“We are working closely with the resort to have the facility shut down,” reads a statement from Ember Shores.

Following the announcement of Ember Shores relocating to Barceló Riviera Maya near Cancún in 2025, concerns about animal welfare were rapidly raised regarding the resort’s dolphinarium. The boutique festival, founded by EDM artist Illenium, has announced intentions to cease operations at the facility.

PETA reported that two dolphins, Plata and Alex, died in captivity at Barceló Riviera Maya due to attacks by “an incompatible tankmate.” Additionally, the organization pointed out that the dolphin enclosure is significantly smaller than the largest dolphin facilities in Mexico, and there is no onsite veterinarian, which it claims violates Mexican law.

A video shared by World Animal News (with a heavy trigger warning) shows a dolphin at the resort attempting a synchronized leap, landing nose-first onto the concrete walkway.

When Ember Shores announced its plans to host the event from December 5-7 at Barceló Riviera Maya on Monday, social media users voiced their concerns. One comment read, “Hi Illenium – the resort you’re holding Ember Shores at … abuses dolphins and keeps them in a kids-sized pool that is only 2 meters deep!!”

Another user expressed, “Of all the possible locations, it’s absolutely baffling that Illenium and his team chose to host Ember Shores at a resort known for torturing and killing captive dolphins.”

On February 27, Ember Shores issued a statement addressing the backlash. “We acknowledge the concerns surrounding the dolphin facility at Barceló Riviera Maya,” it stated. “Our investigation confirms that the resort does not own the facility, which is run by a third-party organization. However, we are actively working to have the facility closed, in line with our commitment to animal welfare.”

This year’s Ember Shores will follow three consecutive sold-out years at Paradisus Resort in Cancún from 2021 to 2023. The festival did not occur in 2024.