Every rave squad has one person who knows everything about big festivals. So, picture that you’re all hanging out, thinking about which festivals to go to next. One of you mentions that you should attend Coachella, saying that it’s the biggest music festival. That’s when the know-it-all friend pops out of nowhere to exclaim, “Well, actually, EDC is the biggest festival”. So, is EDC the Biggest Music Festival?
How big is the EDC? Are there any other music festivals that are larger than EDC in Vegas? Let’s find out!
Is EDC the Biggest EDM Festival in the World?
The Electric Daisy Carnival is the largest EDM festival in North America. EDC is very big with electronic music lovers. It steadily has over 400,000 people in attendance for the festival’s duration. Speaking of which, the festival lasts for 3 days (Friday-Sunday). So it’s not the longest music festival since festivals like Coachella last for two weekends.
But is EDC the largest EDM festival in the world? If we consider the duration of the festival and the attendance, then it’s the largest EDM festival by a mile.
How did EDC become this big? Let’s take a dive into the history of the Electric Daisy Carnival.
A Brief History of the Electric Daisy Carnival
While most of us know the EDC as an Insomniac festival, the brand didn’t buy the rights to the festival until 1995. The first incarnation of the Electric Daisy Carnival was in 1991. In 1997, the first EDC under Insomniac took place at a warehouse in Los Angeles, with a mere 5,000 in attendance
The First Years of EDC
For the first decade, EDC was already shaping up to dominate the EDM festival scene. I mean, their names are pretty much the same, so I guess it was meant to be. All jokes aside, the attendance numbers were increasing every year. In 2007, a decade after the warehouse party in LA, the event was held at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and had 40,000 in attendance. But that was only the beginning…
When Did EDC Become Popular?
The EDM culture became mainstream in the late 2000s-early 2010s. Along with that came a boom in music festivals. Insomniac decided to extend the festival to two days in 2009. Saying that it paid off would be an understatement.
The festival had 150,000 attendees, which was triple the attendance of 2008. Still, that wasn’t all that EDC had in store.
In 2011, the festival was moved to Vegas, where it’s taken place ever since. Plus, the event became a 3-day festival that lasted from dusk to dawn. With almost 250,000 attendees, the Electric Daisy Carnival officially became the biggest name in the EDM festival scene.
What Year Was the Best for EDC
The best year for EDC was 2018. This is when edc is the biggest music festival. The 3-day festival amassed more than 400,000 attendees! At the same time, the festival finally introduced on-site camping, along with earlier opening hours. There were also several EDC events outside Las Vegas, including EDC Mexico and EDC China.
So, now that you know how big EDC is let’s see how other EDM festivals rank up against it.
How Does EDC Compare to Other Music Festivals
While there are EDC events outside of Vegas, the flagship show is in Sin City. So, it’s only fitting that I compare this festival to other big ones, like Coachella and Tomorrowland.
EDC vs. Coachella
Coachella comes very close to the attendance numbers of EDC, but it’s got some ground to cover. For starters, Coachella is 6-days long, while EDC is 3-days long.
In that sense, both events have close to 125,000 attendees per day, with the show in Vegas being at the higher end. In terms of their history, the two festivals have had a very similar rise in popularity.
EDC vs. Ultra Music Festival
As we go towards the east coast, the Ultra Music Festival stands out as a great competitor to EDC. Both festivals have had an annual event since 1999, with many big names like Tiësto and Avicii performing at them.
But, admittedly, EDC is bigger than Ultra Music Festival. The show in Vegas has more than double the attendees, with Ultra Music Festival securing around 170,000 in attendance for the event.
EDC vs. Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland is Europe’s gem in terms of EDM music festivals. I’ve streamed countless of its sets. Honestly, nothing beats Tomorrowland in my eyes. But, I’ll admit that EDC is bigger than it.
Both festivals have had over 400,000 attendees. However, Tomorrowland lasts for two weekends, so these numbers, while impressive, aren’t as significant as EDC’s.
EDC vs. Sunburn Festival
The Sunburn Festival is the only EDM festival that comes close to EDC in terms of numbers. I mean, it’s a massive party in Asia right before New Year’s. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that?
Sunburn Festival has around 350,000 in attendance for the whole weekend, which is a few thousand less than EDC. Along with Tomorrowland, these three EDM festivals are the biggest ones globally.
Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt that Electric Daisy Carnival is the largest music festival in the US. It’s been around for more than two decades, and it’s consistently been a joy for all in attendance. So, if you’re ready to embark on your next rave adventure, Las Vegas is your next destination.
But, keep in mind that you’ll need to bring plenty of accessories with you, from Kandi to hydration packs (Vegas gets really hot in the summer). Also, check out YESIRAVE’s blog to find out how you can have the best time at EDC, even if you’re alone or it’s your first time at a festival.
Keep on raving ‘till dawn!
Alexios is a professional writer who has been raving for 5 years. He is eager to help all enter the scene.
