Sanctuary

Dutch electronic titan Hardwell lit up Ultra Music Festival Miami last month with the debut of his latest single, ‘Sanctuary’. Unveiled as the powerful opener to his main stage set, the track instantly captivated the crowd with its progressive melodic energy and trance-tinged euphoria. This sound perfectly embodies Hardwell’s ever-evolving mainstage style.

This year’s appearance marked Hardwell’s 11^th performance on Ultra’s iconic Main Stage, and it proved to be one for the history books. The set was packed with both unreleased gems and a catalogue of classic Hardwell anthems, alongside a host of festival favourites that kept the energy at peak level from start to finish.

‘Sanctuary’ stands as a significant chapter in Hardwell’s ongoing artistic evolution. Offering a subtle departure from his recent techno-inspired direction, the track leans into emotive melodies and uplifting builds, driven by a dynamic arrangement that nods to his mainstage foundation while drawing inspiration from the melodic depths of trance.

Speaking about the new single, Hardwell shared: “Over the past few months, I found myself diving more and more into melodic structures and playing around with different soundscapes. Out of all the projects I was working on, ‘Sanctuary’ was one I just couldn’t let go of. It’s not quite a full trance track, but it definitely pulls in elements from that genre, which I love.”

Fans can relive the moment and experience ‘Sanctuary’ live by watching Hardwell’s complete Ultra 2025 set on YouTube here.

Adding to the celebrations in Miami, Hardwell and fellow Dutch icon Armin van Buuren were honoured with the news that their 2024 collaboration ‘Follow The Light’ had won ‘Best Mainstage Song of the Year’ at the EDMA Awards. A fitting accolade for a track from two of the scene’s biggest pioneers.