May 13–18, 2026
EDC Week Las Vegas 2026
The complete nightlife guide for EDC Week. Best nightclubs, pool parties, after-hours events, pricing, guest list tips, and genre recommendations for the biggest electronic music week in Las Vegas.
EDC Week Is the Biggest Nightlife Week in Las Vegas History
Electric Daisy Carnival brings approximately 170,000 electronic music fans to Las Vegas over three nights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. But the festival itself is only part of the story. The week surrounding EDC — typically running Wednesday through Sunday — transforms the entire Las Vegas nightlife ecosystem into the most concentrated display of DJ talent anywhere on the planet. Every nightclub and dayclub on the Strip books its highest-profile headliners specifically for EDC Week because hundreds of the world's top electronic artists are already in town. Acts that normally command six-figure appearance fees play intimate nightclub sets as warmup or afterparty performances. The result is a week where you can see more world-class DJs than at any other time of year, at venues that are operating at peak production and energy. EDC 2026 is expected to run May 15 through 17 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with EDC Week nightlife events spanning May 13 through 18. If you are in Las Vegas during this window, the nightclub and pool party options are unmatched.
EDC Week Nightclubs: Where to Go Every Night
The nightclub programming during EDC Week is stacked in a way that does not happen any other week of the year. Every major venue on the Strip runs events Wednesday through Sunday instead of the usual Thursday through Saturday schedule. Omnia at Caesars Palace is the go-to for main-stage EDM headliners — expect the biggest names in progressive house, big room, and electro house across its multi-level layout with the kinetic chandelier installation pulsing overhead. XS Nightclub at Wynn is where you will find deep house, tech-house, and more underground-leaning headliners performing in the 40,000 square foot indoor-outdoor space. The outdoor patio overlooking the pool is especially popular during EDC Week because the late May weather is ideal. Zouk at Resorts World has emerged as the premier venue for bass music and future bass acts, and its state-of-the-art sound system makes it the most sonically immersive room in Vegas. Hakkasan at MGM Grand runs its massive five-level layout at full capacity all week with acts that span the EDM spectrum. Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan is where the tech-house and melodic house acts gravitate, and the multi-room layout lets you move between genres in a single night. Drai's at The Cromwell books a mix of EDM headliners and hip-hop acts for its rooftop setup — the open-air format with Strip views makes it unique during the warm May evenings.
EDC Week Pool Parties: Daytime Events You Cannot Miss
The pool party schedule during EDC Week is arguably more exciting than the nightclub schedule because this is when you get to see festival-level headliners in an intimate 2,000 to 3,000 person venue instead of a 70,000 person main stage. Pool parties run Wednesday through Sunday during EDC Week, expanding from the usual Friday through Sunday window. Encore Beach Club at Wynn is the epicenter — expect the biggest names in EDM playing afternoon sets to a crowd that is already buzzing from the night before. The 60,000 square foot space with cabanas, bungalows, and the lily pad daybeds fills to capacity on Saturday, so arrive right at 11:00 AM. Marquee Dayclub at The Cosmopolitan is the tech-house capital during EDC Week, booking acts like Fisher, Chris Lake, and John Summit for rooftop pool sets with Strip views. Tao Beach at The Venetian draws the upscale crowd with a curated lineup that balances big names with underground talent. Ayu Dayclub at Resorts World connects directly to Zouk Nightclub, making it the best day-to-night pipeline during the week — hit the Balinese-themed pool in the afternoon and walk through to Zouk at night without leaving the property. LIV Beach at Fontainebleau brings the Miami festival energy with headliners playing to the brand-new pool deck. If you are attending EDC at night, a pool party is the ideal way to spend the afternoon — the music warms you up, the sun charges your energy, and you are ready for the Speedway by 7:00 PM.
