Australian favourites Empire of the Sun have curated a new three-day destination music festival in the US, inviting fans to “step through the door into a new realm of sound and imagination”.
The immersive experience, called Chrysalis, will take place from May 14th-16th, 2026 at Hotel El Ganzo’s Iskali Gardens, in the coastal haven of San José del Cabo, Baja California.
In partnership with 100x Hospitality, Empire of the Sun will bring the festival to life, creating a place where music, art, and light converge to create a living, ever-evolving world. The festival will feature different and exclusive performances by the Australian electronic duo each night, alongside a hand-selected lineup of international musicians and artists to be announced soon.
The experience unfolds as a journey from open-air stages to curated art installations and hidden activations across Iskali’s gardens, hidden sculptures, and forests, each designed to mirror the themes of rebirth, love, and ascension that define the Empire universe.
“Chrysalis is about imagination and rebirth. This festival is designed to be spirit immersive – where people leave transformed. The festival’s story focuses on the circle of symbols – the door, the egg, key, wings and bell,” Empire of the Sun’s Emperor Steele (real name Luke Steele) said.
“It’s in the Chrysalis that these symbols communicate to us like a secret language – the door, the threshold. the key, the revelation. The bell, awakening. wings, the future self and the egg, beginnings. It’s about creating a journey through music, art and spirit. In a world that is overflowing with distortion, it’s time to let yourself be carried away.”
Given the band are Australian, there’s no doubt local fans and the industry would want to see Chrysalis Down Under — Rolling Stone AU/NZ has contacted Empire of the Sun’s local label for comment.
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Iskali Gardens has been described as the “perfect backdrop” for Empire of the Sun to expand their visually rich universe, building on the elaborate costumes, wild stage sets, and bursting imagery that they famously bring to their incredible live shows.
Empire of the Sun’s music is equally colourful. Last year saw the long-awaited release of their acclaimed fourth album, Ask That God, a kaleidoscopic dive into their sonically and spiritually limitless world featuring singles “Cherry Bossom”, “Changes”, and “Music on the Radio”.
They then kicked off 2025 with a deluxe edition that came with two new tracks — including “Somebody’s Son” featuring Lindsey Buckingham — and followed up with the Ask That God (Remixes) EP with a global cast of producers emphasizing the LP’s euphoric qualities.
Ticket information can be found here.
