After being on hiatus last year, Ibiza's favourite episodic clubbing diary is back for 2026. A new summer has dawned on the White Isle. This year marks my fifth full summer season on the island (yep, I know, I can't quite believe it myself!)
For those that have visited Ibiza even once, know that one time is all it takes to get hooked on the place. Well, this is exactly what’s happened to me. Each summer has looked a little different. I might no longer be out five nights a week, like I was back in the chaotic years of 2022 and 2023, but rest assured, my skill of sniffin' out a good party hasn't waned!
After all, my job is being a professional clubber - and I take that role very seriously. I know the tricks of the trade and every hidden enclave and every secret door of every club like the back of my hand.
Think of these dancefloor diaries as a behind-the-scenes look at a typical working week at Ibiza Spotlight. The life-affirming highs, the hazy mornings, marathon stints, club crawls and everything in between. This summer, you're coming along for the ride.
Back in the mix
11 to 16 May
Monday
Three weeks into the summer season already, it somehow it feels like I’ve been here both a year and a week at the same time. Time isn't a linear concept here on Ibiza, with days merging into one and you forgetting whether it's Friday or Monday. Very different to the rigid patterns of living in the UK, island life is a lot more chilled despite its reputation for chaos.
Settling into my new Ibiza Marina pad and living a literal two minute walk from Pacha Ibiza, it only seems logical that most of my time has been spent at this club thus far.
11 May marked the opening of Sonny Fodera's second year at Pacha. Not only does Sonny play each week, but my boyfriend Danny Howard also is a Monday night resident. With a last minute flight booked by my best friend Emily Gunter, all the cards were aligning for it to be a very fun night. And that it was…
Starting off the night in one of the island’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, me, Emily and Spotlights clubbing head honcho Steve went for rather pricey pre-drinks at both Calma and Cappuccino.
Meeting Daniel outside of the Pacha Family entrance of Pacha at doors open, a big group of us headed in, ready to tackle the night ahead.
With Sonny's sister-in-law Saffron Stone opening, plus Eats Everything celebrating his 46th birthday, the mood was sky high. Between catching up with Pacha’s head booker Angie, Sonny's team, and everyone in Ricardo’s office (if you know, you know) and the booth, the night became just as much about reconnecting with people as it was about the music itself.
Double Dan (AKA Daniel and Eats) set the tone with a fire back-to-back, before Sonny came on at 03:00. Before we knew it, it was 06:30, the lights were coming on and the night was coming to a close. Well, that’s what we thought…
Faced with the choice of a two-minute walk home or a two-minute walk to the Pacha Hotel to continue the afters, we chose the latter. Safe to say, I didn’t see my bed until around 09:00, and I definitely paid for it the following day.
Thursday
Emily was due to fly home today... but history repeated itself, and she extended her flight for one more night.
Back in 2019, we both came to Ibiza with no money, no plans and zero frame of reference - just two girls wanting to have the best holiday possible. We ended up extending our flights then too, and somehow, seven years later, we're still doing exactly the same thing.
Just about recovered from Tuesday mornings antics, we headed to Bambino for sunset, the sunset strip's newest hotspot for ten-out-of-ten views and gorgeous grub. We met the social media team, took some content and ate some lush food before heading.
After meeting Lucy Jane at Wi-Ki-Woo, we drove to Amnesia for the Do Not Sleep opening party. Already packed by the time we arrived, we caught the end of Marlie's set, before she handed over to rising star Julian Fijma.
It was so nice catching up with the whole DNS crew and finally stepping inside the newly renovated DJ booth, which also gave me a little glimpse of what it’s going to feel like playing there myself on Thursday 4 June.
A big career goal for me, as DNS is party I've wanted to play for two years now. In 2026, its finally happening. Stay tuned.
Saturday
Just when I thought the partying for the week was finally over, Ibiza proved me wrong as it tends to do. Saturday turned into a full-blown club crawl, where I dug deep and managed to hit four clubs in one night to support friends playing across the island.
The itinerary started at Ushuaïa from 19:00, as we delved into ANTS as the first stop of the night.
Taking full advantage of the green room, I caught up with my pal Robbie Doherty, and got introduced to Tom Did It, a talented vocalist who’s recently blown up for being the voice of Chris Stussy's Wide Awake - the most biggest tune of his new album.
At 21:00, me and my friend Fifi Forte headed to Playa Soleil, where she was playing for Crême de Crême Ibiza. What started as a quiet chilled dancefloor, soon turned into chaos as she laid down a set bursting with her own unreleased tracks.
Afterwards, I had to make a quick exit to Hï Ibiza for my flatmate Siân Owen’s Club Room debut at Más Tiempo - and she absolutely smashed it. After seeing her play the Wild Corner a few weeks earlier, I already knew she'd deliver.
I was on content duty for her and met a few TOWIE cast members behind the booth too. A few very random encounters, but it all added to the fun of the night. I even met Skepta just before leaving, and he kissed me on the cheek... I almost passed out. Life goal complete.
Myself, Sian and Deniz from The Menendez Brothers hopped in a cab over to San Rafael. Next up, stop number four: [UNVRS]. My close friend Rio Tashan was making his Bunker debut for ANTS.
At the same time, my friends Em Beswick and Grace Arribas were playing in The Apartment, so naturally I ended up spending the rest of the night in there once Rio's set had finished.
As everyone started heading home, me and Rio made the clutch decision to catch the last half hour of Nic Fanciulli in the main room. Running on fumes by this point, we later wound back to mine before I finally crashed out on the sofa.
A fourteen hour stint is a good shift I reckon! Where I'll end up next time, who knows? And that’s where I’ll leave this edition of dancefloor diaries… you’ve definitely seen and heard enough already. Ciao for now.
Thirsty for more misadventures in clubland? You don't have very long to wait. The next instalment will be published imminently.
You can find the full archive by visiting this page.
If you heard it from anybody else, you'd dismiss it as hyperbole, but Lissy Lü's real life is like that... Partying as a profession is a hard life, but somebody's gotta do it!
