In a moment where the region feels increasingly fractured, platforms like Sandbox Festival take on a different kind of weight. Not just as escapism, but as infrastructure. For artists, especially those from the region, these stages aren’t just gigs, they’re lifelines, offering both creative release and international exposure. In a landscape where mobility is fragile and opportunities can feel unevenly distributed, festivals like this do the work of sustaining entire scenes.
Set to return to Egypt’s resort town El Gouna from May 7–9, the festival’s 12th edition leans into that role, bringing together a tightly curated mix of global heavyweights and regional names—many of whom are stepping onto an international stage for the first time.
It’s that mix that gives the lineup its edge. The bigger names might be what pulls people in, but once you’re there, the focus naturally shifts. You move between stages, catch a set you didn’t plan for, and suddenly it’s a regional artist holding the crowd. It doesn’t feel like a split lineup, it feels like one continuous scene, just at different stages of scale.
Get to know some of the acts we’re most excited about below.
Dish Dash
The Saudi duo who have spent the past few years building one of the region’s most export-ready electronic acts without diluting their sound.
Husa & Zeyada
Long before global attention turned toward the region, the Egyptian DJs were shaping dancefloors locally, building a sound that feels both deeply rooted and forward-facing.
Hamdi Ryder
Hailing from Tunisia, the creative’s sets tend to resist neat categorization, pulling from across electronic subgenres in a way that mirrors how younger audiences actually listen now.
Lilya Mandre
Born and raised in Casablanca, the Moroccan DJ channels the city’s coastal, late-night energy into her sets and productions. Her sound has caught the attention of established DJs and A&Rs, culminating in opening acts for the likes of Keinemusik.
Ankhoï
A rising name that’s been quietly building momentum across underground circuits, the Paris-based French DJ’s inclusion signals Sandbox’s ongoing commitment to spotlighting artists before they tip into ubiquity.
JAMIIE
Based in Berlin, the German-Nigerian electronic music DJ and producer is known for melodic, Afro house and techno influenced by her African roots and German upbringing.
Khadija
Emerging from Berlin’s underground club scene, the part-Eritrean music mixer is a rising voice in contemporary electronic music. Raised in an Eritrean Muslim family, Khadija grew up surrounded by both Eritrean music and Western pop/R&B, which underpin her approach to club music.
The Blaze
The French duo are known for their stripped-back, atmospheric sound and visually-driven live sets that lean more immersive than high-energy.