Another season of partying on The White Isle has just begun. A changed clubbing landscape that has shifted the sands towards industry approved commercial parties with plenty of cheerleaders supporting their own vested interests. It is becoming much harder to find a platform that tells it as it is, or that is not paid to write the promotional words of its advertisers, so finding a cool party rooted in the free spirit of old Ibiza amid all the propaganda out there is difficult. For what its worth, we have put together our own personal list of the best parties to check out this summer in Ibiza. Thankfully there is a big choice this season with lots of new parties, so we felt the best way to highlight the leading contenders was to break down our selections to days of the week, so without further ado, here are our selections to the unmissable parties of the Ibiza 2018 Summer season.
Monday
With the defection of Monday Institution Cocoon to Pacha, Monday nights are now the preserve of the iconic Circo Loco party at DC10, not that you need my recommendation to attend one of the best parties on the island. Amnesia have moved to fill the Cocoon void with a brand new party called Pyramid, and they have done an alright job under difficult circumstances. It’s a little top heavy with risky Maceo Plex nights, but the Solomun gig on Monday July 23 is one of the hottest tickets of the season, so if you are on the island do not miss this one, or the appearance of Carl Cox on Monday July 2 with his One Night Stand event.
Another brand new party worth checking out on Monday nights is Shine at Privilege. Shine is the legitimate child of the old Cream party, which ran for 25 years at Amnesia on Thursday nights. The Amnesia divorce settlement ensured the commercial EDM entity signed to Hi on Sunday nights while the original Trance element of the party has now moved in with Privilege and this is the party to check out if you have a fondness for trance inspired music.
MK’s new daytime Party at Ibiza Rocks is another hot addition to the ever growing pool party scene on the island, it runs for July and August only and is sure to be popular with the San An faithful. The old hippy inspired stalwart, Flower Power at Pacha, is a perfect music alternative to the serious techno scene on Monday nights with its fun atmosphere which is very popular with the ladies. If you are in San An, What The Funk hosted by the infamous party animal Brandon Block at the beautiful Es Paradis club is a wild card to consider after MK.
Tuesday
A big day on the Ibiza Clubbing scene with some heavy hitters vying for your business. Tuesdays used to belong to Carl Cox at Space and the popular UK DJ is now associated to Resistance at Privilege, one of the most anticipated parties on the island this summer. Some killer lineups have been announced for Resistance, and Cox’s birthday bash on July 31 features Jamie Jones and a b2b with two legends on the scene, Sasha and John Digweed. Don’t miss this one.
Snapping at the heels of Resistance is the Eric Prydz residency at Hi. Now into its second season, it’s a party for those that love the digital wonderland of special effects and theatre that a master of his genre produces. Others to note for Tuesday nights are Fatboy Slim and Calvin Harris dates for Tuesday on Mars at Pacha, Craig David’s very popular Pool party at Ibiza Rocks and Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike’s daytime event at Ushuaia. Our Wild Card selection is the Timo Maas residency at Sankeys, which is one to watch for sure.
Wednesday
Wednesdays in Ibiza belong to Jamies Jones and Paradise at DC10. Don your sunglasses and cool fashion outfits for the most trendy techno party on the island. Sven Vath’s clever move to Wednesdays at Pacha with his Cocoon party is sure to be a very popular choice for many but expect the club to be full for a quality party with an attractively priced ticket of €40. If you and your friends are ever to do a VIP table in Ibiza this is the party and club to do it at, prices start at €250 per person and that includes table service, drinks and entry. Cathy Guetta and Italian Gianluca Vacchi are the two monied up individuals that have hired out their own Ibiza Club nights this summer and Vacchi’s Gay friendly Vibra party at Amnesia is our wild card selection for Wednesdays.
Thursday
Thursdays in Ibiza were always associated to David Guetta and FMIF at Pacha. In recent years however, Mr Guetta has not been devoting the same time to FMIF as he has done in the past, with Robin Schulz deputising for the absent Frenchman, so make sure to check the lineups when booking. One of the most exciting new nights on Ibiza calendar this season is the Do Not Sleep/Abode party at Amnesia and this one is sure to be popular on the Ibiza workers scene. Over at Hi, all eyes will be on the Afterlife party, a dark and deep Italian inspired journey into Techno that will benefit from the digital production quality at the venue. Thursdays with daytime Cocoon at Pacha’s beautiful outdoor venue Destino is one to note also. Also worth checking out is one of the islands biggest Gay parties, SuperMartxe at Privilege and for those into more sophisticated erotica, then check out Ego at Lio with Mike and Claire McKay. Our Wild Card selection for Thursday nights is a new party at Heart called Do Not Sit.
Friday
One of my favourite days on the Ibiza calendar with lots of good parties to choose from. The islands most popular party Music On has been the mainstay of Fridays nights for the last number of years and Marco Carolas Italian inspired Techno event is sure to be packing in the crowds again this summer at Amnesia. A new party at Ushuaia called Dystopia has been catching the eye and over at Ibiza Rocks, the Cuckoo Land pool party is one for the San An workers crowd. The most popular party with the locals in Ibiza is the Children of The 80’s event at Hard Rock Hotel, a night where it’s impossible to find parking in Playa Den Bossa. Bonnie Tyler on June 29 is a date for the notebook. After Children of The 80’s head over the road to Hi, where Glitterbox plays to the same type of crowd but with a quality house inspired party. Wild card for Friday night, is the Allergen party at the newly refurbished Savannah back room in San An which runs from 23.00 to 04.00.
Saturday
What was once one of the quietest nights on the calendar, is now one of the busiest and most anticipated days of the week, with some quality parties taking place. The rising star of Black Coffee continues his Balearic accent at Hi and Elrow at Amnesia is now well established as one of this island’s most prestigious, alongside the trendy daytime Techno party Ants at Ushuaia. For those that want a fun Saturday night out party, then Bob Sinclar and Pure Pacha is a safe bet. Wild card for Friday night is the Allergen party at the newly refurbished Savannah back room in San An which runs from 23.00 to 04.00.
Sunday
Another big day on the Ibiza Club calendar with Solomuns party at Pacha retaining its top fashionable and trendy status. If you want to be seen with the movers and shakers in Ibiza, then book a VIP table for this one. Two big outdoor parties dominate Sundays in Ibiza, the iconic Zoo Project at Benimussa Park and the polished, hippy inspired Woomoon at Cova Santa. In San An, Defected has finally found a safe port to call home and it’s now the sunset resorts Number 1 party after the abdication of Judge Jules and Judgement Sundays at Eden. The new Idris Elba residency at Lio is our Wild Card selection.