The Ultra Music Festival celebrated its 25th anniversary at Bayfront Park, drawing an impressive crowd of 165,000 attendees from over 100 countries. Over three days, the festival showcased iconic performances, including a historic collaboration between Afrojack, David Guetta, and Sia, marking Sia's first electronic music festival appearance. Other highlights included sets by Tiësto, Alesso, Skrillex, and Carl Cox, among many others. The RESISTANCE stage featured underground house and techno artists such as Charlotte De Witte and Boris Brejcha. In addition to the musical spectacle, Ultra reinforced its commitment to sustainability through its Mission:Home program, which introduced over 60 initiatives aimed at pollution prevention, waste reduction, and environmental conservation.

Friday kicked off the weekend with electrifying performances that set the tone for the celebration. Afrojack’s headlining set on the Main Stage was particularly memorable, featuring surprise appearances by David Guetta and Sia. Together, they performed their hit "Titanium" live for the first time ever, followed by the debut of their new song "Beautiful People." This unique collaboration highlighted the festival's role as a platform for groundbreaking moments in music history. Meanwhile, Everything Always delivered an explosive performance during their Ultra debut, while Subtronics brought his bass-heavy sound to the forefront. Tiësto and Alesso also captivated audiences with nostalgic sets filled with classic tracks and special surprises.

The RESISTANCE stage provided a space for underground sounds, where Charlotte De Witte closed out Friday with an impactful set. Other standout performances included Boris Brejcha and Eli Brown, who delivered powerful house and techno mixes. On the Worldwide Stage, Armin van Buuren took the reins with two headlining sets, including an epic b3b performance with Maddix and Oliver Heldens. Zeds Dead concluded the night with their highly anticipated 'Return To The Spectrum Of Intergalactic Happiness' set, following Pendulum's return to Ultra after a hiatus.

Saturday continued the festivities with star-studded lineups across eight stages. Skrillex made a triumphant return to the Main Stage for his first solo performance since 2015, accompanied by surprise guests like Flowdan, Damian Marley, and Young Miko. Hardwell delivered a closing set packed with unreleased tracks, while Axwell teased Swedish House Mafia IDs during his first solo set since 2019. Carl Cox hosted his inaugural Ultra 'Carl Cox Invites' stage takeover, featuring Richie Hawtin and Adam Beyer, culminating in Cox's debut of the 'Evolution' live show. Notable debuts included deadmau5 b2b Pendulum and Gessafelstein's avant-garde performance, alongside KSHMR's immersive live experience.

Sunday wrapped up the milestone event with Martin Garrix making history as the first artist to close the festival with live vocals. His set featured a premiere of a new collaboration with Armin van Buuren. Additional highlights included Zedd, Gryffin, and Steve Aoki, whose guest-laden set featured Trippie Redd, Swae Lee, and Mike Posner. The UMF Radio Stage debuted a psytrance showcase in collaboration with Vini Vici's Alteza label, further diversifying the festival's offerings.

Beyond the music, Ultra's Mission:Home program underscored the festival's dedication to environmental stewardship. Building on previous successes, this year's edition introduced over 60 initiatives focused on sustainability. Key efforts included the launch of the Mission:Home Artist Alliance, empowering artists to engage fans in eco-friendly practices, and transitioning additional stages to grid power. Innovative solutions like nature-based glass recycling transformed festival waste into materials for coastal restoration projects in Florida. Clean Vibes partnered with Ultra to maintain clean grounds and improve recycling efficiency, striving for a zero-waste event.

In celebrating its silver jubilee, the Ultra Music Festival not only redefined the global electronic music landscape but also demonstrated leadership in promoting sustainable practices within the industry. Through unforgettable performances and forward-thinking initiatives, Ultra solidified its position as both a cultural icon and a beacon of progress in the world of music festivals.