SXM Festival has announced the phase one lineup for its highly-anticipated return to the Caribbean island of Saint Martin / Sint Maarten.
From March 9-13, the destination experience will give attendees the chance to witness many of the top names in the underground techno and house scene in one of the world’s most beautiful and culturally diverse island locales.
Since its debut back in 2016, SXM Festival has remained focused on booking lineups that showcase a mix of legendary names and emerging acts alike from far-reaching corners of the globe.
Some of clubland’s most celebrated selectors and live acts descend on Saint Martin / Sint Maarten annually to play for one of the most loyal and engaged communities of music fans and global party nomads in the world. The result is a breeding ground for musical experimentation and discovery eclipsed only by the beauty of the festival’s host location.
This year, SXM Festival will once again bring together many of the top names in the European scene. Attendees can look forward to the famed zeitgeist of Chilean-born minimal icon Ricardo Villalobos, Innervisions co-founders Âme, and live performance extraordinaire Jan Blomqvist.
Other standouts include Life and Death label boss Dj Tennis, veteran German producer Steve Bug, multi-instrumentalist Chloé Caillet, and Copenhagen live trio WhoMadeWho.
The lineup also features celebrated acts from around the globe including the legendary Dubfire, Canadian favorite Blond:ish, Israeli star Chaim, and Grammy-nominated producer Danny Tenaglia. Phase one is rounded out by a diverse mix of veteran and rising names like Carlita, Behrouz, Sonja Moonear, Hoj, YokoO, Amine K, Raresh, Emanuel Satie, and more.
Attendees of the 5-day and 5-night tropical dance music escape will find themselves effortlessly navigating secluded beaches, lush jungle dancefloors, stunning villas, boat parties, and beach clubs – from sunrise to sunset. This unique party format is what sets SXM Festival apart from other destination festivals, guiding attendees through an eclectic mix of music, culture, and travel throughout their time in paradise.
Guests can experience their favorite house and techno artists at a variety of unique venues filled with mesmerising decor. Any SXM Festival devotées will tell you tales of the event’s beating heart, Happy Bay.
The secluded private beach nestled in the jungle serves as the main evening venue for SXM Festival and is home to the iconic Arc Mainstage and the immersive Ocean stage. Other highlights include Boho Beach Cub, the perfect place to chill out and escape during the day, along with Karakter, which overlooks the Caribbean sea and provides a spectacular view of aircrafts coming in for landing at SXM Airport and is the perfect place to catch a sunset.
Those seeking the VIP treatment can select from a number of luxurious villas, and can also add private yachting, Michelin star caliber dining, and more to the package with a single click on the website booking page. VIP guests will have access to exclusive areas with lush amenities at Happy Bar. This includes table service, a chill-out area, a dedicated VIP bar and special cocktail and wine pop-up bars, and access to the famed Villa Party on Saturday.
Additional add-ons are the Satellite Parties, including the Boat Party with DJs soundtracking the epic voyage, which includes the option to set sail at sunset on the largest lagoon in the Caribbean, along with the Panorama event. The pre-sale for VIP Ticket holders for these two events starts February 8th.
The Panorama party will give attendees the chance to party at the peak of Saint Maarten‘s highest mountain with breathtaking 360-degree views of the best Caribbean sunset. Fans may recognize the location from the iconic Cercle spectacle captured with Blond:ish from this very spot. The unique, sustainable venue – Rainforest Adventures / Rockland Estate – is an eco–adventure park that preserves the island’s native habit and invests in the cultural landscape of St. Maarten.
For the 2022 edition, the event will continue to build upon its deep connection with the cultural and ecological fabric of the beautiful host locale of Saint Martin / Sint Maarten. Spawned in 2019 to help encourage the prosperity and health of the island following the devastating Hurricane Irma, SXM Festival created a partnership with SXM Doet, the largest volunteer initiative in Saint Martin / Sint Maarten and the Dutch Kingdom.
Attendees are also encouraged to take a break from the party and meet the locals and other travelers, while offering their service to the island at specific, sponsored projects. Past projects have included beach cleanups, playground builds, and basketball court maintenance, with this year’s charitable action initiatives to be announced in the months to come.
SXM Festival is also dedicated to leaving a smaller footprint and helping replenish natural environments. With initiatives that include going paperless, saving energy with LED and solar lights, and eliminating plastic waste throughout the festival, it is the mission of SXM Festival to become increasingly sustainable throughout their growth. The festival also has a no trace policy: every venue is transformed to be more beautiful at the end of each event.
Whether you are a returning vet or first-timer, SXM Festival and the beautiful island of Saint Martin / Sint Maarten hold rich cultural surprises behind each twist and turn. It is truly a sum of its parts and a musical voyage of a lifetime. Come find out for yourself.
Tickets for SXM Festival are now on sale. Those interested in purchasing passes or learning more can head to their official website.