ARC Music Festival 2025 Celebrates Chicago’s House Legacy With Global Lineup
CHICAGO, IL — This Labor Day weekend, ARC Music Festival returns to Union Park from Friday, August 29 through Sunday, August 31, honoring Chicago as the birthplace of house music with an all-star lineup of global DJs, homegrown pioneers, and exciting new talent.
A Festival Rooted in Chicago’s House History
Since its debut in 2021, ARC has quickly become one of Chicago’s signature summer music events. It was created to spotlight the city’s influence on electronic music while also showcasing how house has grown into a worldwide cultural movement.
This year’s lineup balances history and innovation. Local legends such as Green Velvet (aka Cajmere), DJ Sneak, Honey Dijon, Derrick Carter, Felix da Housecat, Mike Dunn, and DJ Heather will represent Chicago’s pioneering scene. Their sets promise both nostalgia and new grooves, highlighting why the city remains synonymous with house.
Global Names Join the Celebration
While ARC is firmly rooted in Chicago, its lineup reaches far beyond. The festival welcomes international heavyweights including Eric Prydz (also performing as Cirez D), Carl Craig, Richie Hawtin, Duck Sauce (A-Trak and Armand Van Helden), Amelie Lens, and Fisher.
The bill also features fresh voices shaping the future of house: South Africa’s Desiree teams with Paris-based Chloé Caillet, Italy’s Genesi brings melodic techno, and California’s Ayybo infuses jazz and hip-hop into his sound. These younger acts ensure that ARC is as much about the future as it is about honoring the past.
Back-to-Back Sets Create Unique Energy
One of ARC’s defining features is its abundance of b2b (back-to-back) sets, where DJs perform together, trading tracks and creating spontaneous new energy.
- Friday highlights include Hiroko Yamamura teaming up with Australian techno producer HAAi, plus Eric Prydz headlining.
- Saturday showcases Green Velvet b2b Skepta and Cajmere b2b Carl Craig.
- Sunday closes with Chicago icons Honey Dijon b2b Derrick Carter, alongside Luciano b2b Ricardo Villalobos.
These rare collaborations bring out playful competition and creative risk-taking, often producing sets fans talk about for years.
Beyond the Festival Grounds
ARC extends well beyond Union Park. The festival’s ARC After Dark series includes 33 pre-parties, afterparties, cruises, and pop-ups across the city from Thursday, August 28 through Monday, September 1. Venues include Smart Bar, Metro, Spybar, Radius, Masada, Outset, and even Castaways on North Avenue Beach.
This citywide spread reflects house music’s roots in Chicago nightlife, giving fans countless ways to keep the music going long after the festival stages close each night.
Tickets and Event Info
ARC runs 2–10 p.m. daily on four stages at Union Park, located at 1501 W. Randolph Street.
- Single-day passes: $179–$599
- Two-day passes: $339–$1,099
- VIP three-day passes: $799
- VIP+ three-day passes: $1,549
The event is 18+. Full daily schedules are available at arcmusicfestival.com and updates are posted on Instagram at @arcmusicfestival.
Why ARC Matters
For Chicago, ARC is more than a festival — it’s a celebration of the city’s cultural gift to the world. House music, born in Chicago clubs in the early 1980s, now thrives in nearly every corner of the globe. By bringing international talent back to the city that started it all, ARC reminds fans that Chicago remains the genre’s beating heart.
With a weekend of nonstop music, legendary performances, and community-driven afterparties, ARC Music Festival 2025 promises to be one of the summer’s defining celebrations. For more coverage of Chicago’s music festivals, concerts, and local talent, keep following ChicagoMusicGuide.com.