25 Years, 25 Voices: The Timeless Legacy Of Ultra Music Festival

For a quarter of a century, Ultra Music Festival has served as the ultimate pilgrimage for electronic dance music lovers. What began as a small, one-day beachside party in 1999 has evolved into a colossal celebration of sound, unity, and culture. Each year, devoted fans travel from every corner of the globe to experience the magic firsthand. This year, nearly 165,000 attendees gathered at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami—not just to witness history, but to become a part of it.

The sold-out 25th anniversary of UMF took place on March 28th-30th. The festival carried on its beloved tradition of the #ULTRALIVE broadcast, reaching millions of Ultranauts worldwide. In addition to nonstop performances all weekend, viewers were treated to Miami’s vibrant skyline, widely seen as the perfect backdrop for Ultra’s electrifying atmosphere. As UMF celebrated its quarter-century milestone, the energy felt more electric than ever—a testament to the ravers, artists, and organizers who have kept the festival’s spirit alive. Packed with endless surprises, historic moments, and groundbreaking sets, fans are calling this year’s edition the best yet.

Ultra’s global impact soared past 30 million impressions, fueled by an endless series of memorable highlights. Saturday featured several world debuts, including Carl Cox’s ‘Evolution’ live set, and b2b performances by Anyma and Solomun as well as deadmau5 and Pendulum. Although bad weather struck again and caused a temporary closure on Sunday, the festival was extended by an hour to minimize set cancellations. Martin Garrix closed out Ultra for the first time, surprising attendees with the premiere of a new collaboration alongside Armin van Buuren. Once the youngest DJ to ever perform at UMF, Garrix made history once again as the first artist to close Ultra with his live vocals.

Ultra raised the bar even higher this year in terms of festival production. Each of its seven distinct stages showcased an eclectic mix of top-tier talent and rising stars, all topped with world-class production and pyrotechnics. I spent much of the weekend planted at the Live Stage, where I caught Nero for the first time, the U.S. debut of Chase & Status’ new live show, and Zeds Dead’s ‘Return To The Spectrum Of Intergalactic Happiness’ set. Sunday night’s conflicts were tough, but I couldn't resist the euphoria of Above & Beyond, who were the perfect act to close out the festival.

Ultra 2025 was nostalgic in every sense, almost like a time capsule that brought the past to life. UMF continues to outdo itself year after year, but nothing could’ve prepared us for the wave of nostalgia when Afrojack brought out David Guetta and Sia for the first-ever live performance of their global anthem “Titanium.” I was also fortunate enough to witness Alesso bring out Nadia Ali for her first performance in ten years, where she delivered legendary renditions of “Pressure” and her timeless classic, “Rapture.” Skrillex made his triumphant return to Ultra after a decade, curating the most nostalgic set of the weekend—and for many, the best of the festival. Throwbacks like “Bangarang” and “Breathe,” along with surprise appearances by Flowdan and Damian Marley, only amplified the reminiscent energy. For a moment, it felt like we were transported back to the golden age of EDM, a time when many of us first fell in love with dance music.

While the memories I made will live rent-free in my mind, I couldn’t come home empty-handed. We stopped by the @ShopUltra tent for an exclusive merch haul and were surrounded by an incredible selection of must-have Ultra swag. Known for its trend-setting festival gear, Ultra drops a new collection each year, and this year's line did not disappoint. I snagged a tie-dye bucket hat with an official Ultra tie-dye tee, and my colleague grabbed the festival favorite black & white crop jersey. We also both copped matching white crop tops with the imprinted UMF logo. If you didn’t get the chance to shop on-site, don’t worry—Shop Ultra has you covered with online options.

​​Ultra’s 25th anniversary marked a monumental chapter in the festival’s legacy, blending decades of rich history with next-level experiences. It will forever be a symbol of innovation, unity, and the undeniable power music has to bring people together. From newcomers feeling the pulse of the mainstage for the first time to veterans who’ve danced through decades of Ultra’s evolution, every attendee has a story to tell. To commemorate its 25th year, I asked 25 attendees what they love about Ultra, and their stories paint a vivid picture of what makes this festival a global phenomenon.

1) “I love the magnetic energy that vibrates through Bayfront Park during Ultra. There’s something special about seeing some of your favorite artists under the Miami skyline surrounded by palm trees and your best buds. It’s some of the most happy and vibrational energy I’ve ever felt at a festival” - Ashli (@itsashayyy)

2) “One of my favorite parts about Ultra is accessibility. It is one of the few large festivals that is in a downtown area and you could literally stay in a hotel two blocks from the entrance. I also enjoyed the diversity of EDM artists from many different genres that include legendary artists that have been making music for decades as well as up-and-coming producers.” - Christian (@ophelia.family)

3) “One of my favorite parts of Ultra Miami is the incredible experience of witnessing one-of-a-kind sets from talented artists all while being surrounded by my closest friends. There’s something magical about sharing those unforgettable moments—the energy, the music, and the pure joy—together. It’s not just about the festival; it’s about creating memories that last a lifetime.” - Declan (@ham_ford)

4) “The best part about Ultra is that you never know what special guests there are going to be. But you do know there’s going to be a lot of them. Skrillex doing “Bun Dem” live was insane and made me feel exclusive.” - Colby (@colby_keating)

