The Psycho Circus is back in San Bernardino. Escape Halloween returns to the NOS Events Center on Friday and Saturday, October 30 and 31, 2026, with Zedd, Ice Cube, Excision, and Richie Hawtin leading a lineup of more than 80 acts. Gates run 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. both nights, and Saturday is Halloween itself.
Insomniac produces the festival, and this is its 16th edition. It started in 2011 as Escape From Wonderland at the same fairgrounds and has run under the Psycho Circus theme since 2015. New this year, Insomniac’s hard dance label Mutate hosts a stage for the first time at Escape. Everything below comes from the festival’s official site and Insomniac’s lineup announcement as of September 28, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Friday and Saturday, October 30 and 31, 2026. 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Afterparty 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. |
| Where | NOS Events Center, 689 S. E St., San Bernardino, CA 92408 |
| Headliners | Zedd, Ice Cube, Excision, Richie Hawtin |
| Ages | 18+. 21+ for alcohol and VIP. |
| Tickets | Single-day GA from $145.95 all-in; two-day GA $269.95 |
| Re-entry | No |
| Payment | Cashless |
| Parking | Free general parking; paid Premier Parking |
| Official site | escapehalloween.com |
Who’s playing
The lineup mixes big-room EDM, bass, techno, house, and hardstyle across six stages. The festival has published a stage-by-stage and day-by-day lineup; set times are not out yet.
Friday, October 30
Headliners and big names: Excision, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, Steve Aoki, Benny Benassi, Cascada, Nervo, MORTEN, Cloonee, and Showtek (hardstyle set).
Also Friday: A Little Sound, Adam Ten, All Rise, All The Reason, AniMe (No Boundaries), Azyr, B2, Cera Khin, Clara Cuvé, Comadoses, Coone b2b DJ Isaac, Cyclops, Darren Styles, Death Simulator, Discovery Project, DJ Tennis, Frontliner (Journey set), Gammer, Getter, HerShe, HIWATER, HoneyPacq, Jamie Jones b2b Franky Rizardo, Joseph Capriati b2b Sosa, k?d presents Kill The Kid, Kai Wachi, Kana Hishiya, Kimmo, Kloud, KREAM, Lady Faith b2b LNY TNZ, Level Up, Mish, MODAL NODES, Monic, Morelia, Pixie Dust, RoRoll b2b HUA, SEUNG, Silvie Loto, Trancemaster Krause, Trym, and YDG.
Saturday, October 31
Headliners and big names: Zedd, Ice Cube, Richie Hawtin, Galantis, Alok, Nina Kraviz, Avalon Emerson, Liquid Stranger, Dabin, and JOYRYDE (sunset set).
Also Saturday: $coe, 999999999, AC Slater, Acyan, Adventure Club, Alex Chapman b2b Zoe Gitter, Andruss b2b Juos, Bou, Cat and Maomi, Champion, Chrysalis, Desa Deca, Disco Lines, DJ Heartstring, Dr. Fresch, ero808, Funk Assault, Ian Asher, Indira Paganotto, Jon Casey, JSMN, Know Good, Landopolo, LUMI, Maddix, MALUGI, Marie Nyx, Mark Lizaola, Nina J, OMNOM, PEDROZ, Richard Vission, Rommii, San Pacho, Sedef Adasï, SHAKING, Spency Be, TELYKAST, TYKNI, VNSSA b2b a mystery guest, and Yanamaste.
The stages
- The Big Top: Zedd, Galantis, Alok, Steve Aoki, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, Benny Benassi, Cascada.
- Sewer District: bass and hip-hop. Excision, Ice Cube, Liquid Stranger, Dabin, Getter.
- Feeding Grounds: hard dance. Showtek, Darren Styles, Coone b2b DJ Isaac, Frontliner.
- The Cage: techno and house. Richie Hawtin, Nina Kraviz, Jamie Jones b2b Franky Rizardo, Indira Paganotto.
- The Warehouse: Avalon Emerson, Alex Chapman b2b Zoe Gitter, Chrysalis, and more.
- Danse Macabre: the stage inside Crazy Town, the festival’s themed village, where the festival says the Danse Macabre begins at midnight.
Know the song, find the stage
Tagging along with a raver friend? Here is who to find, and where:
| If you know… | Go see |
|---|---|
| “Clarity” | Zedd, Saturday, The Big Top |
| “It Was a Good Day” | Ice Cube, Saturday, Sewer District |
| “Runaway (U & I)” | Galantis, Saturday, The Big Top |
| “Hear Me Now” | Alok, Saturday, The Big Top |
| “Everytime We Touch” | Cascada, Friday, The Big Top |
| “Satisfaction” | Benny Benassi, Friday, The Big Top |
| “Just Hold On” | Steve Aoki, Friday, The Big Top |
| “Booyah” | Showtek, Friday, Feeding Grounds |
Ice Cube is also on our list of rappers with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
Tickets
Tickets are sold through Front Gate Tickets with all-in pricing (fees included, taxes and delivery extra). These are the prices the official ticket page listed on September 28. Tiers can sell out, so the current price may be higher.
- Two-day passes: GA $269.95, GA+ $319.95, VIP $389.95.
- Friday only: GA $145.95, GA+ $188.95, VIP $233.95.
