Manumission returned to Ibiza on Saturday, September 26, with a 12-hour production at 528 Ibiza inspired by the island's legendary summer of 1998.

The event, which ran from 17:00 until 05:00, formed the centrepiece of Le Weekend Manumission, a three-day programme taking place across Ibiza from September 25 to 27.

A New Production Inspired by 1998

The event was not presented simply as a revival of the original party. Instead, organisers Mike and Claire Manumission created a new production drawing on the characters, stories and atmosphere of the era.

At the centre of the concept was The Motel: High Times in 90s Ibiza, Claire Manumission's memoir, which provided part of the creative inspiration for the experience.

For the event, the indoor and outdoor areas of 528 Ibiza were connected through a single narrative, taking guests between different environments as the night developed.

Five Immersive Worlds

The production occupied five interconnected areas of 528 Ibiza.

One of the central elements was a three-storey recreation of the Manumission Motel, created as part of the theatrical setting.

The production combined music with performance, art, dancers, drag artists and acrobatic performers. British choreographer Jodie Blemmings directed the performance element, with dancers from London among the cast.

Rather than treating the DJs as the only focus, the organisers designed the event around the wider environment and performances taking place throughout the venue.

Music Across the Venue

Music formed one part of the wider production, with different spaces given their own musical identities.

David Morales and Carl Craig were among the artists confirmed ahead of the event. The organisers deliberately kept much of the wider lineup undisclosed before the night, in keeping with the mystery surrounding the production.

The musical programme moved between different electronic styles, including house, Detroit techno, Balearic sounds and other influences associated with Ibiza's club culture.

A Weekend Built Around Manumission

Saturday's 528 Ibiza event was the centrepiece of a wider Manumission weekend.

The programme began on Friday, September 25, with an event at Pikes Ibiza featuring Claire Manumission and her memoir.

Sunday, September 27, continues the programme with Manumission Carry On Cowboy at Pikes Ibiza, extending the weekend beyond the main 528 Ibiza event.

Pop-up activities were also scheduled at Ibiza Rocks Bar during the weekend.

Phones and Photography Restricted

The event also introduced strict rules around recording.

Photography and filming were not permitted, with restrictions on mobile-phone use designed to limit recording during the experience.

The organisers also encouraged guests to dress in a 1990s-inspired style for the event.

Manumission Returns After 18 Years

The 2026 event marked the return of Manumission to Ibiza after an 18-year absence.

The original party became one of the defining names of Ibiza's 1990s nightlife before ending its Ibiza run in 2008. The 2026 project brings its original creative team back together while presenting the concept through a new production rather than simply reproducing the original parties.

Mike McKay, Claire Davies and Andy McKay are involved in the 2026 return.

An Ibiza Story Revisited

The September 26 event placed one of Ibiza's best-known historical club concepts inside a contemporary festival-style venue.

By combining the stories of the original Manumission era with new staging, performers and music, the production offered a modern interpretation of the summer of 1998 rather than a straightforward historical recreation.

The 12-hour event at 528 Ibiza was the central chapter of Le Weekend Manumission, with the wider programme continuing across the island through Sunday.