Okay… can we all agree that ILLfest 2025 was one of the best weekends of the year? We’re still recovering, in the best way possible! If you were there, you know. If you weren’t… well, prepare yourself for some major FOMO and even more reason to pay attention to pre-sale tickets for 2026!!
From the moment we stepped through the gates in Austin, it felt like we entered another dimension made just for bass lovers, art freaks, and rave babes like us. The energy? Unmatched. It was three days of pure chaos and community that included gritty drops, glowing art, incredible eats, and nonstop good vibes.
Let’s talk music, because WOW! Friday night kicked off hard with Peekaboo b2b Tape B, which of course has us losing our minds. Saturday, Wooli was straight out of a dream. Everywhere we looked, people were smiling ear to ear. It was such a beautiful moment to feel fully embraced in the rave community. By Sunday, Liquid Stranger had the crowd in an absolute trance. There was headbanging, there were lasers, and there was absolutely zero chill.
ILLfest didn’t hold back on variety either. Big X the Plug and That Mexican OT brought a Texas-sized dose of hype, while other faves like Alleycvt, Ray Volpe (who we got to interview—he’s the sweetest and so full of insight), Deathpact, and Netsky served nothing but high energy and straight bangers.
And the art?! It felt like every inch of the grounds was curated for creativity. Massive murals, trippy designs, and bold visuals everywhere we turned. Pair that with tofu tacos, BBQ, churros, fresh-baked cookies, and ice cream…our late night cravings were fulfilled.
Upstairs in VIP, things got bougie in the best way. A full-on beauty refresh station kept our glitter game strong, the hydration IV bar saved our hydration (or lack there of) more than once, and the Bang Energy booth had us energized with their free samples. Oh, and the BeatBox girls? So cute, so iconic.
But honestly, the best part of the whole experience was the people. The PLUR at this festival was real. Headbangers, kandi flying, first-timers, rave veterans—we all showed up with open hearts and wild energy. The kind of crowd that reminds you why you fell in love with this scene in the first place.
We’ve been to a lot of festivals over the years, but ILLfest just hits different. Already thinking about round two? Same. Pre-sale for 2026 is live and we’ll definitely be there.