Music. Colorful lights. Fog. Lasers. Dancing.
Dance music is no stranger to stimulating special effects. And the resurgence in EDM’s popularity has inspired event organizers to design bigger, better, flashier production elements to attract and excite fans who demand (and pay for) more than just music.
From mind-blowing laser shows to breathtaking prop elements, creative stage designs help transform us to another world — a place where real-world problems seem to wash away with every light sweep. A place where we can simply live in that moment of pure bliss.
Whether you’ve attending a major festival or simply enjoy the sights and sounds from home, we can all appreciate the creativity and attention to detail captured in the photos below.
Here’s a look at some of our favorite stage designs from around the world:
SEE ALSO: Beautiful EDM Stage Designs on Pinterest
Snaps: Creative EDM Stage Design
Avicii at Coachella 2012. Photo by Rukes.
Bassnectar’s 360 degree stage at NYE 2012 in Nashville. Photo by Rukes.
Sahara tent at Coachella 2013. Photo by Rukes. 
Kinetic Field at EDC Las Vegas 2014. Photo by Kent Otto/Electronic Midwest.
Kinetic Field at EDC Las Vegas 2014. Photo by Kent Otto/Electronic Midwest.
Basscon Stage at EDC Las Vegas 2014. Photo by Kent Otto/Electronic Midwest.
Kinetic Field stage at EDC Las Vegas 2012. Photo by Erik Kabik/Insomniac.
Excision at Club Nokia with Executioner set (2013). Photo by Rukes.
Skrillex’s spaceship. Photo by Rukes.
Ultra Music Festival Miami main stage 2013. Photo by Rukes.
Calvin Harris at Ultra Music Festival 2013. Photo by Rukes.
Defqon 1 2011. Photo by Rutger Geerling.
Defqon 1 2012. Photo by Rutger Geerling.
Defqon 1 2013. Photo by Rutger Geerling.
Sensation “Source of Light” Amsterdam 2012. Photo by Rutger Geerling.
Sensation White Innerspace Belgium 2012. Photo by Rutger Geerling.
Tomorrowland main stage 2010. Photo by Rutger Geerling.
Tomorrowland main stage 2011. Photo by Rutger Geerling.
Tomorrowland main stage 2012. Photo by Rutger Geerling.
Tomorrowland main stage 2013. Photo by Rutger Geerling.
Tomorrowland main stage 2013. Photo by Maxime Byttebier.
WiSH Outdoor Festival main stage 2013. Photo by Kevin Verkruijssen.
WiSH Outdoor Festival main stage 2013. Photo by Kevin Verkruijssen.
Decibel Outdoor Festival. Photo by Heidiefocus.
Defqon 1 2013. Photo by Heidiefocus.
Intents Festival. Photo by Heidiefocus.
Master of Hardcore. Photo by Heidiefocus.
Qdance Qapital. Photo by Heidiefocus.
Qdance Qapital. Photo by Heidiefocus.
Qdance stage at Tomorrowland 2013.
Qlimax Netherlands 2010. Photo by Heidiefocus.
Qlimax Fate or Fortune. Photo by Heidiefocus.
Qlimax Fate or Fortune. Photo by Heidiefocus.
Sensation White Innerspace NYC 2012.
Sensation Into the Wild. Photo by Heidiefocus.
Sensation Ocean of White.
Sensation.
Tomorrowland 2012. Photo by Rutger Geerling.
EDC Las Vegas 2013. Photo by Life After Dusk/Insomniac.
Basscon stage at EDC Las Vegas 2013. Photo by Erik Kabik/Insomniac.
EDC Las Vegas main stage 2013. Photo by Kent Otto/Electronic Midwest.
Mysteryland Holland 2013.
Paradiso Festival 2012. Photo by Jason Woo.
Qdance stage at Mysteryland Holland 2013.
Qdance at EDC Las Vegas 2012.
Markus Schulz at Transmission Prague. Photo by Petr Klapper.
