May 1, 2022 - The 2022 Ultra Europe music festival will be the biggest yet. Organizer Joe Bašić reveals what we can expect this summer in Split.

Ahead of the 8th Ultra Europe music festival, Slobodna Dalmacija spoke with Joe Bašić, the official organizer of the festival and owner of MPG Live, who revealed what awaits us for the festival's return.

After a two-year break, the festival returns to Split. How are ticket sales going?

"We are thrilled that the ULTRA Europe festival is back, after two years without festival organizations around the world due to the Covid pandemic. People are very excited and eager to re-experience everything that makes festivals special and get together and celebrate music and life. The return of our festival was perceived positively not only in Croatia but also in the world. We are delighted because this is the first major international event that will allow us to go back to when close meetings and mass gatherings were normal.

It is crucial that people feel people again. Still, we are also aware that Covid has not disappeared and will continue to be among us, so we will continue to monitor the situation closely and do everything necessary to make the festival safe for its visitors. Croatia is a safe country and one of the leading tourist destinations globally, and this is confirmed by the interest in our festival, which has never been greater. Based on current sales trends and numerous inquiries from our fans, we can expect the festival's eighth edition to be our biggest edition to date. Tickets have already traveled to over 90 countries around the world. According to our expectations, Split and other festival destinations will be visited by more than 140,000 people from July 7 to 14, which we can confirm with certainty - ULTRA Europe is back!"

You recently returned from Miami, where the Ultra Music Festival took place. What are your impressions, and can you compare the Croatian and American editions?

"ULTRA Miami is back, sensational! Given that this was the first international event to be canceled in March 2020 due to Covid, a lot was expected from the return to Bayfront Park in March. However, with more than 200,000 visitors, a massive lineup of performers, and crazy production, many claim that ULTRA Miami 2022 was the best-organized event ever.

It was the perfect message for the whole world that the time of great festivals is back and that it is possible to organize them safely. Therefore, I would say that millions of fans worldwide have regained their confidence that they can start planning to go to their favorite music festivals worldwide, including ULTRA Europe.

Memorable moments in Miami were undoubtedly the guest appearance of 50 Cent with Kygo and the unforgettable sets of Afrojack, Armin Van Buuren, Martin Garrix, and the return of Hardwell.

Comparing the Miami ULTRA Music Festival and our release, we can conclude that Miami is undoubtedly a larger event with more than ten stages, a massive list of performers, and a fantastic production in which significant funds have been invested. On the other hand, ULTRA Europe offers a smaller number of stages with high-quality production and a more intimate feeling, compensating for the difference in the size of the event with incredible fans from 100+ countries who create an exceptional level of energy and experience.

All the performers who come to us always agree that ULTRA Europe has fan energy and that the vibe of the whole event is unique and incomparable to any other event in the world. That is why our edition is visited by fans from so many different countries who come back for even more, and I think we are stronger and more unique than the American edition.

ULTRA Europe is currently the second-largest event in the large ULTRA family and is projected to become the largest in the years to come. Therefore, I am very excited about the future of ULTRA Europe and ULTRA Worldwide in the years to come."

You have also provided regional tickets for domestic visitors. How are sales going, and what is the interest of local visitors in relation to international guests?

"We recorded much better and greater interest in regional tickets than in previous years. We sold out the first contingent of three-day tickets at the lowest price in the festival's history, which amounted to 700 kuna, or less than 235 kuna per day. Croatians are very excited about the return of ULTRA and can't wait to re-experience the energy of a major international festival, especially considering the pandemic, earthquake, and everything that happened over two long and difficult years. We expect more than 30,000 visitors from Croatia during the seven days of the festival, which makes us especially happy."

What are the sales in overseas countries - the USA, Australia, Canada, and South America? And which countries are the most loyal when coming to Croatia?

