Gray Area Guide to Ibiza Opening Weekend

Ibiza enters a new era in the final week of April after two years of hiatus. Its most anticipated party season kicks off in the last days of the month, and below are some recommendations to keep you dancing from day till night!

While Ibiza is known for its electric nightlife, events happening during the sunlight hours of opening week are not to be missed, including one of the first major global dance music industry gatherings since the start of the pandemic, the International Music Summit Ibiza. It kicks off on Wednesday, April 27-29, at Destino Pacha Ibiza Resort. You can check the full program and speakers here.

IMS Ibiza

The Summit Grand Finale party takes place on Friday, April 29, at 5 pm inside the ancient walls of Ibiza’s old town, Dalt Vila. This one-of-a-kind event is something that every electronic music fan should experience once in their life and has taken on the role of the official start to the Ibiza season. The line-up features fantasy back-to-back pairings (Jamie Jones and The Blessed Madonna will carry out a b2b closing set) as well as stand-out solo sets:

On Saturday, April 30, Defected Records will also be taking over the Dalt Vila fort in partnership with IMS, delivering an outstanding list of talents. Honey Dijon, Bob Sinclar, Danny Tenaglia, Louie Vega, and more join forces for an epic afternoon of house music.

Tip: Don’t miss these because IMS events are the only few parties at this historic location during the season!

Two of Ibiza’s most iconic clubs open their doors on Friday, April 29

Pacha will be celebrating its Grand Opening party with Solomun all night long to take you on a deep, hypnotic, and underground music journey. The night under The Cherries roof promises to be memorable as Pacha unveils its new look. This is its third and most extensive round of refurbishment since the “Casa Payesa” first opened in 1973.

In parallel, Amnesia will host the Pyramid pre-season event the same day from 7 pm, offering cutting-edge technology, lighting, and performances.

The superclub is famed for its sunrise session on the terrace, when the sun streams through the windows, illuminating the entire crowd. Here in Ibiza, we love to dance as the sunbeams through Amnesia’s terrace, so when you come to the island, you have to experience this moment!

Pyramid Amnesia

You’ll dance from dusk till dawn to the rhythm of a great variety of house and techno sounds by Luciano, Paul Woolford b2b Richy Ahmed, Marco Faraone, and Syreeta. And for the techno lovers, the main room brings Amelie Lens, Ben Klock, Airod, and Luca Donzelli to the game.

Last but not least, Ushuaïa and Hï Ibiza join forces on Saturday, April 30, to present Better Together, a day and night musical marathon featuring performances by many of the biggest names in electronic music.

Ushuaïa is a hotel and a spectacular open-air venue located in Platja d’en Bossa that operates with parties from midday till midnight. Paul Kalkbrenner has a long history with the openings, and he has once again been invited back, joined by fellow live act Stephan Bodzin, ARTBAT, Kölsch, Mathame, and Layla Benitez will complete the line-up.

Better Together 2022

Across the road, Hï Ibiza will open at 11 pm with some of the greatest female talents on the scene, such as Anfisa Letyago, Chloé Caillet, and Charlotte de Witte, and other heavy-weights like Adam Beyer, Chris Liebing, Damian Lazarus, Black Coffee, and The Martinez Brothers, creating together with the crowd a unique celebration of music and human connection.

Hi Ibiza

To top off Ibiza’s most anticipated opening season, the colossal week wraps up with a host of lush music celebrations on Sunday, May 1, including Defected Festival at Amnesia, Loco Dice all night long at Pacha, and the legendary Duran Duran in concert at Ushuaïa.

Dalt Vila Ibiza

Aside from being the party island of the world, Ibiza is home to over 80 different beaches and calas, so there is no better way to begin a proper Ibiza listing than with a beach suggestion!

Las Salinas is one of the most idyllic beaches on the island and a popular meeting point for tourists and celebrities. The beach is in the middle of a natural park of the same name, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1999. Its landscape is surrounded by pine woods, free of buildings and hotels, and known for its soft golden sand, crystal clear waters, trendy restaurants, and beach clubs. It offers a paid parking area with clean facilities and shaded bays.

Jockey Club - Las Salinas Beach, Ibiza

In the middle of this 1.5-kilometer-long beach, there is a chiringuito (Spanish for a small beachside bar or restaurant) called Jockey Club. It is a family-friendly beach bar open year-round. The atmosphere at Jockey Club is uplifting and relaxed yet glamorous. Among some of its services, this beach bar stands out for its Mediterranean cuisine with fresh and quality ingredients, locally crafted beers, and cocktails made with seasonal fruit. There is also a little boutique where you can find some accessories and beachwear. It is an excellent choice for relaxing on a sunbed and ordering food while gazing out to sea or sitting on its terrace enjoying the Balearic beats and DJs playing live sets during summer.