From the Bedroom to the Ultra Stage: Evolution’s Artist Origin Series

The best time of the year is almost here, Ultra Music Festival and Miami Music Week are just one week away, and the anticipation is at an all-time high. As the official kickoff to festival season, Miami attracts artists and fans from around the world for the biggest week in dance music. Taking over Bayfront Park from March 27 through March 29, Ultra 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most monumental and ambitious editions to date.

Set to make history with several rare joint performances, this year’s lineup features a reunion B2B from Swedish House Mafia’s Sebastian Ingrosso and Steve Angello, a can’t-miss B2B between progressive house pioneers Alesso and Martin Garrix, and the world-exclusive premiere of Amelie Lens B2B Sara Landry. The festival will also host the first-ever collaborative set from Deorro, Mike Posner, and MORTEN as TIMELESS. With over 100 acts on the roster, heavy hitters like John Summit, DJ Snake, Major Lazer, and Vintage Culture will return to the Ultra stage, alongside nearly 50 debut performances including WORSHIP (Sub Focus, Dimension, Culture Shock, and 1991), ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, and WANKDAT (Wooli & Crankdat).

From every corner of Bayfront Park, a kaleidoscope of sounds fills the air. Spread across seven stages, the diverse subgenres of EDM coexist peacefully, which is part of what makes Ultra legendary. In just one night, you could have the signature Ultra experience at the Mainstage where festival anthems resonate through the crowd, just like you’ve seen on the YouTube livestreams. Or get a taste of techno and underground vibes at the RESISTANCE Megastructure. Then celebrate Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records 30th Anniversary and 25 years of Armin van Buuren’s A State of Trance during Ultra’s standout stage takeovers. No matter where the beat drops, Ultra delivers a sonic adventure like no other.

Voted as No. 2 in DJ Mag’s Top 100 Festivals poll in 2025, Ultra is a career-defining milestone for any artist who performs there. Months, or even a full year of preparation go into what many consider the “Super Bowl” of EDM. As Ultra’s lineup grows more expansive, giving new talent the chance to shine, it remains home to dance music’s most renowned names who return year after year. But long before the festival sets and global stages, every artist had to start somewhere. From bedroom studios to international fame, discover how these artists’ journeys and early sounds sparked their careers and paved the way to Ultra, the world’s premier electronic music festival.

Hardwell

What was the first electronic track that changed your life?

That was Tiësto’s ‘Suburban Train’. I remember hearing it as a kid and just being completely blown away. There were no vocals, just this pure energy, rich in melody and tension. It felt so big and emotional at the same time. That track made me realize electronic music could move people without saying any words, which was such a big shift in identity for me because around that time I was just a kid into hip hop, which was mostly all lyrics. But with ‘Suburban Train’ that was the moment something else clicked and I just felt, “This is what I want to do.”

You first played Ultra at just 21 years old, take us back to that day. What did it feel like walking onto that stage? Where were you in your career at that time?

That was really one of those “wow” moments! I was 21, full of ambition, nerves, and adrenaline! Ultra was already one of the biggest festivals in the world, and suddenly I’m standing backstage about to walk out in front of thousands of people. At that time, my career was building fast. I had some strong releases, I was touring heavily, but Ultra felt like a defining moment. Where I stepping into a different world. I remember going on stage the first time and hearing the crowd roar, it was so, so surreal. In that moment it really hit me, “Okay, this is happening.” It wasn’t just another show, it was way bigger than that, it felt more like a statement. Truly amazing!

If you could go back to your first Ultra performance, what advice would you give yourself?

I’d probably say to try and enjoy it more. It sounds kind of silly saying it out loud but when it’s your first time in that moment, I don’t know, you just kind of get carried away with so many emotions it’s really hard to centre yourself and fully process what’s actually happening. I was young and hungry, and wildly single-minded on perfection; everything from transitions, track selection, the energy. So you easily forget to take it in. Ultra was a milestone. I would tell my younger self to breathe, look at the crowd, and really feel the moment. Those are the memories that stay with you forever.

Any advice for artists that are playing Ultra for the first time this year?

The biggest thing any artist should focus on is, bringing your identity. Don’t try to sound like what you think Ultra should sound like, trust me! Make Ultra sound like you. The fans at Ultra are educated, passionate, and global. They’re there for something special. So, take risks, play your unreleased music, create a moment. If you’re on that stage, you’ve earned it.

What did taking a hiatus teach you about who you are beyond the stage?

