Celebrating 25 Years Of Ultra Miami With 25 Milestone Moments

The wait is nearly over, and in just a few weeks the electronic dance music scene will reunite to celebrate one of its biggest milestones yet—the 25th anniversary of Ultra Music Festival. The magic returns to Bayfront Park in downtown Miami from March 28-30, 2025, and the anticipation is at an all-time high. This year’s historic edition is set to push boundaries like never before, delivering a star-studded lineup complete with cutting-edge stage designs. Whether unveiling new anthems, displaying jaw-dropping visuals, or setting new festival standards, Ultra Miami 2025 is shaping up to be the most electrifying year yet.

As the heartbeat of electronic dance music, this year boasts a masterfully curated lineup blending EDM trailblazers, rising stars, and exclusive debuts. Among the 170+ artists are the inaugural B2B sets with Deadmau5 and Pendulum, and NGHTMRE B2B Sullivan King. Attendees will witness the U.S. premiere of Drum and Bass pioneers Chase & Status' new live show. Nine-time Grammy winner Skrillex also makes his long-awaited return to the Ultra stage, marking 10 years since his last performance. From groundbreaking debuts to the triumphant returns of festival favorites, the lineup perfectly captures the essence of Ultra’s milestone celebration.

Ultra has established itself as the world's premier electronic music festival for a quarter of a century. What started as a humble beachfront gathering in 1999 has propelled into a globally renowned spectacle, drawing visitors from far and wide to experience the euphoria first-hand. From its home base in Miami to destinations around the globe, Ultra sets the bar high for music festivals worldwide.

The 25th anniversary of Ultra Miami is more than just a milestone—it’s a testament to the festival’s enduring influence, evolution, and commitment to crafting unforgettable experiences that transcend generations, uniting dance music lovers worldwide. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the iconic moments from Ultra’s past that changed history forever.

1) The debut of Ultra Beach Music Festival (1999)

The inaugural Ultra Music Festival was a single-day event on March 13, 1999. Founded by business partners Russell Faibisch and Alex Omes, the festival took over Miami Beach’s Collins Park and showcased eight DJs across two stages. Featuring performances from legends like Paul van Dyk, Rabbit in the Moon, and Josh Wink, Ultra’s debut drew an estimated 10,000 attendees.

Did you know? The festival was named after Depeche Mode’s 1997 album Ultra.

2) Ultra moves downtown to Bayfront Park (2001)

To accommodate its growing popularity and attendance, Ultra left the beach behind to establish its long-term home at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. While Ultra has briefly relocated to venues like Bicentennial Park and Virginia Key over the years, Bayfront Park has remained its primary and most cherished location.

3) Carl Cox curates the Carl Cox and Friends Stage (2005)

After Carl Cox made his debut at Ultra’s third edition in 2001, it wasn’t long before he was invited to curate his own stage. Impressed by his ability to ignite an infectious atmosphere complete with underground sounds, Ultra premiered the Carl Cox & Friends stage concept in 2005. The stage evolved into a tent the following year, and by 2011, the world famous Megastructure was born.

4) Launch of UMF Radio (2005)

Ultra Music Festival’s award-winning UMF Radio is a powerhouse in electronic music broadcasting. The weekly radio show delivers two hours of exclusive studio mixes from top-tier DJs & producers, along with live recorded performances from Ultra's festivals around the world. Syndicated across FM radio stations in over 70 countries, UMF Radio reaches more than 22 million listeners each week.

5) The debut of ULTRA WORLDWIDE™ (2008)

Ultra made history in November 2008 by hosting its first international edition, Ultra Brasil in São Paulo, Brazil. The event attracted approximately 17,500 fans, setting a precedent for the brand’s rapid international growth. Since then, ULTRA Worldwide™ has expanded across six continents, 26 cities, and 29 countries, with the latest being Ultra Abu Dhabi held in March 2023.

6) Ultra Miami’s first-ever sellout while expanding to a 3-day festival (2011)

The 13th annual edition of UMF sold out for the first time in its decade-long history with over 100,000 attendees. It was also announced that the festival would span three days. Originally a one-day event, Ultra expanded to two days from 2007 to 2010 before settling into the three-day format we know and love today.

7) Armin van Buuren brought A State Of Trance to Ultra (2011)

In celebration of 500 episodes, trance pioneer Armin van Buuren debuted a stage dedicated to his radio show A State Of Trance which continues to be a festival staple today.

8) The inaugural year of Ultra Miami's signature live stream (2012)

For its 14th edition, Ultra organizers launched an official high-definition live stream on their YouTube channel, allowing fans from around the world to experience the festival from the comfort of their homes at no cost. Year after year, this highly acclaimed stream on UMF TV attracts hundreds of thousands of viewers and continues to grow.

9) The launch of Road to ULTRA (2012)

Produced by ULTRA Worldwide™, Road to Ultra is a single-day, single-stage event concept. Each event features state-of-the-art stage production complete with world-class visuals, lighting, and pyrotechnics. These events have taken place in Thailand, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan to name a few.

