Elrow review 2026: Inside the annual event at Pacha in Brooklyn

If there’s one thing Catholic school taught me, it’s to think twice before dancing with the Serpent.

But if there’s another thing the dance music world has taught me, it’s that when Elrow at Brooklyn’s newly-opened Pacha extends the invitation for that exact thing, you say yes and dress for the occasion (the stranger, the better, by the way).

To quote the company’s former international director, Ramesh Satguru, “Elrow is an Everyman’s brand. You could take your mum to Elrow. In fact, I’ve taken my mum to Elrow. Because it’s where theatre meets clubbing, the story is there in the nightclub, and it’s giving you something that no one else can provide.”

As a longtime connoisseur of house music, that description spoke to me. As a mother, it spoke to me even more. Elrow makes room for every kind of person, whether you’re a die-hard raver, skeptical first-timer or someone who still has to pack a screaming toddler’s lunch at 6 a.m. the next morning.

I wasn’t suprised when I began my research and learned the world-famous “experience brand” was born long before house music even entered the mainstream. Its roots trace back more than 150 years to a neighborhood café in Fraga, Spain, which evolved through generations into cinemas, nightclubs, festivals — and, in 2010 — the global entertainment phenomenon it is today. Elrow.

But reducing Elrow to a traveling music festival drastically undersells the experience.

Elrow is performance art disguised as nightlife. Like Cirque du Soleil meets rave. A psychedelic amusement park where maximalism isn’t just an aesthetic. It’s the whole freaking religion. 

This year, the party took over Pacha, the buzzy new East Williamsburg venue with the unmistakable twin-cherry logo that now occupies the former site of the begotten-not-made Brooklyn Mirage. With its sprawling LED screen, newly installed state-of-the-art sound system, and 30,000-square-foot open-air dance floor, the space feels purpose-built for these kind of theatrics.

It didn’t hurt that Saturday night’s lineup already sold itself, all accoutrements aside.

Vibe-setting duo Coco & Breezy warmed the room into a hypnotic groove. Monki Kiddo slid into a B2B set with Bastian Bux, whose precision reminded me exactly why he’s one of the tech house scene’s most dependable musical architects. And Elrow resident Tini Gessler delivered her signature cocktail of percussion and melody, weaving together ethereal blends that melted time and bent space.

Despite being in such close proximity to these star selectors from our comfy backstage perch (bring your ear protection, because the bass is banging), it was the crowd that really held my gaze. Every actor — paid or just part of the mob — is vying for your attention, to the point that the DJ booth almost feels like an afterthought. Almost.

Beside me, a man dressed as a nun dances so feverishly that his scraggly pink wig rips off his head. Another character places a glob of glitter in my palm while shaking in nothing but a sarong and skin-tight Speedo. Several ten-foot-tall stilt walkers tower above the crowd like surreal deities. Serpents materialize and dissolve across the screens, hovering somewhere between birth, death and hallucination.

If you’re feeling overstimulated just reading this, take that feeling and triple it.

The evening unfolded exactly as expected, which is to say, it was completely unexpected. And for face-value tickets starting around $40, you’re probably not imagining the over-the-top production that Elrow delivers.

Acrobats swing overhead. Giant, floating inflatable eyeballs stare into the unseen part of your soul. Fluorescent serpents slither across LED walls. Confetti falls with such force that I feel three-years-old again. Yes, it’s a little otherworldly, a touch hedonistic, and that — very unapologetically — is the point.

Just ten minutes at Elrow is almost sure to start to feel like a lucid dream or psychedelic experience, no drugs necessary. Though judging by all the glazed-over eyes and mysterious lollipops and substances in circulation, many attendees had likely crossed into another dimension well before the first drop landed.

My friend and I arrived at the venue just after 11 p.m., knowing the real magic doesn’t happen until the early hours of the morning. We arrived ready for the hit tracks — Bastian Bux’s “Roots”, Tini Gessler’s “Break”, among others — all of which hit with equal force. 

And while we were starving for all the chart-toppers, I quickly remembered the real fun is getting a bite of these artists’ unreleased tracks. Luckily, Elrow affords an experimental setting where you can expect to be spoiled with moments that couldn’t feel less manufactured.

Admittedly, half the time, I couldn’t make out a single lyric, aside from the hypnotic “play it loud” refrain that surfaced during Tini Gessler’s set. But that almost felt irrelevant. In house music, vocals are just the cherries on top of the performance.

The real language is the beat: the suspension, the restraint, the elongated build that always results in a perfectly-timed release. When a crowd moves in total unison to sounds they’ve never heard before, you’ve witnessed something far more moving than a hit track. At Elrow, you become part of the experiment.

Dancing with the Serpent probably wasn’t what my Catholic school teachers had in mind. Then again, neither was finding salvation in a expertly-placed drop. But that’s the kind of hedonistic transcendence Elrow tempts us with, and I couldn’t help but surrender to it, perhaps with a little too much pleasure.

What are other artists are coming to Pacha?

A complete calendar including all artists coming to Pacha as well as dates, start times and links to buy tickets can be found below.

What is it like going to Pacha?

In late June, Pacha opened at 140 Stewart Avenue in Williamsburg.

The Post attended opening and saw Black Coffee spin deep into the night.

“The brand, known for its stripped-back approach to nightlife, keeps the focus squarely on the music. From its iconic twin cherries logo to no-frills, dance floor-first design — low lighting, minimal staging, no chintzy decor — Pacha Group favors reducing spectacle to amplify sound, and properly frame the DJ.”

Huge EDM artists on tour in 2026

We’re not done yet.

If you’re hoping to see the best in bliss, here are just five of our favorite iconic acts you won’t want to miss spin live these next few months.

• John Summit

• Rüfüs Du Sol

• Lost Frequencies

• Subtronics

• Elderbrook

Who else is out there? Take a look at our list of all the biggest artists on tour in 2026 to find the show for you.

This article was written by Miska Salemann, New York Post Commerce Writer/Reporter. As a health-forward member of Gen Z, Miska seeks out experts to weigh in on the benefits, safety and designs of both trending and tried-and-true fitness equipment, workout clothing, dietary supplements and more. Taking matters into her own hands, Miska intrepidly tests wellness products, ranging from Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint Longevity Mix to the viral Oura Ring to Jennifer Aniston’s favorite workout platform – often with her adorable toddler by her side. Before joining The Post, Miska covered lifestyle and consumer topics for the U.S. Sun and The Cannon Beach Gazette.

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.