Durham Guide to the Slingshot Festival
For two nights in October, Durham is the international nexus for electronic music and art. Experience the Slingshot Festival.
About the Slingshot Festival
Slingshot Festival is an international festival of music and electronic arts in the South featuring dance music's leading electronic musicians alongside a range of avant-pop and experimental music. The festival returns to Durham, NC October 23-24 2026 transforming The Fruit into the international nexus for electronic music and art.
After their spring edition of Slingshot took them to Mumbai, the Durham-based festival is returning for their seventh year. This artist-run, internationally curated event promises two nights of boundary-pushing music, immersive visuals and community-powered dance floor magic. Expect a range of electronic, independent pop, rock and experimental music from around the world against the backdrop of Durham's creative, innovative and welcoming downtown. We’ve got all the details you need to make the most of your weekend.
Slingshot Festival Details and Tickets
When: October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 | 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Fruit, 305 S. Dillard St.
Tickets: General Admission tickets are $23 and can be purchased at the link below.
2026 Slingshot Festival Lineup
Slingshot creates an inclusive, high-vibe atmosphere curated by artists, for everyone. This year’s Slingshot Festival lineup includes local and NC-based talent alongside international heavy-hitters.
- Manuka Honey, a London-based producer and DJ whose set conveys chaos, sensuality and ecstatic motion.
- Debit, a Mexican-American composer, producer, DJ and adjunct professor at NYU. As a DJ, her sets combine the unmistakable swing of Latin club music into techno frameworks.
- Ma Sha, a New York-based DJ and producer Ma Sha's dance music is experimental and high-voltage.
- Black Lotus is a Berlin-based multimedia artist and rising force in the global techno scene. Her sets are immersive journeys through rhythm and blend hypnotic loops with dynamic grooves.
- Also joining the lineup are regional DJs and local experimental electronic artists including GRRL, Joe Westerlund, Kaibo, Nativa, Alvin Shavers, Ohmu, The Plate and Sholeh Asgary.
Plan Your Slingshot Festival Weekend In Durham, NC
Let Durham’s award-winning food and drink scene fuel your festival weekend. The Fruit sits in the middle of downtown Durham’s Government Services District and is adjacent to the lively Golden Belt District. Step outside and find several all-day spots, bars and restaurants within a block or two of the festival. Arrive Friday afternoon and leave on Sunday knowing you not only experienced great music, but Durham as well with these neighborhood spots.
Where to go During the Slingshot Festival
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The FruitAn inclusive performance, art and live music venue for artists by artists in Durham, NC. Formerly known as the Durham Fruit…
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21c Museum HotelStanding tall and proud in the center of downtown Durham, 21c Museum Hotel is a multi-venue contemporary art museum offering a…
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Aloft Durham DowntownWhether you’re visiting DPAC for a show, catching a Durham Bulls game, or taking in the downtown vibe, we are located…
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Durham Marriott City CenterExperience a blend of comfort and cosmopolitan style at Durham Marriott City Center. Set in the heart of Durham, this hotel…
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Springhill Suites by Marriott Durham City ViewJust one block from downtown, the all-suite Durham City hotel seamlessly blends design and functionality, offering the modern amenities you need…
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The Durham HotelThe Durham Hotel is a beautiful backdrop for any group event. With multiple event spaces available, floor-to-ceiling windows, AV technology, and…
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Aaktun Coffee & BarBrought to you by the same folks behind popular Mexican restaurant and bar, Mezcalito, Aaktun is a café and bar. It…
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Alley Twenty SixStarting in 2012, Alley Twenty Six can take credit for setting the high bar for craft cocktails in downtown Durham and…
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Bull City CiderworksBull City Ciderworks crafts gluten-free hard ciders made with 100 percent apple juice and no high fructose corn syrup. Falling somewhere…
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Cugino FornoSatisfy your taste for authentic, Neopolitan-style pizza straight from the wood-fired oven at this Golden Belt pizzeria. Best of all, you…
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Mezcalito DurhamFor more great Mexican food and drinks, head over to the newest location of Mezcalito. This small North Carolina chain is…
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NerraNerra is a seasonal, seafood-forward kitchen in Durham, NC, inspired by the land and coastlines that shape its ingredients. Rooted in…
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Ponysaurus Brewing CompanyPonysaurus Brewing Co. is a forward-thinking, backward-tasting brewery that creates beers meant to be savored, appreciated, contemplated, philosophized, studied, nuzzled and…
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Queeny’sA uniquely Durham gathering place with casual vibes, serving good food and drinks until late – one of the few Durham…
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The Daily Beer BarThe best of both worlds can be found at the independently owned café/bar combo, The Daily Beer Bar. This hip spot…
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The Durham HotelThe Durham Hotel is a beautiful backdrop for any group event. With multiple event spaces available, floor-to-ceiling windows, AV technology, and…
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Weldon Mills DistilleryWeldon Mills Distillery is a speakeasy-like space with a back-door entrance off East Main Street. Spirits are produced by day, and…
Where to Eat and Drink in Durham
The following restaurants are in walking distance from The Fruit, so you can enjoy a bite or drink right before the shows start at 7pm. If you're on the hunt for a post-show nibble, check out our guide to find which Durham restaurants are open late.
- Aaktun – A friendly coffee shop with horchata-infused espresso and homemade pastries gives way to a Tulum-inspired lunch, brunch and dinner spot that serves food until late.
- Alley Twenty Six – For a leveled-up late-night experience, try award-winning cocktails alongside caviar and tots and a seasonal menu.
- Bull City Ciderworks - Try a pint of a flagship favorite or a flight of seasonal small-batch crisp, creative ciders.
- Cugino Forno - Satisfy your taste for authentic, Neopolitan-style pizza straight from the wood-fired oven at this Golden Belt pizzeria.
- Mezcalito – Down the street from the venue, find Mexican food and margaritas to serve a crowd until 2 a.m.
- Nerra - Chef Lex's menu features seasonal, seafood-forward fare. Stop by for Sunday brunch.
- Ponysaurus Brewing – enjoy the fall weather as you grab a beer and a pizza on the expansive lawn.
- Queeny’s – From 11:45 a.m. to 2 a.m., rely on Queeny’s for a welcoming crowd, sheet pan nachos, sandwiches and snacks.
- The Daily Beer Bar - Coffee shop, lunch stop and beer hall, plus retail and a local art gallery.
- The Durham Hotel – Make yourself comfortable at The Coffee Shop at The Durham, where locals gather for coffee and lunch and stay for snacks and cocktails.
- Weldon Mills Distillery - Step into Weldon Mills Distillery for cocktails made with their small batch spirits. They have a range of elevated bar fare like Brisket Southern Nachos.
Where to Stay During Slingshot
Check out these six hotels within walking distance from The Fruit or search all of our Durham hotels to find the right fit for you.
- 21c Museum Hotel - Explore the hotel’s art collection and snag a selfie with the 21c mascot – a hot magenta penguin.
- Aloft Durham Downtown - Located near the American Tobacco Campus, Aloft offers a modern aesthetic, heated pool, and proximity to plenty of dining and entertainment options.
- Durham Marriott City Center - Marriott City Center is located in the heart of downtown adjacent to CCB Plaza.
- Springhill Suites Durham City View – Enjoy a spacious stay with modern amenities just blocks from the action.
- The Durham Hotel - A mid-century boutique hotel with a celebrated restaurant and rooftop bar.
- Unscripted Durham - An eclectic hotel with a rooftop deck, pool, and unique cocktail and cuisine options.
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