5) “Ultra Miami…there’s nothing like it. From the moment the bass drops, the lasers beam into the crowd, & fireworks burst into the sky, watching the entire crowd synchronize into one. It’s an exhilarating experience, filled with pure energy and euphoria.” - Chandler (@chandler_wilsonn)

6) “My favorite part about Ultra 2025 was witnessing Skrillex’s set. It was so special to see him return after 10 years and feel the energy of excitement and joy in the crowd. Also spending time and dancing with friends with the palm trees and beautiful Miami…also shoutout Ahadadream for my second favorite set!” - Tessa (@tessabutler_music)

7) “I love that Ultra Miami is the grand entrance into festival season for me, a getaway from the cold winters in the north east to spend time with old friends and making new ones. My best memory this year was meeting my biggest inspiration and favorite artist Martin Garrix.” - Kyle (@kincize.ofc)

8) “What I love most about Ultra are the performances. By performances, I am referring to both the brand new sets many DJ’s premier and the many unique elements regularly witnessed. Cypress Hill performing their track with Skrillex, Sia singing “Titanium” live with David Guetta, and KSHMR including a live band and dancers in his set.” - Ben (@benrobertsshuffle)

9) “I love how I can always expect top-tier production and insane performances from every artist on the Ultra lineup. You can really feel the energy in the air here!” - Hannah (@hannahcatalinaa)

10) “The euphoria, the vibe of every stage is so unique that you get contagious by everyone around you and makes you feel that the hours pass by so fast without you even realizing it! I would say it's the perfect place to create one of the best moments you'll have with your best friends!” - Alfred (@yosueedz)

11) “I love the production quality, the wide variety of artists they bring, and of course the location! My favorite part was the A State of Trance takeover.” - Tom (@thetompujol)

12) “My favorite part about Ultra was getting to witness artists giving peak performances with amazing production amongst great people.” - Ale (@piercetheale)

13) “What I love about Ultra is that diverse communities of beautiful souls around the world get the chance to unify with a shared passion for EDM.” - Marli (@mundowithmarliii)

14) “I love that there is so much music and everyone across the industry all in one place, it seems the rest of the world stops and the epicenter is Miami for those days in March!” - Lindsey (@lindsay_rhea23)

15) “I love Ultra Miami for its production and artist lineup. The stage designs and performances are unforgettable!” - Jasmine (@rightsaidredraves)

16) “Just being able to party in the heart of Miami always hits different. Miami is one of the greatest party cities in the world. One of my favorite memories of Ultra is looking up during a sunset and just seeing the beautiful Miami skyline.” - Mike (@scvno)

17) “Aside from the insanely stacked lineup, the energy and atmosphere of each stage was unmatched—I found myself dancing to subgenres I don't typically listen to! Also, it had the nicest bathrooms I’ve ever seen at a festival.” - Liana (@lianahehe)

18) “Ultra Miami is truly the only festival where you never know what is going to happen on stage. Any artist could bring out any person they have ever worked with. In conjunction with the level of guests that can appear, the production is unmatched and every single artist brings their A game. The majority of the best sets I have seen I have seen at an Ultra Miami stage. Oh and it’s such a small venue it makes getting from stage to stage super easy to avoid missing artists you love.” - Steven (@scuubbaa)

19) “My favorite part about Ultra is how the event is curated to create an atmosphere that brings your energy alive in a beautiful cityscape with top tier musicians and performances that leave you and your friends feeling inspired and grateful to have indulged in such a unique and exciting experience together. - Major K (@majorktheartist)

20) “Favorite part of Ultra is the Live Stage, I've been to every major festival and the Live Stage is the best stage for me. I also love how all the DJs go all out for Ultra between new IDs and bringing tons of singers.” - Gibu (@gibuthomas)

21) “I was surprised to fall in love with Ultra and the East Coast rave scene. The people were kind and had so much energy throughout the sets day and night.” - Destinee (@_dest_mondragon_)

22) “My two favorite things about Ultra were the Live Stage and the overall prestige of the name. The Live Stage is so unique it really brings out a live aspect of electronic music that you don't really get at other festivals. The prestige of the name Ultra has DJs playing their best songs, the throwbacks, the crowd pleasers, the songs everyone in the crowd sings along to. It's the place where artists wait to drop new tracks and new projects or come back from a hiatus. It's THAT festival.” - Mike (@mgmike1023)

23) “My favorite part about Ultra was meeting and making memories with both old and new friends!” - Jenny (@officialkourtneykardashian)

24) “Ultra Miami 2025? Man, it’s not just a festival—it’s a way of life. The second you step into Bayfront Park, the bass hits your chest like a tidal wave, the crowd’s energy is pure PLUR, and you realize: this is where dance music lives. The sunsets over the skyline, the strangers who feel like family by midnight, the DJs who throw the present into the past—it’s magic.” - Kelvin (@k16cheng)

25) “My favorite part of Ultra Miami was definitely the community. I met so many incredible people, and there’s nothing like experiencing each mind-blowing set and each moment in between surrounded by both new and old friends. It made the whole weekend unforgettable.” - Nick