Held from Friday, March 28 to Sunday, March 30, Ultra Music Festival’s 25th anniversary was a celebration worthy of its legacy. At its iconic home of Bayfront Park, Ultra reminded fans why it remains one of the most beloved festivals in electronic music. Across three unforgettable days, the energy, talent, production, and surprise moments made for an experience that’ll be etched into the memories of those lucky enough to attend or even watch from home.
Let’s get the very few minor gripes out of the way. While the site was mostly well-managed, there were occasional choke points that made navigating the festival grounds a bit frustrating. Certain walkways felt unnecessarily tight due to fencing placement, which caused a few annoying crowd bottlenecks. And on Day 3, the weather took a turn, with flooding warnings that temporarily evacuated the event. But Ultra bounced back perfectly. Not only did the team clear the grounds and resume safely, but they also secured permission to extend the festival by an hour, ensuring that fans didn’t miss out on the Sunday headliners. Despite soggy shoes and damp grounds, the energy never dipped.
From a musical standpoint, Ultra 2025 exceeded expectations. The Main Stage was stacked with star power, and every day delivered moments that’ll go down in dance music history. One of the most jaw-dropping was when Afrojack brought out David Guetta and Sia to perform ‘Titanium’ live for the first time ever. Seeing that unfold on the 25th anniversary felt symbolic. Ultra has always been about defining moments, and this was one for the ages.
Skrillex returned to Ultra solo for the first time in a decade and delivered a mind-blowing set filled with surprises, IDs, and guest appearances. Martin Garrix deservedly closed the festival for the very first time, even closing his set by singing live.
Beyond the main stage, each area of Ultra was thoughtfully curated. The RESISTANCE Megastructure and Cove remained a haven for techno fans, with legends like Carl Cox and Charlotte de Witte delivering heavy, hypnotic sets. Carl Cox’s new ‘Evolution’ live show was a standout, pushing boundaries both musically and visually. Meanwhile, the Worldwide and Live stages showcased rising talent and fan favorites, giving attendees endless options and discovery moments across the site.
Solomun also made his mark this year, curating his debut Diynamic stage on Sunday, before treating fans to a surprise back-to-back-to-back-to-back set with Mau P, Four Tet, and Chloé Caillet. The spontaneous energy of the session brought together deep grooves and eclectic sounds, closing out the stage in true underground fashion.
One of the best parts of Ultra is that it marks the unofficial start of festival season, and with that comes new music. DJs came prepared with brand new IDs, exclusive premieres, and surprise collaborations. You could feel the buzz in the air as unreleased tracks dropped set after set, reminding fans why Ultra is such a vital platform for dance music.
Saturday’s stretch from Armin van Buuren into Anyma b2b Solomun, followed by Axwell, Skrillex, and Hardwell, was simply unmatched. The energy didn’t let up, and the crowd stayed locked in from start to finish.
Despite the occasional crowd congestion and Sunday’s weather hiccup, Ultra 2025 was a masterclass in large-scale event production. The visuals were stunning, the sound was crisp, and the vibes were electric. It’s clear why Ultra has lasted 25 years and why it continues to be a must-attend for electronic music fans around the globe.
If Ultra Miami is still on your bucket list, there’s no better time than 2026 to make it happen. The next edition returns to Bayfront Park from March 27–29, 2026, and if this year was any indication, you’re in for something truly unforgettable.
