MINISTRY OF SOUND UNDERGOES HUGE RENOVATION AHEAD OF 35TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

A new KV2 sound system, multi-dimensional light installation, and a fully redesigned dancefloor and DJ booth will be completed in January

Ministry of Sound is set to undergo the most significant transformation since it opened in 1991. A complete reimagining of sound, space and light in its main room, The Box, will be undertaken throughout January 2026, with programming also stepping up to match the new levels of audio-visual immersion. This news comes as the Ministry enters its 35th year, which is a key milestone in the history of London’s nightlife and the beginning of a new era for the club.

The club will retire its legendary Martin Audio system, long regarded as a global benchmark, making way for a brand-new, custom four-point KV2 sound system consisting of KV2’s SL412 tops with a combination of VHD2.21 and VHD2.16 subs. The system will be installed by Patchwork London and promises a more powerful, immersive and detailed listening experience, setting a new standard for club sound in 2026 and beyond. 

“KV2 Audio continues to set the benchmark for high-performance club sound. This installation represents a truly world-class system — one that honours the legacy of Ministry of Sound while pushing the experience firmly into the future” Louis Jemmott - Director, Patchwork London

Elsewhere, the DJ booth will be lowered into the crowd and rebuilt as a modular structure, allowing for multiple stage formats, including 360-degree setups. It will be backed by an all new elevated backstage area surrounding the new DJ booth, and capacity will also increase by approximately 200 people, entirely reshaping both the energy and flow of the room.

Visually, the main room undergoes a dramatic evolution with a 9㎡ state-of-the-art overhead light installation and an all new video and lighting design by renowned design studio Lucid Creates, who’ve created stages and large-scale installations for the likes of Pacha Ibiza, Glastonbury and Boomtown. The vast, multi-layered metal structure suspended above the dancefloor combines reflective frameworks, integrated video screens and Lucid’s bespoke LED bar technology that will create a constantly evolving visual experience.

“To ensure the design feels cutting-edge whilst still retaining its edge, we’ve leant heavily into industrial textures and forms to inform the overall look of the space - steering away from an overly clean, overly manicured aesthetic. The result is something that will still feel distinctively ‘The Box’ but in a really interesting and imaginative way.”

Chris Carr, Founder of Lucid Creates.

The Box sets the tone for a bold new chapter with two huge reopening parties at the end of Jan with &friends’ vocal-led Afro-house sitting alongside Moeaike’s deep, percussive selections and Joezi’s soulful take on the genre on Fri 30 Jan.

Sat 31 Jan sees a high-profile back-to-back from Pete Tong and Kölsch, bringing together one of dance music’s most influential broadcasters and the Danish producer known for his emotive, big-room techno, joined by Lauren Lo Sung and Jansons, who add a refined, modern approach to house music.

“The redesign will fully transform the room into a future-facing club space while preserving its industrial spirit. The Box has always set benchmarks, particularly around sound, and this renovation allows us to reset that standard for the next generation to continue evolving the space without losing its identity.” Matt Long - Club Director, Ministry of Sound

The refurb shows Ministry of Sound’s ongoing commitment to innovation on all fronts, from production to programming and in-club experience. It's comes as the venue embarks on the beginning of a year-long celebration to mark 35 years with a series of special shows featuring heavyweight artists such as Todd Terje, Ron Trent, Joe Claussell, Lauren Lo Sung, Eats Everything, Tony Humphries, Fiorella, Pete Tong, Kölsch, Kele Le Roc and Konstantin Sibold,reflecting the club’s enduring influence on the city’s musical identity and sonic legacy, which continues to be the blueprint for club culture across the globe.

