Contact Winter Music Festival 2025: Dates, Lineup & Tickets

Contact Winter Music Festival is Canada's biggest indoor electronic music event. It happens every December in Vancouver at the Pacific Coliseum. Think two days of nonstop beats, pyrotechnics, and state of the art production that brings over 35,000 people together right after Christmas.

This year marks another edition on December 26 and 27, 2025. Eric Prydz, Slander, Gryffin, and Cloonee headline the roster. The festival has built a reputation for booking top tier talent across multiple electronic genres while delivering an arena experience that rivals outdoor summer festivals.

You'll find everything you need to know here. We cover the complete 2025 lineup, ticket options, entry requirements, venue details, and practical tips to make your festival experience smooth. Whether you're a veteran festivalgoer or planning your first Contact, this guide walks you through what to expect and how to prepare.

Contact winter music festival draws over 35,000 people to Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum each December, making it Canada's largest indoor electronic event. The scale alone sets it apart, but the production quality and winter timing create something you won't find anywhere else in festival culture.

Pacific Coliseum gives organizers a blank canvas for technical production that outdoor venues can't match. You get pyrotechnic displays, precision lighting rigs, and sound systems calibrated for arena acoustics. Live Nation backs the event, bringing major headliners like Eric Prydz and production budgets that rival summer blockbuster festivals. The indoor environment lets crews control every element, creating an experience outdoor events can't replicate.

Contact transforms winter into festival season when most venues shut down.

Most electronic festivals happen during summer months. Contact fills the post-Christmas gap when you want to celebrate but outdoor options don't exist. The December 26-27 dates have become a Vancouver tradition for electronic music fans across Western Canada. You get festival culture without camping gear, unpredictable weather, or mud, all when your schedule is already clear for celebrating.

Planning for contact winter music festival requires action well before December. Vancouver hotels fill up fast during the holiday period, and ticket prices increase as the event approaches. Your preparation timeline should start at least two months ahead if you want the best options at reasonable rates.

Downtown Vancouver hotels book solid by mid-November for the December 26-27 dates. You need lodging within public transit range of Pacific Coliseum or near Expo Line stations that connect directly to the venue. Many festivalgoers split costs on Airbnb rentals in neighborhoods like Commercial Drive or Main Street, putting groups closer to the action while saving money.

Look for places with flexible cancellation policies since festival dates occasionally shift. December travel gets expensive, so booking by October typically saves you 30-40% compared to last-minute rates.

Book hotels near SkyTrain stations for easy festival access.

Pacific Coliseum sits on the PNE grounds in East Vancouver. SkyTrain's Expo Line gets you there via Renfrew Station, about a 10-minute walk from the venue. Rideshare apps like Uber surge during festival hours, often tripling normal fares after midnight when everyone leaves simultaneously.

Consider buying a multi-day transit pass if you're visiting from out of town. BC Transit offers day passes that cover unlimited trips, which works perfectly for hitting Vancouver spots before the festival and getting to both event nights. Parking at the venue exists but costs extra and creates exit nightmares when 35,000 people leave at once.

Contact winter music festival 2025 runs on December 26 and 27, with doors opening at 6:00 PM each night and music running until 1:00 AM. You get seven hours of continuous sets across both evenings, with different headliners and supporting acts scheduled for each day. The venue operates under strict timing due to noise ordinances, so late arrivals miss substantial portions of the show.

Day one kicks off Thursday, December 26, while day two follows Friday, December 27. Doors open at 6:00 PM sharp, giving you time to clear security, grab drinks, and secure your spot before headliners take the stage around 10:00 PM. VIP ticket holders get priority entry starting at 5:30 PM, letting you skip the main entrance lines that form quickly after 6:00 PM.

Arrive before 7:00 PM to avoid missing opening acts and hour-long entry queues.

Pacific Coliseum sits on the PNE grounds at 100 North Renfrew Street in East Vancouver. The arena holds 17,000 people per night, with general admission floor space, tiered seating sections, and elevated VIP platforms offering different viewing angles. You'll find multiple bar stations, merchandise booths, and bathroom facilities spread throughout the venue, though expect lines during peak hours between sets.

Contact winter music festival 2025 features twelve artists spanning multiple electronic subgenres across both days. The lineup balances established headliners with rising talent, giving you exposure to progressive house, bass music, tech house, and melodic dance sounds. Each artist brings distinct production styles that keep the energy shifting throughout the night.

Eric Prydz leads the bill with his signature progressive house sound and visual production that matches the venue's technical capabilities. Slander brings bass heavy sets that appeal to younger festivalgoers looking for emotional melodic drops mixed with harder dubstep elements. Gryffin delivers feel good melodic house, while Cloonee represents the tech house movement with groovy, vocal driven tracks that fill dance floors.

These four headliners cover the spectrum from progressive to bass music, ensuring varied sets across both nights.

The undercard includes Spencer Brown for deeper progressive cuts, Matroda with tech house bangers, and Chris Avantgarde bringing experimental electronic sounds. Kaleena Zanders adds vocal performances that enhance live sets, while Palmer, Chyl, Karsten Sollors, and Yurie represent emerging talent booking their first major arena shows. You get genre variety that prevents the festival from feeling one dimensional, with sets ranging from 125 BPM grooves to 150 BPM bass drops. The day by day schedule splits artists strategically, so each night offers distinct vibes rather than repeating the same energy twice.

Contact winter music festival operates under strict entry policies that you need to understand before arrival. Tickets sell through multiple tiers, with prices increasing as the event approaches. Your preparation checklist should cover identification requirements, prohibited items, and venue specific rules that differ from outdoor festivals.

General admission tickets grant you floor access and general seating areas throughout the venue. VIP packages include priority entry at 5:30 PM, dedicated bar access, elevated viewing platforms, and exclusive bathroom facilities. Single day passes let you attend one night, while two day passes offer better value if you want the complete experience. Prices increase across multiple release tiers, with early bird tickets typically 40-50% cheaper than gate prices. You purchase through Ticketmaster, which adds service fees on top of base ticket costs.

Buy tickets during first release to save money and guarantee entry before sellout.

The festival enforces a 19+ age minimum with zero exceptions. You must present government issued photo identification at entry, including driver's licenses, passports, or official ID cards. Security rejects expired documents, student IDs, and digital copies. Bring physical ID in protective cases since rain and crowds damage paper licenses quickly.

Pack light layers since arena temperatures fluctuate between crowded floor heat and air conditioned seating areas. Bring sealed water bottles, small bills for bar purchases, and portable phone chargers. The venue prohibits outside alcohol, large bags, professional cameras, and any items security deems dangerous. Lockers cost extra but protect valuables during sets when you want hands free dancing.

Contact winter music festival 2025 delivers arena scale production that sets it apart from typical electronic events. You get world class headliners, advanced technical capabilities, and convenient winter timing that fills the post-holiday gap. Purchase your tickets early, book accommodation near transit lines, and arrive before 7:00 PM to maximize your experience. Stay updated on the latest EDM news and festival announcements at RIKIO ROCKS, where we cover everything from emerging artists to major events shaping electronic music culture.