El Gouna – 15th March 2026: Sandbox Festival, the leading international electronic music festival from Egypt, returns for its 12th year to El Gouna Red Sea, from May 7–9, 2026, once again unveiling a multi-stage celebration of electronic music.
Reinforcing its identity as a hallmark of the Middle East’s music scene and beyond, this year’s programming is built around the festival’s signature 5 stages – Playground, Sandbox, Groovebox, Space & Beach – and 3 mini-stages and continues to unite international and regional music names along the majestic Red Sea coast of El Gouna.
Set amongst the pristine beaches of the luxurious coastal town of El Gouna, developed by Orascom Development, Egypt. The three-day event is highly anticipated by festival-goers from Europe and the Middle East and extends beyond music and immerses guests in the destination, known for its arts, culture, and entertainment. Also, to enhance the festival experience, El Gouna is offering special accommodation rates and exclusive packages for Sandbox Festival attendees across a selection of its hotels and residences, including its property and rental management platform El Gouna Plus.
Leading the 2026 edition is a carefully curated roster of globally respected artists, including Dixon, Bedouin, DJ Tennis, Ajna, Butch, Christian AB, Ankhoï, Francesco Del Garda, and Notre Dame, Craig Richards, Roza Terenzi, Shanti Celeste, Makèz, Tripolism, Natasha Polké (Live), Floorplan and more. Spanning house, techno, minimal, and genre-blurring electronic sounds, the line-up reflects Sandbox Festival’s commitment to musical storytelling across multiple electronic music landscapes rather than a single dominant genre.
“This festival is about the global dance music community, and our lineup is made to reflect the beautiful mosaic that makes up the electronic dance music scene and focuses on the artist spirit as one of the primary selection criteria” – Tito El Kachab, Founder of Nacelle.
Designed for Sound, Built for Exploration
The Playground Stage forms one of the festival’s gravitational centres, known for its big, beautifully tuned sound system. The stage brings together artists who shape dancefloors through extended journeys and dynamic crowd interaction, set against El Gouna’s open-air coastal surroundings.
Meanwhile, the Groovebox Stage continues its legacy as a deeper, more intimate environment, not programmed by genre. This year, the stage will welcome artists like Makèz, Dan Shake, Anthea and Christian AB to deliver longer sets rooted in rhythm-forward storytelling and late-night intensity.
The Sandbox Stage has long been considered the festival’s nocturnal heartbeat and leans heavily into exploratory sounds, hosting performances from returning artists such as Francesco Del Garda, DJ Tennis, and Traumer, alongside future favourites Craig Richards, Roza Terenzi, Shanti Celeste, and Floorplan. Here, genre lines blur and extended sets unfold deep into the night.
Along the shore, the Beach Hut returns as a space defined by daytime energy and sunset moments. Expect a crazy sunset set from returning favourite, Job Jobse, as well as peak daytime energy from JAMIIE, Honeyluv, Misty, and more. Framed by El Gouna’s stunning coastline and kite surfers, these daytime sessions are sure to be a hit this year. Rising talent Khadija joins this exciting line-up, while Brooklyn-based electronic music duo Bedouin brings their signature atmospheric sound to the venue..
The Space Stage delivers immersive night programming, headlined by returning artist Dixon alongside DESIREE, with Tripolism and Natasha Polkébringing melodic depth and dynamic performance to the Red Sea backdrop.
Elsewhere, the Secret Stage is expected to make a highly anticipated comeback, reintroducing an intimate setting dedicated to discovery, spontaneous performances, and extended musical conversations between artists and audiences. The main stages will be complemented by various micro-stages, two of which are returning: the Record Box by Yellow Tape Records & Culture, and the Select Box by Scene Noise.
More Than a Festival Destination
A defining element of Sandbox Festival is its open-air sound design shaped by nature and advanced engineering. Stages are strategically placed between natural dunes and reinforced with layered acoustic barriers that absorb and isolate sound between performance areas. This allows multiple sets to run simultaneously without audio overlap, preserving clarity for both artists and audiences while ensuring each stage maintains its own distinct musical identity.
This edition of the festival will continue to be rooted in collective energy, musical exploration, and the evolving journey between stages daily from 1PM through 4–5AM.
For tickets, visit: www.sandboxfestival.com
For full line-up visit: www.sandboxfestival.com
About Sandbox Festival
Since 2012, Sandbox by Nacelle has led the electronic music scene in the Middle East, set against the backdrop of the Red Sea. Now in its 12th edition, the festival attracts over 7,000 attendees from more than 50 countries and features a curated lineup of global and regional electronic artists performing across multiple open-air stages over three days.
About El Gouna
El Gouna, the fully integrated town by Orascom Development, is a prominent destination nestled on the Red Sea and hosts a variety of international music and cultural events. The town encompasses 18 hotels, four marinas, two world-class golf courses, an Egyptian Premier League football club, a culture & conference centre, and an array of other luxurious facilities. El Gouna is only 30 minutes from Hurghada International Airport.