Pre-Parties and After-Hours: Before and After the Speedway
The EDC schedule runs roughly 7:00 PM to 5:30 AM at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which creates two distinct windows for off-site events. Pre-parties happen from about 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM at pool parties and from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM at select nightclubs that open early specifically for EDC Week. These are not throwaway events — pre-parties regularly feature headliner talent doing abbreviated sets before heading to the festival. After-hours events pick up at 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM when festival-goers return from the Speedway and are still riding the energy. Drai's After Hours is the most established after-hours venue in Las Vegas, running from 1:00 AM to 9:00 AM in its basement space with dark, intimate vibes and underground electronic music. During EDC Week, after-hours venues book bigger acts than usual because the 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM window has a built-in audience of thousands of people looking for exactly this experience. Marquee Nightclub also runs extended hours during EDC Week, sometimes staying open until sunrise. For the full after-hours guide including every venue, operating hours, and music styles, see our after-hours guide. The typical EDC Week daily rhythm looks like this: wake up around noon, pool party from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, rest and eat from 5:00 to 6:30 PM, head to the Speedway by 7:00 PM, festival from 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM, after-hours from 5:30 to 8:00 AM, sleep. Repeat for three days. It is a marathon and pacing is everything.
Venue Recommendations by Genre
EDC Week is when the genre-specific programming at each venue reaches its peak. If you are into big room and progressive house — the headliner anthems, the hands-in-the-air drops, the festival main-stage energy — Omnia and Encore Beach Club are your primary venues. These book the Tiesto, David Guetta, and Martin Garrix tier of acts. If tech-house and melodic house are your thing — the groovy, four-on-the-floor sounds of Fisher, Chris Lake, John Summit, and Dom Dolla — Marquee Nightclub and Marquee Dayclub are where that sound lives in Las Vegas. The Cosmopolitan's multi-room layout means you can catch a tech-house set in the main room and wander into Boom Box for hip-hop between sets. For trance and uplifting electronic — artists like Armin van Buuren, Above and Beyond, and Gareth Emery — check Hakkasan and Zouk, which occasionally dedicate rooms to trance during EDC Week. Bass music fans — dubstep, drum and bass, trap — should focus on Zouk's programming, which leans harder than most Strip venues, and look for special one-off events at smaller venues like Brooklyn Bowl or the Event Center at Virgin Hotels. For a mix of EDM and hip-hop crossover — artists who blend genres or hip-hop acts that resonate with the EDC crowd — Drai's rooftop is the spot. The open-air format and Strip views make it a memorable EDC Week experience regardless of the specific act.
EDC Week Pricing: What to Expect
EDC Week is the most expensive week of the year for Las Vegas nightlife, and you need to budget accordingly. General admission cover charges at nightclubs jump to $50 to $100 for men and $30 to $60 for women — roughly 50 to 100 percent above normal pricing. Pool party cover runs $40 to $75 across the board, with headliner events at Encore Beach Club pushing $75 to $100. Guest list availability is reduced but not eliminated — more on that in the next section. Bottle service minimums increase significantly. A nightclub table that normally runs $2,000 will be $3,500 to $5,000 during EDC Week. Dayclub cabanas jump proportionally. The premium is real, but so is the talent — you are paying to see artists who command $200,000 to $500,000 per appearance in venues that hold 2,000 to 5,000 people. The math on a per-person basis is actually reasonable: a $4,000 nightclub table split among 10 people is $400 each for a private table, bottles, and a headliner DJ set in an intimate venue. That same artist charges $100 to $150 for a festival ticket where you are standing in a crowd of 70,000. Drink prices remain consistent with normal — $18 to $25 for cocktails. The premium is on admission and VIP, not on individual beverages.
Guest List During EDC Week: What Works and What Doesn't
Here is the honest breakdown on guest list during EDC Week. Women's guest list is still available at most venues on most nights — the gender dynamics of nightlife do not change during EDC Week, and venues still want a balanced crowd. Women can typically get free entry on guest list at pool parties and nightclubs through Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Saturday and Sunday are more restrictive, with some venues reducing or eliminating guest list entirely for their biggest headliner events. Men's guest list is significantly more limited during EDC Week than during a normal week. The highest-demand events — Saturday nightclub headliners and Saturday pool party headliners — often have no men's guest list at all. Wednesday and Thursday events are more likely to honor men's guest list, and pool parties earlier in the week are your best bet for free or reduced entry. Our strategy for EDC Week is straightforward: sign up for guest list for every event you are interested in, arrive early (before 12:00 PM for pool parties, before 11:00 PM for nightclubs), and have a backup plan if guest list is capped. Presale tickets at $30 to $50 are a smart insurance policy for the events where guest list might not work out. Sign up through our form and we will text you real-time updates on guest list availability for your specific dates.
