Ultra Music Festival is a global electronic music festival brand founded in Miami in 1999, now hosting editions in over 20 countries. The flagship Miami edition at Bayfront Park draws 165,000-plus attendees across three days each March. The 2027 edition is confirmed for March 26 to 28, with the brand also operating Ultra Europe, Road to Ultra events, and the RESISTANCE underground series worldwide.
The 2025 edition (March 28 to 30) celebrated the festival's 25th anniversary with a sold-out crowd at Bayfront Park. Headliners included Skrillex (returning for his first Ultra solo set in a decade), Martin Garrix, Carl Cox, Armin van Buuren, Hardwell, Zedd, and Charlotte de Witte. The official aftermovie, titled "Into Hyperspace," was produced by UMF Films and FINAL KID FILMS:
How the Ultra Music Festival Brand Works
Ultra Music Festival operates as a global franchise under the parent company Ultra Worldwide. The flagship Miami edition serves as the anchor event, while international editions adapt the format to local markets. Each edition maintains the core Ultra experience: multiple stages, high-production visuals, and a mix of mainstream EDM headliners and underground acts on the RESISTANCE stage.
Key brand operations:
- Flagship Miami Edition: The original Ultra Music Festival takes place at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami each March during Miami Music Week. The 2026 edition featured over 200 artists across seven stages with an 80 percent new roster. The 2027 dates are set for March 26 to 28.
- International Editions: Ultra Europe (Split, Croatia), Ultra Japan (Tokyo), Ultra Korea (Seoul), Ultra South Africa (Johannesburg and Cape Town), and Road to Ultra events in cities worldwide. Each edition books a mix of global headliners and regional talent.
- RESISTANCE: The underground sub-brand focuses on house and techno. RESISTANCE stages appear at Ultra editions globally and also operate as standalone events, including RESISTANCE Croatia (island events following Ultra Europe) and RESISTANCE Buenos Aires.
- UMF TV and Live Streaming: Ultra streams live sets on YouTube and through UMFTV, reaching viewers in over 100 countries. This global broadcast gives performers exposure far beyond the physical festival site.
Real-World Example: Ultra Music Festival 2026
The 2026 Miami edition marked the 26th year of the festival and represented a full lineup reset. With 80 percent of the roster new compared to 2025 and 46 debut performances, the festival delivered fresh B2B pairings and exclusive sets rather than repeating past years.
Key performances included Alesso B2B Martin Garrix on Friday's Main Stage, Sebastian Ingrosso B2B Steve Angello reuniting two-thirds of Swedish House Mafia on Saturday, and Major Lazer closing the festival on Sunday. Carl Cox anchored Saturday's Main Stage while the RESISTANCE Megastructure hosted Adam Beyer B2B Joseph Capriati and Sasha B2B John Digweed. Armin van Buuren celebrated 25 years of A State of Trance with a dedicated Sunday stage.
The 2026 edition also launched the Mission: Home Alliance sustainability initiative and brought back community events Bayfront Bark and Making Waves. Tickets started at $479.15 for general admission three-day passes.
Notable Past Headliners
Ultra Music Festival has booked the biggest names in electronic music since its founding in 1999. Here is a look at headliners from recent editions:
| Year | Friday Headliner | Saturday Headliner | Sunday Headliner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Major Lazer | Sebastian Ingrosso B2B Steve Angello | John Summit |
| 2025 | Skrillex | Carl Cox | Martin Garrix |
The 2025 edition featured several historic moments. Skrillex returned to Ultra for the first time in 10 years, bringing out Damian Marley, Flowdan, Young Niko, and NAISHA as special guests. Afrojack invited David Guetta and Sia to the stage for the first-ever live performance of "Titanium." Martin Garrix closed the festival on Sunday, becoming the first artist to close Ultra with his own live vocals. His full set is available on his official YouTube channel:
Skrillex's 77-minute headline set included classics like "Bangarang" and "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" alongside newer material. He also revived his remix of Avicii's "Levels" and brought back Jack U material including "Where Are Ü Now." The full set was released in 4K on YouTube:
The 2026 edition (March 27 to 29) featured 164 artists across seven stages with an 80 percent new roster compared to 2025. Notable B2B sets included Alesso B2B Martin Garrix, Amelie Lens B2B Sara Landry, and Dennis Cruz B2B Seth Troxler. Eric Prydz headlined the Megastructure on Friday, while Carl Cox closed the Megastructure on Saturday. John Summit headlined the Main Stage on Sunday, joined by DJ Snake, Afrojack, and Marlon Hoffstadt.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The Ultra brand operates festivals in over 20 countries, giving artists multiple booking opportunities beyond Miami alone. An Ultra performance in any market puts you in front of tens of thousands of fans and a global livestream audience. The brand's multi-stage format means booking opportunities exist on RESISTANCE, UMF, and regional stages, not just the Main Stage.
The strategy for getting booked across the Ultra brand:
- Start with regional Road to Ultra events or smaller international editions. These markets are more accessible to independent artists and serve as a proving ground for the larger festivals.
- Build relationships with the Ultra Worldwide booking team. They program across all editions and track artists who perform well at one event for potential upgrades to others.
- Target the RESISTANCE stage if you produce house or techno. The underground sub-brand books differently from the Main Stage and actively seeks emerging underground talent.
- Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track your streaming growth, as Ultra bookers look at streaming data and social media engagement when evaluating new acts.
Read our music festival strategy guide for a deeper dive on getting booked at major festival brands.
Related Resources
- Ultra Europe - The Croatian edition of the Ultra brand
- Ultra Miami - The flagship Miami edition
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Estimate streaming revenue after an Ultra performance
- Tour Revenue Calculator - Plan your festival tour budget across multiple Ultra editions
- Official Ultra Music Festival Website
Similar Festivals
- Tomorrowland - The largest electronic music festival in the world, held in Boom, Belgium
- Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas - Major electronic music festival held in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Creamfields - The UK's largest electronic music festival, held in Cheshire, England
- Ultra Europe - The Croatian edition of the Ultra brand
