{
  "id": 14684314,
  "title": "Inside Starlight Festival’s Historic Debut at the Great Pyramids of Giza",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/inside-starlight-festivals-historic-debut-at-the-great-pyramids-of",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-15T11:24:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/starlight-festival-great-pyramids-of-giza-1236361129/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Great Pyramids of Giza hosted the inaugural Starlight Festival, an ambitious electronic music festival organized by EXIT and P+US, Venture Lifestyle's electronic music platform. The sold-out event took place on October 9 and 10, featuring more than 60 international and regional artists who performed across multiple stages at the historic site. This marked the largest electronic music event held at Giza since Jean-Michel Jarre's concert in 1999. Belgian techno artist Charlotte de Witte made her Egyptian debut, joining a lineup that included Michael Bibi, Adriatique, Indira Paganotto, Enrico Sangiuliano, Vintage Culture, Pete Tong, and WhoMadeWho. Beyond the main stage, EXIT's No Sleep stage showcased a diverse set of artists such as Charlie Sparks, BIIA, Layla Benitez, Paolo Ferrara, and Olympe. The festival's visual production, designed by Sila Sveta, featured elaborate lighting and optical illusions, making the pyramids appear to float above the stage. Starlight served as the final stop on EXIT's eight-event international tour, which had taken the festival across Europe before it was moved to Egypt. Founding CEO Dušan Kovačević stated that bringing people together at the greatest wonder of the ancient world was particularly significant given the year's global restrictions. The festival underscored the growing significance of music tourism, as international audiences increasingly seek experiences that merge music, culture, and destination. Kovačević emphasized that electronic music and club culture would remain central to Starlight's identity, while Venture Lifestyle CEO Rabih Mokbel saw this partnership as an opportunity to position Egypt as a serious contender in the international festival market. He stressed the importance of showcasing regional artists alongside established international performers, providing local talent with a platform to reach a broader audience. With the festival's success, organizers have confirmed Starlight's return on November 5 and 6, 2027. Kovačević envisions a recurring cultural event that not only benefits ticket sales and international recognition but also contributes to Egypt's artistic and creative economy, creating lasting opportunities for artists, production professionals, and the wider community.",
  "summary": "Charlotte de Witte, Michael Bibi, Adriatique and more performed at the sold-out festival, which welcomed fans from 114 countries and marked a new chapter for Egypt’s electronic music scene.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}