Written by: Anna Loumbrozo

In April, I got to be part of something seriously special: the first ever Ultra New Zealand, right
in the capital city of Wellington. Honestly, how cool is it to say you were there for the very first
one?

Set along the waterfront, the festival brought together four distinct stages and over 30 artists, all
packed into one high-energy day running from 3PM to midnight. You had the Ultra Main Stage,
the UMF Radio Stage, the Oasis Stage, and the Resistance Stage, each with its own vibe, its own
crowd, and its own moments.

The Main Stage delivered exactly what you’d expect from Ultra, with heavy-hitters like The
Chainsmokers, Zedd, and DJ Snake. Meanwhile, the UMF Radio Stage leaned into bass artists
with names like NGHTMRE, Ray Volpe, Alison Wonderland, and Pendulum. The Oasis Stage
spotlighted talent like Quix, Mt Eden, and Flowidus. Finally, the Resistance Stage featured its
house and techno-centered lineup with Nico Moreno, Miss Monique, and HI-LO.

But let’s talk highlights…

Oliver Heldens absolutely stole the show for me. Hands down, my favorite set of the day. The energy? Unreal. The vibe? Pure house heaven. He mixed in classics and even dropped “Escape” by John Summit, which (obviously) sent me. And then… his iconic “Gecko (Overdrive)” – not once, not twice, but three times, each version completely different, including a drum & bass twist that was top-tier. It was one of those sets where you don’t stop dancing the entire time.

Side note because this NEEDS to be said: drum & bass in New Zealand is everywhere – and I
mean everywhere, not just on specific stages. Every artist seemed to sprinkle it into their sets,
and I loved that. The crowd was fully here for it too. Another standout set was Pendulum at the UMF Radio Stage. Absolutely legendary energy.

One of my favorite moments was when they blended “Lights Go Out” by John Summit with an
extended drum & bass version – just one of those feral festival moments.

Okay… we do need to talk about The Chainsmokers.
They’re not typically my go-to, but since they were closing the Main Stage (and I wanted a front
row view for the fireworks), I committed. Unfortunately… the set had some struggles. The
sound was incredibly low for the first half, and even when it picked up in the final 20 minutes, it
cut out twice.

There were definitely some solid moments, including a dubstep remix of “No Broke Boys”, a
random but fun “In Da Club” by 50 Cent interlude, and a killer remix of “Keep On Dancing” by
Gwen Stefani. But overall, it felt a little chaotic, like they were trying to do too much without a
clear flow. The lack of continuity, paired with the sound issues, made it hard to fully lock in. That said, the fireworks finale still delivered!

Other standout sets included NGHTMRE (especially when he dropped “Angel”, his track with
Dimension and Sub Focus), Darren Styles blending house with hardstyle classics, and Marten
Hørger bringing deep, groovy techno vibes at the Resistance stage.
One thing I found really interesting – compared to the U.S. where John Summit is basically a
festival staple – I noticed I was almost the only one going crazy every time his music was played
throughout the festival. Artists dropped his tracks all day (old and new), but the crowd reaction
just wasn’t on the same level. So… safe to say the John Summit mania hasn’t fully hit New
Zealand yet.

What I loved most about Ultra NZ though, was the overall vibe. It was so chill, so easy-going, and genuinely friendly. Even though the festival was sold out, it never felt overcrowded. You always had space to dance – even for the biggest acts at the Main Stage – which, if you’ve done festivals in the U.S., you know is kind of rare. No suffocating crowds, no constant pushing – just good energy all around.
Also, people were respectful of the space: there was barely any trash on the ground, and ravers
intently threw their empty drink cups or cans into the trash bins. How refreshing! I have to give a quick shoutout to the girlies too: it was definitely chilly (upper 50’s, low 60’s temps), but the girls still showed OUT in festival fits. I’m talking bikini tops and hot pants/shorts the whole vibe. I personally could not commit at that temperature, but I respect it deeply. Slay, Queens!

Overall, I feel incredibly grateful to have experienced the first-ever Ultra New Zealand in such a
beautiful country, with such an amazing crowd and atmosphere. I found out Ultra headed to
Australia right after (which I’m sure was equally insane), and it definitely feels like this was just
the beginning for NZ. If anything, my only complaint? One day wasn’t enough.
This felt like a test run – and a successful one at that. I would love to see Ultra NZ expand into a
full two-day (or longer) festival in the future. I’m always a huge advocate for checking out international festivals, and with the reputation of Ultra, I knew this one wouldn’t disappoint.

The Gist: Ultra New Zealand – 10/10 Would Do Again (But Make It 2+ Days)!
Until next time…keep on dancin’ <3