Cluj-Napoca is a university city in Transylvania with about 300,000 residents, a strong tech economy, and one of Romania’s most active cultural scenes. For the first week of August it becomes something else entirely. The Cluj Arena — a 30,000-seat UEFA-standard football stadium in the city centre — becomes the MainStage of UNTOLD, which means Martin Garrix is playing until 5 AM while the rest of the city sleeps 200 metres away. Central Park, the shaded expanse of trees in the heart of the city, hosts the GalaxyStage and the festival bars and food areas. The Buna Ziua neighbourhood adds another cluster of stages. This is not a festival that happens outside the city: it happens inside it, spread across it, transforming it. The 11th edition — officially named UNTOLD ONE to mark the beginning of a new decade — runs August 6 through 9, 2026, and includes one of the most unexpected bookings in festival history: Sting is headlining. Next to Martin Garrix and Kygo and Carl Cox. In Romania. In a football stadium. That is Untold.
UNTOLD Festival 2026 (UNTOLD ONE) runs Thursday August 6 through Sunday August 9 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 11th edition. All ages. 300,000+ expected. Ranked 3rd globally by DJ Mag. Here is the complete guide.
- What is UNTOLD Festival and what is its history?
- How many people attend UNTOLD?
- What should you expect at UNTOLD 2026?
- When and where is UNTOLD 2026?
- How do you get tickets to UNTOLD 2026?
- Who is playing at UNTOLD 2026?
- What should you wear to UNTOLD 2026?
- What should you pack for UNTOLD 2026?
- What is not allowed at UNTOLD 2026?
- How do you get to UNTOLD 2026?
- Where should you stay for UNTOLD 2026?
- What food and drink is available at UNTOLD?
- What are the best tips for UNTOLD 2026?
- Are there after parties at UNTOLD 2026?
- FAQ
What is UNTOLD Festival and what is its history?
UNTOLD launched in 2015 when Cluj-Napoca was appointed European Youth Capital — a designation that gave the city an opportunity to invest in cultural infrastructure and programming at a scale it had not previously attempted. The first edition drew 240,000 fans across four days and won Best Major Festival at the European Festival Awards, unprecedented for a debut event. The festival immediately established a formula: stadium-scale EDM headliners on the MainStage at Cluj Arena, running until 5 AM, alongside a broader city-wide programme across Central Park and additional stages.
UNTOLD has since grown to become one of the largest festivals in Europe by attendance and one of the most internationally recognised Romanian cultural events. DJ Mag ranked it 3rd globally in 2024. Previous headliners include Avicii (one of his final major festival appearances), David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, Martin Garrix, Tiësto, Post Malone, and The Chainsmokers. The festival has also expanded internationally: UNTOLD Dubai launched in 2024, and the Neversea beach festival in Constãnŧa is its sister event.
The 2026 edition is the 11th and is officially named UNTOLD ONE — marking a new decade with a stated commitment to the largest production the festival has ever staged. The “UNTOLD ONE” branding reflects the anniversary ambition: every stage, every production element, positioned as the definitive edition for the festival’s second decade.
How many people attend UNTOLD?
UNTOLD draws over 300,000 attendees across the four days from more than 100 countries. The festival’s city-centre location in Cluj-Napoca means this attendance transforms the entire city rather than a contained site — hotels, restaurants, transport, and public space all operate at or beyond capacity during the UNTOLD weekend. International attendance has grown significantly since the early editions, with the UK, Germany, Netherlands, and Hungary among the consistently strong source markets alongside Romanian attendees from across the country.
What should you expect at UNTOLD 2026?
Four nights of music running from early evening until dawn, centred on the MainStage at Cluj Arena where the headline acts perform. The stadium setting for the MainStage creates a specific scale — 30,000 people in a UEFA-standard football venue watching Martin Garrix at 2 AM is not the same thing as watching Martin Garrix at an outdoor festival stage. The GalaxyStage in Central Park provides the counterpoint: open air, shaded during the day, surrounded by the park’s trees and the city’s architecture. The AlchemyStage and additional venues cover the broader programme including house, techno, and live music alongside the headline EDM.
August in Cluj-Napoca is warm: 25 to 30 degrees Celsius (77 to 86 Fahrenheit) during the day, dropping to 18 to 22 degrees (64 to 72 Fahrenheit) after midnight. The late-night stadium environment keeps warm from crowd energy even as the ambient temperature drops. The cashless wristband system handles all on-site purchases.
