Rave culture, rooted in the 1990s, included parties that often took place underground, featuring techno music and neon fashion. In the early 2000s, they were very popular among alternative teenagers and young adults, and even though the demographics haven’t changed, the concept of raves has. They’re no longer seen as alternative neon parties, but now focus more on the party aspect, featuring DJs and higher production values.
There was a point where the concept of a rave changed dramatically, and that turning point was in 2022 when a content creator named Jordan Craig decided to host a “Shrek” themed rave. The dress code was aimed towards Shrek cosplay, and the theme was very green. This turning point shifted the meaning behind a rave, it went from dark parties to projections of videos, and listening to music.
Matt Bennett, who most notably starred on Nickelodeon’s hit show “Victorious” as Robbie, launched his first world tour, Party 101, in 2023 where he toured around the United States and attracted fans from all over the world to come watch him DJ. Here he played songs from old Nickelodeon shows including “Victorious,” “Sam&Cat,” and a various mix of other Disney and Nickelodeon songs.These raves were built around the feelings of nostalgia from the 2010s, aiming for the attention of teenagers and young adults.
Most recently there has been an uproar of raves based around the show “Heated Rivalry,” which came out in late 2025. The raves have been based around watching TikTok edits of the show, and connecting with other fans of the show. Raves like this have swept through the country, and are being featured everywhere.
There has been such a drastic change from the early original meaning of a rave and what is currently the most popular type of rave. That has a lot to do with Gen Z, and their influence on media, and the production of content that is popular within the generation.
