While festival season is still booting off south of the equator, here in the northern hemisphere, winter has well and truly set in. Ibiza may seem like an indistinguishable dot on the horizon at present, but we think it's the perfect time to get dreaming of the summer ahead.
Although we're still 15 weeks away from opening parties, we've made a list of just a few things we have to look forward to in 2024. Before you know it, summer will be here.
Party merry-go-round
Stick or twist? That's the question Ibiza promoters ponder every winter.
As sure as summer follows spring, each year the clubbing landscape evolves with parties moving on and changing location. Some outgrow their current club, others downsize and some just fancy a change of scenery.
Best believe Ibiza 2024 will contain some surprise switches and some new faces - some of which will be revealed in the coming weeks.
As always, you will find confirmed news on our magazine feed and dates and line-ups on our party calendar. Already, you will find the full programme for O Beach and partial listings for Eden and Ibiza Rocks. You can expect more to be announced very soon.
What we do know, is that the International Music Summit (IMS) conference will take place from 24 to 26 April at its new home Mondrian & Hyatt Resort in Cala Llonga. Ushuaïa and Hï Ibiza's joint Opening Party follows the day after on Saturday 27 April.
If you want to get wind of the gossip doing the rounds on the island, then head to our forum, sign up and get involved in the conversation. What have you heard on the grapevine?
Mercury Rising
One man conspicuous by his absence last summer was DJ Harvey. As a mark of respect, Pikes kept Mondays off its music programme but it definitely left a gaping hole for Ibiza's faithful. Hopefully, the visa issues that thwarted his appearances in Freddies have been ironed out.
Cocoon turns quarter of a century
Sven Väth's era-defining Techno juggernaut Cocoon marks 25 years of parties in 2024.
Announcing a global tour to commemorate the occasion, Cocoon has already publicised dates in Stockholm, Istanbul and Frankfurt. Although we haven't seen Cocoon on Ibiza since its monumental 20th anniversary in 2019, the next big landmark surely calls for that to be put right.
A boy can dream...
Michael Bibi receives all clear from cancer
The dance music community was aghast when Michael Bibi revealed he was battling a rare aggressive form of cancer. Against the odds and with everybody in the industry sending messages of support, Bibi beat the disease and was given the all-clear in early December.
Bibi is still recovering from a gruelling round of chemo, stem cell and radiotherapy, so there's currently no timetable for his return. What we do know, is that he is a man of determination and will be yearning to get back to full health and into the DJ booth.
These things can't be rushed, but we think Bibi will absolutely have Ibiza on his agenda should his recovery continue at the same pace. Rest up, King. We hope to be seeing you soon.
More parties at 528 Ibiza?
After a few years in the wilderness, 528 Ibiza came into its own last summer. It felt like the word got out, as the island's clubbing fraternity descended upon it every opportunity it got.
The sprawling outdoor venue previously known as Benimussa Park basked hosting BBC Radio 1 and five exclusive parties from Pacha. They included takeovers from No Art, CAMELPHAT, RÜFÜS DU SOL and two from Solomun's Diynamic label.
If supply equals demand, we'll be seeing further events thrown there in 2024. Make sure 528 is on your radar.
First summer for Avyca Ibiza
The building still fondly referred to as "Sankeys Ibiza" spent all of last summer fallow, but after the season finished it relaunched as Avyca Ibiza. The trial run saw the 1,500-capacity underground club host a trio of MTM parties, featuring names Tania Vulcano, Ferro and 2vilas.
Who can say what the club has in store over the coming months? We're looking forward to finding out.
PHOTOGRAPHY | by La Skimal, Louis Nesbitt and David Holderbach
