As Ultra Music Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary, its impact on Miami’s cultural and economic landscape is undeniable.
The 2025 edition, which coincides with Miami Music Week, runs March 28-30 at Bayfront Park, promises to be a monumental event, boasting a lineup of more than 170 artists, including Skrillex, Oliver Heldens, Sonny Fodera, Tiesto, Amelie Lens, Afrojack, and Maddix. Ultra features a diverse array of electronic music genres, including techno, house, trance, and bass, as well as immersive art installations, and live art performances with artists such as the London Police, known for their iconic street art, and Daniel Popper, renowned for his large-scale sculptures.
Producer and DJ Anthony Cardinale has attended Ultra several times and enjoys the breadth of creative expression, from live painters to clothing and jewelry vendors.
Musician and DJ Gryffin and DJ and record producer Armin Van Buuren
“Incorporating different styles of expression when it comes to art at events really gives the attendees more of a sense of scene while diving into a sound experiment,” said Cardinale.
AN ULTRA PRIMER
From its humble origins to its current status as the center of electronic dance music (EDM), Ultra 2025 is expected to break economic records, with even higher attendance numbers, enhanced production, and a continued commitment to sustainability. Attendees can expect more immersive, AI-driven experiences, pushing the boundaries of live entertainment. EDM thrives on innovation, evolving through new sounds, production techniques, and digital advancements, making it one of the most forward-thinking forms of music.
Ultra, which started in Miami in 1999, was instrumental in shaping the modern EDM festival format, while the influx of international attendees confirmed Miami's reputation as a vibrant cultural hub. As a gateway between North America, Europe, and Latin America, Miami is well-positioned as the perfect environment for EDM to thrive. Ultra’s growth since its inaugural event mirrors the rise of EDM from a niche genre to a mainstream cultural force, enhancing Miami’s reputation as a premier dance music capital.
DJ and music producer Amelie Lens at last year's Ultra Music Festival
The first Ultra in Miami Beach drew around 10,000 attendees, and by 2011, Ultra had expanded to a three-day event. This growth mirrored the global rise of EDM, and what started as a niche festival became a global powerhouse. EDM exploded into the mainstream through the 2010s, with DJs like David Guetta, Calvin Harris, and Avicii bringing electronic music to the pop charts. Advancements in music technology have revolutionized how DJs perform, combined with the use of AI-generated music, holograms, and virtual DJ sets, EDM’s accessibility through streaming and social media allowed DJs and producers to gain global recognition without traditional record labels.
Last year, Ultra hosted approximately 165,000 attendees over its three-day event at Bayfront Park. Ultra became one of the first festivals to offer high-quality live streaming, allowing millions worldwide to experience performances in real-time, expanding EDM’s reach and the expansion of Ultra. Once a Miami-exclusive event, Ultra now has editions in Japan, Brazil, Croatia, South Africa, and beyond, making it one of the most recognized festival brands.
DJ and record producer Tiesto from Ultra 24
THE RISE OF EDM
EDM emerged from the fusion of various electronic and club music styles, evolving into a phenomenon that dominates festivals, nightclubs, and mainstream pop culture. Ultra helped push EDM into the mainstream, attracting massive audiences and turning DJs into superstars.
With roots that can be traced back to the 1970s and 1980s, disco, synth-pop, early house, and techno music laid the foundation for modern EDM. Artists, including Giorgio Moroder, Kraftwerk, and Jean-Michel Jarre, pioneered the use of synthesizers and drum machines, crafting futuristic sounds that influenced house music in Chicago and techno in Detroit.
By the 1990s, European rave culture embraced these styles, giving rise to trance, drum and bass, and progressive house, setting the stage for the explosive growth of EDM in the 2000s.
DJ and music producer Maddix at the 2024 Ultra Music Festival
The digital genre has emerged as a new frontier, with EDM embracing technology faster than most other music genres. Ultra has set new industry standards with elaborate LED screens, pyrotechnics, holograms, and immersive 360-degree visuals. DJs, once underground figures, are today’s headliners. Martin Garrix, Tiësto, and Armin van Buuren are treated as rock stars, earning millions per show.
DJ Citi, from Chicago, who has worked numerous EDM events, explains that its popularity has emerged from a philosophy embracing creative expression and a shared immersion experience.
“Music is one of the few uniting forces in the world, regardless of age, ethnicity, religion – it’s something that you feel,” he said. “For some people it’s a spiritual experience. It exists and it unites. You can’t even explain it.”
ECONOMIC IMPACT ON MIAMI
Over the past 25 years, Ultra has been a boon for the local economy. A study by the Washington Economics Group revealed that Ultra generates approximately $79 million annually for Miami-Dade County, including $32 million in labor income and $50 million in GDP contributions. Over its 24-year tenure, Ultra has contributed over $1 billion to the local economy, benefiting hotels, restaurants, and retail businesses.
From job creation and business revenues to tax contributions and infrastructure improvements, the festival's impact is felt across multiple sectors. Ultra attracts tens of thousands of people annually, with approximately 75% of them traveling from outside Miami, and visitors inject millions into the local economy.
Festival-goers spend an estimated $40 million at local restaurants and bars, with venues like LIV, E11EVEN, and Space Miami hosting exclusive afterparties that bring in additional revenue. Hotel occupancy skyrockets. And of course, Ultra attendees buy merchandise – clothing, festival gear, and souvenirs – generating increased sales for local businesses, and surges in foot traffic in the Miami Design District and Lincoln Road areas.
Ultra also brings thousands of jobs. The festival itself hires more than 1,800 workers, including security staff, production teams, event planners, and technical crew. The substantial tax revenue generated for Miami-Dade County helps fund public infrastructure, transportation projects, and city services, ensuring that Miami continues to benefit from hosting large-scale events. Ultra organizers continue working closely with city officials, implementing measures to address residents’ and politicians’ concerns about noise levels, traffic congestion, and environmental impact.
As Miami continues to evolve as a global entertainment capital, Ultra remains a cornerstone of its success – bringing in revenue, creating jobs, and confirming the city’s status as the EDM capital of the world.
IF YOU GO
Ultra Music Festival
March 28-30
Bayfront Park, Miami