July 9, 2025

John Summit Announces First Experts Only New Festival in NYC

There’s ambition, and then there’s whatever John Summit is doing. Fresh off selling out Madison Square Garden and BMO Stadium, the Chicago-born DJ is putting a massive stamp on the New York scene this fall with the debut of Experts Only Festival. Slated for September 20–21 on Randall’s Island, this two-day event looks less like a new player and more like a declaration of dominance.

Summit isn’t easing into the festival game. He’s launching with a 50,000-capacity blowout, two headline sets of his own, and a curation that’s equally nostalgic and forward-thinking. The lineup reads like a love letter to both old-school heads and genre-defying newcomers: Kaskade B2B Cassian, Green Velvet B2B Layton Giordani, LP Giobbi, DJ Seinfeld, Kasablanca (Live), AYYBO, and Roddy Lima, to name a few. It’s a calculated mix of muscle and nuance, the kind of blend that could only come from someone straddling the underground and mainstream as effortlessly as Summit.

But Experts Only isn’t just throwing bodies on a stage. This is Summit’s vision for what a festival can be—collaborative, immersive, and with a cause. The design promises skyline views and next-gen staging across two arenas, the kind of production value that puts Randall’s Island right back in the festival spotlight. That same site has hosted juggernauts like Electric Zoo and Governors Ball, but there’s a hunger for something with more grit, more sweat, and less pretense. This might be it.

The festival also gives a platform to Femme House, the nonprofit working to uplift women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and gender-expansive artists in dance music. Summit’s already put his money where his mouth is, pledging $1 from every ticket to the group’s education and mentorship programs. It’s the kind of move that’s rare at this scale—and one that sets a tone for what this festival stands for.

And for those looking for indulgence, LIV’s Skydeck setup is parachuting into the island with the kind of energy that made the Miami and Vegas clubs into nightlife institutions. Expect VIP tables, bottle service, and that high-gloss chaos the brand is known for.

Summit is no stranger to the big stage, but this is something different. It’s not about climbing the ranks anymore. With “Is Everybody Having Fun?” still echoing across dancefloors, and his debut album Comfort In Chaos on the horizon, this feels like Summit shifting into a new gear. He’s building worlds now—curating lineups, shaping narratives, and giving the next generation a seat at the table.