"To date, we have sold tickets in more than 90 countries. We are delighted that our strongest countries before Covid are Great Britain, Ireland, Spain, France, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany, and still strong markets for our festival, with double-digit growth from the USA, France, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. We expect even more international guests because we have increased the number of flights coming to Croatia, and there are more accommodation options in Split than in 2019."

Has the war in Ukraine thwarted plans?

"We have not noticed any changes in sales trends since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. On the contrary, sales have increased since March, following the Miami Festival and the announcement of Hardwell's arrival in Croatia, and lifted Covid measures."

How is the cooperation with the city going?

"We have always had the strong support of the City of Split, Split-Dalmatia County, and the Tourist Board. The ULTRA Europe Festival is of strategic importance to the Government of the Republic of Croatia, and the substantial economic benefits and global promotion of Split and Croatia generated by the festival are important reasons why the City of Split and all relevant state institutions have priority to support this event.

When we started our story ten years ago, we weren’t squandering the numbers of expected visitors, nor were we seeking the support of our partners promising miracles.

We believed in this project, and its potential, and we believed that it would be recognized by all state institutions based on facts and achieved results. But we believed equally that both Split and the Split people would recognize the opportunity and develop together with the festival.

Today, we can proudly point out that this is Croatia's largest international music event. We have more than 140,000 visitors from more than 140 countries during the seven days of the festival. We have generated immeasurable marketing results, and this is not the end.

We are proud to see that Split has become one of the most sought-after tourist destinations among the younger population and is recognizable worldwide for Hajduk, Diocletian's Palace, and the ULTRA Europe festival. We are sure that the festival will be one of the main postcards in the future."

The festival remains at Park Mladeži (Youth Park). How many stages will there be, and how many visitors do you expect per day?

"As announced in 2019, the Youth Park is the new home of the festival and a place that will enable further development and growth of this event.

The goal is to host more than 200,000 people in the coming years, and the Youth Park can follow this vision with its position and capacity. In 2022, we plan to have five stages with 200+ performers over three days and 13 stages over seven days. The Croatian edition lasts from July 7 to 14, in 5 cities and three islands.

This is a demanding production project, and we all still remember the impressive main stage. Will there be any news this year?

"We are focused on improving the overall fan experience at the entrances, in the toilets, and the offer of food and drinks. In addition, the production will feature the latest advances in technology, including a spectacular show never seen before in Croatia.

We tell all our fans that this year's edition should not be missed. We are all eagerly awaiting the day when we will finally open the doors, and I believe that will be one of the reasons why we will especially remember the eighth edition."

Who will be performing in Split?

"Above & Beyond, Adam Beyer, Afrojack, Alesso, Amelie Lens, Armin van Buuren, DJ Snake, Hardwell, Joseph Capriati, Marco Carola, Martin Garrix, Marshmello, Nicky Romero, Nina Kraviz, Oliver Heldens have confirmed their performance in Split so far. In addition, Richie Hawtin, Steve Aoki, Tiësto, Timmy Trumpet, and Vini Vici will be joined by ACRAZE, Airod, ANNA, Frank Walker, Ilario Alicante, Krewella, Sam Feldt, and SOFI TUKKER."

Who else could perform?

"We have not yet announced the third phase of the line-up, which has over 30 names, and which we plan to announce at the end of May."

Who is this year’s biggest star?

"People are very excited about the return of Hardwell, who has been known as the best DJ in the world for many years and who will perform in Europe for the first time since 2018 at our festival. ULTRA Europe is one of his favorite festivals, and he is preparing a special show with a lot of new music in Split.

In addition, fan favorites include Marshmello, Martin Garrix, Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Adam Beyer, and Ritchie Hawtin. This year’s line-up is one of the best, and we are sure the experience will be unforgettable."

After Split, the festival moves to the islands. Who are you bringing in this year?

"ULTRA Europe is the leading destination music festival and is the only festival in the world organized in 4 different cities, on three islands, and more than 13 stages.

