Five Festivals and Events Celebrating Black Culture Year Round

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Black History Month may be drawing to a close, but here are five events to help keep the celebration going.

Black history is EDM history. The music we all love, groove to, and get inspired by is deeply rooted in the culture. Emerging from underground scenes in Detroit, Chicago, and New York during the late 1970s and ’80s, Black pioneers created house and techno by experimenting with drum machines and synthesizers in the wake of disco.

House music was heavily developed by DJs like Frankie Knuckles, also known as the Godfather of House, along with fellow Chicago artists like Ron Hardy and Jesse Saunders. In the early ’80s, the Belleville Three pioneered techno in Detroit, mixing funk, electro, and futuristic sounds. This history matters. It continues to influence how dance music evolves through the present day.

Even though the culture may be intertwined with Black people, uplifting the very voices that sparked EDM culture continues to be a rarity. As a Black raver myself, I can tell you that encountering another one of us at a rave is such a beautiful moment of feeling seen and recognized, a feeling that can be hollow in the EDM scene at times. Here are five festivals and events to help you celebrate the contributions that the Black community has made to electronic dance music beyond Black History Month.

Five Festivals and Events Celebrating Black Culture Year Round

Liber8 US 2026 Tour

Black Techno Matters is on a mission “to reclaim techno as a manifestation of Black expression.” The group is doing so through creating spaces, both virtual and IRL, in celebration of the black roots of techno. The Liber8 tour is an extension of that mission.

“Our intention is not just to party, but to liberate ourselves in body and mind and across time and space, using techno as a means to escape the chains of this oppressive society and travel to an alternate timeline where we are free to be ourselves and express ourselves. It’s time to Liber8 US!”

Bernard Farley, founder of Black Techno Matters

In previous iterations of the tour, the innovative collective threw multiple Liber8 US events in numerous cities during the week of Juneteenth. This time around, the celebration is being spread out throughout the year. The Liber8 US 2026 tour kicked off in Washington, DC on January 16 during Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend, and it will be in Richmond, Virginia today, February 28 followed by other cities in later months.

Find out more details on the Black Techno Matters website.

Black Light

In honor of Black History Month, California DJs Fur Elise and Pyrex are holding a celebration at the Top Floor on 315 N Main Street in Santa Ana. The event will also feature Lady Vanity Roux, NECKBRÆCE, and Terabite.

Bass N Babes made a post with information about the event and Black History Month, highlighting Black bass music artists and their contributions to the culture.

“The music we know and enjoy today is deeply intertwined with Black history. Black innovators and artists shaped electronic music, from house to techno to dubstep,” the Instagram post reads. “It is important to keep talking about the Black history of electronic music and ensure that EDM shows are accessible, welcoming, and safe for Black ravers of all genders and sexualities.”

The Black Light event runs from 9pm to 2am this tonight, February 28.

Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival

The Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival (BEMF) has always been known for highlighting Black artists. As Brooklyn is home base for many the very creatives at the root of the culture, it is only right that this festival makes the list.

BEMF is curated by Jen Lyon of MeanRed Productions, Katie Longmyer, a Black-female cultural strategist and producer, and Sam Black, the founder of Renegade NYC and co-founder of Public Works Administration. Several Black DJs and producers have graced the stages at the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival over the years, including Jubilee, Afrika Bambaataa, and King Britt.

Consisting of five stages, the 18th anniversary of Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival will return March 27-28 at 314 Scholes. Blind Faith tickets are already on sale. Get yours via Mesh and stay up to date on the final full lineup of artists and more on the event website.

Ubuntu Stage at EDC Las Vegas

In 2025, Pasquale Rotella and Insomniac partnered with Bridges for Music to bring the Ubuntu stage to EDC Las Vegas. The powerful statement marked a watershed moment for the African dance music scene. Featuring 21 sets throughout the weekend, the Ubuntu stage was an opportunity to showcase African dance music by highlighting both emerging and established talent like Uncle Waffles, DJ Lag, and Sarz, to name a few.

The name Ubuntu comes from the African word meaning “I am, because we are,” a perfect moniker for the new EDC Las Vegas stage. Described as an intimate space designed with installations that resemble African townships, the it’s set to make its return to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this May 15-17.

Lineup details for this year’s Ubuntu stage are still unknown. But you can find out the latest about the stage, passes, and more on the EDC Las Vegas website.

Movement Detroit

As Detroit is the birthplace of techno, Black DJs and producers have been foundational to Movement Detroit since its inception in 2000 as Detroit Electronic Music Festival. Annually held at Hart Plaza, the gathering is known for consistently highlighting the genre’s pioneers and up-and-comers alike.

Iconic founders and legends who have graced the stages at Movement include The Belleville Three, Carl Craig, Underground Resistance, and more. Movement is also a platform to uplift rising Black artists. Rising acts like Whodat, KESSWA, and Blackmoonchild have also appeared on recent lineups.

The 2026 lineup continues this tradition by featuring acts like DJ Stingray 313, Kyle Hall, and Byron The Aquarius. Find out more information about the festival and tickets on the Movement website.

As we wrap up Black History Month 2026, here’s one thing to remember: it’s not about what festival or event you end up attending — it’s about the support you show for the community, culture, and the very people who started the music you love. At your next fest, be sure to make a friend who may not look like you, take a listen to a new Black artist, and, in short, be genuinely inclusive. You never know the impact you could be making on a culture whose foundation is all about peace, love, unity, and respect.