Scene
This weekend Split became the central point for electronic music, where the 12th edition of Ultra Europe took place at Park Mladezi. The three day festival once again showed that music possesses the incredible power to bring people from all corners of the globe together in one place. Split once again served as a meeting point for diverse cultures, languages, and generations. The main stage featured headliners such as Calvin Harris, Armin van Buuren, Martin Garrix, Dom Dolla, Fisher, John Summit, DJ Snake, Afrojack, Hardwell and many more. Whereas theRESISTANCE stage featured Sara Landry, DJ Jock, Mau P, I Hate Models, Nico Moreno and plenty more names that are currently at the center of the scene.
John Summit, DJ Snake and Afrojack opened the festival and Park Mladeži more packed than ever confirmed on the first night that this is the festival’s biggest edition to date. John Summit, a star of the new generation of the global electronic music scene, took to the main stage and transformed it into an explosion of energy, emotion, and euphoria. The crowd was also thrilled by DJ Snake and Afrojack, the latter concluding his set with one of the most moving musical tributes. Avicii’s timeless “Wake Me Up” turned the entire festival grounds into a massive sing-along, evoking the music that defined a distinct era of the electronic scene. Oliver Heldens took the audience back to 2013 with a performance of the cult classic “Gecko“, the track that launched him into the global elite during the very year ULTRA Europe was writing its opening chapter. It became apparent within the very first few hours that this edition would write a new chapter in the festival’s history, as the area in front of the main stage had never been more packed. Tens of thousands of “Ultranauts” from over 140 countries came together to create a spectacle that made headlines around the globe.
Meanwhile, the iconic RESISTANCE stage once again became a haven for fans of the underground sound. The evening was opened by Croatian DJ Jock, followed by Deer Jade, who immersed the crowd in a hypnotic atmosphere of melodic rhythms. A favorite among “Ultranauts,” Miss Monique, kept the night’s intensity building with her signature progressive and melodic techno sound. Adam Beyer, one of the most influential figures in the global techno scene, premiered a new, unreleased track during his set, offering the audience an intriguing glimpse of his upcoming music. The duo CamelPhat took over for the finale; their signature blend of melodic house and progressive sounds took the RESISTANCE crowd on an essential underground audiovisual journey.
The second night of the 12th edition of the ULTRA Europe festival was a night when a long-held dream became reality, and Split once again demonstrated why it is currently beating in rhythm with the entire world. Park Mladeži had never been more packed, and the moment generations of “Ultranauts” had hoped for since the festival’s inception finally arrived: Calvin Harris took the ULTRA Europe stage for the first time, delivering a spectacle that surpassed even the highest expectations. Joining him on the Main Stage were Vanillaz, Dash Berlin, Maddix, Worship, Dom Dolla. “Croatia is the heart of Europe, and Split is the heart of global electronic music,” declared Dash Berlin the moment he stepped onto the main stage, subsequently treating the audience to a special surprise with the premiere performance of the song “Lonely Man.” Just before him, the Croatian duo Vanillaz opened the evening—proving that the local electronic scene stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s biggest names—while Maddix and Worship ramped up the energy with their signature blend of big room and techno sounds. The long-awaited Dom Dolla sparked particular excitement, setting the perfect stage for a moment twelve years in the making. Calvin Harris’s arrival was far more than just another festival performance; it was a moment where twelve years of anticipation, ambition, and dreams culminated in a spectacular event. Before tens of thousands of people, Park Mladeži transformed into a sea of light, emotion, and voices united in singing the greatest hits of one of today’s most influential music creators and producers. The night was closed by Hardwell, who despite the rain, managed to create an unforgettable atmosphere that was completely lifted with the sudden bad weather feature.
While the Main Stage was making festival history, RESISTANCE once again confirmed why fans of underground electronic music regard it as one of the most highly acclaimed festival programs in the world. The evening opened with Croatian artist SHIPE, followed by Ben Sterling and Malóne Morez, who gradually built a hypnotic atmosphere driven by distinctive house and techno rhythms. The crowd was then taken over by Mau P—one of the most sought-after artists of the new generation—whose energetic set further ramped up the night’s intensity, while the grand finale belonged to Jamie Jones. As one of the world’s most influential house DJs and producers, Jones transformed RESISTANCE into the pulsating heart of the underground scene with his marathon musical journey—cementing the stage’s status as a magnet that draws an ever-growing number of visitors year after year, all eager for a top-tier electronic sound.
The final evening opened with Croatian artist Kraundler, after which Plastik Funk treated the audience to a series of musical surprises and premiere performances. An explosive B2B set by Ray Volpe and Sullivan King brought a whole new dimension of energy, blending electronic and metal music, while BUNT. was responsible for one of the most special moments of the entire weekend. At the very end of his set, he left the stage, jumped into the crowd of “Ultranauts”—blurring the line between performer and audience—and created a scene rarely seen at festivals of this scale. Emotions soared with the arrival of Armin van Buuren, who, together with Sacha, premiered their new single, “Everlasting.” Shortly after, Martin Garrix’s performance confirmed his unbreakable bond with the ULTRA Europe audience. It was at this 12th edition of the festival that he debuted a new intro for his set, surprising the tens of thousands of fans before him. At one point, he paused the music and addressed the record-breaking crowd at Park Mladeži with a simple question: “Is everyone okay?” The answer came in the form of thousands of raised phone flashlights that instantly illuminated the festival grounds. His performance once again demonstrated why Ultranauts welcome him back year after year as one of their favorite artists. The grand finale belonged to Fisher, who debuted in Croatia in an unforgettable way.His signature blend of energy, charisma, and infectious groove provided a fitting conclusion to a weekend that saw Split once again become the center of the world.
On its final night, RESISTANCE remained true to its distinctive identity, drawing a crowd that experiences electronic music in a completely unique way. Tomo in der Mühlen and Will Atkinson opened the Sunday evening, after which I Hate Models and Nico Moreno took the audience on a journey through various shades of the contemporary techno scene with their intense sets. The grand finale belonged to Sara Landry, whose style and powerful interaction with the crowd brought the event to a close—an event that attracts an ever-growing number of underground electronic music enthusiasts year after year.
Besides the enthusiastic crowd and the top-notch performers, the production is what contributed to the atmosphere of the event. With fireworks shooting out of the sky at major beat drops, lasers filling the air continuously and fire blowing out from the stage, this edition of Ultra Europe just made it clear why people from 140 different countries keep showing up. What makes this year so special is the Croatian debut of Calvin Harris, the legend that marked the era of the 2010s and created a nostalgic atmosphere in the crowd, with people singing his songs, hugging and dancing so freely. This year’s Ultra Europe is the most sold-out one to date and it’s clear why, with the kind of spectacle that Split has offered once again.
