Ibiza Entertainment

Ibiza originally rose to popularity in the 1960s as a favorite hangout for hippies in search of sunshine, warm weather and tranquil scenery. As more and more businesses opened to accommodate these visitors, a number of nightclubs appeared. As the bars thrived, more of them opened and the infamous nightlife scene of Ibiza began its legendary rise to world fame. During the 1980s and ‘90s, many DJs started coming to Ibiza during the summer, creating a whole new scene and putting the island on the map as a premier trendsetting music source. Today, this scene is as popular as ever, as thousands of clubbers and hedonists descend on the island every year to party, socialise and enjoy the music.

Clubbing

Ibiza is considered by many to be one of the top party destinations on the planet. It has a comprehensive and world-class nightlife scene with bars and clubs of every kind imaginable. Dance clubs here are high profile and some of the larger ones can hold thousands of people. The nightclubs stage parties with different themes every night, which are heavily promoted, so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for. Almost all of the clubs charge an admission fee and drink prices are high in the nicer clubs, which often have dance floors filled with bubbles, foam and other bizarre substances. There are also plenty of smaller clubs, with less entertainment, but cheaper prices and a good atmosphere. The island’s premier nightclubs include El Divino, considered the most stunning disco, whose customers often include movie stars, supermodels and sports celebrities. It doesn’t open until midnight and stays going until sunrise.

Privilege is the largest club on the island and can handle up to 10,000 partiers. The place is sprawling with endless rooms and dance floors to explore. One of the older discos, Pacha, is still considered a hip place to go, and for the steep entrance fee, it had better be! Many of the world’s best DJs come to Ibiza to perform in the leading clubs. Live DJ shows have become an essential part of the Ibiza experience and should not be missed.

Nightlife

For a more sedate evening out, consider stopping by the Montesol Hotel bar, situated near the harbor. It boasts some of the best views and is a magnet for local expatriates, social-climbers and other characters. Its generous cocktails and delicious tapas add to the experience of the best people-watching spot on the island. Gambling is allowed on the island and the Casino de Ibiza offers the usual array of tables and machines. They also have live cabaret entertainment during the summer. Ibiza has emerged as one of the top destinations for gay travellers.

The Old Town is home to dozens of gay bars including the popular disco night, Anfora, and Bar Leon. Ibiza also has its share of erotic clubs. One of the newer ones is the Blue Rose, which occupies the building where Ibiza’s first disco opened back in the 1960s. The club puts on a wide range of nude dancing shows, which are watched mainly by men. However, on Thursday nights the tables are turned and male dancers take the stage to perform for women from 23:00 until 03:00.

Theatre and music

The priority on Ibiza is music. Live or canned, loud or chilled out, every bar and club on the island has something playing every night of the week. A number of bands come to Ibiza during the peak summer months to play, but without question the main musical draw here is the world-class DJs. They arrive during the summer months to perform for crowds of thousands in all kinds of venues. Ibiza is considered the source of new DJ music, so you can expect the latest trends and hottest sounds to come out of the clubs on the island. There is no definite style or sound to Ibiza’s music, but most of it tends to be Latin-inspired beats mixed with a little funk and a lot of groove.

Festivals

Ibiza likes to party, and being Spanish, the residents here celebrate many different occasions throughout the year by holding festivals and parades. Most of the festivals happen during the warmer months, from March through September, while all of the Spanish religious holidays are honored whenever they occur.

• Carnival Parades in February and March mark the arrival of Lent, celebrated with gusto at various locations around the island. Many fancy dress balls are held at the end of Carnival and Mallorca’s Palma, which can easily be reached by ferry, holds the most impressive fiesta, known as the Cavalcade.
• Semana Santa is one of the largest celebrations in Spain. Good Friday sees a handful of colourful processions march through Ibiza Town on their way to the Cathedral (April).
• Dia de Virgen de Carmen in mid-July, is a special two-day event covering all of the Balearic Islands. It is the feast of the patron saint of sailors and events include raucous parades and the blessing of fishing boats.
• Copa del Rey is one of the most popular international yachting events in the world. Held in the first week of August, the regatta is presided over by the king of Spain himself.
• Processio de la Beata is a colourful procession of floats and locals dressed up in traditional folk costumes in honor of Saint Catalina (September).
• Eivissa Medieval is a relatively new festival, held on the second Sunday in May. Events include dancing and live concerts to celebrate the declaration of Dalt Vila as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.