The beautiful Adriatic Sea, ideal sunny weather, food, and people from Croatia, make our destination events on the islands of Brač, Hvar, and Vis special, and the performers are always excited to be part of this unique story. In addition, our VIP guests increasingly recognize what we offer over seven days. We can already confirm that we are receiving eight megayachts, with exclusive guests worldwide.

In 2022, we have a few surprises that will only confirm how special such events are in the world, and more details will be announced in July."

This will be the eighth edition of the ULTRA Europe festival. Can you single out some of your favorite moments?

"There are several! In 2013 I first saw a picture of flags from all over the world in front of the main stage and witnessed the energy and pride of Croatian fans because music fans from all over the world hosted in their country.

Then the moment when Marshmello performed Srce Vatreno, before the Croatia-England match in Russia. I will never forget when Martin Garrix performed the single Animals for the first time, nor the feeling when Armin Van Buuren released This Is What It Feels Like, in front of a crowded stadium and spectacular fireworks."

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March 22, 2022 - 20,000 Ultra Europe tickets have been sold so far by buyers from 90 countries, confirming that Split will once again be the center of the electronic music world this summer. 

Hibernating and waiting for life to return to where it left off almost two years ago is over, said the marketing agency and event company MPG, best known to the public as the organizers of the Ultra Europe festival announced for the summer. MPG is celebrating 25 years of business. In its celebratory year, it reveals the return of the biggest live events and completely new experiences, based on innovations and rich experiences and adapted to all the challenges of the new decade, reports Poslovni.

MPG operates in 8 countries, has more than 500 permanent employees, over 4,000 part-time employees, offices in Zagreb, Ljubljana, Belgrade, and Skopje, and is a member of a strong European network of independent SSI agencies. Behind them is a collaboration with more than 250 multinational brands, numerous live events, festivals, concerts, sporting events, retail and digital marketing. The company points out that in the pandemic, the creative forces of MPG have become even more creative. As a result, the challenges have become new opportunities that have resulted in the introduction of new technologies and adapting and implementing projects that represent future marketing.

“The tectonic changes in the way we do business caused by the pandemic have been an incredible challenge for us in the global live industry. Despite everything, I am proud that MPG managed to keep most of its workers. This has been our priority because we have always invested in people, our employees, the greatest wealth this company has. I am thrilled that in the celebratory year, we can announce the return of our biggest event, the ULTRA Europe festival, which is returning to Split after two years. Our desire, mission, and vision are to create emotions and unique experiences, and we are happy to be able to return to what we do best, and that is to make people happy," said Joe Bašić, CEO and founder of MPG.

ULTRA Europe is the largest international event in the region, and after a two-year break, it will reopen its doors to more than 100,000 visitors. Just how eager people are for live events is also shown by the fact that 20,000 tickets have already been sold from more than 90 countries worldwide. This event creates one billion kuna of additional spending for Croatia and more than 35 million euros of marketing value, which brings a big and positive promotion of the festival and Split and Croatia as destinations, reminds MPG. The festival organizers added that they used the break to offer their visitors an even more special musical and production experience for the eighth edition.

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November 22, 2021 - 2022 Ultra Europe will take place in Split for the first time since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The confirmed dates are set for Park Mladezi from July 8 to 10, 2022!

The organizers of the Ultra Europe festival can officially confirm that the largest, most anticipated, and most important international event in Croatia is returning to Split! Electronic music lovers could sense something on Friday, when a short video teaser was published on social media, announcing without many words what the Ultranauts have been waiting for - that Ultra will once again return to the most beautiful summer stage in the heart of Dalmatia.

Split will host the 8th edition of Ultra Europe from July 8 to 10, 2022, at the Youth Park (Park Mladezi), followed by a destination festival trip to Brac, Hvar, and Vis reports Dalmatinski Portal.

