There’s a unique joy to be found in the long-form DJ set. Whether experienced live or through a recorded mix, a two-hour session can often feel restrictive. Why not go longer, dig deeper, and embrace a more playful, wilder approach? In February and March 2026, many selectors took this philosophy to heart, lugging armfuls of USBs to the decks to offer listeners a long-form jubilee.
Traxx, a critical Chicago selector, pushed the boundaries further than most, delivering nearly ten hours of eclectic selections that traced an entire history of Black dance music. Similarly, Benedikt Frey & Diamin provided an all-nighter that soundtracked an everything-goes club night with undeniable joie de vivre. Meanwhile, in Oceania, Miscmeg, Mike Midnight, and deep creep leaned into slinky, contemporary UK tech-house sounds, while Vladimir Ivkovic showcased his mischievous, meditative style through back-to-back sets with Ivan Smagghe and Manfredas.
A Diverse Landscape of Sound
The variety of sets during this period was staggering. Cal-C explored slow-and-low rollers perfect for sun-blasted highways in his Pacific Spirit series, while DJ DEADNAME sprinted through a blistering array of club bombs in a high-energy live set. Qoso focused on corrugated-metal dembow and post-industrial mayhem, and Lucia Kagramanyan crafted a Dadaist collage of ancient and hypermodern Armenian folk, trap, and choral records.
March proved to be a veritable cornucopia of talent. Alfred Anders and Al Wootton offered heady, deep sets that kept dancefloors at a simmer, while Bristol selectors Bass Clef and Batu looked toward Japanese footwork and bass-heavy tunes, respectively. Joe Delon and Carlos Souffront provided masterclasses in disco-infused jubilee, and Kamal Naeem kept a firm eye on the sounds of the ‘80s.
Spotlight on Key Performances
Bass Clef, Juke, Footwork & 160 from Japan
Bass Clef strips the footwork genre down to its bare essentials, selecting cuts that emphasize the space between the beats. It is a masterclass in articulation, proving that the genre’s power lies not just in its speed, but in its structural tension.
Batu, All Night
Batu’s six-hour recording from Los Angeles is a testament to his reputation as a steady-handed curator. He seamlessly bridges the gap between dub and gqom, revealing a labyrinthine approach to modern dancefloor architecture.
Nicolás Jaar, Nuvole (for Sergio)
Nicolás Jaar continues to evolve, focusing here on long-form dub techno. While he maintains his signature ability to invite dancers down a “black hole,” the set is punctuated by surprising flourishes, including contemporary-classical tearjerkers and folk-infused house.
These sets represent the best of what the current electronic music landscape has to offer—a mix of technical precision, historical reverence, and a willingness to embrace the absurd. Whether you are looking for the meditative or the raucous, February and March 2026 have provided a wealth of material to explore.