As the Mediterranean sun shines down from a cloudless azure blue sky when walking out of Ibiza airport there is something else that catches the eye: the huge advertising hoardings. These, however, are not directing you to the nearest burger restaurant or shopping mall but to a more thriving prospect that has become part of the summer landscape on this Balearic island – the Superstar DJ.

As the DJs' faces beam down, almost godlike, advertising their various residences on the main road that continues beyond Playa d’en Bossa, you could have your diary full for the entire week by the time your journey has reached Ibiza town.

The rise of the superstar DJ came at the same time as the emergence of the house music scene in the early nineties, which also brought about the rise of the big clubs in Britain such as Cream in Liverpool and Gatecrasher in Sheffield. Although most of these clubs in the UK have disappeared, their popularity in Ibiza shows no sign of abating, with new venues opening, such as Hï Ibiza and UNVRS, the latter dubbed the first hyper club in the world.

Many are not DJs per se – David Guetta has changed the shape of pop music over the last two decades. The French DJ is also a producer and writer and worked with Lady GaGa, Rihanna and Kelly Rowland, amongst others, whilst Scottish DJ Calvin Harris has lately taken hold of the commercial baton from Guetta, writing and producing hits for Dua Lipa, Sam Smith and John Newman, which Rihanna also is on his hit list only goes to prove how interchangeable these vocalists are on dance music tracks.

The dance scene is not just the preserve of the young: don’t be surprised if you happen to share the dancefloor with an older clientele. The Spanish seventy-something couple I came across in Pacha, fittingly one of the oldest clubs on the island, didn’t mind one iota that they were dancing alongside their fellow clubbers who were young enough to be their grandchildren.

Calvin Harris is widely recognised as the highest-paid DJ on the Ibiza circuit and the world, commanding tens of millions annually and massive earnings per residency show at venues like Ushuaïa Ibiza, where tickets this season for his Friday night residency start an eye watering 185 euros. Admittedly the price does include over six hours of entertainment with other less famous DJ’s on the bill and Harris doesn’t skimp on visual effects either, naturally the sound system at Ushuaïa is one of the best I have experienced.

Watching his ninety-minute set at Ushuaïa amongst an international audience of all ages, the experience felt like a big event; Euphoric – certainly, exciting – definitely, enchanting. - of course. During the daytime Ushuaïa shines as an adult-only hotel; at night the open-air parties close at the unusual time, at least by Ibiza standards at 11pm.

Harris demonstrates a more mainstream approach to dance music, which contrasts with the underground style favoured by many of his peers and resembles a greatest hits set of all the artists he has worked with. Dancing alongside near 8,000 other like-minded individuals in 29°C nighttime heat is something you might only experience once – and one that I can highly recommend.

500 ml water bottles are not only held high in the sky at the appropriate time but also clasped tightly in hands – at 16 euros a bottle, this is definitely liquid gold. With Spain having some of the lowest taxes in Europe on alcohol, you might find it hard to fathom why a glass of wine or beer costs 19 euros or a whisky 23 euros until you understand the sky-high fees that the top elite DJs command are cascaded right through the whole chain right down to the clubbers who come through the front doors. Admittedly there is a short season – May to early October in which to make as much money as possible as far as the venues are concerned, though as a business model this is definitely one that dances to a different beat.

Aeroplanes fly surprisingly close overhead as they prepare to land at the airport, 3 km away. The audience start to make their way out of Ushuaïa as bracelets are given out by staff that offer 20% off the admission to Hï Ibiza across the road from Ushuaïa as the party continues right through the night.

Across the other side of the island in San Antonio lies Cafe Mambo, which is as much a part of the music and club scene in Ibiza as it is a must-visit for regulars, continuously evolving as new generations discover Ibiza for the very first time.

Founded in 1994 by Javier Anadón and his wife Caroline, the venue is now primarily overseen by sons, Christian and Alan Anadón, better known as the Mambo Brothers.

The likes of Paul Oakenfold, Roger Sanchez, Fatboy Slim, and the Swedish House Mafia have all played here. While Idris Elba, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kate Moss are among the famous faces who have all partied here.

Cafe Mambo has just announced Laura & Santiago for a seven-week residency this September and October, with the dynamo duo taking over the iconic sunset terrace every Tuesday from 1st September through to 13th October, providing the soundtrack to the final stretch of the 2026 Ibiza season.

The stunning sunset – the cafe and terrace are situated due west – is not the only reason for visiting this iconic destination. The food and service are exceptional, from the Mambo burger to freshly prepared salads on the daytime menu, and if you dine before 6pm, it is reasonably priced and enjoyed on the terrace with the DJ playing some uplifting beats in the background.

The evening experience, however, comes at a price; sit at a table by the DJ booth area, and there is a minimum spend of 200 euros per person. Seafront tables command a minimum spend of 150 euros per person, whilst one of the regular terrace tables has a minimum spend of 100 euros per person. If your pockets are not that deep, then a minimum spend of 80 euros per person allows you to sit in the cocktail bar area.

As the sky turns gold, orange and eventually deep pink, the soundtrack builds, transforming sunset into something closer to a full-blown event. This is Ibiza at its most cinematic.

Most come for the view, stay for the music, and leave with the feeling that you've experienced a small piece of Ibiza history.

As the title of the iconic Daft Punk dance track One More Time perfectly sums up one of the many reasons for visiting Ibiza, the island may have changed, but its pulse remains gloriously intact. From sunset beats to sunrise anthems, the island still knows how to turn music into a way of life. Trends will come and go, DJs will change and clubs will evolve, but Ibiza’s dance floor magic remains impossible to replicate — and that’s why the party never really ends, despite the costs involved.