Festival Announcement • Destination Event

Illenium has officially announced the return of Ember Shores, his signature all-inclusive destination festival, for its fifth edition. The intimate electronic music experience returns to Mexico’s stunning Riviera Maya coastline from November 20-22, 2026, offering three days of curated performances across multiple stages at the luxurious Barceló Riviera Maya resort. Presale access begins tomorrow for returning attendees, with general sales launching Friday morning. This year’s edition promises significant upgrades based on attendee feedback from previous years, including enhanced food quality, expanded dining options, and strategically positioned room inventory closer to festival stages.

Ember Shores has established itself as one of electronic music’s most sought-after destination festivals since its inaugural edition in December 2021. Created and curated by Denver-based producer and DJ Illenium, the event combines world-class electronic music performances with the all-inclusive luxury of a five-star beachfront resort. Unlike traditional festivals that require attendees to manage separate arrangements for accommodations, transportation, food, and festival access, Ember Shores packages everything into a single comprehensive experience. Attendees receive resort rooms, unlimited food and beverages including premium alcohol, round-trip airport transportation, and access to all music programming across three full days of performances. The intimate setting allows for just 2,000-3,000 attendees compared to the 50,000-150,000 capacity of major festivals, creating an environment where fans—known affectionately as Illenials—can connect directly with Illenium and featured artists throughout the weekend.

The festival’s format differs significantly from traditional multi-day events. Rather than overlapping set times requiring attendees to choose between conflicting performances, Ember Shores presents one artist at a time throughout each day. This sequential programming ensures every attendee experiences the complete lineup without missing any performances. Daily schedules typically begin around noon with pool stage sets, transition to beach performances as the sun sets, and culminate with late-night programming extending past midnight. The single-stage-at-a-time approach also allows artists to deliver longer, more experimental sets than traditional 45-60 minute festival slots. Illenium himself performs multiple distinct sets across the weekend, including his signature melodic bass performance, a dedicated drum and bass set showcasing his production versatility, and surprise back-to-back collaborations with festival guests.

Package structures are designed around room occupancy maximums, with pricing decreasing per person as more people share accommodations. For example, a Junior Suite package might cost $4,300 if one person books alone, $2,400 per person if two people share, $1,800 per person for three occupants, and $1,500 per person when four people split the room maximum capacity. This pricing structure incentivizes group attendance while still accommodating solo travelers willing to pay premium rates for private accommodations. All packages include identical festival access and amenities regardless of room category—the primary differences lie in accommodation size, bedding configurations, view quality, and proximity to festival stages and resort facilities.

Room categories range from standard accommodations to premium suites with varying amenities, views, and proximity to festival action. Standard options typically include Barceló Maya Riviera Junior Suites featuring king beds with sofa bed configurations accommodating up to four guests, while premium categories offer beach-view suites, swim-up rooms with direct pool access, and luxury penthouses with private balconies and enhanced amenities. Room selection significantly impacts the overall experience—units closer to festival stages reduce walking distances after late-night sets, while beach-view accommodations provide stunning sunrise views over the Caribbean Sea. The 2026 edition specifically promises more room inventory positioned strategically near festival areas based on attendee feedback from previous years requesting reduced travel distances between accommodations and music venues.

For electronic music fans seeking experiences beyond typical festival formats, Ember Shores offers compelling value proposition despite premium pricing. The all-inclusive structure eliminates surprise expenses and logistical complications, the intimate capacity enables genuine artist interactions and community building, the resort setting provides luxury amenities unavailable at traditional outdoor festivals, and Illenium’s curatorial vision ensures musically cohesive programming that resonates with his dedicated fanbase. The November 2026 dates provide ample planning time for international travel arrangements, budgeting, and group coordination. With presale launching Friday morning and packages expected to sell extremely quickly, interested attendees should prepare to purchase immediately when sales open to avoid missing this unique destination festival experience. Ember Shores 2026 promises another unforgettable weekend where music, luxury, and tropical paradise converge along Mexico’s stunning Caribbean coastline.