Dark Force Fest, the ultimate gathering for fans of industrial, gothic, darkwave, EBM, and electronic music, is set to make its highly anticipated return in 2026. Taking place from May 1st to May 3rd at the Sheraton in Parsippany, New Jersey, this year’s festival promises an unforgettable experience with an array of genre-defining artists, iconic performances, and an unparalleled atmosphere of music, art, and community.
Presented by VampireFreaks, the 2026 edition of Dark Force Fest brings together a diverse collection of acts, both well-established and emerging, from the world of dark, industrial, and electronic music. With performances spanning three nights, fans can expect a wide variety of genres, from aggressive industrial to melodic darkwave and everything in between. The festival has confirmed a total of 35 bands performing over three days, plus two bands on the Thursday night pre-party.
Confirmed Lineup Spotlight
- London After Midnight – A rare performance from this influential dark wave / post-punk band from the early 90s, known for their goth-club hits and headlining major festivals worldwide.
- Combichrist – One of the most popular bands in the electro-industrial “aggrotech” movement, recognized for dominating dance floors with aggressive bangers and successful tours with Rammstein, including a performance at Madison Square Garden.
- Front Line Assembly – A Canadian electro-industrial band formed by Bill Leeb in 1986 after leaving Skinny Puppy. They are highly revered as one of the pioneers and godfathers of the industrial music scene.
- Das Ich – A German dark wave/gothic-industrial band formed in 1989 and one of the prominent founders of “Neue Deutsche Todeskunst” (New German Death Art).
- Leaether Strip – The solo project of legendary Danish electronic industrial artist Claus Larsen, formed in 1989. Leaether Strip quickly built a reputation as one of the most exciting emerging industrial acts in the early ’90s.
- LaPlegua – A new industrial supergroup featuring legendary Norwegian artist Andy LaPlegua and bandmates. They will be playing favorite songs from his career, including Icon of Coil, Combichrist, Panzer AG, and Scandy, plus original material.
- Ultra Sunn – The Brussels dark wave duo making waves across the world. Their chart-topping hit “Keep Your Eyes Peeled” quickly amassed over 34 million Spotify plays, and they’ve been touring the world ever since.
- PIG – The British industrial group founded by Raymond Watts, featuring En Esch, both original members and songwriters of KMFDM.
- Rabbit Junk – Formed in 2004, this American digital hardcore act pulls from multiple electronic and guitar-driven genres to deliver a punk & metal-fueled reconstruction of the goth-industrial sound.
- Priest – An electronic-industrial act from Sweden, containing ex-members from Ghost. With millions of streams, praised global tours, and critically acclaimed releases, they have successfully generated an ever-growing fanbase worldwide.
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