Archive photos from the inaugural Detroit Electronic Music Festival.
The inaugural Detroit Electronic Music Festival in 2000, unearthed from the archives of the Detroit Free Press after 25 years.
- Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte headlines the festival, returning after being the first female headliner in 2023.
- The festival takes place at Hart Plaza with tickets available online for single-day or three-day passes.
- Various transportation options are available, including public transport and driving, with hotel discounts offered for attendees.
Detroit’s Movement music festival is set to fill Hart Plaza in downtown this Memorial Day weekend, bringing thousands of music fans together in the birthplace of Techno to celebrate electronic music.
What started as an impromptu swarm of late-night parties across the city in 2000, the Detroit Electronic Music Festival grew into what it is now 25 years later.
This year’s festival, headlined by Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte, will bring 115 performers to Detroit’s Hart Plaza. Six stages will feature hundreds of performers, including Carl Craig and Moodymann in a dual back-to-back set, actor and DJ Zack Fox, and rapper ASAP Ferg, among many others.
Here’s what to know about the longstanding festival and how to navigate downtown Detroit:
Who is headlining Movement 2025?
Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte will return to Hart Plaza for her second headlining stint at Detroit’s Movement festival, according to the Detroit Free Press.
De Witte — who in 2023 became the first female headliner in the event’s history — is among more than 115 acts set to play the latest Memorial Day weekend edition of the long-running electronic music fest.
When is the Movement festival 2025?
Movement Festival takes place May 24-26. Festival hours are:
- 2 p.m. to midnight Saturday, May 24
- 2 p.m. to midnight Sunday, May 25
- 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday, May 26
Where does Movement take place?
Movement is at Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit this year, at 1 Hart Plaza.
Where can I get tickets for Movement?
Tickets for the Movement festival are offered as three- and one-day passes online. Some passes are sold out, check online for availability.
Children under 12 and under are free and do not need a ticket.
Can I take a bag into Movement? What’s allowed inside?
The following items are allowed at Movement:
- Small bags, single-compartment backpacks, plush backpacks, purses (maximum 12-by-12 inches)
- Earplugs
- Fanny packs
- Gum (must be sealed upon entry)
- E-cigs/vapes (no E-liquid or E-juice of any kind will be allowed)
- Baby strollers
- Binoculars
- Blankets, sheets, towels
- Cameras (no detachable lenses) – must be without equipment attachments such as camera stands, selfie sticks, tripods, and monopods
- Empty CamelBak-type hydration packs and water bottles, and plastic or aluminum water bottles
- Rain ponchos / umbrella (hand-held ONLY and no bigger than 42 in. when open)
- Flags/banners or handmade signs (no corporate/company-branded materials, no hard flagpoles)
- Hula hoops
- Personal misting fan with bottle no larger than 1.5L (must be empty upon entering the event).
- Sunscreen lotion
What items are prohibited inside the Movement festival?
The following items are prohibited:
- Aerosol containers, including sunscreen and personal beauty products
- Any and all professional audio recording equipment
- Shoulder-mounted video cameras
- Cameras with detachable lenses, camera stands, monopods, tripods, attachment sticks (selfie sticks) or other commercial equipment
- Drones or any other remote flying device
- Laser pointers
- Coolers of any kind (exceptions may be made for medical use)
- Framed backpacks
- Glass and metal containers of any kind, except for aluminum water bottles
- Illegal and illicit substances of any kind
- Outside food or beverage (including alcohol)
- Large purses, bags or backpacks (larger than 12-by-12 inches)
- Skateboards, scooters, bicycles, wagons, carts or any personal motorized vehicles (with the exception of disability-related items)
- Pets (except documented service animals)
- Professional radios or walkie-talkies
- Unauthorized/unlicensed vendors are not allowed
- No solicitation and/or promotional materials including handbills, flyers, stickers, beach balls, giveaways, samples, etc.
- Weapons or explosives of any kind
- Fireworks
- Bicycles inside festival grounds
- Carts or wagons of any kind
What if it rains at Movement festival?
