Afrojack News
Ultra drops historic Phase 1 lineup for festival’s 25th anniversary celebration
Ultra Music Festival is gearing up to celebrate its 25th anniversary in historic fashion, returning to its long-time home of Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami from Friday, March 28 – Sunday, March 30, 2025. Ahead of this milestone event, Ultra has unveiled its impressive Phase 1 lineup – a momentous roster that further solidifies its legacy as the World’s Premier Electronic Music Festival.
As the preeminent curator of electronic music’s rare, ‘you-had-to-be-there’ moments,
Ultra kickstarted the Phase 1 lineup announcements last week by revealing plans to host the first-ever, world-exclusive Anyma b2b Solomun performance as a headlining set on the festival’s Main Stage. A revolutionary collaboration between Anyma’s cutting-edge audiovisual artistry, and Solomun’s renowned technical mastery, this landmark, global debut will combine mesmerizing visual installations, avant-garde sound engineering, and awe-inspiring stage design to create a futuristic, immersive experience for the ages.
Soon after announcing the historic Anyma b2b Solomun set, Ultra unveiled even more exciting Solomun news: the Croatian DJ will bring his Diynamic record label to the festival for the very first time, hosting an exclusive stage takeover at the RESISTANCE MegaStructure. Diynamic’s debut Ultra Music Festival takeover will feature a solo headlining set from Solomun himself, as well as first-time festival performances from esteemed artists like English electronic experimentalism pioneer Four Tet, Dutch tech-house superstar Mau P and more.
Ultra’s 25th anniversary celebration wouldn’t be complete without its most iconic figure, Carl Cox, who will be debuting his brand-new Live Show in his headlining set at the RESISTANCE MegaStructure. The legendary British DJ and producer has been a cornerstone of the festival since DJing at the event’s third edition back in 2001, shaping Ultra’s legacy with every performance. In 2005, Ultra broke ground by inviting Cox to curate his very own stage, which started as a modest tent dubbed ‘Carl Cox & Friends.’ Over the last two decades, that humble tent has evolved into the world-famous RESISTANCE MegaStructure, helping to solidify Ultra Music Festival as the premier tastemakers for not only stadium-smashing, Main Stage superstars, but also for underground house and techno masters.
Although Cox has curated numerous stage takeovers at Ultra over the years, the 2025 festival will see the beloved artist bring his globe-trotting ‘Carl Cox Invites’ brand to the event for the very first time. Taking over the RESISTANCE MegaStructure, ‘Carl Cox Invites’ revolves around Cox’s reputation for bringing together artists who are pushing the boundaries of electronic music, showcasing the underground’s most in-demand talents alongside emerging house and techno stars. Anchored by the debut of Carl Cox’s brand-new Live Show, the ‘Carl Cox Invites’ stage takeover will feature a plethora of live performances from house and techno heavyweights.
Ultra has spent the last two decades cementing its status as the vanguard of dance music’s never-before-seen, history-making performances, and the festival’s 25th anniversary celebration will raise the bar even higher. In addition to presenting the world’s first Anyma b2b Solomun set, Ultra 2025 will also host the first-ever, world-exclusive deadmau5 b2b Pendulum DJ set. Although deadmau5 and Pendulum have previously shared the Ultra stage – when deadmau5 joined Pendulum during their 2016 Main Stage set for a performance of ‘Ghosts ‘N’ Stuff’ (with Pendulum’s Rob Swire) – their upcoming b2b DJ set will mark the first full-scale collaborative performance between these two electronic music giants.
In addition to their debut b2b DJ set, both deadmau5 and Pendulum will also deliver headlining standalone performances that are equally as special. Multi-platinum electronic music producer deadmau5 will play the first-ever ‘retro5pective set,’ featuring a collection of his old-school catalog hits – no new material, just pure, iconic throwbacks. Meanwhile, Pendulum will present a live performance, their first at Ultra since 2022.
