The &FRIENDS Festival is staking its claim on Manila’s festival calendar with a two-day lineup that doesn’t hold back in its stacked lineup of DJs and performers.
Set for May 30 and 31, 2025, at Okada Manila, Paranaque City, the festival will bring together global acts across EDM, pop, and hip-hop alongside famous streamers and online personalities locally, anchoring its debut with headliners Zedd, Illenium, and bbno$. It’s a move aimed at raising the bar for large-scale music events in the Philippines, and it’s not just about who’s on the stage and who’s on the field, but how they plan to take it.
Illenium, who made history as the first electronic artist to sell out SoFi Stadium twice, is finally landing in the Philippines. Known for blurring emotional songwriting with festival-size production, tracks like “Takeaway” and “Good Things Fall Apart” aren’t just playlist fodder — they’re engineered for scale, the kind that turns a light show into a full-body experience. BBNO$, the sharp-tongued, meme-making, genre-hopping rapper behind streaming hits like “Lalala” and “edamame,” will also make his Manila debut, adding a necessary edge to a festival that offers more than one lane of sound, style, and genre.
The rest of the roster doesn’t compromise. Seven Lions, €URO TRA$H, and Ylona Garcia are just some of the names joining the bill, all pulling from different corners of dance and pop. For fans used to watching these artists headline Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Tomorrowland from afar, this festival is a chance to finally see them on home ground.
“We’ve seen how festivals like Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Tomorrowland unite music lovers from all over the world, and now it’s Manila’s turn,” says Justin Banusing, CEO of Clout Kitchen. “&FRIENDS is about bringing people together – whether you’re here for the biggest names in EDM, viral popstars, or the next breakout artist, this is the festival for fans who want it all.”
Tickets are now available on their website, with bundles and VVIP options that push the experience beyond just the stage.
