AVA Festival is back, and in 2025, it’s entering a new era. Having celebrated its 10th anniversary last year with over 10,000 ravers, 70+ artists, and a community of creatives, AVA remains at the forefront of electronic music, audiovisual art, and culture.
Taking place on 30th – 31st May 2025 at Titanic Slipways, this year’s edition promises to push boundaries, unite global talent, and deliver an unforgettable weekend in the heart of Belfast.
AVA 2025 welcomes Underworld as this year’s festival headliners. The duo—pioneers of UK rave culture—are set to bring their legendary live energy to Belfast, celebrating 30 years of ‘Born Slippy’, a track that shaped a generation of electronic music lovers. With a new album, ‘Strawberry Hotel’, Underworld are primed to deliver a performance that will go down in AVA history.
Joining them, Overmono return for a huge headline set, bringing their signature blend of breakbeats, techno, and hypnotic soundscapes to the docks. From their early days as solo producers Tessela and Truss to becoming one of the most in-demand live acts on the circuit, Overmono are a perfect fit for AVA’s forward-thinking dancefloor.
Also on the bill, Ewan McVicar, the Scottish house and techno maestro behind the massive anthem ‘Tell Me Something Good‘, brings his infectious energy and crowd-moving sound to Belfast. VTSS makes her AVA debut with a high-voltage techno set, while KI/KI returns to fuse acid, trance, and techno, delivering an electrifying mix of nostalgia and futurism. DJ Fuckoff also joins the lineup for her AVA debut, ready to unleash her bass-driven, high-energy selections.
For those craving the harder edge of electronic music, Italian techno duo 999999999 will push BPMs to the extreme, while Irish selectors Tommy Holohan and DART showcase the raw power of Ireland’s underground rave scene. Sam Alfred brings his groove-heavy, euphoric sound after last year’s breakout Boiler Room set, and Berghain regular Bashkka is set to shake the festival with house and tribal-infused selections. Spray will present his Spriitzz project live, merging warped progressive sounds with club-ready euphoria.
This year will also feature a debut appearance from Minna-no-kimochi (みんなのきもち), the Tokyo-based post-trance collective making waves with their hypnotic, high-energy Boiler Room performances. AVA wouldn’t be complete without its legendary Boiler Room stage, a platform that has delivered some of the most iconic festival moments over the years. While the lineup is still TBA, history tells us to expect something special.
The festival continues its mission to spotlight Irish homegrown talent, with acts like Tommy Holohan, Sally C, Spray, EMA, Sloucho, and Kessler bringing the energy and creativity that define AVA’s roots.
Beyond the beats, AVA 2025 is evolving with an arts programme featuring storytelling, music tours, installations, and workshops, with details to be announced soon.
AVA represents so much more than just electronic music; it’s a movement, a community of open-minded, creatively curious individuals who come together to celebrate freedom of expression. 2025 is a step change for AVA, and this year will be truly special.” – Sarah McBriar, Founder & Creative Director, AVA Festival
“We’re excited to bring Underworld to AVA for the 30th anniversary of ‘Born Slippy’, alongside some of the most exciting emerging talent. This year, 10 artists will make their Belfast debut, and we’re proud to continue supporting Irish talent at the highest level.” – Emmett Costello, AVA Senior Curator
To secure your place at AVA Festival 2025 and to find out more, head HERE.
Words: Neil Ritchie
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