The next chapter of Ministry of Sound begins January 2026. Tickets for the Re-opening weekend and full programme details are available at: ministryofsound.com

Fri 30 Jan - The Box Reopening Weekend

&friends Showcase; &friends, Moeaike, Joezi

Sat 31 Jan - The Box Reopening Weekend

Pete Tong b2b Kölsch, Lauren Lo Sung, Jansons

DAMIAN LAZARUS REVEALS LINEUP FOR DAY ZERO BALI 2026 – JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE

Day Zero’s International Expansion Debuts in Bali on April 17, 2026 
 

GWK Cultural Park 
 

Featuring Acid Pauli, Âme DJ, Bonobo (DJ Set), Brunello, Damian Lazarus, Francis Mercier, Jamie Jones, Jan Blomqvist (Live), John Summit, Kitty Amor, Meera, MĪMĪ x FY, Odyssey Crew, PNNY, RYOTA, Satori (Live), Tina Colada
 

Tickets on sale, Thursday 15 January, Register now for early access

From the stillness between mountains and sea, a new chapter of Damian Lazarus’ Day Zero takes shape as Day Zero Bali reveals the artists that will guide its next sacred gathering. On April 17, 2026, sound, land, and spirit align in a rare convergence - a carefully curated assembly of global selectors and live performers, transforming GWK Cultural Park in Bali into a living ritual. Rooted in the island’s timeless sense of balance, the 2026 lineup marks the moment when Day Zero’s vision fully takes form, inviting seekers from around the world into a shared journey to the centre of the universe.
 

Across the world, Day Zero exists as a constellation of gatherings, each shaped by the land it inhabits. From the jungles of Tulum, where its mythology was born from Mayan prophecy, to the shores of Brazil’s São Miguel dos Milagres, where culture and coastline move as one, every edition reflects its surroundings in both form and feeling. With Bali now illuminated within that constellation, Day Zero continues its celestial journey - linking distant worlds through a shared pursuit of transformation, balance, and transcendence.

A true reflection of founder Damian Lazarus’ uncompromising curatorial vision, Day Zero Bali’s music lineup will be guided by boundary-pushing selectors, live performers, and genre-fluid storytellers whose sound mirrors the island’s balance of precision and openness. The 2026 lineup welcomes eclectic sonic architect Bonobo (DJ Set), melodic innovator Âme (DJ), seasoned tastemaker Jamie Jones, high energy crossover force John Summit, virtuoso musician and performer Jan Blomqvist (Live), and standout Haitian DJ and producer Francis Mercier - all artists adept at commanding both intimate moments and expansive dancefloors alike.

The lineup continues with a diverse assembly of acts including the avant-garde and adventurous stylings of Acid Pauli, Afro-inspired selector Kitty Amor, deep groove specialist Brunello, Norwegian melodic riser Meera, and Bali’s own symbiotic collective PNNY. Additional artists include groundbreaking Japanese DJ RYOTA, spiritual live act Satori (Live), Bali-based DJ and producer Tina Colada, collaborative melodic project MĪMĪ x FY, and the collective Odyssey Crew.

As Day Zero Bali unfolds from sunset to sunrise, the gathering follows a carefully guided arc - evolving gradually as sound, energy, and intention shift throughout the night. As dawn approaches, Damian Lazarus will take the reins for a closing sunrise session that has become one of the most defining moments of the Day Zero experience. Forever evolving as both selector and producer, he remains among the most captivating artists to witness, bending genres through fearless edits, rare reworks, and deep-reaching selections. Each set is a masterclass in connecting past and present, anchoring the final hours of the journey in reflection, release, and collective movement.

Anchoring the sacred gathering is GWK Cultural Park, rising above Bali’s southern peninsula as a natural point of alignment between land and sky. Home to the monumental figure of the Hindu god Vishnu astride his mythical bird mount, Garuda—towering more than 120 meters—the site carries a quiet sense of guardianship and balance. Framed by open air and distant sea, GWK becomes a natural axis for Day Zero Bali, where sound, intention, and place converge in shared ritual.

Two years in the making, Day Zero Bali stands as the culmination of a global search for a place that felt destined. Guided by the belief that Bali is the spiritual and cosmic center of the universe - a point where elements align and energy draws inward - the gathering finds its natural home on an island revered for harmony, ritual, and renewal. Carrying the same pulse that first awakened in Tulum, Bali invites the Day Zero vision to evolve into new dimensions, becoming the vessel for its next chapter.

Led by Damian Lazarus, whose Crosstown Rebels imprint has shaped the evolution of underground electronic music for more than two decades, Day Zero continues to exist at the edges of sound and experience. In Bali, this vision meets a creative community in motion - artists, producers, and spaces that echo the island’s quiet intent and reverence for craft, where creation feels guided rather than forced.
 