First-Timer Tips for EDC Week Nightlife
If this is your first EDC Week in Las Vegas, the scale of the nightlife programming can feel overwhelming. Here is how to navigate it. First, do not try to do everything. Pick two or three nightclub events and two or three pool parties for the week. The people who try to hit every venue every day burn out by Thursday and miss the best events on the weekend. Second, pace your drinking. Between pool parties, pre-parties, the festival, and after-hours, you could theoretically be partying for 18 hours straight. Alcohol and desert heat are a dangerous combination at pool parties, and adding a three-day festival on top makes dehydration a real risk. Alternate water with every drink, eat full meals, and take genuine rest breaks. Third, plan your transportation. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a 20 to 30 minute drive from the Strip, and rideshare surge pricing during EDC hours is brutal — $50 to $100 each way. EDC offers official shuttle passes that run from multiple Strip locations to the Speedway and back. Buy the shuttle pass and save rideshare money for getting between nightclubs and pool parties on the Strip. Fourth, book early. Hotel rooms, pool party reservations, and nightclub tables sell out weeks before EDC Week. If you are reading this in April, book now. If you are reading this during EDC Week, text us and we will find you same-day options.
The EDC Week Schedule: How to Plan Your Days
A well-planned EDC Week maximizes your energy across both the festival and the Strip nightlife. Here is a sample schedule. Wednesday: arrive in Vegas, settle in, hit an EDC Week kickoff pool party in the afternoon (lower key, good warmup), then an opening-night nightclub event. These Wednesday events are less crowded and often feature surprise guest DJ sets. Thursday: pool party from noon to 5:00 PM, rest and eat, nightclub from midnight to 3:00 AM. Thursday ramps up the energy but you still want to conserve for the main festival nights. Friday through Sunday (festival nights): sleep until noon, pool party from 1:00 to 4:00 PM (optional — skip if you need rest), nap and eat from 4:00 to 6:30 PM, head to the Speedway by 7:00 PM. Return from the festival around 5:00 to 6:00 AM. Optional after-hours until 8:00 or 9:00 AM. Sleep. The pool party on festival days is optional but popular — many people treat it as a low-key social hang rather than a rager, arriving late, skipping the guest list hustle, and just floating in the pool to recharge before the Speedway. Monday: checkout day for most visitors, but some nightclubs and pool parties run Monday closing events specifically for the EDC crowd. These Monday events are often the most relaxed and local-feeling of the entire week.
Continue Reading
Related Guides
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Best Nightclubs 2026
Full rankings of every nightclub on and off the Strip with atmosphere, music, and pricing breakdowns.
After-Hours Guide
Late-night and sunrise venues open past 4 AM — essential for EDC after-parties.
Top Picks
Best Venues for EDC Week
Encore Beach Club
The #1 dayclub during EDC Week. Biggest EDM headliners play afternoon pool sets. Arrive at 11 AM — capacity hits by 1 PM on Saturday.
Marquee Dayclub
Tech-house and melodic house capital. Fisher, Chris Lake, and John Summit headline the rooftop pool with Strip views.
Omnia Nightclub
The main-stage EDM venue. Multi-level layout with the kinetic chandelier. Biggest progressive house and big room acts of EDC Week.
XS Nightclub
Indoor-outdoor at Wynn with deep house and tech-house programming. The outdoor patio is ideal during late May evenings.
Zouk Nightclub
State-of-the-art sound at Resorts World. Bass music and future bass. Connected to Ayu Dayclub for day-to-night.
Hakkasan
Five-level mega-club at MGM Grand. Full EDM spectrum with occasional trance rooms during EDC Week.
Tao Beach
Upscale pool party at The Venetian. Curated EDC Week lineup mixing big names with underground talent.
Drai's Nightclub
Rooftop EDM and hip-hop at The Cromwell. Open-air format with Strip views. Also runs after-hours until 9 AM.
Mark Your Calendar
EDC Week 2026 Key Dates
Wed May 13 — Kickoff Events
Nightclubs and pool parties launch their EDC Week programming. Lower crowds, surprise DJ sets, and the easiest guest list availability of the week. Best night for men's guest list.
Thu May 14 — Full Programming
All major venues are running headliner events. Energy ramps up as EDC badge holders arrive in town. Pool parties are the highlight — warm up in the sun before the festival starts Friday night.
