This edition has finished. The page stays as the record of how EC12 worked. Their press accreditation form for 2026 closed on 15 June, which is a date worth remembering.
Electric Castle happens in the grounds of a ruined baroque castle half an hour outside Cluj, and the setting is the whole point. Banffy Castle is a real eighteenth century ruin, and the stages are built around and inside it, so you spend four days walking between crumbling brick walls and modern light rigs.
It runs as a true round the clock festival. The twelfth edition opened at 2pm on Thursday 16 July 2026 and did not close until 8am on the Monday.
The practical thing that catches first timers is the travel. Bontida is 30 kilometres from Cluj, the roads around the site are small, and the festival itself tells you not to drive. The EC buses and the EC train exist because of that, and the seats on the train run out.
We have not filmed inside Electric Castle yet. When we do, it will be on this page.
Festival info
| Dates | 16 to 19 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Banffy Castle |
| Where | Bontida, near Cluj-Napoca, Romania |
| Edition | 12th edition, EC12 |
| Camping | Yes, the EC Village campsite |
| Age | Under 7 free with a ticketed parent, rules apply up to 18 |
| Cashless | Yes, an RFID wristband |
Questions people actually ask
When and where was Electric Castle 2026?
From 16 to 19 July 2026 at Banffy Castle in Bontida, near Cluj-Napoca. It was the twelfth edition, known as EC12.
source checked 18 June 2026
Who headlined?
The announced headliners included The Cure, Twenty One Pilots and Teddy Swims, on a bill that also carried Wet Leg, Nothing But Thieves, Chase and Status, Kneecap, and Keanu Reeves with Dogstar.
source checked 18 June 2026
How far is Bontida from Cluj and how do you get there?
About 30 kilometres. Most people use the dedicated EC buses, the EC train, or a regular CFR train. Driving and parking are not recommended.
source checked 18 June 2026
How did the EC buses and the EC train work?
Non stop EC buses ran day and night from Iulius Mall and Expo Transilvania, listed at 35 lei one way. The EC train left Gara Mica and dropped at Jucu with a connecting bus, also listed at 35 lei for the whole Cluj to Bontida trip, with limited seats. Treat the prices as the 2026 figures, they move every year.
source checked 18 June 2026
What were the opening times?
Gates opened at 2pm on Thursday 16 July and the festival ran until 8am on Monday 20 July. The EC Village campsite opened at midday on Wednesday 15 July.
source checked 18 June 2026
How did the cashless wristband work?
Fully cashless with an RFID wristband. You create an account, register your ticket on the cashless platform, then top up online or on site in multiples of 10 lei.
source checked 18 June 2026
When could you top up on site, and was there a limit?
On site top ups ran daily from 11:00 until 6:00 the next morning, with a maximum cash top up of 2,500 lei. Between 6:00 and 11:00 you topped up online and then scanned your wristband at any payment point to confirm it.
source checked 18 June 2026
How did you get leftover money back?
By bank transfer only, through a refund form that was open from 16 July to 2 August 2026. There were no cash refunds.
source checked 18 June 2026
What are the rules for minors?
Under 7 went free with a ticketed parent or guardian. From 8 to 15 a parent had to be present with a signed statement, one adult for up to three minors. From 16 to 18 you needed written parental permission and got a wristband that blocked the indoor and nightclub areas. No alcohol under 18.
source checked 18 June 2026
What could you bring, and what was banned?
You could bring a backpack, a sealed plastic water bottle, sunscreen, hand sanitiser, prescription medicine in its original packaging, a professional camera, flags and a selfie stick. Banned were drugs, outside food and drink, alcohol, glass, knives and weapons, pets, umbrellas, drones, speakers and amplifiers, bikes and scooters.
source checked 18 June 2026
Where do people sleep?
Many book a hotel or an apartment in Cluj and travel out each day. The rest use the EC Village campsite, either with their own tent or in a pre pitched rental. There are homestays in Bontida but they book up a long way ahead.
source checked 18 June 2026
Links
Sources
- Electric Castle, official site checked 18 June 2026
- Electric Castle, rules and regulations checked 18 June 2026
- Electric Castle, practical information checked 18 June 2026
- NME, The Cure and Twenty One Pilots to headline Electric Castle 2026 checked 18 June 2026
- Romanian Friend, Electric Castle practical guide checked 18 June 2026