After a four-year hiatus, the DJ Awards returned to Ibiza, celebrating global dance music icons and emerging talent alike.
After a four-year hiatus, the DJ Awards made its long-awaited return to Ibiza on Wednesday, October 2 for a night filled with celebration, recognition, and unforgettable music. Held at Club Chinois, the event honored top talent from the global dance music scene, highlighting both emerging artists and industry icons. The message was clear: the DJ Awards are back with a bang.
The evening buzzed with excitement as the winners were revealed. FISHER took home one of the night’s top honors, International DJ of the Year, and his heartfelt acceptance speech — thanking his team and fans — showed just how much this award meant to him. He also shared a personal story about how Luciano inspired him to start DJing after attending a Sven Väth party years ago. This victory capped off FISHER’s remarkable year, solidifying his status as a global force in dance music.
Techno legend Sven Väth was honored with the Techno DJ of the Year award for his enduring contributions to the genre. Other winners included Sam Divine, Black Coffee, Vintage Culture, Armin van Buuren, Chase & Status, WhoMadeWho, and CamelPhat, each recognized as DJ of the Year in their respective genres: House, Afro House, Tech House, Trance, Drum and Bass, Organic House, and Progressive. All made significant contributions to their styles over the past year.
Miss Monique’s meteoric rise was celebrated with the Breakthrough DJ award, which recognizes up-and-coming talent with undeniable impact on the scene. Róisín Murphy, renowned for her captivating live performances, won Live Act of the Year, a testament to her artistry and stage presence.
One of the evening’s most poignant moments came when Michael Bibi accepted the Play It Back Award, honoring his One Life campaign for cancer awareness. His emotional speech underscored how personally meaningful this recognition was to him.
Rampa accepted the What’s Hot Global Award on behalf of Keinemusik and delivered one of the night’s most entertaining speeches. He quoted an old Kanye West remark that left the audience both amused and a bit puzzled: “A lot of people have been asking me what if I don’t win this award; I guess we’ll never know.” Rampa also received the Ibiza Track of the Summer award on behalf of Adam Port for the hit track “Move.”
Luciano’s impact on both the global and Ibiza dance scenes was celebrated with the Ibiza Icon Award, recognizing his ongoing inspiration to both emerging and established artists. Additionally, Café Mambo owner Javier Anadon was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades-long dedication to the island’s nightlife and party culture. David Guetta’s F Me I’m Famous event at Ushuaïa Ibiza won Best Ibiza Party, while his Future Rave event at Hï Ibiza also received recognition. Defected Croatia won Best Global Festival, and the Eye on… USA award was presented to Gospel Club in NYC.
As the night drew to a close, the return of the DJ Awards felt like a major step forward for the industry, uniting the best and brightest in dance music to celebrate the moments that make dance culture so special. Being there reminded me how far the scene has come, how much has changed, and how much there is to look forward to.
