Whether you're flying in during daylight or after nightfall, pivoting in your seat to get that first glimpse of Ibiza imagery is part of the experience. A rush of endorphins hit as your Balearic paradise awaits.
Coming in low as you approach the runway, one complex in particular will catch your eye in the final descent.
Rising like a mirage from the sands of Playa d'en Bossa beach, Ushuaïa is the next stop on our island-round Ibiza club rewind tour.
The venue's dual function as both a hotel and a party destination makes for an alluring prospect.
The biggest names in the music business fly in to play on the festival-sized stage. From Swedish House Mafia to J.Balvin, Paul Kalkbrenner to the late Avicii - that's the stature we're talking about. Even electronic music pioneers Underworld and Kraftwerk have performed here.
Many camera-moments spring to mind from Ushuaïa's short history, but here are three sets we've picked out.
David Guetta | 2 September 2019
Let's start with one such demi-god.
Such is the pull-power of David Guetta, he is one of the elite few who has ever held two parallel weekly residencies on Ibiza. His globally renowned brand F*** ME I’M FAMOUS! takes over Monday daytimes at Ushuaïa all summer long - and the crowds come a-flocking.
Big in every sense, it supersizes everything from tunes to production to audience.
If you ever needed reminding about just how much of a bona fide superstar David Guetta is, the set above should leave you in no doubt.
Calvin Harris (BBC Radio 1) | 31 July 2015
Because one EDM superstar a week isn't enough, Ushuaïa can also bank of the gravitational-pull of Calvin Harris as well. Fridays are a rowdy affair in Playa d'en Bossa as the masses descend on the resort, filling 7,000 capacity Ushuaïa to the brim.
Back before he was as big as he was now (but still very much a household name), Calvin Harris headlined the annual BBC Radio 1 celebrations on a balmy night in late July. Sure, he looks more youthful, but you can tell from the video that stardom beckoned.
Enjoy a barrage of music from Alesso, BURNS and Kiesza. The set also features a collab with Ellie Goulding, who he has recently worked with in the studio again.
John Summit | ANTS | 16 July 2022
It isn't only big spectacle EDM and sensory overloads, Ushuaïa has always kept one ear to the underground as well.
Down the years, the likes of Used + Abused, Luciano & Friends and Le Grand Bazaar have all brought a wealth of revered selectors to Ushuaïa. However, none of them compare to TNL's own in-house production, ANTS.
Since landing in 2013, ANTS has taken over the island. Capturing the imagination of the public with its stark monochrome marketing, ANTS became the biggest event by numbers on Saturday daytimes. What a milestone that it has now reached ten years strong.
John Summit fit the profile of ANTS DJ perfectly - somebody who is a hit-machine who has enjoyed commercial success, but doesn't stray too far from the underground. 2022 was a big summer for the Chicago-native on Ibiza and his appearances at ANTS stood out amongst those.
You'll hear music from RETNA, Riva Starr, Dombresky and Matt Sassari, plus some whoppers from John himself.
The future
Ushuaïa doesn't only retain the biggest names in the industry for its weekly residents, but has done the seemingly impossible by adding to this star quality.
While the backbone of David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Martin Garrix was already strong, the 2023 addition of Tiësto, back on Ibiza for the first time since 2012, is an unbelievable capture. TNL are the Galaticos of the clubbing world.
This underlines the clout that operator The Night League has. Deep pockets, ambition and a creative mindset all attract the very best of the best.
Even though the weekly programme is out in full, a few gaps remain, leaving the door open for elrow and other one-offs throughout summer.
