Yahn Dawn levels up for Year 2, daily lineups and theme revealed

Last year marked the inaugural event for Yahn Dawn, a homegrown Colorado festival birthed by the visionary Pretty Lights project. Returning to Meadow Creek in Buena Vista, CO, this time about two months later in the summer, Yahn Dawn looks to capitalize on the massive success of the first event. From nearly perfect weather and immaculate crowd vibes to full-on yoga events and the Horizon Sprint 5k race, last year was amazing. This year, the crew has stepped it up in massive ways, announcing a much larger lineup and building even bigger excitement with the release of a brand-new album and live band evolution. 

This year, the festival has moved its dates from June and will now take place from Sept. 18-20, 2026. With an extra early bird option for those coming in on Thursday, Sept. 17. Thankfully, the later September start date should be ideal for avoiding the blistering heat of last year. Think hot days and cold nights, a true Colorado experience. 

Also, this year’s lineup is insane, with multiple large co-headlining acts to support 4 days of Pretty Lights sets. Highlighted by Pretty Lights family favorites like Pheel, Emancipator, Grmatik, and LP Giobbi. 

A Trip Thru Time at Yahn Dawn

One of the biggest news drops for this year is the creation of the eras-style Pretty Lights set themes. This will debut at Yahn Dawn for the first time ever. Inspired by the themes of the new album, “A Trip Thru Time Fantastic,” this immersive experience invites fans aboard the Soundship Space Bus for a journey that chronologically traces the interconnected sounds and album eras that comprise the Pretty Lights universe. This means every Pretty Lights release will be featured on a different day, mixed and swirled in a unique and exciting way. Check out the daily breakdown in the photo below. 

This is something the Pretty Lights team has never done. So, if you have ever wanted to watch the 20-year evolution of Pretty Lights unfold in front of your eyes, Yahn Dawn is a weekend you won’t want to miss. 

Daily Lineups

Thursday, Sept. 17:

The eras concept begins on Thursday, September 17, when Early Arrival pass holders will gather for an intimate opening ceremony marking the genesis of Pretty Lights, led by founding members Derek Vincent Smith and Michal Menert. There will also be a couple of additional sets from Paul Basic and Mossy Projects.

Friday, Sept. 18:

The weekend starts off right, jumping into a stacked lineup of Pretty Lights-adjacent artists like Maddy O’Neal, Mikey Thunder, and Midicinal. Maddy O’Neal will perform a DJ set under her alias Madhaus, and LP Giobbi will play a Grateful Dead-inspired house set. Friday rounds out with additional artists like Face Plant, The Business, and DJ R!aht. 

Saturday, Sept. 19:

Day 2 continues the fun and hosts a slew of fantastic musical acts. The All: Lo Collective is coming in hot with sets from both Pheel and Thought Process (Liquid Drum and Bass Set) that no one is going to want to miss. The all:Lo Collective is on fire right now, with multiple new releases and a never-ending output of insanely good shows and music. We are stoked to see what they bring to Yahn Dawn for their first time at Meadow Creek. This is also the day of the highly anticipated Emancipator set. Here’s to hoping it takes place on the main stage and that the venue within the festival grounds opens a bit earlier than it did last year. Other artists featured on Saturday include Weselects, Shooka, Underlux, Parrot and Dark City Agent. 

Sunday Sept. 20:

The closing night ends with even more bangers. The crowd gets blessed with the return of Gramatik, an artist who has collaborated with Pretty Lights since the early days and was briefly signed to the Pretty Lights Music label from 2009 to 2013. This homecoming is over 10 years in the making and an awesome full-circle moment for two artists who have continued to grow and evolve. Additional sets from the final day include instrumental hip-hop trailblazer RJD2, All:Lo Collective creative director TF Marz, and bass afficanadio Saturna. Sunday wraps up with the Yahn Dawn debuts of Homemade Spaceship and The Chill Train, which consist of Pants, Mithridates, Mondokoosh, and Hyperspace Sky.

A Brand New Pretty Lights album and evolution

On July 1, 2026, Pretty Lights made a bold new announcement, dropping their first album in over 10 years called “A Trip Thru Time Fantastic.”  It’s a stunning piece of work that encapsulates almost a decade of experimenting with sounds and warping the fabric of reality. The album consists of sections called constellations. With the first three constellations released, the Pretty Lights Crew is still holding onto the surprise of 6 more constellations that include 31 additional new songs. 

Along with this exciting news came the announcement of a brand-new, evolved version of the live band experience called the Soundship Space Bus. The new lineup, aptly titled Fantastic Pretty Lights, will include Derek Vincent Smith, Michael Menert, Alvin Ford Jr., Borham Lee, and Studio Ninety Six. Additional drop-ins mentioned include Mikey Thunder and the Prismatic Fleet. The former Soundship Spacesystem has evolved into the Soundship Space Bus, complete with upgraded production, immersive visuals, and the next chapter of Fantastic Pretty Lights. It’s the beginning of a new chapter for one of electronic music’s most innovative live projects. 

Next Stop Yahn Dawn

The Soundship Space Bus has announced tour stops all over the country this fall. From New York to California. Don’t miss them as they dip into Colorado for an unforgettable weekend of connection, music, and discovery. 

Get Your Tickets now for Yahn Dawn!