I’ve said it many times because it's true, my sabbatical was one of the most important and best decisions I ever made my life. It taught me that I’m not just “Hardwell the DJ.” I’m Robbert, a son, a friend, a human being. When you’re touring nonstop, it’s easy to get lost and your identity can get tied to the stage. Stepping back helped me reconnect with why I started making music in the first place. It gave me perspective, balance, and a healthier relationship with my career and most importantly myself. And honestly, it brought back the fire. I feel healthier, happier and more creative than I can ever remember.

How does Ultra’s atmosphere influence how you curate your set compared to other festivals?

Ah, Ultra is intense…..but, in the best way possible! The crowd comes ready. They want big moments, world premieres, and emotional highs. For Ultra, I always prepare something special. New edits, unreleased tracks, exclusive intros. I understand the challenge. I understand it has to feel like an event. It’s not just about playing hits; it’s about creating a chapter in your story. Ultra sets live forever online, so you have to think bigger.

As a long-standing Ultra veteran, how do you continue to raise the bar and reinvent your set each year?

My thought process is reinvention starts in the studio. If the music evolves, the show evolves. I challenge myself creatively every year to push the boundaries. So, whether that’s exploring a new sound, redesigning the intro, or reimagining older tracks in a new way. The key is staying curious. The moment you think you’ve figured it out, you stop growing and as artists you should never stop growing, never stop learning, never stop being curious! Ultra deserves evolution. And as artists, we have to evolve too.

When fans think of Hardwell’s Ultra set, what do you hope they’ll remember?

For me, I’d be super happy if one or all of these are what comes to mind when fans think of my sets: Energy. Emotion. Unity. My goal has always been to make people remember how it felt. Leaving buzzing about that rush when the drop hits. Or that moment when the whole crowd was jumping together. The connection between a DJ and the fans where everything else disappears is such an incredible moment, it’s in many ways indescribable but when it happens, wow!!

What’s your favorite memory from Ultra?

This is always tricky to answer because there are so many but of course my surprise come back in 2022 sits incredibly high on the list for obvious reasons. I think being so far into my career, taking such a long-extended break from performing and then coming back with a surprise show to close the festival was something special! Those closing moments on the Ultra Main Stage when the lights, fireworks, and music all come together, it’s really difficult to describe in words how it felt. The fact that I was there, with a completely new musical identity, performing 100% new music, just added a level of emotion I’d never experienced in my life before. It was both terrifying and amazing all at the same time! Ultra has been part of some of the most defining chapters of my career. It’s not just a festival for me.

Nostalgix

What was the first electronic track that changed your life?

Definitely "Animals" by Martin Garrix - it was the first dance music record I'd ever heard. I remember I was driving around Vancouver at the time and I heard it on the radio and it...absolutely blew me away. I'd never heard anything like it and I went home and I googled songs similar to "Animals" by Martin Garrix.

Take us back to your first Ultra set. What did it feel like walking onto that stage? Where were you in your career at that time?

My first time performing at Ultra was in 2024. I had just released my EP ‘Star City’ and was on tour, which was a really really pivotal time for me as an artist because I was starting to play internationally and it was always a really big dream of mine.

Getting to perform at a festival like Ultra had always been my dream, because I'd gone to this festival as a fan in 2016. Walking on that stage for the first time felt like a really big full circle moment for me - It meant a lot to be performing at one of my dream festivals.

If you could go back to that first Ultra performance, what advice would you give yourself?

I would tell myself to have more fun. I spent so much time working non-stop on getting the set right and I wanted every moment to be perfect. I was being such a perfectionist about preparing and I'm really happy with how it all came together, but also I wish I would have just gone back and told myself “enjoy this! Just go out there, give the best that you can, and just go have fun girl”.

Any advice for artists that are playing Ultra for the first time this year?

I’ll give them the same advice that I would tell myself - enjoy every second of it. You deserve to be here. You've worked so hard to be here. Be present and really just have fun.

How does it feel to be part of this year’s UMF Radio x Dim Mak stage takeover?

I am so excited to be part of the Dim Mak stage takeover this year. Steve Aoki is such a legend - I love what he's doing, and he's definitely someone that I look up to. He's been such a supporter of me over the years. I also love everybody over at Dim Mak so I'm so excited to be doing this stage takeover all together. I feel like it's gonna really just feel like a bunch of friends coming together and putting on a really cool show. It's gonna be so much fun and I'm very excited to be part of it.