Crosstown Rebels have partnered with the Savaya Group, whose dedication to electronic music and cultural storytelling has helped shape Bali’s contemporary creative landscape. Rooted in the meaning of “sacred journey,” Savaya Group has become a cornerstone of the island’s evolution - bridging music, design, and spirit from the cliffs of Uluwatu to destinations such as Savaya, Desa Kitsuné and Ina Ré, while honoring Bali’s sacred origins.

As night falls beneath Bali’s star-filled sky, every rhythm becomes a signal, every dance a meditation, every moment a journey inward. Day Zero Bali is not merely an event - it is a return to source, a living ritual shaped by land, sound, and those who gather within it.

Additional Day Zero Week, April 14th - 19th, will feature rituals, gatherings, and celebrations across the island surrounding the Bali edition. More details to follow. 

Tickets on sale, Thursday 15th January for Day Zero Bali 2026 dayzerobali.com

AURA FESTIVAL BULGARIA ANNOUNCES 2026 LINEUP AND MAJOR SITE EXPANSION AT SOFIA AIRPORT PARK

The genre-spanning lineup welcomes the likes of Armin Van Buuren, 999999999, ALOK, BIIA, ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U and more

19–21 June 2026 | 18:00–06:00

Sofia Airport Park

AURA Festival Bulgaria returns in 2026 with another immersive conceptual escape across an epic three-day programme from 19–21 June 2026. Taking place at a new location with expanded capacity and extended operating hours until dawn, this will be the most spectacular edition yet. 

Bulgaria and its diverse terrain has rapidly emerged as one of Europe’s fastest-growing festival destinations. The country attracts international audiences keen to soak up its distinctive cultural identity and endlessly scenic locations, all of which are easily accessible via many travel routes from across Europe. With AURA, the country continues to strengthen its position on the global circuit and with Bulgaria’s official adoption of the euro from 2026, travel is even more streamlined and tourism is more accessible than ever. 

This year, the festival relocates to Sofia Airport Park, marking a significant shift from previous editions with a new site that allows for overnight programming. The new location offers greater flexibility and a more suitable environment for large-scale immersive experiences. Events will run from 18:00 until 06:00, removing the 23:00 curfew that previously limited the festival, and with even more out of this world production, spectacular lights and world class sound systems. 

The 2026 edition is presented under the theme “Temple of EOS”, which forms part of AURA’s ongoing conceptual narrative. Across three nights, the site will be transformed into a multi-stage environment combining music, large-scale stage architecture and visual installations.

The Temple of EOS concept continues the festival’s wider story world and follows on from previous themes. It centres on light, reflection and transformation and each night is designed to function as a distinct chapter within a continuous experience across the weekend.

The 2026 lineup spans a wide spectrum of electronic music, from melodic and progressive sounds to high-intensity techno. Armin van Buuren brings his globally recognised trance-led approach, while Dimitri Vegas and ALOK represent festival-scale electronic and melodic house influences. Deeper and more atmospheric tones come from Mahmut Orhan, while the harder end of the programme is covered by Italian techno duo 999999999 and ground-breaking Japanese DJ ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, who is known for high-tempo, multi-genre and rave-influenced sets with an energy unlike any other. Further programming details and stage breakdowns are expected to be announced in the coming months.

With its new location, extended hours and expanded production scope, AURA Festival 2026 marks a major evolution for the event as it enters its next chapter.

More information, tickets and updates will be available via official AURA Festival channels and their website; https://aurafestival.bg/

LINE UP
Armin van Buuren (21 June), Dimitri Vegas (20 June), Alok (19 June), Mahmut Orhan (19 June), 999999999 (20 June), ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U (20 June), BIIA (20 June), Laura van Dam (21 June), Jesabel (21 June), MATTN (20 June), Topic (19 June), Avalan Rokston (19 June), Youna (19 June), Gallya (21 June), Bobe (20 June), World Up DJs (Dimo BG, Milen DJ, Silver Ivanov, Vasco C) (19 June)

Aura Festival
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