Defex is hosting the Forest Stage at 528 Ibiza across three Saturdays in September 2026—specifically on September 5, 12, and 19—as part of Pikes Presents’ expanded Tuesday residency on the island. The Benimussa Park venue accommodates up to 5,000 people and serves as a focal point for electronic music curation.
Two Decades of Sound at Benimussa Park
Music histories on Ibiza run in deep, repeating cycles. For Defex, one particular trajectory has led back to the exact same geographical coordinates for more than twenty years: the former Benimussa Park, once home to the Zoo Project and now operating as 528 Ibiza.
This September, Pikes Presents is expanding its established Tuesday residency by adding three Saturdays to the calendar. Defex takes control of the Forest Stage hosting duties on September 5, 12, and 19.
“Es ist schon irre, wie diese Insel und insbesondere dieses Venue beschlossen haben, dass ich genau da hingehöre,” Defex notes regarding his long-standing relationship with the grounds. He describes the 528 location as “die geilste Location auf diesem Planeten,” highlighting its open-air layout, indoor sectors, multi-zone architecture, and 5,000-person capacity.
Despite its heritage as a former amusement park, the property remains underutilized. Current management is systematically breathing life back into dormant zones. The Forest Stage only recently returned to active rotation this season. “Das Potenzial ist riesig, ich hab richtig Bock, auch die nächsten 20 Jahre hier mitzugestalten,” Defex states.
His history with the terrain spans two decades. He initially arrived as a DJ, transitioned into a resident and co-organizer for the Zoo Project, and now holds residencies under the venue’s new operators as well as at Pikes. The incoming management team has injected professional rigor into operations without diluting the distinct character that earned the slogan “Feels Like Ibiza.”
Artist Evolution and Studio Output
Parallel to his club footprint, Defex has sharpened his focus on solo artistic production. “Seit Covid leg ich so viel Fokus wie irgendwie möglich auf mich selbst,” he explains. Over the preceding 14 months, he has maintained a release schedule of at least one drop per month.
His studio output and DJ performances bridge energetic house and driving techno. Upcoming releases are locked in for labels including Cocoon, Moon Harbour, Mood Music, Heideton, and Poker Flat. In contemporary club sets, original productions frequently make up more than fifty percent of his tracklist.
The studio-to-stage pipeline proved its efficacy during a recent routing at La Plaza in Mallorca. Four out of his final six played tracks were self-produced, with two remaining entirely unreleased. Following the set, Fatboy Slim approached him with a direct endorsement: “Great Tunes, Buddy.” An initial festival-hosting slot for Pikes Presents in England yielded a similarly rapid response. “Ich dachte, 14:30 bis 17:30 wird eher Warm-up. Aber da kamen lauter Profis, um 15:15 brannte die Hütte – beziehungsweise das Zelt,” he recalls.
Curating the September Forest Stage Lineups
For the three upcoming September Saturdays, Defex has curated guest rosters built on personal chemistry and shared sonic values.
Funk D’Void entered his orbit during an early gig at the venue where technical failures forced an improvised three-hour back-to-back session. Claudio Ricci persuaded Defex to take his inaugural Ibiza vacation and recently dropped “Poly Armor” on his Raft label. Tsodor operates as a studio partner and musical counterpart, while Federico Grazzini and Milou represent enduring connections from the Zoo Project era. Elisa Elisa and Flashbaxx round out the roster as newer creative acquaintances.
September 2026 Forest Stage Lineup Breakdown
- September 5: Elisa Elisa, Defex, Claudio Ricci (Additional stages featuring Hunee, Erol Alkan, Paula Tape)
- September 12: Funk D’Void, Defex, Tsodor (Additional stages featuring Kruder & Dorfmeister, Gilles Peterson, George FitzGerald)
- September 19: Flashbaxx Live PA, Defex, Federico Grazzini, Milou (Additional stages featuring HAAi, Young Marco, Felix Da Housecat, James Lavelle)
Wider venue programming across these dates deploys selectors on auxiliary stages, including Erol Alkan, Paula Tape, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Gilles Peterson, George FitzGerald, HAAi, Young Marco, Felix Da Housecat, and James Lavelle.
Official event passes and further venue information are maintained through Defex’s official portal.
The Evolving Horizon at 528 Ibiza
Three Saturdays are formally locked in for September. Given Defex’s deep-rooted history with the terrain and the property’s ongoing infrastructural revitalization, it would be no surprise if this trio of showcases led to more.
