Dance music fans across Miami and the world were experiencing a familiar anxiety as Ultra Music Festival’s fate once again hung in the balance as the Miami City Commission decides whether to allow the festival to remain at Bayfront Park. At issue was Ultra Music Festival‘s approval to take place at Bayfront Park after 2027, when its current deal expires. After a month of anxiety and hard work by Ultra’s team and its supporters, the Commission voted in favor of the 20-year deal for Ultra on Thursday afternoon.
The ever-complaining Downtown Neighbors Alliance, a group of NIMBY locals that perpetually oppose Ultra, pushed hard for another delay to the vote, asking for more engagement with locals before making a decision. Despite that, the commissioners voted to keep Ultra at Bayfront Park for 20 years. Not only that, but the new deal allows Ultra additional time for buildout and teardown, which means more intricate and impressive production and activations at the festival site.
Ultra wasted no time taking a well-deserved victory lap on Instagram, featuring a quote from Ultra’s Co-Founder and CEO. You can read it in full below. That means Ultra Music Festival is safe and secure at Bayfront Park until 2038, which is great news for dance music fans in Miami and around the world.
Being born and raised in Miami, and having started Ultra here in 1999, makes today incredibly special. We are deeply appreciative of the opportunity to continue producing Ultra at Bayfront Park in the City of Miami. With Ultra spanning all corners of the globe, Miami is home. Nearly three decades on, Ultra and Miami are synonymous, defining a global music and lifestyle culture.” – @russellfaibisch, Co-Founder & CEO
