Ultra Music Festival Hosted the Titans of Dance Music for Breathtaking 2023 Return

April 1, 2023

Ultra Music Festival 2023 welcomed back all of dance music’s finest talent with an unbeatable lineup filled with never-before-seen performances.

Last weekend, thousands of Ultranauts returned to Bayfront Park for a sun-filled marathon of music. The world’s premier electronic dance music festival celebrated its 23rd year with over-the-top production, outstanding musical performances, and a unique environment that can only be emulated through the magic of Miami, Florida. Ultra has maintained its role as a massive cattle call for music fans and industry professionals alike to defrost from the perils of winter and reunite for days of musical bliss. Somehow a collective love for the event grows with each year as attendees and performers feel an inexplicable soul tie to the magnetic world of Ultra.

This year brought forth some once-in-a-lifetime experiences that left crowds jaw-dropped, goosebumped, and in tears that cannot go without mention. Eric Prydz graced the festival with his astonishing HOLO performance hitting the Resistance Megastructure for the first time ever. His shocking visuals created a visceral energy that rippled among the thousands in attendance. Eric’s production leaped off the screen in an effort to put the crowd under a microscope of immense proportions. Although the producer/DJ has traveled the world with this specific project, watching him perform under the Ultra Megastructure was an entirely new experience. Exron was overjoyed to share smiles, laughter, shock, and wonder with countless others who were united in fascination.

Ultra fans were comforted by the nostalgia of seeing Swedish House Mafia return to Ultra as the closing act on Sunday for the first time in five years. Their triumphant return was an extra-special moment for fans who felt deep torment when the group split in 2013 while they took time to pursue their own individual projects. As three of dance music’s most important producers returned to the stage to play their iconic tunes, the crowd jumped in elation to hear classic sounds from the golden era of EDM. The electric performance solidified their importance as long-withstanding Ultra mainstays, rivaling only their other beloved closing sets from 2013 and 2018.

The world’s favorite producer Hardwell also made his Ultra return on Saturday for a classic big-room meets hardstyle performance. The Dutch DJ announced his dance music revival with an outstanding closing set during Ultra 2022 after stepping away from the scene “indefinitely” in 2018. His performance last weekend reminded fans of his hardcore roots erupting from the stage at 140 BPM leaving the audience simultaneously jumping to the beat. A special moment to note was Hardwell debuting his remix of the new Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding song “Miracle.”

One of the most special performances of the weekend was undoubtedly Kaskade and deadmau5 playing under their Kx5 alias on the live stage. The two legendary producers DJ’d from separate consoles that spun independently adding an incredible layer of technology to the set. The pair played some of their most beloved individual singles as well as their namesake debut album which has taken the industry by storm. The visuals were award-worthy and the view over the water, bayfront park, and the downtown Miami skyline in the background was thrilling to all in attendance.

In addition to over two decades as the inaugural event of festival season, Ultra has also donned the impressive spot as one of the most environmentally sustainable large-scale events in the world with their Mission: Home initiative. Ultra is the first mega-festival in the United States to be recognized by the international NGO Oceanic Global’s Blue Standard program, and in 2023 the event celebrated three years in a row of 100% recycling acceptance. Plastic-free dining materials were one of the stand-out ways that Ultra made a difference, and it did not go unnoticed.

Other exhilarating festival moments to note were the Resistance Cove stage takeover by Dirtybird, where label lead Claude Von Stroke threw down a fiery performance for fans. Oliver Heldens and deadmau5 went back to back in the Megastructure under their techno aliases for the world debut of HI-LO b2b Testpilot, Kayzo debuted his first-ever UNLEASHED XL show complete with a full band at the live stage, and Carl Cox closed out Resistance with a mind-blowing hybrid live performance. Each evening, Ultra finished out the day with an awe-inspiring art program called ‘Drone Stories’ where 400 drones framed the mainstage in a wildly-impressive display.

Ultra’s outstanding house and techno brand Resistance also celebrated a monumental achievement with the debut of their first U.S. residency at the Miami Beach venue M2. After a successful kick-off during Miami Music Week in the days leading up to the festival, the club lauded four sold-out nights surrounding Ultra weekend. Headlining performances from Adam Beyer’s Drumcode, Sasha and John Digweed, Charlotte de Witte, and Carl Cox kept the good vibes rolling long after festival hours.

As long-time attendees of Ultra Music Festival, it’s hard to imagine a finer compilation of artists or better production leading the industry in entertainment technology. With so many festivals in the market that cater toward the overall experience, Ultra caters to the music and nothing can quite ever compare. Time to begin counting down the 51 weeks until Ultra 2024, or you can go ahead and solidify your spot with tickets here.