The event will go on rain or shine, the website says. Tickets are not refundable.
Public transportation for Movement 2025
Detroit has multiple public transport options to get around downtown. The city has a streetcar, bike share, and bus system to get you where you need to go.
The QLINE, which runs along Woodward Avenue from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, stops at Harper Avenue, 116 Lothrop St., 6540 Cass Ave., John R & Piquette, and 6230 John R St.
How to get to downtown Detroit for Movement
- From the North: I-75 Southbound to I-375. Stay on I-375 and it will turn into Jefferson Avenue, Hart Plaza will be on your left.
- From the East: I-94 Westbound to I-75 South, to I-375. Stay on I-375 and it will turn into Jefferson Avenue, Hart Plaza will be on your left.
- From Canada: Via the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, turn right onto Jefferson Avenue, then take the first turnaround – Hart Plaza will be on your left.
Hotel discounts for Movement attendees
Movement has special hotel reservations and deals for concert goers. The fill list of hotels including the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit and MGM Grand Detroit, among others can be found here.
Movement festival 2025 artist lineup
- ADMN
- AK
- Anfisa Letyago
- Annicka
- Armanni Reign
- Ashton Swinton
- Augustus Williams
- Avalon Emerson
- BeatLoaf
- Beige
- Ben UFO
- Blackmoonchild
- The Blessed Madonna
- Boys Noize
- Brian Kage
- Carl Cox (Live)
- Carl Craig b2b Moodymann ft. Mike Banks
- Chaos in the CBD
- Charlotte de Witte
- Chase & Status
- Chris Liebing
- Chuck Daniels
- Claude VonStroke
- Cobblestone Jazz
- Craig Gonzalez
- D.Dan
- Deepchord (Live)
- Dennis Ferrer
- Disc Jockey George
- DJ Cent
- DJ Gigola
- DJ Godfather
- DJ Holographic
- DJ I.V.
- DJ Minx
- DJ Nobu
- DJ Seinfeld
- DJ Seoul
- DJ Sphinx
- DJ Tennis b2b Chloé Caillet
- Donavan Glover
- Dubfire
- Ela Minus
- Ember LaFíamma
- Erika
- Father Dukes
- FERG
- FJAAK
- Fullbodydurag
- Gay Marvine
- Goldie b2b Photek
- HAAi
- Hamdi
- Helena Hauff
- Henry Brooks
- Hiroko Yamamura
- HiTech
- horsegiirL
- Huey Mnemonic
- Jamie xx
- JEM
- JMT
- John Summit
- Jon Dixon (Live)
- Joris Voorn
- Joseph Capriati
- Junior Sanchez
- Keith Worthy
- Kevin Reynolds (Live)
- Kevin Saunderson b2b The Saunderson Brothers
- Klangkuenstler
- Layton Giordani
- Loco Dice b2b Vintage Culture
- Loren
- Marcel Dettmann
- Mark Broom (Live)
- Mau P
- MCR-T
- Mike ‘Agent X’ Clark
- Mike Schommer (Live)
- Mike Servito
- Mister Joshooa
- MK
- Nina Kraviz
- Norm Talley
- Octave One (Live)
- Patrick Topping
- Peter Croce
- PROSPA
- QURL
- RAEDY LEX
- Ricardo Villalobos
- Rimarkable
- Riva Starr
- Salar Ansari
- Salute
- Sama’ Abdulhadi
- Sammy Virji
- Sara Landry
- Sarena Tyler
- Seth Troxler
- Shawescape Renegade
- Shawn Rudiman (Live)
- Shigeto Live Ensemble
- Shimza
- SILLYGIRLCARMEN
- Skepta Más Tiempo
- Sonny Fodera
- Soul Clap
- Stacey Hotwaxx Hale
- Stacey Pullen
- Theresa Hill
- TSHA
- Waajeed b2b Ladymonix
- Walker & Royce
- Whodat
- Zack Fox
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
