Ultra will feature the first stage powered by zero-emission batteries in the US

Ultra has introduced a zero-emission powered stage, marking a major shift toward cleaner festival production in the U.S.

Ultra is switching things up for its 2026 edition with a major push toward going greener. For the first time in the U.S., the festival will run a full stage using zero-emission batteries. Ultra’s Sustainability Director, Vivian Belzaguy Hunter, said, “Each year, we push ourselves to think bigger, and this next chapter shows how collaboration, innovation, and culture can come together to create real impact.”

Normally, festival stages run on diesel generators, but this year the RESISTANCE Cove Stage is creating a new standard. It’ll be powered by a battery system instead, which means no on-site emissions while everything is running. It’s the same production, but it operates on Showpower’s SmartGrid Battery System using existing grid infrastructure.

The craziest part is you probably won’t even notice a difference. The sound, lights, and visuals are all supposed to hit just as hard as always. Everything is built to be super reliable, so no awkward cutouts or issues mid-set.

This move is part of Ultra’s larger Mission: Home sustainability push, which has been expanding every year. The festival has already reduced its reliance on generators by transitioning multiple stages, including the UMF Radio, Oasis, and Live Stage, to become generator-free. Now, this battery-powered stage takes things to another level.

It also connects to a bigger shift happening across the music industry. More artists and events are looking for ways to cut emissions without compromising production, and Ultra is stepping up as a leader in that space. Moves like this could push other festivals to rethink how they operate.

At the end of the day, fans probably won’t tell there’s been a change while they’re in the crowd, and that’s kind of the point. The Ultra magic is still in the air, while the only thing missing is the environmental cost behind it all. Tickets are 95% sold out, so don’t miss your chance to catch one of the best lineups ever.

Featured Image Courtesy of Ultra Music Festival

About The Author

Neil Bayless

Hey everyone, I’m Neil! I first joined the dance community back in 2019 when my friend dragged me to Moonrise, my first-ever music festival, and I became hooked ever since. I like to dabble in most genres with my favorites being tech house and melodic techno. When it comes to studio output, Camelphat is part of my daily listening rotation and for a live performance, I’ll never miss a Solomun set. You can likely catch me on the dance floor somewhere in Brooklyn!

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