ArtistDirect News
Monster Energy Up & Up Festival Announces OMNOM as Fall 2026 Headliner, Launches 10th-Anniversary Competition
For the tenth anniversary of Monster Energy’s Up & Up Festival, the college‑focused electronic dance music tour has named house‑producer OMNOM as the Fall 2026 headline act.
The tour kicks off a nationwide campus‑based contest on September 15 at 4 p.m. EST. Over 100 student ambassador teams will battle to drive ticket sales for their schools. The four campuses that sell the most tickets earn a stop on the tour, with OMNOM performing as the sole headliner. Students pay nothing unless their campus wins, eliminating financial risk.
OMNOM, celebrated for fusing house, bass‑house, and other sub‑genres into a punchy, sub‑heavy sound, said the chance to headline a college festival feels like a homecoming. “College crowds bring some of the best energy there is,” he posted on social media.
Up & Up flips the conventional tour formula. Winning campuses collaborate with festival producers to host the event at a local venue, spotlighting student DJs, content teams, and on‑site activations. The approach has produced sell‑out shows before dates and venues are announced, and it has become a launchpad for students pursuing music‑industry careers.
Previous editions have featured Dom Dolla, Disco Lines, and Ship Wrek. Ship Wrek headlined the Spring 2026 tour, which was secured by the University of Oregon. Fifth‑year advertising major Lefty Howland, a student at that university, said the experience opened doors that felt closed in a small town.
Recent presale champions include Cal Poly, Miami‑Ohio, San Diego State, CSU Fullerton, the University of Tennessee, the University of Georgia, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Oregon.
For Fall 2026, Up & Up will keep its Newcomers Award for schools that have not won since the COVID‑19 pandemic, broaden “Road to Up & Up” club events near campuses, and launch a National Pep Rally. The rally is a virtual gathering that will feature surprise performances, industry workshops, and giveaways.
Students interested in hands‑on experience or internship credit can submit applications at upandupfestival.com.
Monster Energy’s sponsorship, a brand known for backing extreme sports and a diverse roster of musical acts, highlights the company’s enduring support for youth culture and music events.
In short, the Fall 2026 Up & Up Festival will see OMNOM headline four campus‑selected stops chosen through a nationwide, student‑driven ticket‑sale competition. The format continues to offer emerging DJs, student marketing teams, and aspiring music‑industry professionals a stage.
Next steps include opening applications, launching the presale window on September 15, and announcing the four winning campuses in October. Final tour dates and venues will be confirmed once the competition concludes.
The tour kicks off a nationwide campus‑based contest on September 15 at 4 p.m. EST. Over 100 student ambassador teams will battle to drive ticket sales for their schools. The four campuses that sell the most tickets earn a stop on the tour, with OMNOM performing as the sole headliner. Students pay nothing unless their campus wins, eliminating financial risk.
OMNOM, celebrated for fusing house, bass‑house, and other sub‑genres into a punchy, sub‑heavy sound, said the chance to headline a college festival feels like a homecoming. “College crowds bring some of the best energy there is,” he posted on social media.
Up & Up flips the conventional tour formula. Winning campuses collaborate with festival producers to host the event at a local venue, spotlighting student DJs, content teams, and on‑site activations. The approach has produced sell‑out shows before dates and venues are announced, and it has become a launchpad for students pursuing music‑industry careers.
Previous editions have featured Dom Dolla, Disco Lines, and Ship Wrek. Ship Wrek headlined the Spring 2026 tour, which was secured by the University of Oregon. Fifth‑year advertising major Lefty Howland, a student at that university, said the experience opened doors that felt closed in a small town.
Recent presale champions include Cal Poly, Miami‑Ohio, San Diego State, CSU Fullerton, the University of Tennessee, the University of Georgia, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Oregon.
For Fall 2026, Up & Up will keep its Newcomers Award for schools that have not won since the COVID‑19 pandemic, broaden “Road to Up & Up” club events near campuses, and launch a National Pep Rally. The rally is a virtual gathering that will feature surprise performances, industry workshops, and giveaways.
Students interested in hands‑on experience or internship credit can submit applications at upandupfestival.com.
Monster Energy’s sponsorship, a brand known for backing extreme sports and a diverse roster of musical acts, highlights the company’s enduring support for youth culture and music events.
In short, the Fall 2026 Up & Up Festival will see OMNOM headline four campus‑selected stops chosen through a nationwide, student‑driven ticket‑sale competition. The format continues to offer emerging DJs, student marketing teams, and aspiring music‑industry professionals a stage.
Next steps include opening applications, launching the presale window on September 15, and announcing the four winning campuses in October. Final tour dates and venues will be confirmed once the competition concludes.