Scream or Dance Draws 30,000 to Fifth-Edition Jakarta Halloween Festival

Scream or Dance returned to Jakarta for its fifth Halloween edition on October 31 and November 1, drawing more than 30,000 attendances across two days at Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo). The festival also earned its first DJ Mag Top 100 Festivals placement, landing at No. 71 on the 2026 list.

World-Exclusive B3B Anchors Two-Day Lineup

The 2026 edition featured a world-exclusive back-to-back-to-back set from Ben Nicky, Weird Genius, and Wukong, pairing an international headliner with two artists rooted in the Asian electronic music scene. Jeffrey Sutorius performed as Dash Berlin, while Cheat Codes, Jonas Blue, DubVision, Mark Sixma, and Dennis Sheperd rounded out the international side of the bill.

Indonesian acts including Dipha Barus & Friends, Whisnu Santika, and Ramengvrl & Friends shared the stages, continuing the festival's balance of overseas bookings and local talent across all five editions.

Into the Blooming Garden Theme Shapes Production

Organizers built the weekend around Into the Blooming Garden, a concept inspired by melancholy, longing, and psychedelic imagery. The theme shaped the festival's visuals, stage design, and interactive activities at JIExpo, layering over the traditional Halloween focus. Production included pyrotechnics and drone shows, while festivalgoers arrived in elaborate costumes that have become a hallmark of Scream or Dance.

Two Venue Relocations Mark Lead-Up to Festival

The month before Scream or Dance grew complicated when organizers relocated the event twice. The festival was originally announced for Ancol Beach City International Stadium, then moved to PIK 2, before landing at Jakarta International Expo only weeks before the scheduled dates. According to organizers, the festival team assisted and compensated attendees whose accommodation plans were affected by the changes. The October 31 and November 1 dates remained unchanged.

Co-organizers Shaheen Alkubaysi and Darrell Tjong, both 27, launched Scream or Dance as a dedicated Halloween music festival for Indonesian audiences. "We do it for the Culture, We do it for the Youth in our Country. We keep prices affordable and do our best to bring our family & friends world class entertainment," Alkubaysi said. The fifth edition marked the festival's first appearance on the DJ Mag Top 100 Festivals list.