Too $hort and Ja Rule join Escape Halloween lineup weeks after Ice Cube's exit

Two hip-hop additions for Halloween night

Escape Halloween, the Southern California festival promoted by Insomniac and branded this year as Escape: Psycho Circus, has added rappers Too $hort and Ja Rule to its 2026 lineup. EDMTunes and Frank151 both reported the additions on October 13, and both artists now appear on the festival's official lineup page under Saturday, October 31. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

The official lineup lists both acts on the Sewer District stage. Frank151 described Too $hort as a West Coast hip-hop pioneer and Ja Rule as a New York rapper and singer, while EDMTunes called the bookings a notable pivot for a bill otherwise built around dance music. Frank151's headline said the move makes Halloween night "a hip-hop night too." ^{[3] [2] [1]}

Ice Cube no longer on the bill

The additions follow the departure of Ice Cube, who had been one of the headline names when Insomniac revealed the lineup in early August, according to EDM Maniac. EDM.com reported on October 1 that Insomniac had posted a statement saying Ice Cube would no longer be able to join the festival. The report did not give a reason for the change. ^{[5] [4]}

Frank151 also noted that Insomniac had announced Ice Cube's exit roughly two weeks before the new bookings. Neither Frank151 nor EDMTunes said whether Too $hort and Ja Rule were booked specifically as replacements, and Insomniac's lineup page does not describe them that way. ^{[2] [1] [3]}

Dates, venue and lineup

The festival runs Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, California. EDM Maniac and Frank151 both put the bill at more than 80 acts across several themed stages. EDM.com and Frank151 identified this year's event as the festival's 16th edition. ^{[5] [2] [4]}

According to the official lineup page and Frank151, Friday's performers include Excision, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Steve Aoki, Benny Benassi, MORTEN and Cascada. Saturday's bill includes Zedd, Richie Hawtin, Galantis, Alok and Nina Kraviz alongside the two new hip-hop additions. ^{[3] [2]}

What is still to come

Set times have not yet been released. LineupScout, which tracks the festival's bill and last updated it on October 13, said set times were not yet available, and EDMTunes wrote that set times and daily breakdowns are expected closer to the event. Tickets, including single-day and two-day options, are sold through the festival's official website, according to Frank151 and EDM Maniac. ^{[6] [1] [2] [5]}