An explosion for the senses, the recent Beonix festival really did bring something new to Cyprus

Bass beats pulsed loudly through my chest as I made my way through the crowds pausing for security to strap a flashing wristband on me before making my way into the festival grounds. Lights, sound systems bigger than I’d ever seen before, light designs, and shiny festival outfits were all around; I felt like I’d entered another world: 9 Planet, as Beonix Festival describes itself. Leaving Limassol behind, I had stepped into the futuristic, electronic music universe the festival created for three days.

Beonix was held at Etko winery, a massive festival with a big international feel to it, with back-to-back DJs playing techno, electronic music, EDM and more. I don’t listen to this type of music often but in the right setting, I can party to it and I was definitely in the right place.

Upon entering, we were welcomed by the Garden stage, the fourth and newest of the festival, featuring emerging DJs, a lounge area with poufs, a free make-up area and the food court. To the left was a long and festive street with bars and slightly bigger stages on each side playing different kinds of music, leading to the biggest area of the festival, the Main Stage where the headliners were performing later.

Visual effects, projections, a viewpoint overlooking Etko, massive screens, a performance area where female dancers dressed in (skimpy) futuristic clothing popped up now and again, dancing under red fluorescent lights, a secret bar in a circular room serving more high-end cocktails from bartenders in suits and a ceiling with hanging flowers. There were sights (and sounds) to take in everywhere.

The Organic Stage, in front of the very photo-worthy lit-up Cyprus island design, had live performances blending singing, live looping, DJs and electronic sounds, which was a nice break from the endless DJ tunes. This was generally less crowded and provided a good escape when a break was needed from the crowds.

On day two of the festival the crowds grew as the event was sold out. A total of 25,000 visitors came to enjoy the 50 DJs who were performing this year, among them Tale Of Us, ARTBAT, Fatboy Slim and Miss Monique. From the advantage of the VIP Backstage area, right next to the DJ booth on stage, I had the same view as the DJ but was behind the flashing lights and fireworks shooting up from the stage.

Towards the end of day one I had even got close to one of the stars of the show, Fatboy Slim, who was cool and friendly taking pictures with fans in the VIP area before his performance. He got in the zone in seconds, stepped onto the stage barefoot and was welcomed with a loud cheer. He was definitely the highlight of day one, and knew how to entertain the crowds, both those in the arena and those surrounding him in the VIP.

On the second evening, I really enjoyed dancing to the sounds of Miss Monique and ARTBAT. Both big names in the electronic music scene (as is Fatboy Slim) and an impressive feat for the festival to book them in just its third edition. All of them were backed by striking visual effects and video projections on the massive screen behind the stage that definitely added to the party experience.

The crowd was definitely international – mainly from Russia, Ukraine, Israel and the UK – and a mix of all ages. Many of them flew in specially for the festival, something that could help enhance Cyprus’ late-summer tourism but also create a name for the island as a hub for electronic music.

Outfits were varied. Some were dressed casually in jeans, shorts and crop tops. Others had full-on festival attire, imaginative and sexy much like the Burning Man fashion but unless you were seeking Instagram-worthy shots, it didn’t really matter. It was an influencer hotspot with so many eye-catching corners, that many photoshoots were going on.

Most people though came for the music and there was plenty of it to enjoy. It wrapped up at midnight and there was a series of after-parties every night at different venues around Limassol for those who wanted to keep on dancing.

By the end of the weekend, a feeling of excitement stayed with me about how diverse festivals in Cyprus have become. There are traditional festivals in rural villages highlighting Cypriot produce, music festivals celebrating all kinds of genres, community art-focused festivals, others paying attention to the mind, body and spirit and in this case, big party weekends with world-class DJs and striking visual effects offering a complete festival experience. The island’s festival scene is truly alive and buzzing and how exciting it is to discover that there is something for every taste.

For those who want more electronic music nights, Beonix’s preparations for 2025 are already underway and the festival dates have been booked for September 19-21. Early bird ticket sales are now live for eager fans and the festival promises an even more exciting line-up and experience.