About – DJ Awards 2025

About DJ Awards

Where it all began

Founded in 1998 by Jose Pascual and Lenny Krarup, the DJ Awards was born out of a passion to celebrate the artistry and cultural impact of DJs and electronic music. What began in Ibiza as a pioneering idea has since become one of the most enduring and respected award ceremonies in the electronic music world.

Throughout its history, the DJ Awards has been hosted at some of Ibiza’s most iconic venues, each carrying its own place in clubbing history. The very first editions were held at Pacha Ibiza, for more than a decade, before debuting with a HÏ and at  the legendary Heart Ibiza, and more recently at the spectacular Club Chinois. Each venue has provided a unique backdrop that reflects the island’s role as the heartbeat of global club culture.

Over more than two decades, the DJ Awards has honoured leading international DJs and producers across genres—from house, techno, and trance to bass, urban, and beyond—while also championing breakthrough talent. Its crystal “Kryptonite” award has become a symbol of recognition for excellence, creativity, and influence within the industry.

What makes the DJ Awards truly special is not just the accolades, but the community it represents. Year after year, the ceremony brings together artists, industry leaders, and fans to celebrate the power of music to connect people across cultures and generations.

The DJ Awards continues its mission today as strongly as when it began: to shine a light on the talent and passion that drives electronic music forward, keeping Ibiza at the center of the global dance movement

How are the winners chosen?

It is a three step process:

The categories are defined according to current trends and influences within the electronic scene with a newly formed Grand Jury. An effort is made to reduce number of categories and simplify terminology and sub genres.

Prelinary nominees are then presented to the Grand Jury, which is comprised of various promoters, venues, managements, media and  other luminaries companies across the sector. They consider an artists impact, visibility, creativity, influence, ability and popularity over the last few years.

Once nominees have been notified it’s down to a public vote for genre specific category winners, which are collated and presented to DJ Awards for the Ceremony. There are also industry specific Awards which are suggested and nominated entirely by the Grand Jury.

For the first ever DJ Award in 1998 to be held in Pacha, Jose and Lenny settled on the theme “Alien Arrival” and so when designing the award for the first time ever they looked for Ibiza icons and landed on Es Vedre.

What happens when you mix an extraterrestrial theme with an iconic Ibiza island? The answer is the DJ Awards “kryptonite” award.

Left Pic: DJA Founder Jose with iconic Kryptonite Award