A Look Into Ibiza’s Vibrant Music Culture

From terrace clubs to Balearic house – How Ibiza’s culture became a global phenomenon.

Inarguably one of the most well-known party destinations in the world, Ibiza has reigned supreme for four-plus decades. Every celebrity, billionaire, college fraternity brother, and University of Miami influencer has either traveled to Ibiza or dreamt of it. The Spanish Balearic island, nestled in the Mediterranean Sea, grew in popularity during the 60s and 70s but rose to electronic music stardom in the late 80s and 90s. Over the decades, Ibiza’s culture in the cities of Sant Antoni and Ibiza Town slowly captivated international attention, creating a phenomenon in nightlife unlike any other.

Electronic dance music’s nascency began in the 70s via the infamous club Pacha (which is still around today), although house music did not fully develop until the 1980s in Chicago. Pacha was followed by Amnesia (also open today) in the 80s, which birthed the Balearic beat alongside their resident DJ Alfred Fiorito, now regarded as the father of the genre. Amnesia was best known for its open-roofed terrace, making it the perfect club for sunrise sets (think Club Space in Miami). Celebrities from all walks of life partied at Amnesia, from Naomi Campbell to Mick Jagger to Bono, Shakira, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Leonardo di Caprio, and more.

The club culture of Ibiza quickly spread throughout Europe in the 90s, inspiring a host of similar nightclubs in the UK, such as Spectrum, Shoom, and the Trip. The seminal origins of the UK’s grime scene can be traced back to Ibiza’s Balearic house epidemic.

Ibiza’s infamous Space opened in 1986 and welcomed partygoers from all around the world until 2016. It championed the classic open-terrace Ibiza dance floor. The club was known for its ‘We Love Sundays’ summer series, which began in 1999. The club would open at 4:30 PM on Sunday and close at 6 AM on Monday morning, inciting a recurring 14-hour rave. Some of the notable DJs to perform included Armin van Buuren, Nicole Moudaber, Maceo Plex, Claude VonStroke, Green Velvet, and many more.

Legendary maestro Carl Cox performed at the venue for almost 15 years. In September of 2016, Carl Cox played a farewell 9-hour set. Another club, Hï Ibiza, opened in its location in 2017, although Space’s memory remains unmatched. In 2022, the creative team behind Space Ibiza announced the club’s resurrection, this time in Riccione, Italy. Space has yet to return to its home of Ibiza, although its culture lives on through other venues on the island, as well as select venues like Clube Space in Miami.