Ultra Music Festival is gearing up for an electrifying comeback as it builds excitement for its monumental 25th Anniversary set for March 2025. The highly anticipated 2024 Aftermovie has just been released, and ticket waitlists are now open, with ticket sales and the Phase 1 lineup expected to drop soon. With its history of unforgettable lineups, Ultra Anniversary festivals are truly in a league of their own. Make sure to secure your spot for 2025 as tickets are bound to sell out quickly this year. Let’s take a moment to reflect on Ultra Music Festival’s rich history to understand why this upcoming year will be remarkable.
The Previous Two Anniversaries (2013 & 2018)
If you ask any frequent attendee of Ultra Music Festival about their standout experiences, 2013 and 2018 will likely be on their list. During anniversary years, Ultra consistently raises the bar with its impressive lineups. Who could forget 2013? This was the year Ultra Music Festival expanded to two weekends for the first and only time, while also hosting the final performances of Swedish House Mafia before their breakup hiatus. The 15th Anniversary in 2013 introduced the iconic Arch Worldwide stage, a fixture in the festival ever since.
Fast forward to 2018, where Ultra once again astonished audiences for its 20th Anniversary. The anticipation leading up to Ultra 2018 was palpable, as fans were teased to “expect the unexpected,” with mysterious hints about a surprise closing act. This edition is widely regarded as one of the festival’s best, featuring the epic reunion of Swedish House Mafia and a rare ASOT closing set from Above & Beyond in the megastructure. Unfortunately, it also marked the last year A State of Trance would host its Sunday takeover. Following the 2018 fest, both Ultra and the world faced significant challenges as a result of the COVID pandemic. Thus, the timeline aligns perfectly, with the 20th Anniversary in 2018 leading us to the 25th Anniversary in 2025, based on festival occurrences rather than years.
What To Expect
There are numerous reasons to anticipate Ultra Music Festival making a grand statement for this anniversary. The Resistance brand has notably expanded, now occupying two stages and featuring its own dedicated venue at M2, a significant growth from its singular Spider stage in 2018. The Cove Stage has blossomed into a stunning new addition overlooking the bay, while the UMF Radio Stage has switched locations. Armin van Buuren’s A State of Trance now takes center stage on Fridays. Additionally, the much-anticipated revival of the Bayfront Park fountain will add a nostalgic touch after more than a decade of absence. In further exciting developments, Carl Cox, who opted out of Ultra 2024, has hinted at returning with something extraordinary for 2025. This will be the first anniversary featuring the Resistance satellite party at M2 throughout the entire week, hinting at possible special events.
Will this year introduce new surprises? With the fountain back in operation, it may influence the festival footprint, particularly in the main stage area. This remains to be seen.
Artists We’re Hoping For
Anniversary celebrations always ignite fan hopes for appearances from notable artists, such as the possibility of Trance Tiesto’s return; however, that seems unlikely with ASOT scheduled on Fridays at the megastructure. Will we see the revival of Armin van Buuren’s GAIA project at the Resistance Stage? That would certainly add to this year’s excitement. We hope to see Dom Dolla and John Summit bring their collaboration Everything Always to the mainstage. Additionally, we anticipate Anyma‘s major mainstage debut, complete with breathtaking visuals. Not only that, but Anyma will be performing alongside Solomun. With Rufus du Sol set to release a new album this fall, could this be the year they grace the Live Stage? After Eric Prydz showcased his innovative [CELL] experience at Hi Ibiza this summer, fans eagerly wonder if this technology will be magnified and reimagined within the Resistance Megastructure. What epic sets might Carl Cox deliver this year with his recent back-to-back collaborations with Green Velvet, Vintage Culture, and others?
Moreover, while Ultra has tested the waters with Hardstyle during single-day takeovers at the UMF Radio Stage, the question arises: is this the moment for Hard Techno to make its Miami debut? Sara Landry has made waves at EDC and Tomorrowland, but is Ultra ready to embrace this fresh sound?
While we can’t provide certainties at this stage, we encourage you to “expect the unexpected.” Stay tuned as more information unfolds.
