Closing Amnesia Ibiza: The proof that authentic clubbing is still alive
Amnesia Ibiza held its Closing Festival earlier this month, gathering the largest number of clubbers on the island and once again proving that its Closing moves an unmatched essence and synergy.
What is the biggest challenge for a club? And for you? We all share the same drive: the constant desire to move forward, to improve, to seek something more, without rushing but with determination and conviction. For a nightclub with nearly half a century of history like Amnesia, staying true to this goal may seem like a challenge, but it continues to succeed.
On its dancefloors lie decades of clubbing culture, a legacy that every electronic music lover wants to experience and that no club, no matter how advanced its technology, can replicate. This weekend, marked in Ibiza by the intensity of the season’s closing events, Amnesia once again proved that it continues to offer an unmatched experience of music, dancing, and joy. But what made this year’s Closing truly special? Over the course of two nights and a morning, more than 32 international artists came together to bid farewell to the season in an unprecedented event.
Friday, October 11th – Day 1
Anyone who saw the lineup for both days might have thought Friday would be a quieter night, but the airport traffic seemed to transfer directly to the line at the doors, which began forming right at the 10 PM opening, proving otherwise. The most common language heard was British-accented English, and the euphoria of the crowd vibrated through the venue, even in the outdoor area, where clubbers took photos with event wristbands and exclusive T-shirts.
Opening the Terrace with perfect warm-up beats, Italian DJ Dukwa was followed by the young Jan, who filled the floor with energy and made the crowd dance to the top. His set turned nostalgic when he played the classic “Glue” by Bicep. The Main Room opened at 11 PM, with Les Schmitz quickly paying homage to Amnesia by spinning James View’s “Party Time,” the track that promoted the Closing Festival worldwide. One of the highlights of the night was undoubtedly Hannah Laing’s set—the only woman performing on Day 1. Her intense UK Garage beats peaked with her new track “Ibizacore,” keeping the energy high for Ben Hemsley, who debuted his track “Tidal” in front of a live audience for the first time. Malugi closed the Main Room, delivering a perfect finale with classics that put smiles on the faces of everyone who loves to dance.
Friday night on the Terrace was a spectacular tribute to house music. At midnight, resident DJ Danny Howard took the crowd on a journey, bouncing to catchy beats like Lucas Alexander’s “Ouse it Up.” At 1:30 AM, one of the season’s breakout stars, Sammy Virji, took the stage. When “Find My Way Home” played, the crowd raised their arms, embracing the pure joy of the moment. Next up was Sonny Fodera, another resident DJ, who lit up the Terrace for the last time this year. The grand finale came from Claptone, closing his residency at Amnesia’s The Masquerade nights in stunning fashion.
Saturday, October 12th – Day 2
On Saturday, the streets were buzzing with people asking for tickets to Amnesia’s Closing Festival, which had sold out two weeks in advance. The desperation for tickets was evident, as the Amnesia Closing experience is truly one-of-a-kind—seeing so many people come together for music and dancing gives you chills just thinking about it.
From 9 PM, fans were already grabbing the event T-shirt and wearing it for both night and morning. The back-to-backs on the Terrace began with Argentinians Manu Desrets and Londonground, playing their first-ever Closing set on the island. The fun, feel-good energy of house music kept growing as more feet hit the floor, with sets from Sidney Charles and Caal. The next duo, Cuartero and Manda Moor, began at 1 AM, playing to a packed crowd. From 3 to 5 AM, Rossi. elevated the beats for the morning crowd. The next ping-pong set featured Adam Beyer and Marco Faraone, who brought a harder, signature sound that could be known as “champagne techno”, for two hours. At 7 AM, as clubbers lined up at Amnesia for their “Wake Up & Dance” tickets, East End Dubs and Mar-T set the perfect musical mood to welcome the sunrise,—the most anticipated moment of the season—Amnesia’s Terrace by daylight. Emotions ran high when, during Jamie Jones and Joseph Capriati’s sunrise set, the visuals stopped to honor Jackmaster, the renowned Scottish DJ whose passing shocked the industry that same day. The emotions on the dancefloor were palpable, and the resident DJs channeled that energy into their music, keeping the crowd moving with constant drops, closing the set with the iconic Terrace track “Knight of the Jaguar” by DJ Rolando, followed by a remix of “My Feelings for You” by Avicii and Sebastien Drums.
While the Terrace may seem like the most iconic part of the Closing, the Main Room’s female-led lineup kept the energy high with a full dancefloor and a unique sound all night. The feminine energy resonated through the crowd, spreading with a special kind of fluency and power. Onyvaa kicked things off with her blend of experimental and dark beats that flowed seamlessly. Each artist ramped up the energy—Adiel, then Lilly Palmer—until it was Nina Kraviz’s turn to showcase her evolving musical journey, blending her hard-hitting signature sounds with organic and innovative elements within the techno realm. Next were two women who, when they take the Main Room booth, it’s more like stepping onto a pedestal. From 4 to 5:30 AM, Indira Paganotto brought her usual contagious and euphoric energy, making everyone dance to the last drop of sweat. The room was on fire for Deborah De Luca, who dazzled as always, captivating the entire crowd with her set. As the sun rose on the Terrace, the Main Room stayed dark and filled with powerful beats, with Klangkuenstler keeping the packed dancefloor alive. The closing set was delivered by Luca Donzelli, who sent off the island’s most dedicated clubbers with pure rhythm.
Day two of the Amnesia Closing Festival was undeniably a music phenomenon worthy of study. Looking down at the dancefloor fills you with awe and emotion—you see bodies dancing, embracing, raising their arms, and enjoying every moment. The emotion, the spirit, and the essence of Ibiza were alive on the Amnesia Terrace. The level of enjoyment was such that clubbers chose to live in the moment, a message the club conveyed throughout the season. Despite a competitive weekend, the true clubbing fanbase gathered at Amnesia, cementing its Closing as a historical event and proving once again why it’s the definitive one on the island.
