Welcome to the [UNVRS]

Without question, one of the most significant events in recent clubbing history took place on Ibiza this past weekend. It was a moment you simply had to be there for. Welcome to [UNVRS].

If you’ve been anywhere near social media in the past nine months, you couldn't have avoided the hype machine, from cryptic comets and mysterious UFO sightings to slow reveals of the building taking shape right up until last week.

The anticipation surrounding this cosmic club has had people on the edge of their seats. On Friday 31 May, we finally got to step inside and experience the mind-blowing unveiling for ourselves.

Brought to life by The Night League (TNL), the team behind Ushuaïa & Hï Ibiza, this massive transformation of a legendary Ibiza space was no small feat. But if anyone could pull it off, it would be TNL. All that said, nothing could have prepared us for this...

Welcome to the [UNVRS]

Opening at 23:00 and running until midday the next day, this 13-hour marathon was one to be savoured by only real ravers. With clubbers flying in from all over the world, [UNVRS] really lived up to its name (though we can't confirm the attendance of any alien lifeforms!)

Instead of any pre-party, I set an alarm for 01:00 and grabbed some much-needed rest before the big night ahead. A sensible decision, it would transpire. After getting ready with butterflies in my tummy, we hit the road at 02:00.

As we neared the San Rafael roundabout, traffic had already begun to pile up, with a long line of cars waiting to get through the gates into the [UNVRS] complex.

Impatient attendees had already ditched their rides altogether, choosing to walk the final stretch - a tactic that proved faster than our agonising crawl.

Upon arrival at the venue, we were directed to a parking lot big enough to hold thousands of vehicles. We parked up and wandered over to find our guest list entrance for the night. To our delight, queuing was minimal.

The lovely crew greeted us with some drinks tokens (always a good start), and we headed up the slope that leads to the iconic dome. It’s been part of every version of this club over the years, and stepping into it for the first time myself felt pretty epic.

With a huge 30-foot tree twisting up the middle, lit up in pink and blue, with a bar, a 360° smoking area and another chill-out spot with stunning views across the island, it was already a lot to take in. All this, before I'd even stepped into the club…

On an island I feel like I know like the back of my hand, it's a weird feeling walking into somewhere not knowing what to expect. As a seasoned clubber who's been to some of the most iconic clubs around the world, I thought I’d seen it all. Alas, no. Not yet, at least.

[UNVRS] main room is in a league of its own. The sheer scale blew my mind straight away. I knew it would be large, but seeing a sea of people in such a vast space was really a sight to behold.

Adam Ten and Mita Gami were deep in the throes of their back-to-back at this point and it looked like it was already at full capacity. Dancers hung from the ceiling, the VIP tables were full. The night was in full force.

There were so many places to discover. From the Wild Comet toilet rave to the food court, and multiple outside areas. It took a while to get my bearings, but after a few hours, I was whizzing around the gaff like I'd been clubbing there for years. Exploration is key here.

Hollywood actor Will Smith was part of the club's initial launch, as you may remember. He was also a guest of honour at one of the VIP tables.

Also present were stars including England footballer Jude Bellingham and DJs who weren't even on the line-up, like Anyma, Rampa from KEINEMUSIK, Rossi. and Defected's Wez Saunders. Regardless of status, everybody wanted a piece of [UNVRS].

Later, I managed to locate Vicio in the food court. Yep, right inside the club itself, you've got your own fast food joint. Burgers, fries and chicken tenders with caviar (which may set you back a few bucks, but seeing as this was a historical moment, I went all in!)

From there, we visited "The Cloud", the highest point in the main room that gives incredible views of the dancefloor all the way to the DJ booth, to the dome for some fresh air. Before we'd even blinked, we opened the door and the sun was creeping up. The night was racing by.

I had to stop and capture the moment, as sunrise gave the whole outside area a new life. To the north, the hills of San Lorenzo glowed with the impending daylight. In the opposite direction, our UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dalt Vila, glistened as day broke.

A chance encounter with one of TNL's top brass gleaned some real-time intel that one of the most spectacular moments of the whole night was about to happen in the main room. Despite not knowing exactly what this meant, I didn't need telling twice.

This meant Michael Bibi was going to play Sungazing to 5000+ people, and I didn't want to miss it. We clambered back in and down the stairs to witness. What I hadn't anticipated was the LED screens behind the booth turning transparent and flooding the room with natural light.

As the screen began to retract, the vibe in the room shifted upwards again.

Now, Sunrise Pass ticket holders began to pour in. The fresh blood introduced a new wave of energy, which picked up those who’d been there earlier in the night. This also marked the changeover from Bibi to The Martinez Brothers back-to-back with Joseph Capriati.

Fittingly, the final three hours were left in the hands of electronic music juggernauts and [UNVRS]'s two underground residents, Carl Cox and Jamie Jones. Seeing as we have a little longer to wait for their respective residencies to start, it was nice to get an early preview.

After the obligatory false finish, we got several more tracks, ending on Bizarre Inc.'s classic Playing With Knives. By the time it had faded out, [UNVRS]'s opening had been cast in iron.

Were you there at this historic moment? Don't worry too much if not. There are plenty more chances for you to experience [UNVRS] this summer and beyond.

The programme continues with openings for FISHER on Thursday 5 June and elrow on Saturday 7 June.

You can find full listings by visiting our party calendar. Welcome to the [UNVRS]!