zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway knows a thing or two about making noise.
On September 25–26, 2026, Breakaway Carolina gave it a different kind of soundtrack.
For two days, the North Carolina festival stop brought together a stacked electronic lineup, five stages, and enough musical variety to make choosing your next set a group-chat negotiation. Chris Lake, Cloonee, KETTAMA, and Tiësto led the bill, while a deep supporting lineup gave fans plenty of reasons to keep exploring.
The weekend’s biggest challenge? Being in only one place at a time.
Four Headliners. Plenty of Reasons to Dance.
Breakaway Carolina’s headliner lineup featured Chris Lake, Cloonee, KETTAMA, and Tiësto.
Friday put Chris Lake and KETTAMA on the bill, giving the opening day two major names to build a festival plan around. Saturday followed with Tiësto and a Cloonee B2B Chris Lorenzo set, a pairing that deserved its own reminder on your phone.
With four headliners spread across two days, this was a weekend worth clearing the calendar for.
Friday, September 25: Start Strong, Keep Exploring
Friday’s lineup made a pretty convincing argument for getting there early.
Alongside Chris Lake and KETTAMA, the opening day included Daily Bread, Hamdi, What So Not, Nimino, and Beltran. Fans also had two back-to-back sets to work into their plans: ChaseWest B2B Discip and Cole Knight B2B Dreya V.
A B2B adds another layer of anticipation: two artists sharing the decks, trading selections, and putting their own spin on a shared set. Friday offered two chances to catch that collaborative format before the weekend was even halfway over.
And the lineup kept going. Darby, GRAVAGERZ, KLO, Koastle, MLE, Starjunk 95, SVDKO, Bummy, Johnny!, and Thrillbill rounded out an opening day built for both must-see names and unexpected discoveries.
Friday’s full lineup:
- Beltran
- ChaseWest B2B Discip
- Chris Lake
- Daily Bread
- Darby
- Cole Knight B2B Dreya V
- GRAVAGERZ
- Hamdi
- KETTAMA
- KLO
- Koastle
- MLE
- Nimino
- Starjunk 95
- SVDKO
- What So Not
- Bummy
- Johnny!
- Thrillbill
One day down. Another full lineup waiting.
Saturday, September 26: The Weekend Had More in the Tank
Saturday came with Tiësto, Cloonee B2B Chris Lorenzo, and a supporting roster that made the second day feel like a whole new festival itinerary.
Cassian, San Holo, TroyBoi, Kai Wachi, and Nitepunk were among the names on the bill, alongside Bonnie X Clyde, J. Worra, Taiki Nulight, and Westend. Add ŁASZEWO, Distant Matter, Jay Pryor, Rad Cat, Z3LLA, and Pharrö, and there was plenty to work into the day before calling it a weekend.
Saturday’s full lineup:
- Bonnie X Clyde
- Cassian
- Cloonee B2B Chris Lorenzo
- Distant Matter
- J. Worra
- Jay Pryor
- Kai Wachi
- ŁASZEWO
- Nitepunk
- Rad Cat
- San Holo
- Taiki Nulight
- Tiësto
- TroyBoi
- Westend
- Z3LLA
- Pharrö
Five Stages, One Very Busy Weekend
Breakaway Carolina featured five stages:
- Main Stage
- The L.A.B.
- The Pavillion
- The Block
- Silent Disco
Five stages meant more ways to shape the weekend around your own taste. You could build your day around the headliners, follow your friends toward a different set, or make room for a name you hadn’t heard before.
Then there was the Silent Disco, giving the stage list one more twist. Sometimes the next stop on the festival adventure comes with headphones.
With this many artists across five stages, a meeting spot and a charged phone deserved a place on the packing list.
North Carolina, Full Volume
Breakaway Carolina brought a big lineup to a venue with an equally big personality. zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway supplied the setting; September 25–26 supplied two full days to explore it through music.
From Chris Lake and KETTAMA on Friday to Tiësto and Cloonee B2B Chris Lorenzo on Saturday, the bill gave fans plenty to anticipate. The supporting artists and five-stage setup made it a weekend with far more to offer than a handful of headline sets.
The dragway usually measures the action in seconds. For Breakaway Carolina, the better unit was “one more set.”
Breakaway Carolina FAQ
What was Breakaway Carolina?
Breakaway Carolina 2026 was a two-day electronic music festival held September 25–26, 2026, at zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. The event featured four headliners, a wide supporting lineup, and five stages.
When was Breakaway Carolina?
Breakaway Carolina took place on Friday, September 25, and Saturday, September 26, 2026.
Where was Breakaway Carolina held?
Breakaway Carolina was held at zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Charlotte area of North Carolina. The specific festival venue was the dragway within the Charlotte Motor Speedway complex.
Was Breakaway Carolina in North or South Carolina?
Breakaway Carolina 2026 took place in North Carolina, at zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Who headlined Breakaway Carolina?
The four Breakaway Carolina 2026 headliners were Chris Lake, Cloonee, KETTAMA, and Tiësto. Chris Lake and KETTAMA appeared on Friday’s lineup. Saturday featured Tiësto and Cloonee performing back-to-back with Chris Lorenzo.
Who played Breakaway Carolina on Friday, September 25?
Friday’s lineup featured Beltran, ChaseWest B2B Discip, Chris Lake, Daily Bread, Darby, Cole Knight B2B Dreya V, GRAVAGERZ, Hamdi, KETTAMA, KLO, Koastle, MLE, Nimino, Starjunk 95, SVDKO, What So Not, Bummy, Johnny!, and Thrillbill.
Who played Breakaway Carolina on Saturday, September 26?
Saturday’s lineup featured Bonnie X Clyde, Cassian, Cloonee B2B Chris Lorenzo, Distant Matter, J. Worra, Jay Pryor, Kai Wachi, ŁASZEWO, Nitepunk, Rad Cat, San Holo, Taiki Nulight, Tiësto, TroyBoi, Westend, Z3LLA, and Pharrö.
How many stages were at Breakaway Carolina?
Breakaway Carolina 2026 featured five stages: Main Stage, The L.A.B., The Pavillion, The Block, and Silent Disco.
Which back-to-back sets were on the Breakaway Carolina lineup?
The lineup included ChaseWest B2B Discip and Cole Knight B2B Dreya V on Friday, September 25, plus Cloonee B2B Chris Lorenzo on Saturday, September 26. “B2B” means back-to-back, with two artists sharing the decks during a set.
