As Ultra Music Festival launches the US festival season, Miami Music Week shines as a distinctive event not to be missed.
With Ultra Music Festival and Miami Music Week (MMW) now concluded, the US festival season is officially in full swing. Ultra attracts over 50,000 attendees daily to Miami‘s Bayfront Park, but often overlooked is MMW, a citywide celebration of dance music culture that occurs the week leading up to and during Ultra.
MMW transforms Miami into a vibrant hub of continuous events, featuring pool parties, pop-ups, boat parties, warehouse raves, and club showcases. Unlike festivals that confine activities to a single venue, MMW spans the city, taking place at iconic locations such as Club Space and Factory Town, as well as boutique venues like Floyd, Jolene Sound Room, and ZeyZey. These venues host extensive DJ sets that can last three, four, or even ten hours, providing fans with intimate experiences with their favorite artists that are hard to find in traditional festival settings.
What sets Miami Music Week apart is its remarkable diversity and international allure. It showcases a wide array of dance music genres, including house, techno, drum and bass, and trance, while fostering connections within the global dance music community. Fans and artists flock to Miami from around the world; I even traveled from Bali to participate in this year’s festivities.
The return of the Winter Music Conference (WMC) further cements Miami’s importance as a key destination for industry professionals. This three-day conference dives into the music industry with panels and discussions featuring prominent figures. As one of the few industry-centric events in North America, alongside global gatherings like the International Music Summit in Ibiza, Berlin‘s Music Conference, and the Brighton Music Conference, WMC attracts industry insiders and artists eager to network and collaborate.
An equally significant aspect of MMW is the intensity and frequency of artist performances. DJs like Beltran and Chris Stussy often participate in one to three events each day throughout the week. Although demanding, this rigorous schedule paves the way for spontaneous and creative sets that go beyond typical artist repertoires.
Impromptu back-to-back sets and even surprise performances are becoming the norm, particularly at Club Space, but the fact that this is happening all over the city is exceptional. This year, Skrillex utilized MMW’s unique platform to host a surprise listening party for his new album, showcasing the unpredictability and excitement of this week-long marathon.
One of the standout events this year was organized by Miami-based Pnk Records at ZeyZey. While venues like Club Space will always have a special place in my heart, the Pnk Records party exemplified the sense of community and dedication that characterizes MMW.
Attendees fully embraced the theme, donning branded merchandise and Pnk Records clothespins, showcasing a level of community engagement that is rare elsewhere. Combined with fantastic performances from local and label-affiliated artists, this event truly encapsulated what makes MMW unique: a passionate, connected, and vibrant community coming together to celebrate the music they adore.
While tickets for these events sell out rapidly, Miami Music Week is an experience not to be overlooked. It highlights the global reach of dance music with unmatched authenticity and community spirit. This festival offers a more intimate connection to the culture of dance music, something that would typically require a trip to Ibiza to find.
Anyone who values the depth, diversity, and collective joy of dance music should consider attending Miami Music Week next year or in the future. It is uniquely tied to the city of Miami and would be challenging to replicate elsewhere.
