DJ Awards reveals nominees and brand new categories ahead of 2025 edition in Ibiza

The DJ Awards is the longest-standing celebration of global electronic music culture and it now unveils the 2025 genre-specific, voted for categories and nominees alongside the public voting launch on Thursday 21st August

Founded in 1998, the DJ Awards returned in triumphant fashion to Ibiza in 2024 after a four-year hiatus. It is proud to be an independent and non-pay-to-play platform that recognises and celebrates talent on merit alone. Unlike some popular polls, DJ Awards’ nominations are all presented by a fully independent Grand Jury of industry experts and insiders who come from over 50 leading music brands and businesses. This means they truly dig deep into the various different genres and sub-genres of DJ culture to give a full, authentic and proper representation in the dance music industry.

After last year's successful relaunch, the DJ Awards has quickly been re-established as an important part of the international dance calendar. Last year’s genre specific winners included Black Coffee (Afro), Sam Divine (House), Armin van Buuren (Trance), CamelPhat (Progressive House), Chase & Status (D&B), Fisher (International DJ), WhoMadeWho (Organic House), and Luciano, who received the Ibiza Icon Award.

Now, the 2025 edition builds on that momentum with a wide-ranging selection of categories spanning genres, geographies and industry influence, as well as a new commitment to raise the number of female nominees in each genre category to at least 2. 

Brand-new for this year is the Balearic category which is so key to the sound of Ibiza and will honour DJs who embody the genre-defying, sun-drenched energy synonymous with the White Isle's famous musical spirit, as well as Hard Dance/Bounce, which has had a huge revival in the last 12 months. These additions again highlights the DJ Awards’ commitment to recognising key subcultures across the electronic landscape.

As well as Balearic, the categories this year include Afro, Breakthrough, Drum & Bass, Garage/Bassline, Hard Dance/Bounce, Hard Techno, House, International DJ, Latin/Reggaeton, Live Act, Newcomer, Prog/Melodic, Tech House, Techno and Trance, with full nominees listed below. 

As always, the DJ Awards also feature a number of Industry and Special Recognition Awards, which are proposed by a jury of music professionals before a winner is announced ahead of the award show. These include Track of the Summer, Party of the Summer, Icon Award, Lifetime Achievement, Eye On: MENA, DJ Livestream of the Year, and Play It Back – Social Impact Award.

The venue for this year’s ceremony will be revealed in the coming weeks, with further announcements to follow regarding the Industry Awards and special performances, so keep your eyes peeled.

Voting opens Thursday 21st August at djawards.com

INTERNATIONAL DJ

Calvin Harris

David Guetta

FISHER

Honey Dijon

Keinemusik

Martin Garrix

Peggy Gou

Solomun

AFRO

Black Coffee

DBN Gogo

Francis Mercier

Kitty Amor

Major League DJz

Shimza

Themba

BALEARIC

Andy Baxter

Clara Da Costa

Jason Bye

Jon Sa Trinxa

Mina

Willie Graff

BREAKTHROUGH

Ahmed Spins

ANOTR

Desiree

Dom Dolla

Franky Rizardo

Josh Baker

MAU P

Mestiza

DRUM & BASS

A.M.C

Andy C

BOU

Chase & Status

Dimension

Friction

Mollie Collins

Nia Archives

SHERELLE

GARAGE/BASSLINE

DJ EZ

Eliza Rose

Girls Don't Sync

Interplanetary Criminal

Riordan

Sammy Virji

Silva Bumpa

HARD DANCE/BOUNCE

Adrian Mills

Bad Boombox

Ben Hemsley

Hannah Laing

Kettama

Marlon Hoffstadt

HARD TECHNO

99999999

Amelie Lens

Fantasm

I Hate Models

Klangkuenstler

Nico Moreno

Sara Landry

HOUSE

Dennis Cruz

Gorgon City

James Hype

Kerri Chandler

Sam Divine

Seth Troxler

The Martinex Brothers

TSHA

LATIN HOUSE/REGGAETON

DJ Foxy

DJ Riobamba

Hugel

Juan Magan

Masivo

Tony Touch

LIVE ACT

Ben Böhmer

Bicep

Fred again..

Odesza

Overmono

RÜFÜS DU SOL

SOFI TUKKER

Sofia Kourtesis

The Prodigy

NEWCOMER

Anaïs

Benwal

Deer Jade

Levi

Nala

Olive F

Super Strings

PROGRESSIVE/MELODIC HOUSE

Anyma

ARTBAT

Bedouin

Blond:ish

Franky Wah

Hannah Wants

Miss Monique

WhomadeWho

TECH HOUSE

Carlita

East End Dubs

Jamie Jones

Joseph Capriati

Luciano

Manda Moor

Marco Carola

Michael Bibi

Paco Osuna

PAWSA

TECHNO

Carl Cox

Charlotte de Witte

Deborah De Luca

Enrico Sangiuliano

Indira Paganotto

Marco Faraone

Sven Väth

TRANCE

Aly & Fila

Armin van Buuren

Ferry Corsten

Giorgia Angiuli 

KI/KI

Nora en Pure

Paul van Dyk