Inside UNTOLD’s Spectacular 10th Anniversary Festival in Romania

From Avicii’s performance at the first-ever UNTOLD to Sandro Cavazza’s emotional tribute a decade later, the festival has mastered the art of turning musical moments into lasting memories. And turning those memories into serious metrics.

The recent 10th anniversary edition, dubbed UNTOLD X, drew 470,000 attendees from 150 countries, representing a 25% spike in international participation that generated €120 million in local economic impact, according to a press release issued by organizers. These numbers tell part of the story, but the real competitive advantage lies in how UNTOLD convinced global talent to create exclusive experiences.

In one of the most emotional highlights of the Romanian mega-festival, surprise guest Sandro Cavazza delivered a tribute to the late EDM icon Avicii, who DJed at the inaugural event back in 2015. Cavazza’s live performance of “Without You,” the duo’s generational dance anthem released in 2017, drew tens of thousands of ravers singing their hearts out.

Another surefire highlight came from trance legend Armin van Buuren, who marked the milestone with a specially designed three-hour marathon set complete with a custom-built stage integration and anniversary-specific visuals. His performance included guest appearances and culminated with him stepping into the crowd during a signature moment that reinforced his decade-long connection to the festival.

UNTOLD’s masterful programming strategy balanced established electronic acts with exclusive live performances. Don Diablo used UNTOLD to exclusively preview his 2026 global tour concept, and Tiësto threw down an extended DJ set that had attendees grooving underneath the starry skies of Transylvania.

Post Malone kicked off his European tour at the festival, delivering his only Romanian performance to a packed Cluj Arena. Metro Boomin also chose UNTOLD X for his sole European festival appearance this year, showcasing tracks from his latest album alongside hip-hop hits.

Dutch EDM icon Martin Garrix brought custom production and pyrotechnics for a high-energy set mixing new material with career-defining tracks, while Brazilian superstar Alok debuted his “Keep Art Human” concept at a European festival for the first time. The production is a collaboration with Urban Theory, whose eye-popping choreography at one point incorporated Romanian flag colors as a nod to the host country.

This level of artist investment stems not only from the festival’s pedigree, but also its commitment to fostering connections beyond the music. For the first time, it hosted an “UNTOLD Kids” area with dedicated stages for children, who learned how to sing, dance and DJ. Cancer survivors from Youth Cancer Europe were also onsite for meet-and-greets with Garrix, van Buuren, INNA and more.

UNTOLD was the only European festival to feature a dedicated setup for children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, according to organizers. They partnered with the local Neuroatipic Foundation to build a “sensory box” in the arena where kids could safely watch the mainstage shows.

“Access to culture, joy and belonging should not be a privilege,” said Neuroatipic Foundation president and psychologist Crina Nedelcu prior to the festival. “When we make festivals accessible to neurodivergent youth, we help shape a more inclusive future.”

Elsewhere at UNTOLD X, the festival’s cavernous Galaxy stage hosted Dom Dolla, Black Coffee, Marco Carola, Green Velvet, ARTBAT, Adriatique and other influential producers of techno and house music.

Over at the dreamlike Daydreaming stage, Shimza, Marten Lou, Röyksopp, Jan Blomqvist, Bob Moses, Sebastien Léger, Parra for Cuva and more delivered melodic sets in a mesmeric forest setting.

After wrapping a bow on UNTOLD X, organizers are already looking ahead. They’ve now announced UNTOLD One, the festival’s edition’s next edition in August 2026, when fans can expect “more global superstars including live acts, DJs and producers, more stages, and new experiences.” The first limited passes are available on UNTOLD’s website.

In the meantime, they are preparing for the second edition of their Dubai offshoot, UNTOLD Dubai, scheduled for November 6-9 at Dubai Parks and Resorts. More details are available here.

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