For years, Ibiza's soundtrack has been shaped by House, Trance and Techno. But, as the island has habit of doing, things change. On Sunday evening at Ushuaïa Ibiza, another genre was staking a claim...
Arriving just as the sun began to sink behind Playa d'en Bossa, the opening notes of Cardi B's I Like It rung out across the venue.
Around me, groups of friends were already dancing and singing. Before I'd even reached the middle of the crowd, it was obvious this wasn't going to be a typical nightclub experience. Seemingly nobody had much interest in standing still.
As somebody sometimes guilty of rolling my eyes at the mere mention of Reggaeton, I found myself knowing far more lyrics than I was previously willing to admit. Within minutes, any plans of observing from a safe distance had disappeared.
Instead, I was shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers, singing along and being enthusiastically encouraged to join in by new dancefloor friends (despite my less-than-perfect Spanish!) That spirit of togetherness became a recurring theme throughout the evening.
Pardon My Spanish, the collaborative concept from J Balvin & DJ Snake, arrived at Ushuaïa with an ambition that stretched beyond conventional DJ sets or live concerts.
Blending Reggaeton, Latin hits, Trap and electronic music, the event sat somewhere between a festival, a stadium show and an Ibiza party. Ambitious, yes, yet it worked.
By the time DJ Snake had fully settled into his set, the crowd was already in full voice. As J Balvin emerged along the catwalk that extends deep into the audience, the reaction was immediate.
A group of young Spanish guys standing beside me erupted with excitement, rapping every word back towards the stage while motivating everyone around them to do the same. Looking across the crowd, similar scenes were playing out in every direction.
Throughout the night, the format alternated between live vocal performances and DJ Snake behind the decks. Rather than disrupting the flow, the combination kept energy levels high, allowing both artists to showcase what they do best.
Balvin delivered a catalogue of crowd favourites, while DJ Snake switched effortlessly between Spanish language and electronic music, mixed with a handful of Ibiza classics. Show Me Love by Robin S proved particularly popular, drawing a huge chorus as darkness settled over Ushuaïa.
As daylight faded, lasers penetrated the night sky, bursts of fire illuminated the crowd, and the scale of the production became impossible to ignore. Few venues on the island are equipped to stage events of this size.
Pardon My Spanish highlighted exactly why Ushuaïa remains such a natural fit for large-scale outdoor shows.
Open-air settings have always played a role in Ibiza's appeal, but there was something different about this audience. Groups of friends, couples, first-time visitors and seasoned island regulars mixed throughout the evening.
Spanish voices may have dominated many of the sing-alongs, but accents from across Europe, the United States and beyond, could be heard throughout the crowd. Everyone seemed united by the same objective: enjoying the music.
While electronic music continues to dominate much of Ibiza's nightlife conversation, parties like Pardon My Spanish demonstrate there is also a growing appetite for something different.
Reggaeton has been apart of the island's soundtrack for many years already, heard everywhere from beach clubs, bars and car stereos across the summer months. Ushuaïa is now providing a stage capable of matching the genre's global popularity.
After spending an evening in the middle of that crowd, despite my earlier skepticism, I'm fully onboard with this creative decision. Shed your prejudices and give the people what they want.
For two Sundays in June, J Balvin and DJ Snake transformed Ushuaïa into something that felt closer to a music festival than a traditional Ibiza party. Judging by the reception, there is clearly room for more.
Reggaeton's presence on the island continues to grow and Ushuaïa appears perfectly positioned to lead the charge.
Next up, Latin superstar Ozuna heads to Ushuaïa Ibiza on Tuesday 30 June. His closing party brings a final 2026 opportunity for fans of Reggaeton to experience one of the genre's biggest names in an open-air setting that feels increasingly like its natural home on Ibiza.
For tickets and further info, please visit this page or head to our party calendar.
PHOTOGRAPHY | by Arno Partissimo