The Ultra Europe music festival is part of a large Ultra Worldwide family that, after a long break, is returning stronger than ever. New Year's Resistance in Sydney sold out in just a few days and final preparations are underway for the Ultra Music Festival in Melbourne. The festival is returning to the location where it all began, to Bayfront Park in Miami, from March 25 to 27. This news marked the reawakening of the international electronic music scene.

As the second-biggest event of this great festival family, Ultra Europe continues where it left off - continuing to set new records, bringing even bigger music stars to Croatia, discovering magical local sites, and creating unforgettable experiences for many foreign guests. Equally, it continues to generate immeasurable marketing and economic effects and continues to boldly step towards conquering the very top of the international festival scene. The 8th edition will be held with the support of the Croatian Government, Split-Dalmatia County, the City of Split, and the Croatian National Tourist Board, and special attention will be paid to implementing and respecting all measures related to Covid-19 to make the whole event and all destinations safe for visitors, the organization said.

The Ultra Europe festival has been recognized worldwide for years as the leading destination music festival. This is the only festival in the world that offers an unforgettable seven-day trip to numerous magical locations in Croatia in addition to top music performers and production. With more than 9 million visitors, Croatia has been named the most successful and safest European tourist destination in 2021, which is just further confirmation that Split, Dalmatia, and Croatia will be not only ready and safe for the summer of 2022 but also at the top of the most desirable tourist destination for tourists from all over the world.

The 8th edition of the festival officially begins on Thursday, July 7, when the Opening Party is scheduled, followed by the three-day Ultra Music Festival at Youth Park in Split, from July 8 to 10. Ultra Brac traditionally follows in one of the most beautiful open clubs in the Mediterranean, 585 Club. Finally, on July 12, festival-goers travel to the sunniest Croatian island, where visitors can expect a slightly different experience and a refreshed program concept. Namely, the afternoon beach party is moving to the Pakleni Islands, where, in addition to the Ultra Beach program, the evening program Resistance Hvar will be held at the Carpe Diem Beach Club. Resistance Closing Party Vis is the last destination station. It will take place on July 13, in the intimate and exclusive atmosphere of the 200-year-old Fort George Fortress on Vis, better known as Fortica. More will be known in the coming days.

What makes Ultra so unique and a 'bucket list' festival for fans worldwide can be seen in the figures recorded after the 7th edition of the festival. More than 150,000 fans arrived in Croatia from a record 143 countries, most from Spain, Great Britain, Norway, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Austria, the USA, Canada, and the Netherlands. There were more domestic fans than ever, over 35,000 of them, and the millionth visitor was recorded, making this festival by far the largest international event in Croatia.

For everything to work perfectly, more than 2,000 people participated in the organization. More than 250 DJs played on 12 stages in 5 cities. All this was carefully followed by more than 300 accredited domestic and foreign journalists. Youth Park shone with new splendor and powerfully presented itself to the world as the new host of the festival. It is important to note that the 7th edition will be remembered for the smallest number of interventions of all services in history.

The list of performers was impressive, including the mega trio Swedish House Mafia, who added Ultra Europe and Split among their first reunion shows. This was the most extensive and most expensive lineup ever. Among the many records was the 67.50-meter main stage, which went down in history as one of the longest stages in Europe and never seen before in our region. The equipment arrived in 50 trucks, including more than 1,800 light devices and more than 1,200 square meters of LED screens.

The Ultra Europe Aftermovie is another trademark of the festival, and so far more than 13 million people have seen them. Charly Friedrichs and Diogo Camargo and the Final Kid Films crew direct and edit the nine-minute work, which shows Zagreb for the first time, as well as numerous other fairy-tale Croatian locations. All shots were taken with RED digital film cameras and state-of-the-art equipment, and to make the visual experience complete, everything was shot in 4K resolution. More than 3 million kuna was invested in the production to remind festival-goers of the best moments. The live stream from Split was watched on YouTube and Facebook in more than 124 countries with more than 7 million views. This is another record of the year that will be remembered thanks to the live stream that could be watched for the first time on separate channels from Resistance and the main stage.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.