In another festival first, house music megastars Dom Dolla and John Summit will take to Ultra’s Main Stage with their joint project, Everything Always, marking the superduo’s debut Miami performance. Since launching this collaborative venture in 2023, Everything Always has quickly become one of electronic music’s most sought-after shows seamlessly blending their unique styles and musical visions into an immersive, high-octane affair.
Five-time GRAMMY Award-nominee Axwell is a seasoned presence on Ultra’s Main Stage, having headlined the festival multiple times as part of his Swedish House Mafia supergroup, as well as his collaborative Axwell Λ Ingrosso project. However, for the first time in the festival’s history, Ultra 2025 will feature Axwell performing his own solo headlining set on the Main Stage.
Legendary trance group Above & Beyond etched their name in Ultra history with a surprise headlining set at the festival’s 2018 edition, delivering one of the most captivating and euphoric performances of the weekend to close out the ASOT Stage. Now returning for the first time since that momentous occasion, Above & Beyond will deliver an exclusive performance for festival’s 25th anniversary.
Trance legend Armin van Buuren has been a mainstay at Ultra since his inaugural performance in 2005, and eighteen years later, he continues to push the boundaries of his artistry. During his headlining set on Ultra’s Main Stage earlier this year, the GRAMMY-nominated powerhouse delighted fans with a surprise appearance by American rockstar Jon Bon Jovi, premiering his unreleased remix of Bon Jovi’s 1992 classic single “Keep the Faith.” At Ultra 2025, Van Buuren will deliver yet another mesmeric Main Stage, headlining set, in addition to hosting a stage takeover from his global radio show A State of Trance – which will mark the 13th ASOT takeover in the festival’s history.
Following his stunning sunset performance at Ultra 2024, illustrious Dutch producer and DJ Hardwell will once again headline the Main Stage in 2025, building on the momentum from his set last March and his surprise closing performance in 2022. Known for blending his vintage sound with an updated big room techno style, the Revealed Recordings label boss continues to play a vital role in the Ultra Music Festival brand, both before and after his four-year hiatus from 2018 to 2022.
Ultra will also welcome back world-renowned superstar Martin Garrix, who made his Ultra debut in 2014 when he was only 17 years old and has headlined nearly every edition of the festival since then (with the exception of 2018).
Three-time GRAMMY Award-winner and multi-platinum artist Zedd will return to Ultra’s Main Stage after his electrifying 2023 performance, which included a surprise appearance by superstar rapper Ice Spice. Zedd’s upcoming Main Stage headlining set will mark his first Ultra performance since the release of his ‘Telos’ LP earlier this summer, his first album in nine years.
With this massive Phase 1 lineup announcement, Ultra will also welcome back a plethora of veteran headliners, including Swedish superstar Alesso, who last performed at Ultra 2023, GRAMMY-winning Dutch icon Tiësto, and Dutch international sensation Afrojack.
LSZEE, the collaborative project featuring bass masters CloZee and LSDREAM, will make its monumental Ultra debut at the 2025 festival, uniting their unique sonic landscapes for an unforgettable performance. Following LSDREAM’s solo set in 2022 and CloZee’s solo performance in 2023, this highly-anticipated collaboration promises to blend CloZee’s ethereal soundscapes with LSDREAM’s heavy-hitting bass, creating a transformative, galvanizing experience.
Ultra’s 25th anniversary installment will also usher in the highly-anticipated returns of two pioneering electronic music acts: Gesaffelstein and Nero. Gesaffelstein, known for his dark and atmospheric soundscapes, will grace the Ultra stage for the first time since 2014, bringing his electrifying energy and cutting-edge production to celebrate the festival’s milestone. Meanwhile, Nero, the GRAMMY award-winning trio celebrated for their fusion of dubstep and drum & bass, will perform at Ultra for the first time since 2016, promising an unforgettable experience for fans as they showcase their iconic hits and innovative new material.
