Defected is taking over Ibiza’s Pacha for a summer of house legacy

There’s a point in every Ibiza trip when the WhatsApp group goes quiet and someone finally asks, what’s the plan tonight? If you’re lucky, the answer is Defected at Pacha. Back for a full summer takeover, Defected returns to Pacha Ibiza for the 2025 season, reclaiming Thursday nights from May through to October. After a thirteen-year break, the label’s return to the iconic club marks a new chapter in late-night island romance — this time round, rooted in legacy. 

Defected’s new era? A curated blend of rising stars and special guests all dialled into what they do best — delivering unforgettable, feel-everything house music with zero pretence and pure vibes. A night at Defected’s Pacha residency can be summarised, then, as a hedonistic blend of world-class DJs, dangerously good margaritas and a crew that makes you feel like you’ve known them forever. Even so, the focus remains on what’s on stage — the label knows how to evolve while keeping its roots planted firmly in the music.

But let’s start with the warm-up. Dinner at the Pacha restaurant is a far cry from downing tinnies in a questionable self-catered. Think: silky sashimi, spicy tuna rolls and a ‘horny’ spicy margarita (don’t ask, just drink it). Despite its suspicious-sounding name, you’ll probably end up ordering rounds until Monzo sends that passive-aggressive ‘you spent more than usual’ alert. Moving to the Pacha club, though, any chill vibes are swapped out for pure energy — lights low, sound sharp, bodies moving. People seem like they’re, kind of, glowing? 

Of course, the immaculate line-up helps with that. A taste of the line-up includes Olive F (who’s playing five times over the summer) has an effortless energy and cool-girl crowd magnetism that only the new face of Topshop could harness. The same can be said for Elliot Schooling & Liam Palmer, who look as though they’ve just left a rooftop in Hackney and decided to casually take down Pacha in lieu of their regular afters spot. As for Melé — he’s a bit like that mate who doesn’t say much but takes over the aux and suddenly everyone’s gone feral. There’s also the OGs like Solardo, who know how to round off a night with exactly the kind of no-prisoners attitude you’d expect from two lads who know this game inside out.

That said, there’s something about Defected that goes beyond the music. It’s in the crew that it attracts — people you met three hours ago feel like your best mates. It’s in the unspoken agreement that you’re all here to let go — to dance without a single fuck to give, on an island made for exactly that. And the cherry (see what we did there?) on top is that Pacha Hotel is literally next door. No taxis, no dramas. Just a two-minute drunken wobble to blackout curtains, comfy beds that you might make you accidentally sleep through the whole next day, plus rooms that are just as well suited to the warm-up as the comedown. 

There’s kind of a reason Pacha has been shaping the party scene since the ’70s. It’s not just a club, it’s a ritual. And, now that they’re back with Defected, there might not be a better way to spend a Thursday night this summer. Upcoming shows include names like Groove Armada, Gorgon City, The Blessed Madonna, DJ EZ, Carl Craig, Eliza Rose, Girls Don’t Sync, Todd Edwards and Hannah Wants, the list goes on. So, whether you’re after soulful house, raw energy, or just a main-character moment, you’re going to have a bloody good time.