Full Breakdown
Dial Up Festival Unveils Inaugural Multi-City Y2K Nostalgia Tour
6/20/2026, 12:04:39 AM
Inaugural Dates and Headliners
The Dial Up Festival will launch with three outdoor shows: November 7 at Castaic Lake Recreation Area (Castaic, CA), November 21 at Wild Horse Pass Festival Grounds (Chandler, AZ), and December 12 at Panther Island Pavilion (Fort Worth, TX). Nelly and Sugar Ray headline every date; each location adds a rotating lineup of late-1990s/early-2000s acts.
Cultural Context
The festival markets itself as a Y2K-themed celebration, emphasizing mixtapes, flip phones, burned CDs, mall culture, VHS rentals and dial-up internet. Organizers cite a growing demand for nostalgia-driven live events that revive the aesthetics and social rituals of the pre-streaming era.
Organizers and Anchor Acts
CODA Entertainment produces the festival. It selected Nelly—whose 2000 debut *Country Grammar* produced hits such as “Ride Wit Me” and “Hot in Herre”—and Sugar Ray—known for “Fly,” “Every Morning” and “Someday”—as anchor performers, representing the crossover hip-hop and pop-rock sound of the Y2K charts.
Schedule and Venues
- Nov 7, 2026 – Castaic Lake Recreation Area, Castaic, CA: Nelly, Sugar Ray, Lit, Alien Ant Farm, Unwritten Law (others pending).
- Nov 21, 2026 – Wild Horse Pass Festival Grounds, Chandler, AZ: Nelly, Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth, Alien Ant Farm, Warren G, Paul Wall, Unwritten Law.
- Dec 12, 2026 – Panther Island Pavilion, Fort Worth, TX: Nelly, Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth, Buckcherry, Paul Wall, Unwritten Law; holiday-themed celebration.
Ticket Options
General admission starts at $64.99 plus fees. VIP passes cost $159.99 plus fees and include dedicated entry, premium stage views, lounge seating, air-conditioned restrooms, exclusive food and beverage options, and a commemorative laminate.
Y2K-Themed Experience
Organizers promise themed bars, specialty cocktails, food vendors, interactive games, photo installations and immersive experiences inspired by flip phones, disposable cameras and dial-up internet. The Fort Worth show adds seasonal cocktails, festive décor and a Santa Claus appearance. Attendees are urged to wear late-’90s/early-2000s fashion and reconnect with friends, including those who “traded AIM screen names.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “Article Views: 35 A brand-new nostalgia-driven music event is set to bring the sounds and culture of the late 1990s and early 2000s back to life this fall.” — CODA Entertainment, Festival Producer
- “The multi-city outdoor festival will make stops in Castaic, California, on November 7th, Chandler, Arizona, on November 21st, and Fort Worth, Texas, on December 12th, with each event offering a unique lineup while celebrating the music, fashion, and pop culture that defined the Y2K generation.” — CODA Entertainment, Festival Producer
- “If the fest is aiming to bottle the spirit of the TRL years, it’s hard to imagine more fitting anchors than Nelly and Sugar Ray.” — Spin Magazine, Music Commentary
Official Statements
CODA Entertainment says the festival will revive Y2K culture through themed venues, specialty drinks, interactive games and immersive experiences. The company also notes that each market will feature a unique lineup that celebrates the era’s music, fashion and pop culture.
Future Outlook
Organizers hope the Dial Up Festival will become a recurring Y2K celebration, building on the three inaugural shows.