Similarly, Ultra’s Phase 1 lineup announcement also includes festival veterans like iconic UK drum & bass duo Chase & Status, who are set to unveil their new live show following their explosive Ultra 2024 DJ set. Cyclops label-head Subtronics will also make his return, bringing his signature, bass-heavy arsenal after a powerful debut at the festival in 2023.
Ultra’s esteemed underground brand, RESISTANCE, will once again present a bevy of house and techno’s most in-demand acts across two stages: The Megastructure and The Cove.
Richie Hawtin is no stranger to the RESISTANCE MegaStructure, but the 2025 festival will mark the techno pioneer’s first live performance at Ultra, where he’ll present his revolutionary live show ‘DEX EFX X0X.’ Anchored within the immersive fluidity in digital manipulation that Hawtin’s DJ performances have become synonymous with, DEX EFX X0X builds upon the concepts of his ‘Decks, EFX & 909” series of compilation from 1995 – 2005, using all the performance tools available today. DEX EFX X0X demonstrates equally the early foundations and future of DJing, representing an exciting evolutionary step in Hawtin’s lifelong commitment to the development of the electronic music scene.
Heralded as the most international house and techno festival brand, RESISTANCE will feature headlining performances from leading underground acts, like Drumcode label boss Adam Beyer, as well as KNTXT ringleader Charlotte de Witte, who will return to the festival following her historic Main Stage debut at Ultra 2023. Joining them will be Boris Brejcha, the German ‘high-tech minimal’ specialist who made waves with his Ultra debut in 2022 by hosting his FCKNG SERIOUS record label’s first-ever showcase in America. Also featured will be Miss Monique, now a staple of the ULTRA Worldwide circuit, who captivated RESISTANCE audiences at the 2024 editions of ULTRA Europe, ULTRA Korea, ULTRA Japan and ULTRA Hong Kong. British techno producer Eli Brown will return to Ultra for his first-ever solo set, following his 2024 performance alongside Oliver Heldens’ techno alias HI-LO, while Ukrainian duo ARTBAT will once again fuel the RESISTANCE dance floor with their chart-topping records.
RESISTANCE will also present debut festival performances from beloved underground acts including 999999999, the Italian duo renowned for their influential role in the modern hard techno scene, and I Hate Models, the French producer who epitomizes the essence of contemporary industrial techno.
In addition to hosting stage takeovers from Carl Cox Invites, Diynamic, and ASOT, Ultra 2025 will proudly welcome preeminent hardstyle label Dirty Workz back to the UMF Radio Stage for the fourth consecutive year. After making history by hosting Ultra’s first-ever hardstyle stage at the 2022 festival, Dirty Workz will once again serve up a smattering of hardstyle, jumpstyle and happy hard beats. Continuing the festival’s endless commitment to touching all corners of the dance floor, Ultra 2025 will present the festival’s first-ever psytrance stage, curated by powerhouse psytrance duo Vini Vici’s Alteza Records.
Featuring an extensive array of world-class performers, with nods to the past, present, and future of electronic music, Ultra’s expertly-curated Phase 1 lineup is a tour-de-force of genre-crossing talent. From trailblazing global debuts, to the celebrated homecomings of festival favorites, the Phase 1 lineup aptly sets the tone for more show-stopping artist announcements to come.
Afrojack News
EDM Festivals You Can’t Miss, September 2025
EDM Festivals in September 2025 are guaranteed to keep the momentum rolling as summer transitions into fall.
From legendary brands making global moves to underground takeovers and bass-heavy spectacles, here’s your guide to the top EDM festivals you won’t want to miss this September.
Tomorrowland x Insomniac
Dates: Aug 29 – Oct 18 (majority of shows in September)
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Two titans of dance music, Tomorrowland and Insomniac, join forces inside Las Vegas’ cutting-edge Sphere for a once-in-a-lifetime set of shows. Expect immersive visuals, boundary-pushing production, and a lineup featuring DJ Snake, Alan Walker, Subtronics, and more. This historic collaboration sets a new benchmark for festival experiences.