When and where is UNTOLD 2026?
UNTOLD 2026 runs Thursday August 6 through Sunday August 9 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. MainStage: Cluj Arena, Strada Stadionului 2, Cluj-Napoca. GalaxyStage and food areas: Parcul Central (Central Park), Strada Eroilor, Cluj-Napoca. Music runs each night until approximately 6 AM.
How do you get tickets to UNTOLD 2026?
Tickets are available at untold.com. 4-day general access passes start at 775 Romanian lei (approximately €155–165, depending on exchange rate). VIP tickets start at approximately €450. Prices increase as the festival date approaches — early purchase is strongly recommended. Children under 7 are free. Children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. The official UNTOLD Campus accommodation programme offers on-site hostel-style accommodation for budget attendees. Ticket aid programmes and payment plans may be available — check untold.com for current options.
Who is playing at UNTOLD 2026?
UNTOLD ONE 2026 Phase 1 and Phase 2 lineup confirms: Sting, Martin Garrix, Kygo, Lewis Capaldi, The Chainsmokers, Lost Frequencies, Flo Rida, Swae Lee, Sebastian Ingrosso, Marshmello, Steve Aoki, Afrojack, R3hab, Carl Cox, and Zara Larsson. Sting headlining an electronic music festival in Romania is the booking that generated the most attention of the 2026 European festival season — it follows UNTOLD’s established pattern of one genuinely unexpected rock or pop booking alongside the mainstream EDM headliners, which in previous years included David Guetta and The Chainsmokers alongside surprise additions. Full lineup and stage-by-stage schedule at untold.com.
What should you wear to UNTOLD 2026?
UNTOLD’s international crowd and its stadium-scale production create a specific fashion dynamic. The MainStage at Cluj Arena — a European football ground converted to a festival venue — has production lighting designed for 30,000 people, which means rhinestone, sequin, and mirror pieces catch and reflect the show production in ways that read across a large space. The GalaxyStage in Central Park has the open-air festival aesthetic that suits more colourful and expressive looks.
August in Cluj is warm enough for summer festival fashion during the evening programme, but the nights can cool to 18 degrees (64 Fahrenheit) by 3 AM — a layer for the late MainStage sets is worth having. Browse the rave outfits collection for multicolour and mirror pieces suited to UNTOLD’s scale.
Shop the look — UNTOLD Festival 2026
Marilyn Mirror and Rhinestone Party Dress
€242.95
Solana Multicolor Rhinestone Bodysuit
€125.95
Stella Blue Rhinestone Fringe Bodysuit
€185.95
Savannah Multicolor Rhinestone Bodysuit
€165.95
What should you pack for UNTOLD 2026?
- Light jacket for the late-night MainStage sets — temperatures drop to 18–22°C (64–72°F) after midnight
- Comfortable footwear for standing through long sets — the MainStage programme runs for hours
- Portable phone charger — essential across four nights running to sunrise
- Romanian lei (RON) for any cash transactions — the site is cashless but the surrounding city is not
- Valid photo ID
- Sunscreen for the GalaxyStage daytime programme and the city exploration during daylight hours
- Downloaded offline map of Cluj-Napoca — navigating between festival stages requires city navigation
What is not allowed at UNTOLD 2026?
Outside alcohol is not permitted into the festival areas. Glass containers are banned. Professional cameras require press accreditation. Weapons and drones are prohibited. The cashless wristband is used for all on-site purchases — load your balance in advance through the UNTOLD app or website. Full prohibited items at untold.com. Note that the festival takes place across multiple public city spaces rather than a single enclosed site — the specific rules for each area (Cluj Arena, Central Park) may differ slightly. Noise complaints from residents near the stadium and Central Park have been a recurring issue — the festival operates within city-mandated sound limits.
How do you get to UNTOLD 2026?
Cluj-Napoca Avram Iancu International Airport (CLJ) has direct flights from Amsterdam, London, Brussels, Vienna, Budapest, Munich, and other European cities. The airport is approximately 9 kilometres from the city centre. From CLJ, taxi or rideshare to the city centre takes approximately 20 minutes. The festival venues are all within the city centre and walkable from most Cluj-Napoca hotels.
