The annual late-March stroll to the edges of Bayfront Park always reinforces my belief that the recent weekend in downtown Miami surpasses many previous experiences. This sentiment, although tinged with recency bias, felt particularly true following Ultra’s remarkable 25th anniversary weekend.

For this significant milestone celebrating a quarter-century of its flagship event, Ultra curated what many—including myself—considered to be their most impressive lineup in the past decade, at least on paper. This extensive roster of unmissable performances, including 15 notable acts I wanted to highlight, inevitably led to some challenging scheduling conflicts for myself and the 50,000 daily participants, translating into an undeniable display of Ultra’s supremacy over March 28, 29, and 30.

First, I must express my appreciation for Richard Milstein, the creative genius behind Ultra’s annual stage designs. Expectations were high that Milstein and his REDNOIR team would deliver a mainstage aesthetic that would rival Ultra’s most iconic designs since 2013, and they succeeded. The resulting structure is, in my opinion, the most impressive mainstage since the 2016 masterpiece, complemented by top-tier production at both the MegaStructure and Worldwide stages.

Now, let’s delve into the weekend experience. I could easily transform this article into an extensive narrative detailing every remarkable moment (individual set recaps are available on the Dancing Astronaut Instagram), but I’ll refrain from indulging in overly lengthy explanations. Each second spent over the three-day festival—from the opening set by Miss Monique at the MegaStructure to Alesso’s reunion with the greatest song ever, concluding with Martin Garrix’s grand finale on Sunday—created some of the most unforgettable memories I’ve amassed in nearly a decade of March visits to Miami. A notable highlight was the three-and-a-half-hour sequence that solidified day two in both Ultra’s and my personal hall of fame. The progression from Axwell—who made his solo debut at Ultra—to Skrillex, returning after a decade, and finally Hardwell, who closed Saturday’s mainstage with one of his best sets, showcased a masterclass in performance. When asked to name my favorite artist from the weekend, I cannot separate the brilliance of the latter half of March 29 at Bayfront Park.

While there is a strong consensus that the 2025 edition stands alongside cherished installments from 2013 and 2016, there remains room for improvement as we anticipate the 26th anniversary. One critical area for feedback is addressing the entry bottleneck for general admission, with extensive lines forming at various points throughout the weekend. Once attendees reached the second stage of entry, some reported that security appeared somewhat lax, resulting in tall flag poles—explicitly prohibited by Ultra—blocking views at the mainstage.

For the second consecutive year, we faced less-than-ideal weather, as a thunderstorm forced a temporary festival halt on Sunday afternoon. Following an evacuation message displayed on the mainstage screen, confusion arose around entry status and stage closures. It wasn’t until later that Ultra announced an extended evening by an hour and shared an updated schedule, despite earlier real-time changes like Kaskade and Steve Aoki switching slots.

However, these comments are merely minor issues in an otherwise seamless anniversary celebration in downtown Miami.

Even after 25 years, the anniversary reinforced one undeniable truth: Ultra is my favorite place on Earth.

With its continued legacy of unforgettable performances, outstanding stage production, and the stunning backdrop of Bayfront Park, Ultra Music Festival showcased its highest form this weekend, offering the dance music community an unparalleled experience.

Thank you to Ultra, the production teams, staff, crew, and everyone who collaborates to make this festival a reality every March.

Featured image: Alive Coverage

Tags: ultra

Categories: Features, Festivals