10) Madonna’s surprise guest appearance (2012)

For Avicii’s first time headlining the main stage at Ultra, he was introduced by the Queen of Pop, Madonna. He then kicked off his set with his remix of Madonna's dance floor classic, "Girl Gone Wild."

11) Ultra was held over two consecutive weekends (2013)

For its 15th anniversary, Ultra expanded to back-to-back weekends for the first and only time. The expansion saw great numbers, attracting an impressive 330,000 attendees over its six-day run.

12) Zedd streaks onstage during Deadmau5’s set (2013)

During Deadmau5’s main stage performance in 2013, Zedd surprised festival-goers (and Deadmau5 himself) by running seven laps around the stage in only a bow tie and pink briefs. Impressed by Zedd’s courageous act, Deadmau5 changed his phone contact to “Zedd the Invincible.”

13) The worldwide debut of dance music anthems (2013)

Ultra is renowned for premiering some of the most iconic dance tracks in history. 2013 was a historic year with the following tracks seeing the light of day for the first time:

• “This Is What It Feels Like” by Armin van Buuren (feat. Trevor Guthrie)
• “Wake Me Up” by Avicii
• "Turn Up The Speakers" by Afrojack & Martin Garrix

14) The debut of Eric Prydz’s 3D HOLO experience (2014)

Eric Prydz is in a class of his own when it comes to breathtaking stage designs. During his main stage performance, he introduced the largest-ever 3D hologram North America has seen, closing out his set with an unforgettable “Pjanoo” finale.

15) Martin Garrix named the youngest DJ to ever perform at UMF (2014)

At only age 17, Martin Garrix performed on the main stage, making him the youngest to ever perform at Ultra. Fast forward to 2016, Garrix became the youngest DJ to ever headline Ultra Miami.

16) Justin Bieber’s surprise performance of “Where Are Ü Now” (2015)

Skrillex's last time performing at Ultra was one decade ago, but he certainly made it a memorable one. To close out his set, he invited Justin Bieber and Diplo onstage to perform a live rendition of their collaboration “Where Are Ü Now.”

17) Alesso’s historic progressive house set in the rain (2015)

At the peak of EDM’s golden era in the early 2010s, progressive house was at its prime. One of Alesso’s most memorable performances at Ultra was in 2015, when he played his timeless progressive house anthems like “Sweet Escape” against the backdrop of a rainstorm.

18) DJ Snake trolled Dillon Francis (2015)

During DJ Snake’s main stage set, he invited Dillon Francis to the stage to play out their collaboration, “Get Low.” Little did Francis know, his phone number was etched onto the giant LED screen behind him, courtesy of DJ Snake. As a result, his phone was flooded with phone calls and messages from fans.

19) The birth of the Resistance stage (2015)

First debuting at Ultra Buenos Aires in February 2015, the Resistance stage is dedicated to showcasing underground artists that specialize in house and techno. Designed by the British collective Arcadia Spectacular, the stage featured a unique 360-degree installation known as "Afterburner."

20) Ultra named as ‘The World’s No.1 Festival’ (2016)

As part of DJ Mag’s annual Top 100 Clubs poll, Ultra Miami was voted as ‘The World’s No.1 Festival’ by nearly half a million voters. Ultra went on to win the title again in 2017, marking its second consecutive victory.

21) Swedish House Mafia’s reunion (2018)

In celebration of Ultra’s 20th anniversary, the legendary trio Swedish House Mafia reunited for a surprise performance, closing out the festival’s main stage on Sunday night. Their highly-anticipated reunion came nearly five years after their farewell show at UMF in 2013.

22) Hardwell returns to Ultra after a self-imposed hiatus. (2022)

Four years after he revealed his touring sabbatical in 2018, Hardwell made his long-awaited return to the Ultra stage as the festival's closing act, marking his first live performance in roughly three years. As one of Ultra’s most sought-after artists, his performance shattered the festival’s streaming records with 150,000 viewers.

23) Armin van Buuren brings out Jon Bon Jovi (2024)

Last year saw one of the most unexpected moments in Ultra’s history when rock star Jon Bon Jovi joined Armin van Buuren during his Sunday night main stage set. Together, they premiered Armin’s remix of Bon Jovi’s classic hit “Keep The Faith,” the title track and lead single from the band’s 1992 album.

24) A torrential thunderstorm caused festival organizers to force an evacuation (2024)

A little rain never hurt anyone, but Mother Nature had other plans last year. The storm’s dangerous nature and unprecedented rainfall forced organizers to close the gates three hours early on the first day, prompting Ultra’s first-ever emergency evacuation. This led the city of Miami to lift its sound ordinance on day two, granting Ultra an extra hour and allowing the much-hyped Hardwell set to take place.

25) UMF remains one of the last independent music festivals in the U.S. (2025)

25 years after its inception, Ultra remains a homegrown festival, with events spanning every continent except Antarctica. The ULTRA Worldwide™ brand not only represents the world’s largest and most successful independent electronic music festival, but also the most international festival brand across the globe.