Ultra announces first names for 2022 Miami festival

Ultra Music Festival (UMF) has confirmed the first names set to play its flagship Miami weekender, which will return to Bayfront Park on 25th, 26th, and 27th March 2022.

The Phase 1 announcement features a raft of heavyweights, including , Martin Garrix, Alison Wonderland, Tale of Us, Amelie Lens, Nina Kraviz, Fisher, Boris Brejcha — whose FCKING SERIOUS brand will take over its own UMF stage for the very first time —  and Camelphat. David Guetta — winner of the 2021 DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll — is also down as a headliner. 

In terms of live acts, attendees can expect to catch Pendulum, Sofi Tucker, Madeon, Slander, and SVDDEN DEATH. The latter will perform 'VOYD', billed as an audio-visual spectacular. Meanwhile, Carl Cox is set to play an exclusive hybrid set. Other talking points include Armin Van Buuren's A State of Trance marking ten years as UMF stage host, and the event's first ever hardstyle sound system courtesy of Belgian institution Dirty Works. Not to mention the global debut of Gareth Emery's '[analog]' album and live show. 

Perhaps most significantly, though, 2022 will see UMF head back to Bayfront Park for the first time since 2018, having reached a historic agreement with the Downtown Neighbors Alliance (DNA), a residents' organisation representing 13 apartment blocks in central Miami. The three-day spectacular was forced to relocate to Virginia Key in 2019 as a result of noise pollution and public nuisance complaints.

That move proved problematic as a result of the impact on local wildlife, logistical and transportation issues. Authorities then approved a return to Bayfront Park for 2020 — leading to a law suit filed by the DNA — but the festival was forced to postpone as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This year's event was also pulled due to the ongoing public health crisis.