Ultra Music Festival Over the Years
The History Behind Ultra Music Festival; What Today is Considered One of the Biggest Global Music Festivals
So, Ultra… Where did it all begin?
The Ultra we know and love today was not always as grand and large-scale as it is. Ultra began… somewhere…
Here’s how Ultra sprouted into, arguably, one of the worlds best electronic music festivals.
Ultra Music Festival began in good ole’ Miami back in 1999. Of course it did, Miami has been and always will be the city of good music and good energy. What is now a three day long weekend festival, began as a one day event in Collins Park in Miami Beach. Founded by Russell Faibisch and Alex Omes. T, perhaps they did not realize just how significant the impact their work would leave on the electronic and house music scene.
The DJ’s that performed at this 1999 event were artists like Paul Van Dyk and Josh Wink - doesn't get more iconic than that if you ask us. Despite facing a financial setback costing them tens of thousands in losses, the festival made a comeback in 2000 also held at Collins Park….
Moving on to 2001, the event continued to grow and made its way to Ultra’s more profound location, Bay Front Park. The 2001 show hosted big wigs like Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Paul Oakenfeld, Pete Tong, and many more incredible founding fathers of electronic music. Just check out this lineup from 2001 - it looks vintage.
2001 Lineup
The big move to Bay Front Park, meant more room for music and a larger crowd. The festival in two years, had done pretty well.
As electronic music continued to gain popularity globally, Ultra Music Festival expanded its duration to a two-day event in 2001 and then to a three-day festival by 2005-2011. This expansion allowed Ultra to feature a diverse range of electronic music genres, attracting a broad audience of fans.
Ultra's international expansion began in 2011 when it hosted its first international edition in São Paulo, Brazil. This was a serious milestone as Ultra Music Festival started establishing a worldwide presence. Ultra was a global phenomenon.
2012 is when Ultra began to live stream and record every set throughout the wild weekend for fans all over to join in and enjoy the festival from anywhere in the world - genius. Just look at how much even the line-up posters have evolved in such a short amount of time. Ultra was ultra-evolving.
2012 Lineup
The festival celebrated its 21st edition in 2019, marking over two decades of electronic music festivities. Ultra Music Festival has consistently featured some of the biggest names in the EDM industry and has also become THE platform for showcasing new talents.
Over the years, Ultra Music Festival has truly played a significant role in EDM festival culture. It’s become known for its cutting-edge stage designs, immersive experiences, and diverse lineups, making it a must-attend event for electronic music lovers worldwide.
The festival persisted through the world's modern day hindrances - like economic recessions and things like the COVID pandemic, but all in all, Ultra lives to see another successful year. Ultra 2024 we are beyond excited for you.
Show us what you’ve got.