Ultra Japan
Dates: September 13–14
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Ultra returns to Tokyo Odaiba Ultra Park with its signature brand of high-energy stages, global superstars, and local talent. The 2025 edition brings Hardwell, Martin Garrix, Calvin Harris, DJ Snake, and more alongside Asia’s rising EDM acts. With Japan’s passionate crowds and futuristic setting, Ultra Japan is always a standout.

Experts Only
Dates: September 20–21
Location: New York City, USA
With the record label going from strength to strength, John Sumit‘s Experts Only brand is now expanding with it’s very first festival. Taking place in the heart of NYC, the debut will see a headline performance from John Summit himself along with Kaskade b2b Cassian, Pete Tong, Green Velvet b2b Layton Giordani, and more.

Lost Lands
Dates: September 19-21
Location: Legend Valley, Ohio, USA
Excision’s bass music mecca is back, bringing the dinosaurs, the pyro, and enough sub-bass to shake the earth. Lost Lands 2025 promises the heaviest dubstep, riddim, and drum & bass lineups of the year with sets from Acraze, SVDDEN DEATH, Rezz, and of course, Excision himself. Expect massive production, late-night sound camps, and a community vibe like no other.

Together Festival
Dates: September 5–6
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
One of Southeast Asia’s biggest EDM gatherings, Together Festival takes over Bangkok with a mix of mainstage giants and regional talent. Past editions have hosted Martin Garrix, Zedd, and Marshmello, with 2025 inviting Afrojack, Paul Van Dyk, Sub Zero Project, Topic, and more.

PRIMER Music Festival
Dates: September 6–7
Location: Athens, Greece
Set against the backdrop of the historic Greek capital, PRIMER has quickly become a must-stop on the European circuit. Known for blending top-tier headliners with a Mediterranean vibe, this year’s edition welcomes Armin van Buuren, ARTBAT, Purple Disco Machine, and more.

Beonix
Dates: September 19–21
Location: Limassol, Cyprus
On the shores of the Mediterranean, Beonix brings a mix of house, techno, and progressive sounds to Cyprus. With stages designed around art and immersive visuals, the festival creates a sleek balance of music, design, and seaside relaxation. Artists like Armin van Buuren, Roger Sanchez, and Boris Brejcha are expected.

Caprices Festival
Dates: September 19-21
Location: Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Caprices is set high in the Swiss Alps with panoramic mountain views. This boutique festival draws house and techno purists for intimate sets from the scene’s best. Think Franky Rizardo, Loco Dice, and Cassy paired with breathtaking alpine backdrops.

Nocturnal Wonderland
Dates: September 13-14
Location: Southern California, USA
As North America’s longest-running rave, Nocturnal Wonderland continues to enchant with colorful art, glowing lights, and a diverse lineup across drum & bass, house, trance, and bass. Hosted by Insomniac, the festival mixes nostalgia with cutting-edge production for a true rave wonderland.

CRSSD Festival
Dates: September 27–28
Location: San Diego, USA
Held at San Diego’s Waterfront Park, CRSSD has become the West Coast’s premier house and techno festival. With its oceanfront skyline views, palm trees, and craft food and cocktails, the vibe is unmatched. The 2025 edition is set to feature Purple Disco Machine, John Summit, Jamie Jones b2b Adam Ten, and more.

From the futuristic Sphere in Vegas to the alpine peaks of Switzerland, September offers some of the most diverse EDM festivals of the year. Whether you’re chasing underground grooves, mainstage anthems, or bass-heavy madness, the month is stacked with choices around the globe.
Afrojack News
Sporty-O Drops Fiery EP ‘Symphonic Resistance’
Sporty-O is once again breaking down the barriers between genres with the release of his thumping new EP ‘Symphonic Resistance.’
His music has been going viral with it being featured in over half a million videos on TikTok and amassing over a billion views through those videos. After releasing the amazing ‘Blue Lights’ to tease what was to come, he’s now unveiled the full force of ‘Symphonic Resistance.’
The EP kicks off strong with Sporty-O injecting his mix of hip hop and EDM into possibly the world’s most powerful chant, the haka. The track has a very tribal feel from the chant and the fantastic percussion, topped off with some super heavy synths. ‘Bumble Bee’ keeps the powerful synths coming and takes on a style reminiscent of some classic DJ Snake which is always a welcome sound to hear. Kicking on into track 3, ‘You A B***h’, Sporty-O really lets loose with a drop that hits like a train thanks to his excellent use of dynamics. Rounding off the EP is ‘Blue Lights’ which offers a shift in energy with a slightly calmer feel that still pumps out tonnes of dancefloor energy.
Sporty-O’s past productions have wracked up plenty of accolades for him with his tracks getting support from the likes of Afrojack, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Hardwell, Nicky Romero, and many more. Also, his discography has ventured across several major labels including Virgin Music, Jungle Cakes, and Zone Records. All this success has earned him spots on some of the biggest stages in the world from Tomorrowland to Ultra Music Festival. It’s a repertoire that is truly mind-blowing and is one that is sure to continue expanding with the release of ‘Symphonic Resistance.’
Sporty-O said of the EP: “Symphonic Resistance is a musical celebration of melodies, harmonies and concepts that effortlessly & colourfully dance outside of the norm while encouraging the listener to embrace creative & artistic freedom in every aspect of life — because you only live once. Why live that life like everybody else!”
Sporty-O takes inspiration from all the right places on this EP with a sound similar to that of the legendary Jauz. However, the EP is no mere replica of others work as Sporty-O’s unique style shines through, and he continues to impress with his production skills.
You can follow Sporty-O on his socials below:
Afrojack News
Here’s Why You Need To Go To Airbeat One
Airbeat One has grown vastly since its debut in 2002 and this year for its 22nd edition they pulled no punches.
250 DJs, over 225 hours of music, 200,000 visitors from over 50 countries, and countless unforgettable moments. The numbers only tell part of the story so here’s some of the many reasons you should be adding Airbeat One to your festival season for 2026.
The Stages
The amount of time and effort that goes into building stages is monumental and Airbeat One puts everything into creating jaw-dropping, vibrant, massive stages. The mainstage is a whopping 180 meters wide and 45 meters high. Changing its design every year according to the theme, the mainstage evolves from edition to edition. Words cannot describe the spectacle that is their mainstage, and it doesn’t stop there. Every stage boasts a unique style that catches your eye and boggles the mind from this years entrancing butterfly stage to the harder stage taking on the shape of a bulls head.