- Saturday only: GA $155.95, GA+ $198.95, VIP $243.95.
- Official afterparty: Indoors on the festival grounds, 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. Two-day pass $71.95, single night $42.95.
- GA+ adds dedicated entry and air-conditioned restroom trailers.
- VIP (21+) adds expedited entry, VIP viewing areas and bars, private restrooms, a trick-or-treat bar, free festival essentials like earplugs and hair ties, and 10% off Escape merch.
- Refunds: None, and no exchanges.
Getting there
- Free parking: General parking is free in several lots around the venue. The Green, Blue, and Pink lots open at 1:30 p.m.; the rest open at 2:30 p.m. Cars must leave the lots at the close of each night or be towed.
- Premier Parking in the Pink Lot, right outside the entrance, is sold separately.
- Skip street parking. The festival says nearby residential and business streets are tow-away zones.
- No vans or RVs. RVs, box trucks, panel vans, sprinter vans, and camper vans are not allowed in any Insomniac lot. All vehicles may be searched.
- City shuttles run from Downtown LA (McAlister Field near USC), the Fullerton Park and Ride, the Granada Hills Park and Ride, and the Riverside Convention Center, returning at 2:30 a.m. Hotel shuttles run from the Best Western Ontario Airport. Passes are sold only through the official site and usually sell out.
- Rideshare and drop-off: The rideshare and guest pickup area is behind Target and Big Lots, entered off S. E Street. Expect long waits and surge pricing after 2 a.m.
Costume rules
It is Halloween, so costumes are the point. The festival’s costume rules are specific:
- No costumes that look like police, fire, security, medical, or event staff, including high-visibility vests.
- No weapons or weapon props, real or fake: no swords, axes, guns, whips, or lightsabers.
- No handcuffs, chains, ropes, crops, or sharp metal spikes.
- No glass or ceramic masks, and no gas masks.
- No full-face makeup that makes you unrecognizable from your photo ID.
- Costumes should not misrepresent race, religion, or cultural heritage.
What to bring
- Your ID. The festival is 18+. Acceptable ID is a US government-issued license or ID, or a passport. Digital IDs, school IDs, and expired IDs are not accepted.
- Bags: Clear bags up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or small clutches up to 6 x 9 inches (clear or not). Hydration packs are fine if empty, with no more than two main compartments and one small one.
- An empty reusable water bottle. Free refill stations are on site.
- Totems up to 10 feet, made of lightweight material. Decorated pool noodles are the easy option.
- Glow gear: LED costumes, glowsticks, poi, and hula hoops are allowed. Red light-up wands and lightsabers are not.
- Small cameras: Non-professional cameras and action cams under 6 inches are allowed.
- Prescription meds that are not expired, with your prescription. Sealed nasal naloxone is allowed.
What to leave at home
- Over-the-counter medication. This one surprises people, and it is on the prohibited list.
- Outside food and drinks, including candy. Yes, even on Halloween.
- Aerosols, markers, pens, and spray paint.
- Chairs, blankets, tents, and large umbrellas.
- Laser pointers, air horns, toy guns, water guns, and drones.
- Professional cameras with detachable lenses, tripods, or big zooms.
- Pets. Trained service animals are allowed.
Inside the gates
- No re-entry on either day, unless you rent a locker. Lockers include unlimited in-and-out access and a phone charger.
- Cashless. Credit, debit, and mobile pay are accepted. You can swap cash for a prepaid card on site.
- TSA-style search at entry, which can include a full pat-down and removing your shoes.
- Rain or shine.
- Zero tolerance for drugs, with police working inside and outside the event.
- Water: Free refill stations, plus roaming vendors selling water and snacks. Vegan and vegetarian food is available.
- Lost and found is near the main entrance during the festival and next to the box office after hours.
Accessibility
The grounds are concrete and asphalt, with accessible routes to parking, entrances, stages, and viewing areas. Everything is handled on site at the Accessibility Services Hub, just inside the entrance on the left: stop there for a free accessibility wristband (one companion wristband per guest), access to accessible viewing areas, device charging, and service animal registration. There is no pre-registration and no special ticket to buy. Accessible parking is in the Pink Lot off Arrowhead Avenue, first come, first served, with a valid placard or plate. Wheelchair-accessible shuttles are available by request through the festival’s contact form.
ASL interpretation, live captioning, and other communication services should be requested by September 30, 2026 through the festival’s Effective Communication Request Form. Later requests may still be accommodated, but are not guaranteed.
Still to come
Set times and the festival map have not been released. The 824 Journal will update this guide when they are.
Sources
- Escape Halloween, official site
- Escape Halloween: Tickets
- Escape Halloween: Lineup (by day and by stage)
- Escape Halloween: Stages
- Escape Halloween: Crazy Town
- Escape Halloween: Hours and Info (hours, ages and ID, policies, allowed and prohibited items, costume and totem rules)
- Escape Halloween: Parking and Drop-Offs
- Escape Halloween: Shuttles
- Escape Halloween: Amenities and Services
- Escape Halloween: Accessibility
- Insomniac: Escape Psycho Circus Reveals Over 80 Acts for 2026 Edition (August 3, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Escape Halloween (history)
Featured photo: Scott Randall (SoCalNomad) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