Fri May 15 — Festival Night 1
EDC opens at the Speedway. Daytime pool parties are packed with pre-festival energy. After-hours venues open post-festival from 5 AM. This is when the week hits full intensity.
Sat May 16 — Peak Day
The single biggest day and night of EDC Week. Every venue at maximum capacity with marquee headliners. Most limited guest list availability. Book VIP or arrive before 11:00 AM for pool parties.
Sun May 17 — Festival Finale
Final night of EDC at the Speedway. Pool parties take on a bittersweet closing-day energy. Nightclub events and after-hours run as farewell celebrations. Guest list opens back up for men at most venues.
Mon May 18 — Recovery Events
Select pool parties run Monday closing events for the EDC crowd. Most relaxed vibe of the week. Great for a final pool session before heading to the airport. Check venue calendars — not all venues open Monday.
Common Questions
EDC Week FAQ
When is EDC Week 2026 in Las Vegas?
Electric Daisy Carnival 2026 is expected to run May 15 through 17 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. EDC Week nightlife events on the Strip typically run from Wednesday May 13 through Sunday May 18, with some venues extending programming into Monday May 19 for closing events. Pool parties and nightclubs expand to Wednesday through Sunday schedules instead of the normal Friday through Sunday lineup.
Do you need EDC tickets to go to EDC Week nightclubs and pool parties?
No. EDC Week nightclub and pool party events on the Las Vegas Strip are completely separate from the Electric Daisy Carnival festival at the Motor Speedway. You do not need EDC tickets, a wristband, or any festival pass to attend nightclubs and pool parties during EDC Week. These are independent events at independent venues. Many people come to Vegas specifically for EDC Week nightlife without attending the festival itself.
How much do EDC Week nightclubs and pool parties cost?
EDC Week pricing is 50 to 100 percent above normal. Nightclub general admission runs $50 to $100 for men and $30 to $60 for women. Pool party cover runs $40 to $75. Bottle service minimums jump to $3,500 to $5,000 or more for nightclub tables and $2,000 to $4,000 for dayclub cabanas. Drink prices remain consistent at $18 to $25 for cocktails. Guest list can reduce or eliminate these costs — sign up through us for the best availability.
Is guest list available during EDC Week in Las Vegas?
Yes, but with restrictions. Women's guest list is available at most venues on most nights throughout EDC Week. Men's guest list is limited, especially on Saturday. Wednesday and Thursday events and pool parties earlier in the week offer the best guest list availability. For the highest-demand Saturday headliner events, men's guest list may not be available at all. Sign up early and arrive before cutoff times, which are often moved earlier during EDC Week.
What is the best nightclub during EDC Week in Las Vegas?
It depends on your genre preference. For big room and progressive house headliners, Omnia at Caesars Palace. For tech-house and melodic house, Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan. For bass music and immersive sound, Zouk at Resorts World. For a mix of EDM and hip-hop in an open-air rooftop setting, Drai's at The Cromwell. XS Nightclub at Wynn is the best all-around pick with its indoor-outdoor layout and varied programming.
What should I wear to EDC Week nightclubs and pool parties?
Nightclubs enforce standard Las Vegas dress code during EDC Week — collared shirts or stylish tops for men, dresses or fashionable outfits for women. No sneakers, shorts, or athletic wear. Pool parties require swimwear: swim trunks for men, bikinis or swimsuits for women. Festival outfits and rave wear are for EDC at the Speedway, not for Strip nightclubs. Some people change between venues — pack both nightclub and pool party outfits if you are doing both on the same day.
Can I do a pool party and EDC on the same day?
Yes, and this is the most popular EDC Week schedule. Pool party from noon to 4 PM, return to hotel to rest and eat from 4 to 6:30 PM, then head to the Speedway by 7 PM. The key is treating the pool party as a relaxed warmup — do not go hard in the sun all day or you will be exhausted before EDC even starts. Hydrate aggressively, eat a solid meal between events, and conserve energy for the all-night festival.
EDC Week Nightlife
Get on the EDC Week Guest List
Sign up for guest list at any nightclub or pool party during EDC Week. We will text you confirmation with cutoff times, dress code reminders, and real-time availability updates.
Need help planning your EDC Week? Text us at (725) 999-9293 with your dates and music preferences and we will build you a custom nightlife itinerary.