memorable chapter to the weekend. Festival-goers could take a ferry, which was definitely the easiest option and offered some beautiful views of the city along the way. The other alternative was to walk across the Randall’s Island footbridge to get back to the city, which is what I and many others decided to do. I’ll admit, I was a little worried about the concept of walking across a bridge in a crowd of people, but honestly it wasn’t as anxiety-inducing as I expected. The breeze felt nice, and it only took about half an hour to get across. Next year I’ll probably take the ferry, since it seems like a more efficient, quicker option.
Photo Credit: Jess Licata
Experts Only Festival 2026 had several activations with partner brands that attendees could enjoy if they needed a break from dancing. My favorites were the White Claw branded claw machine and a Ghost Energy basketball game. They were also handing out free Ghost Energy chapstick, which I thought was cute. Of course, Don Julio was a sponsor – we all know how much Summit loves his 1942. Eargasm also had an activation, and attendees could pre-order earbuds and pick them up at the festival.
Experts Only Festival 2026 was everything I imagined and more. As someone who lives in New York City and works in the music industry, this festival was an incredible opportunity to meet others in the field. I met so many artists, photographers, and music industry professionals in the Industry Lounge. I even came across an official Experts Only interview with GRiZ through Experts Only Radio – SiriusXM. After the weekend, I realized how much Experts Only Festival truly represented John Summit’s record label and project. Experts Only isn’t just a record label. It’s an entire ecosystem John Summit and his team have built over the years, and it will keep growing and evolving. Every detail behind the weekend felt intentional, bringing together music, live events, media, activations, branding, and a growing Experts Only community. John Summit is currently on his CTRL Escape Arena tour and will be back in New York on November 28th & 29th to headline Barclays Center in Brooklyn. From accountant to global DJ, John Summit continues to impress and excite us all with his work, and I’m already looking forward to what next year has in store!
Who was your favorite of the weekend? Let us know in the replies!
Photo credit: Jamal Eid