By rail, Cluj-Napoca is connected to Bucharest (approximately 6 hours) and Budapest (approximately 7 hours). International bus services from across Romania and neighbouring countries also serve the city. The Cluj-Napoca city centre is compact and walkable between the MainStage at Cluj Arena and the GalaxyStage at Central Park — approximately 15 minutes on foot.
Where should you stay for UNTOLD 2026?
Cluj-Napoca fills completely for UNTOLD. Book immediately. The city centre hotel market — the Hotel Platinia, the DoubleTree by Hilton Cluj, and boutique options on and around Calea Dorobantilor — provides the most convenient access to all festival stages. The official UNTOLD Campus accommodation is the budget option for those who prioritise immersion in the festival community over comfort — a hostel-style campus with shared facilities. Floresti and Apahida, satellite towns near Cluj, have overflow accommodation options at lower prices but require rideshare or bus transport to the venues each day.
What food and drink is available at UNTOLD?
The festival grounds across Cluj Arena and Central Park have food vendors covering Romanian and international options. The Central Park area in particular has a well-developed food zone that reflects the city’s restaurant culture alongside the standard festival fare. Cluj-Napoca has excellent restaurants throughout the city centre — eating at one of the city’s restaurants (Bistro de l’Arte, Roata, or the Casa Someseana area) in the early evening before the MainStage programme begins is the recommended approach for anyone who wants proper food rather than festival vendor prices. The cashless wristband handles all festival-ground purchases.
What are the best tips for UNTOLD 2026?
The MainStage crowd at Cluj Arena reaches its peak density for the first headline set of each night — typically around midnight. If your priority is a front-area position for Martin Garrix or any other specific headliner, you need to be inside Cluj Arena and positioned at least 90 minutes before that artist’s set. The stadium fills faster than most outdoor festival stages because its enclosed architecture concentrates the crowd.
The GalaxyStage in Central Park is where many UNTOLD veterans spend more time than the MainStage — the open park environment, the tree cover, and the programme of house and deeper electronic music offers a different experience from the stadium spectacle. The contrast between spending an hour at the MainStage for the headline and then crossing the city to the park for a set you genuinely chose for its musical content is part of how experienced UNTOLD attendees navigate the four nights.
Cluj-Napoca is a city worth exploring during the daylight hours before each evening’s programme. The old town, the Unirii Square, the Cluj-Napoca Botanical Garden (one of the most beautiful in Eastern Europe), and the city’s cafe culture — particularly the area around Strada Memorandumului — make the daytime hours genuinely worth spending outside the festival grounds.
Are there after parties at UNTOLD 2026?
UNTOLD runs to approximately 6 AM each night — the after party is effectively the end of the MainStage programme. For those who want to continue after the festival stages close, Cluj-Napoca’s club scene (Form Space, OSC, and the venues around the city centre) runs UNTOLD-adjacent programming throughout the festival week. UNTOLD’s sister festival Neversea runs on the Black Sea coast at Constãnŧa in early July — the two events together form a summer Romania festival sequence for those combining both.
FAQ: UNTOLD Festival 2026
When is UNTOLD Festival 2026?
UNTOLD 2026 runs Thursday August 6 through Sunday August 9 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Music runs until approximately 6 AM each night.
Who is headlining UNTOLD 2026?
Confirmed headliners include Sting, Martin Garrix, Kygo, Lewis Capaldi, The Chainsmokers, Lost Frequencies, Sebastian Ingrosso, Marshmello, Steve Aoki, Afrojack, R3hab, Carl Cox, and Zara Larsson. Full lineup at untold.com.
How much are UNTOLD 2026 tickets?
4-day GA passes start at 775 Romanian lei (€155–165 approximately). VIP starts at approximately €450. Children under 7 are free. Under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Prices increase as the event approaches.
Where is UNTOLD Festival?
UNTOLD takes place across multiple venues in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The MainStage is at Cluj Arena (Strada Stadionului 2). The GalaxyStage is in Central Park (Parcul Central). Additional stages are distributed across the city. Cluj-Napoca Avram Iancu Airport (CLJ) is the nearest airport.
Is UNTOLD beginner-friendly?
Very much so. The all-ages policy, the accessible ticket prices relative to Western European equivalents, and the well-organised multi-stage city format make UNTOLD one of the most welcoming major European festivals for first-timers. The practical challenges are the accommodation competition (book immediately), the late-night format that runs to sunrise, and navigating a city that does not speak English as a first language. None of these are prohibitive with some advance planning.
