Sun, Sand, and Kaskade: Inside Sun Soaked’s Return to Huntington Beach 

(Above Image: Sun Soaked main stage, photo credit: Jess Gallo)

This article was written by a guest contributor Candese Charles

From Kaskade silhouetted against a brilliant orange and pink Pacific sunset to thousands of fans shaking the shores of Huntington State Beach, Sun Soaked returned to Southern California in momentous fashion. Sun Soaked debuted in 2017, resurfaced after a seven-year hiatus in 2025, and sold out Huntington Beach once again this year. 

The GRAMMY-nominated producer, DJ, and electronic music icon teamed up with global dance music experience curator Insomniac to bring the signature beachside festival experience back to Huntington State Beach on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Set against the natural backdrop of the Pacific coastline, Sun Soaked’s lineup set the tone for the unique California experience. 

The one-day event celebrated the end of summer with house music, techno, dubstep, and more as the soundtrack, featuring performances from Bobby Harvey, Me N Ü, Lavern, D.O.D, Matroda, Cassian, Esse, and BUNT. Kaskade performed not one, but two sets. The widely celebrated DJ and festival producer threw down during a solo headlining set after Sun Soaked attendees enjoyed a rare crossover moment between him and BUNT. 

Kaskade X BUNT.

(Kaskade & BUNT., Photo Credit: Jess Gallo)

Sun Soaked has always offered a glimpse into Kaskade’s world of diverse music, idyllic California beach views, and West Coast seaside culture. Kaskade’s special back-to-back set with BUNT. was a convergence of two generations of electronic music. Positioned smack dab in the middle of the crowd, the pair serenaded fans with iconic callbacks and new drops, including, of course, their new collaborative single “Comes Back Around.” 

The B2B set follows the recent release of the high-energy track, which debuted during Kaskade’s landmark return to Coachella earlier this year. Eleven years after his historic 2015 main-stage performance, Kaskade closed the Sahara, unveiling his immersive new live concept, complete with a massive monolith production, custom visuals, and heavy pyro. He used the high-profile closing slot to debut nine unreleased tracks, alongside special guest appearances by BUNT. and Crankdat. 

The sets served as the launchpad for his album project Origin //, which subsequently led to the announcement of the fall ORIGIN// Tour spanning select North American cities. Sun Soaked attendees got a taste of that tour during Kaskade’s two sets. His solo set moved between classics fans know and love, newly released anthems, and heavier turns that reimagined familiar Kaskade sounds through a dubstep-inflected lens. 

Kaskade Takes Over His Own Festival

Throughout the sun-soaked September day, Kaskade displayed love for the festival that remains one of his most personal projects. 

“Sun Soaked has always been about bringing people together somewhere that feels different,” Kaskade said. 

“There’s something about standing on the beach with the ocean behind you, surrounded by people who love music, that changes the energy completely. Every year it evolves a little bit, but the feeling stays the same. That’s what keeps bringing me back.”

The EDM luminary could not only be found sharing the decks with BUNT. in the middle of the beachside festival, but also on the sand for a game of beach volleyball before a headline solo performance complete with mesmerizing visuals and illuminating pyrotechnics. That accessibility is part of Sun Soaked’s appeal. With one stage planted along the Southern California beach, the festival creates an unusual sense of closeness amid the madness.

As daylight dwindled, the set kept its momentum with new releases and iconic callbacks like “I Remember,” making it hard to forget a night on the beach with Kaskade. The official EDC Las Vegas 2026 anthem, “Meet Again,” created alongside Layton Giordani and Natalie Jane, rang out as a mainstay Sun Soaked moment. “Move for Me,” meanwhile, soundtracked an enthralling fireworks display, a reminder of the mark Kaskade has made, and continues to make, on electronic music.

What was so fascinating about his close-out set was the movement between EDM genres. Known for House music, Kaskade took a turn in a different direction by mixing dubstep in with some of his most cherished hits. Though the headline performance was the second-to-last act of the night, Kaskade set the tone for what is to come from the intimate yet splash-worthy festival. And to think, the one-day beachy festival raged on throughout the afternoon and evening from a single stage. 

One Stage, No Problem

Unlike sprawling festivals that force fans to choose between competing sets, Sun Soaked kept its 2026 edition centered around a single stage. While Kaskade took a creative approach to his B2B set with BUNT., the remaining genre-ranging acts illuminated the pink and orange Southern California sky from one stage. 

That simplicity didn’t come at the expense of production. The beachfront setup delivered booming sound across the sand alongside crisp visuals and lighting that became increasingly effective as daylight disappeared over Huntington Beach.

There were plenty of places to capture beautiful, photogenic moments, including a Ferris wheel that spun along the sea and sky throughout the event. How close attendees could get to the action depended on their ticket tier. Alongside GA and VIP, Sun Soaked offered Stage Access, which had sold out by festival day. As the night wound down and Cassian hit the stage to close out the fest, Sun Soaked attendees glowed from each corner of the festival. 

Cassian Closes It Out

Most festivals start to see the crowd thin as the event draws to a close, but Sun Soaked was booming with energy and excitement as Cassian took over the decks. The packed crowd was drawn into a euphoric set featuring rhythmic percussion alongside lush, soaring synth pads and deep emotional resonance. The atmospheric and melodic blend of house, techno, and electro was enhanced by simple yet cinematic visuals. 

Moving smoothly between upbeat club tracks, deep melodic techno, and vocal-driven electronic pop, Cassian kept the party going to round out what is becoming a late-summer ritual in halcyon fashion. 

After all, isn’t that the point of Sun Soaked? 

Intentionally smaller and simpler than the mega-festivals dominating the electronic music calendar, Sun Soaked proves it doesn’t need multiple stages or an overwhelming footprint to deliver a proper production. Instead, Kaskade’s beachside gathering bids summer adieu the way only Southern California can: with sand underfoot, the Pacific within view, and dance music carrying into the night. 

And when Sun Soaked returns to Huntington Beach next year, we’ll happily follow Kaskade back to the shore.