18 unmissable parties at Miami Music Week

It has changed plenty over the years, but one thing remains true about Miami Music Week (MMW) — it is one of the busiest party weeks of the year. Once upon a time it was a place to meet, chat, do business, break records, sign artists, make deals. Global communications are now a lot simpler than they once were, which means that side of things is no longer as important as the world's biggest labels, promoters and DJs all putting on the best possible parties. 

And once again this year they are doing just that. From container ship raves and gritty warehouses via sun-kissed open-air events on the beachfront, to rooftop pool parties in the Art Deco district, there is something for everyone again in 2024. Here are our top picks for an unforgettable week.

We might be biased but the best fun you can have at Miami Music Week this year is with us. We're back at one of our favourite spots in the city, the Sagamore, which is right on the oceanfront, renowned for its stunning period architecture and luxury pool. For this one, we have invited the ANOTR pair who always come at house music from a different angle — and take influences from disco, soul, funk, jazz and plenty in between — to play the sunset set, with none other than Italian tech don Joseph Capriati also on the bill, plus Chloé Caillet, AQUTIE and more. If you only do one party this year, make sure it's this one.

Read interviews with each of the artists playing, and get all the details on the party, here.

Never ones to do things by half, Italian duo Tale Of Us have decided that this year's Afterlife event in Miami will be a two-day affair. They promise to "immerse you in an artistic journey unlike any other" at the Miami Marine Stadium with an array of visually captivating installations and forward-thinking visuals. Their signature blend of deep, moody, melodic and emotive house and techno will soundtrack the whole thing, as will some choice guests.

Coldharbour Recordings and Black Hole Recordings are two legendary labels for trance lovers. They join forces for one epic night in a warehouse space in Wynwood that will be converted with some suitably epic production. Expect a mixture of the labels' newer rising stars alongside founders and legends for what will be a fine cross-section of each imprint's respective sound.

The Defected crew has always been a firm fixture at Miami Music Week. Their true school house sounds are a perfect match for the bright sun and pool party fun you will find at Sagamore as part of the annual Epic Pool series. This year's event will be headed up by Dutch artists Ferreck Dawn and the Shermanology duo, while the chunky low-ends of Sam Divine, Low Steppa and Noizu will also feature with more surprises to come.

UK house stars Gorgon City invite you to Enter The Realms out in Miami this year. The party features a set from them alongside a mouthwatering mix of associates, including two fresh back-to-back sets between Biscits and Max Styler and DJ Seinfeld and Azzecca, plus solo selections from Jackie Hollander, Riordan and Tommy Gold. Expect house, house, and more house in the open air and famously vibrant area of town that is Oasis Wynwood.

Coming off a pair of sold out editions of this event at the last two Miami Music Weeks, the Heldeep pool party is back once again at its favoured home of the Nautilus. The Dutch label head and notorious future house pioneer Oliver Heldens will of course be the main draw, but a careful mix of his like-minded house and electro artists will be more than able to back him up at this one.

Cosmic Gate, aka Nic Chagall and Bossi, have been pushing prog and trance forwards since forever. Hit tunes, main stage performances, high positions in our Top 100 DJs poll — you name it, they have done it. They will bring all that know-how to La Orta Wynwood with help from fellow mainstays Gabriel & Dresden and Luccio, with more to come.

Los Angeles-based Insomniac has always been a trailblazing force in the EDM world and has hosted some of the scene's most epic events. It is now a full decade since the brand launched its own dedicated label arm and it has rarely been out of the charts since, thanks to accessible dance sounds from the likes of Tchami, Born Dirty, Weestend, Max Styler, Miss Dre, Sonny Fodera and many more, any of whom could line up at this one.

Jamie Jones is now utterly synonymous with his Paradise brand, which started with events in Ibiza and now hits up some of the world's most notorious clubs. In Miami, the colourful, escapist party heads to Factory Town, a venue that prides itself on being more diverse than pretty much any other in the region. This year it will feature two stages, plenty of big names and 12 hours of music from plenty of Jones's usual friends and peers.

Nicole Moudaber's Mood brand has been throwing pool parties during Miami Music Week for some years and in 2024 the label itself celebrates a decade of existence. As such, expect the founder to bring her usual shadowy take on bouncy techno to the Surfcomber alongside plenty of acts who have been a part of the journey with her.

Hot Since 82 has been taking his Knee Deep label parties to Miami for almost a decade. They never fail to draw some of the most energetic and wide-eyed dancers across the whole week, and of course come with a super fresh tech-house soundtrack. The main man himself will finish things off once the sun has just about set, but not before a bunch of his label mates and industry friends play first.

Legendary New York selector Danny Tenaglia is one of those influential names who, back in the day, had the power to break new records before anyone else, and often has at Miami in the past. This year he returns to the Sagamore with Epic once more for a re-run of last year's memorable session. He will play from early afternoon until just after sundown so expect some pretty special moments as the music moves you from day into night.

There won't be many artists playing in Miami this March who have been attending the famous week as long as UK veteran John Digweed. In 2024, he will showcase exactly where his long-running Bedrock Records label is at with a full showcase of talent at MAD Club Live. It is the first time the label has had a full presence in Miami for some years, which will lend this one an extra special edge.

After the success of last year's event, Anjunadeep returns to Miami with its biggest and boldest plans yet. The cultured UK label will takeover The Oasis for a glorious day of open-air fun in the sun, right in the heart of Miami’s Wynwood district where you will be able to sample international street food vendors housed in colourful shipping containers, all with the feel of a mini-festival and sets from Anyasa, CRi (DJ Set), Durante & Hana, Marsh, Nils Hoffmann (live), Simon Doty and more.

The Anjunabeats pool party heads back to the roof of The Nautilus Hotel and, specifically, the Sonesta Pool for some sun-kissed fun. The line-up is a bumper one with label acts Alex Sonata & TheRio, Amy Wiles, aname, Andrew Bayer b2b Oliver Smith, Gabriel & Dresden, Genix, Leena Punks, Mat Zo, SONIN and SunrYse all offering up a sweet cross-section of sounds.

Glitterbox is synonymous with extravagant celebrations that recall the original ethos of dance music: inclusivity, diversity and freedom of expression. Each event combines vibrant performances with exuberant atmospheres that embrace the golden era of disco, and this one around the pool at The National will be no different. The line-up is suitably huge with a live PA from Dames Brown plus house of all shades from Girls Of The Internet, Heidi Lawden, Jellybean Benitez, Melvo Baptiste, Rich Medina, Roger Sanchez, The Shapeshifters and Yasmin.

The thing about an Elrow party is that it doesn't really matter who is headlining — the star of the show is always the out-of-this-world production. It is always more bold and more ambitious than you could imagine, and this year's theme is RowsAttacks across two stages of music from sunrise to sunset. The event returns to Factory Town after a big one there during Art Basel with a street-art-based theme, insane production and a no-doubt stacked line-up of house and tech talent.

Mark Knight's Toolroom label is a globally recognised outlet for main room sounds. It is also a regular fixture on the Miami calendar at The National Hotel in the Art Deco district. This year the boss will be joined by new label signings Crusy and Tony Romera who play back-to-back for the first time. Leading lady ESSEL, who was discovered and nurtured through Toolroom's #WeAreListening program, makes her Miami debut, while Martin Ikin will go b2b with Noizu — there will be 11 hours of music, all in all.