How has your set evolved since your Ultra debut? Has your preparation process changed as well?

I feel like I've grown a lot as an artist and as a person since my Ultra debut. You'll definitely be able to hear that in my set and my music. I'm also going to be playing out my debut album ‘Inferno’ (releasing March 27th) in my set as well, so I'm very excited to get to share everything that I've created over the past couple of years since my debut. I think it's going to be really really special and I can't wait to share it with the fans.

For someone seeing a Nostalgix set for the first time, what do you hope they’ll remember?

I just want fans to have a great time. I want everybody to have so much fun and I think the biggest takeaway is I want people to come to my set to let loose and be able to walk away feeling like they felt something or were able to release something. Hopefully they’re able to dance and feel joyful, maybe feel inspired. Overall, my biggest hope is just for people to have a good time.

What does it mean to you to perform on a global stage like Ultra representing women in dance music?

Oh, it means absolutely everything, especially being a woman that was born in Iran performing on a global stage like Ultra. I feel honored to be a woman in dance music and to be representing other women at Ultra. There are so many insanely talented female producers and artists in this space, and I'm always clapping when I see women in dance music killing it. I'm just so honored to get to be one of those faces at Ultra.

What message do you hope young women in the crowd take away from seeing you on stage?

I want young women to walk away knowing that they can do whatever they set their mind to. Whatever dream or hope they have, they can do it. You can be whoever you want to be in this world - there truly are no limitations. I hope that if a young woman is standing in the crowd thinking, “Damn, I really want to do that. I want to pursue my dream or try something different,” I can be a source of inspiration for her.

Alan Walker

What was the first electronic track that changed your life?

The first electronic track that changed my life would be "Fade." The song I made in 2014 which later became "Faded." Both songs have had a significant impact on what made me as an artist and how I chose to pursue a specific sound in my music. 

Take us back to your first Ultra set. What did it feel like walking onto that stage? Where were you in your career at that time?

I remember my first Ultra performance very well. It was a very special one. I had always watched Ultra livestreams from home in Norway, to then be there at the peak of my career. What made it extra special was that it was my debut at Ultra but it was also the same day that my song "The Spectre" surpassed one billion views on YouTube. So we celebrated that moment on the stage there.

If you could go back to your first Ultra performance, what advice would you give yourself?

Back then I was so nervous to perform, so I’d tell myself to not be scared, everything will be fine. Go out there, do your thing and keep on doing that. People won’t care as long as you don’t mess up. 

Any advice for artists that are playing Ultra for the first time this year?

Same as I would have told myself back then. You have the greatest opportunity to showcase yourself as an artist. Play what you love and play the sound and music that defines you for you. I think that once you establish the sound and signature sound/style of your sets, you can go far.

How does Ultra’s atmosphere influence how you curate your set compared to other festivals?

I feel like Ultra is one of those festivals where you’d definitely want to curate to what you’d think the crowd wants. I would like to deliver a fun up-tempo show for the audience this year. Primarily focusing on my original tracks but keeping a tempo around 128-150 bpm +/-.

What does it feel like to return to Ultra after performing in past years?

Being back to perform feels amazing, I can’t wait! It's one of the most unique venues in the entire world, in downtown Miami. One of my favourite places to play.

From your Ultra debut as a rising artist to now as a headliner, how has your live show evolved?

From my debut show in 2017 to now nearly 10 years later, my shows have evolved a lot since back then. I still try to keep things in a style of what I would deem an “Alan Walker-show” to be. But with 10 years of touring and new music coming out as we have gone, my musical library has also evolved a lot. So I am very happy that I can almost entirely play a show and solely focus on my own singles and getting in some crowd pleasers here and there and do some cool mashups. 

What’s your favorite memory from Ultra?

It has to be my first time ever on the mainstage. Can’t forget that. So many DJ’s I’ve looked up to growing up have shared the same stage, so I’m humble and honored to have the chance and opportunity to play that. 

What’s next for Alan Walker? Any projects, unreleased tracks, etc. you’d like to share?

