The very first artist announcement for the eighth Sea Star Festival already confirms that one of its most unforgettable editions is coming this May. The main stage in the lagoon will be taken over by the masked techno deity and one of the biggest names in the history of the genre – the great Boris Brejcha! Alongside the German superstar, Stella Maris will also be swept away by the unique music-environmental spectacle Emergency EXIT, which this year ceremonially opened EXIT Festival’s 25th anniversary celebrations, as well as the renowned Boom Festival in Portugal. The central figure of Emergency EXIT is the highly acclaimed electronic producer Satori, and the performance is a collaboration between EXIT, Boom Festival, and the famed collective La Fura dels Baus, known for creating performance spectacles worldwide, including at the Olympic Games opening ceremony. Also confirmed are two exceptionally talented artists – American shining star Layla Benitez, electro-scene wunderkind Lanna, and a host of regional DJs and producers gathered around the Electric Waves stage.
This is just the beginning of an unmatched artist lineup — many more names are coming soon! The first, limited batch of tickets for the eighth Sea Star Festival goes on sale Tuesday, 9 December at noon, and will be available for up to 24 hours, or until the allocation sells out.
Sea Star Festival returns for the eighth time to the stunning Stella Maris lagoon in Umag. The first festival of the season will take place 28–31 May 2026, with more exciting news and artists to be announced soon.
German DJ and producer Boris Brejcha has been making music for nearly three decades and is regarded as one of the most productive and in-demand DJs in the world. His discography includes ten albums, dozens of singles, DJ mixes, remixes, and compilations, constantly pushing his genre forward and creating new sounds. Brejcha is instantly recognizable for his trademark Joker carnival mask, which he has worn since his very first performance due to childhood scars and trauma. To define his authentic style, he created the genre High-Tech Minimal, and founded his own label Fckng Serious, which propelled his career among today’s top DJs. His sets – including his iconic Cercle performance and his Tomorrowland show – have collected more than 140 million YouTube views. Alongside millions of fans around the world, his legendary status is confirmed by headlining every major global festival, from Tomorrowland and Coachella to EXIT Festival’s grand 25th anniversary.
The eighth edition of Sea Star will also present the special multimedia performance Emergency EXIT, which premiered at this year’s EXIT Festival and was later staged at Portugal’s Boom Festival. Emergency EXIT merges sound, movement, imagery, and raw human energy into a completely new, boundary-breaking experience. In an era of clear climate change and its visible effects on humanity and the planet, this performance – created by EXIT, Boom Festival, renowned European troupe La Fura dels Baus, responsible for the artistic concept, Satori, who composed the original score, and Eyesberg, who designed the visuals – calls audiences to awaken and act. In its new format, breaking the fourth wall and interacting directly with the audience, Emergency EXIT fuses contemporary art with ecological awareness, sending a powerful message: “Peace on Earth, peace with Earth.” The project is supported by the Creative Europe program.
Joining the first wave of artists is New York star Layla Benitez. Layla spent her childhood behind the decks, and in 2022 DJ Mag recognized her DJ and production potential, awarding her the title Future Star. Sonically, she moves between melodic techno and heavy, emotional grooves, blending in influences of 80s synth music, indie dance, and dark disco. She has performed at major festivals such as Coachella, Tomorrowland, and EXIT, building her reputation through residencies and club shows across Europe. However, her path was largely defined by her residency at Miami’s iconic Space, where she opened for some of the world’s biggest DJs.
Also landing on Sea Star’s Main Stage this year is electro wunderkind Lanna. She began her music career at just 14, becoming the youngest producer ever to enter Beatport’s Progressive House Top 100. Last year, she held an extremely successful residency at one of the world’s leading clubs, Hii Ibiza, where – after her first performance on a smaller stage – she was immediately moved to the Main Theater room to play before Eric Prydz, Danny Tenaglia, Miss Monique, and to close the stage after David Guetta and Meduza. Lanna has continued to rise, adding performances at Zamna Tulum, Junction 2, and London’s Fabric – where she played a packed five-hour set – to her résumé. A standout moment is her performance at Sziget Festival alongside Armin van Buuren. This year, Solomun’s team invited her to join the DYNAMIC showcase in the temple of electronic music, EXIT’s Dance Arena, performing alongside legends such as Solomun, Mau P, Ogazón, DJ Gigola, Tijana T, and many others. Next summer, she will open the Main Stage of Sea Star.
Sea Star also reveals the first names to ashore on the Electric Waves stage: DJ Labud, Herya, INKA, Kim Ono, Lottie, Marcel, Marin Biočić, and Sunny Sun.
The eighth edition of Sea Star Festival will take place 28–31 May 2026 in the irreplaceable Stella Maris lagoon in Umag. As always, the two main festival days will be Friday, 29 May, and Saturday, 30 May, while Thursday and Sunday are reserved for the Welcome Day and After Party. Sea Star once again opens the summer with top global and regional artists on the most beautiful seaside stages – front row to the Adriatic.