The Lineup
Afrojack, Maddix, Oliver Heldens, Steve Aoki, Vini Vici, Alok, Amelie Lens, Armin Van Buuren, Hardwell, Lucas & Steve, Timmy Trumpet, Dimitri Vegas, and Sebastian Ingrosso. All of these world-renowned artists took to the stage this year as part of the 250 DJ lineup. The pull that Airbeat One has for some of the best artists in the world is astonishing and makes for 3 days and 4 nights packed to the brim with talent. While it’s certainly a more techno and hardstyle centric festival, there’s still a diverse platter of genres to be heard to keep everyone entertained. In one visit you can tick off a whole lot of artists from your bucket list.
Pyro/lighting
Seeing pyro and fireworks at the end of the day at a festival is a lovely site. But what if there was more. A lot more. Airbeat One is full throttle all day with their visuals as even opening artists get pyro. Instead of fireworks only happening at the end of the day, they put on a show for hours with fireworks and pyro going off throughout DJ sets. This makes every set an astonishing spectacle that keeps on giving and giving. The flames go even further than just the stages though as on the arches over the walkways you’ll find more fire lighting your way to the next stage. For miles around you can see the sky being lit up by the array of lasers and other FX lights which are truly dazzling. Rounding off this years edition of Airbeat One there was an intense 15-minute firework show followed by Armin Van Buuren which is one hell of a way to end a festival.

The Themes
While a lot of festivals look fairly similar year on year, Airbeat One changes its look drastically each year to suit the theme. Every year they take on the theme of a different country with past editions celebrating the cultures of India, England, America, and this year Spain. The mainstages design is based around famous buildings from the country that’s acting as the theme as well as the other stages following the theme. The whole site is decorated to fully immerse you in the culture offering a fresh look every year. 2026 will see Airbeat One transform Neustadt-Glewe into a Dutch landscape with The Netherlands taking over the theme.
Site Design/Care For Festival Goers
The site, its design, and all the stalls make sure to cover you for everything you need in any kind of weather. They offer plenty of spaces with shade from the sun, shelter from the rain, and places where you can rest your legs. Comfy seating and hammocks can be found around the site which gives you the opportunity to take that much needed 10 minutes to recover before heading straight back into the crowd. In the event of rain there’s lots of solid paths around the site allowing you to get around without sinking into the mud. You’re also covered on the hearing protection front with plenty of stalls around the site where you can acquire ear plugs. Along with this you can enjoy a diverse selection of food with there being plenty of different food stalls to take your pallet on a journey around the world. All these things add up to make the festival experience a delight even when you’re away from the stages.

It has been another barnstormer of a year for Airbeat One as they have further solidified themselves as one of the best festivals in the world. It’s a sensory delight everywhere you go and it’s continuing to evolve with constant improvements being made every year. The festival will be taking place from July 8th – July 12th 2026 with The Netherlands as its theme. Make sure your calendar is clear.
You can learn more about Airbeat One through their socials below:
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