The streets of Ibiza are cleared out, with all but Ibizans left to enjoy well-deserved coffee along the street. As residents of the island, one thing is certain: the season is over. This is an opportune time to reflect on the 2016 summer season. What were the biggest events and what places were the most fun to visit?
General:
New record
Ibiza is hot! That’s nothing new. Besides foreigners, greater numbers of Spaniards are increasingly making their way to the island. It’s not just party fiends who are venturing to the island either. Rather, more and more families are making it their ideal holiday destination as well. That means tourism numbers are steadily going up; a new record was even broken this year. In fact, more than seven million flight passengers were taken in at the airport this year alone. Last year, there were only 6,477,283 flight passengers. And we haven’t even accounted for the large increase in boaters or private jetsetters arriving on the island.
Club raids
Many raids took place at clubs this summer to investigate tax fraud, aka ‘Operation Chopin’. After large-scale searches and seizures, millions in cash money were confiscated at Pacha and Ushuaia. Investigations are currently underway to assess whether these funds match the clubs’ accounting records.
Venue closing
You probably know this already, but a legendary nightclub Space on the island has closed down. Since 1986, it was a venue for many music lovers to experience an unforgettable night. The 2nd of October was the last hurrah, where 20,000 people were able to attend. The party lasted 20 hours with 177 DJs, and house DJ Carl Cox had the honour of putting on the last and final record. It is still unknown as to what the plans are for the nightclub. All we know is that the Ushuaia Group bought it.
The Best of 2016:
World’s Best DJ
Big names in DJ land find their way to Ibiza; that, we already know. But who is really the best? Every year, DJ MAG Top 100 holds a people’s choice poll to name the best dance DJ in the world. This year, the title was given to 20-year old Martin Garrix from the Netherlands. Martin Garrix DJ’ed every Friday at Ushuaia this summer. We hope to be able to witness his magic in the booth once again every week next year! The Belgian duo Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike topped the list last year. This past summer, you could see them every Sunday at Amnesia.
Cova Santa
New festivals pop up every year. Some flop, while others turn into major successes. Ever heard of Cova Santa? It’s an ancient grotto that has been converted into a restaurant right near KM5 and is also where festivals have regularly been held ever since Amnesia Group took it over. WooMoon is just one of those festivals, which is a sort-of mini-festival that has foodie tents and all kinds of good music acts for people young and old to enjoy, starting around noon. It’s our favourite of 2016!
The Giri Cafe
In the remote village of San Juan, it seems like virtually nothing is going on when you pass through it. Apart from the phenomenal street market they have on Sundays, there are certainly reasons to pay a visit to this village on other days of the week. In particular, it’s home to a great restaurant called Giri Cafe. Due to its beautiful patio and overall ambience, this restaurant won the title this year for the best restaurant of 2016.