We have many exciting projects coming up. We are slowly but surely getting closer and closer to my new album release that’s called World of Walker: Season One – Rise of the Drones where I’m taking the listeners on a melodic journey and we revisit some of the old-2016 style of Alan Walker music and also exploring new styles and genres. It’s also one of my most ambitious projects yet: a 17-track immersive experience that expands the World of Walker universe in a big way. It’s not just an album, it’s a whole interactive world where the Walkers help unlock tracks, shape the narrative, and connect through music, videos, gaming, fans platform “worldofwalker.com” and more. The focus track “Getaway” launches with the album alongside an epic double music video we shot in Petra with “Monster” on Mar 27. I can’t wait to bring some of this energy to Ultra! It’s all about creating that sense of community and journey for the Walkers. Other than that we have some exciting events and projects we are working on that will be revealed later on in the year, but for now everything looks very promising and exciting.

Madeon

What was the first electronic track that changed your life?

"Digital Love" by Daft Punk. I remember being 11 and listening to it on loop for hours at a time, i never knew music could make me feel like this. 

Take us back to your first Ultra set. What did it feel like walking onto that stage? Where were you in your career at that time?

Those first couple of years of my career were a whirlwind. Everything felt uncharted, there weren’t teenage DJs like me I could reference and the entire scene reached an unprecedented scale. It felt electric.

If you could go back to that first Ultra performance, what advice would you give yourself?

I would encourage myself to stay true to my taste and my perspective!! Always cultivate your difference.

Your last Ultra performance was a B2B with San Holo. What does returning this year as a solo act mean to you?

Ultra is a milestone festival. This is gonna be the US festival premiere of Victory Live, this feels so important to me.

How have you evolved your live show, both sonically and visually, to reflect your new era, ‘Victory’?

It’s a whole new show - the musical energy is harder and punkier, it feels more captivating to me. I think visually it’s my exact vision, I’m so proud, I think there is nothing else quite like it. I play with a fictional electronic virtual band that morphs and transforms, I duplicate myself with a clone theatrical effect, I get murdered…It’s very narrative and hopefully very earnest.

After debuting “Victory Live” at Red Rocks last fall, how do you plan to reimagine that live experience for the Ultra crowd?

I was really thrilled by the reaction of my fans to the show at Red Rocks, it feels like the risks paid off and it was the warmest reaction I’ve ever gotten to a show.

Ultra will be the first time in the US I get to introduce it to a festival audience. We’re carefully adapting every single piece of content to the specific production and screen of the Live stage. I want it to be perfect. I cannot wait to see how people react.

In what ways does Ultra’s Live Stage allow you to present your true creative self as an artist?

The Live Stage feels very different from the rest, it’s designed to be more of a canvas for artists to display their vision uncompromisingly. It’s the perfect fit for me. We’ll have space to bring in my custom stage design and perform the show as I always intended.

What excites you most about this next chapter of the Madeon project?

There is so much I want to tell you… I think there are collaborations that will surprise people, and the show will continue to grow and evolve. And everybody will get to meet my imaginary band and they have a lot of stories to tell…

What’s your favorite memory from Ultra?

There’s a well known photo of Skrillex, Zedd, Porter Robinson and me at Ultra 2013…Whenever I see it it brings me straight back, it was an incredible moment in time. My goal is to make it so that in a decade, I can look back at photos from Ultra 2026 and feel as much joy and nostalgia.

Jessica Audiffred

What was the first electronic track that changed your life?

"Silence" by Delerium (Tiesto remix)

Take us back to your first Ultra set. What did it feel like walking onto that stage? Where were you in your career at that time?

It was last year and I honestly couldn’t believe I was there, seeing it from the livestreams and then finally be physically there, my mind was going crazy.

If you could go back to your first Ultra performance, what advice would you give yourself?

I enjoyed it so much I honestly don’t have anything in particular I would’ve changed, but it was so rainy, so I would def bring another type of shoes for this one ☝️

Any advice for artists that are playing Ultra for the first time this year?

Enjoy it, be sooo present.💝

How does it feel to return to Ultra for your solo debut set after playing a b2b last year? What can fans expect from your set?

This is gonna be a 1000% me, my vision, my mood swings everything… it will be a super personal show and I can’t wait to play again!

How does your preparation process differ from last year’s b2b to this year’s solo set?

I always freestyle but this time I want to tell a different story.

What does it mean to you to perform on a global stage like Ultra representing women in dance music?

I’m super grateful for this and so proud to be a Latina playing at this epic festival.

What message do you hope young women in the crowd take away from seeing you on stage?

To be themselves ♥️

What’s next for Jessica Audiffred? Any projects, unreleased tracks, etc. you’d like to share?

Tons of unreleased tracks will be premiered here and super exciting collabs that might be played too! So excited for all of you to hear the new music and see the new show! ♥️