Groove Cruise is officially charting its course for 2026, and this time, Screen Rant will be onboard. From January 22 through January 26, the world’s largest floatingmusic festival sets sail aboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, turning the open ocean into a four-day, non-stop music experience.
Prepare for a fully immersive environment where music, travel, and community blur together in a way no land-based event can touch. This year, I’ll be reporting directly from the ship, bringing readers inside the experience—from headline sets and surprise moments to the kind of behind-the-scenes access you only get when you’re actually there.
Forget your grandfather’s Sunfish. This is 18 decks of bass, bodies, and very little sleep. If there’s an artist you want me to track down or something you want to see from onboard, tell me—I’ll be the one trying to find them somewhere between the decks and the dance floor.
Screen Rant Live From Groove Cruise 2026
What to expect from our coverage:
• Onboard reporting from Wonder of the Seas
• Artist interviews and performance highlights
• Behind-the-scenes access to sets and experiences
• Daily recaps capturing the energy of life at sea
A Festival Built Around Community & Experiences
Now in its 38th sailing, Groove Cruise has earned its reputation as a transformational experience rather than a traditional music festival. Known affectionately as the #GCFAM, the community that returns year after year is built around connection and a shared love of music.
Founder and Chief Excitement Officer Jason Beukema has long emphasized that Groove Cruise is about more than performances. Over the past two decades, the cruise has hosted more than 100 weddings and proposals, with countless attendees describing it as a life-changing experience rather than just a vacation.
And yet, it is a vacation. The ship is designed to feel like multiple destinations in one, featuring eight distinct neighborhoods, more than 40 dining and bar options. If anyone wants to meet up in Central Park, I’m told it’s lined with more than 20,000 live plants.
John Summit Headlines A Powerhouse 2026 Lineup
Groove Cruise 2026 arrives with one of its most diverse and stacked lineups to date. Headlined by John Summit, the roster spans tech house, melodic bass, house, trance, and bass music, reflecting the broad sonic identity Groove Cruise has cultivated over the years.
The lineup includes Cloonee, Chris Lorenzo, Green Velvet, Markus Schulz, Jason Ross, Joel Corry, Max Styler, DJ Susan, The Sponges, and many more. The event also continues its industry-leading commitment to gender representation, with nearly 40 female artists featured across stages.
Acts such as Azzecca, Blossom, Jackie Hollander, Lilly Palmer, Sarah de Warren, Sam Blacky, and Tara Brooks will take prominent slots throughout the weekend, reinforcing Groove Cruise’s reputation for booking women at a significantly higher rate than the industry standard.
On that note, I should probably start packing.
World’s Largest Cruise Music Festival On Wonder Of The Seas
