Skrillex is stepping into a new chapter beyond the traditional festival and touring format with the launch of CONTRA, a newly announced platform centred around experimental electronic music, live performance, and cross-cultural collaboration. The project will officially debut on May 30–31, 2026, with a large-scale two-day event hosted inside Berlin’s iconic Kraftwerk complex in partnership with Berlin Atonal.
Taking over Kraftwerk alongside Tresor, Globus, and OHM, the launch event is set to feature more than 70 artists spanning club music, experimental sound design, and contemporary performance. The lineup stretches across multiple scenes and styles, with appearances from artists including Bladee, Ecco2K, Blawan, Juliana Huxtable, Knock2, ISOxo, KAVARI, and Skrillex himself. Rather than following a conventional festival structure, CONTRA appears designed as a more fluid and collaborative environment where different artistic worlds intersect across the weekend.
A major focus of the project also lies in its environmental and visual design. Paris-based studio Matière Noire has been brought in to reshape Kraftwerk’s industrial architecture through lighting, scenography, and spatial design intended to blur the boundaries between performance, sound, and physical space. The approach signals a move toward a more experience-driven format, reflecting Skrillex’s continued interest in pushing electronic music into less conventional territory. 
The announcement has already generated strong reactions across the electronic music community, particularly among longtime fans who see CONTRA as a potential long-term creative platform rather than a standalone event. Discussions online have compared the concept to a modern evolution of Skrillex’s earlier community-driven projects, with many pointing toward its genre-crossing lineup and underground-focused direction as signs of a broader artistic reset.
Tickets and additional event information are available via Resident Advisor, while updates surrounding the wider CONTRA platform can be followed through the official CONTRA channels and Skrillex website
