A lavish private party held at Sa Pedrera de Can Coix in Sant Antoni has become one of Ibiza's most controversial events of the summer, after details emerged about its scale, the use of municipal land and an artificial lake built while the island remains under a pre-drought alert.

The event, held on August 13, brought together more than 300 guests for an elaborate Ancient Egyptian-themed celebration featuring a large pyramid, temple, sphinx, obelisks, video mapping and an artificial lake.

The event was organised by New York-based luxury events company Van Wyck & Van Wyck and had municipal authorisation for up to 350 guests, with the permitted event running from 6pm until 3am.

But what was intended as an exclusive private celebration has since triggered criticism from politicians, residents and environmental groups.

A Three-Week Transformation

Preparations at Sa Pedrera de Can Coix began on July 26 and continued for more than two weeks before the event.

The former quarry was transformed into an elaborate Egyptian-inspired setting, with monumental structures, lighting towers, sound systems, video projections and a large artificial lake forming part of the production.

The site was occupied throughout the preparation, event and dismantling periods, meaning the municipal land was effectively in use for around three weeks.

The event was promoted online through social media under an Ancient Egyptian theme, with references to pyramids, Cleopatra and the August solar eclipse.

Why the €199 Fee Became Controversial

One of the biggest points of criticism has been the amount paid in municipal activity fees for the use of the public site.

According to information provided by Sant Antoni Town Hall to Diario de Ibiza, the organisers paid €199 in municipal activity fees.

The council explained that Sant Antoni does not have a specific tax ordinance establishing fees for the occupation of this type of public space.

The municipality also pointed to what it described as a strong charitable element connected to the event. The organisers planned donations of €40,000 to Cáritas Sant Antoni and €10,000 to Motoclub Formentera and Eivissa.

Despite this, the reported €199 municipal fee has become a major focus of the controversy, particularly given the scale and apparent luxury of the production.

Political Criticism

The Sant Antoni branch of the PSOE has criticised the municipal government's handling of the event.

The party accused Mayor Marcos Serra of prioritising private events and questioned why a large-scale luxury celebration was permitted to use municipal land for what it described as an insignificant fee.

The controversy has also been linked politically to the authorisation of another event in s'Arenal during the August 12 solar eclipse, when significant visitor numbers and traffic were expected in the municipality.

Residents Raise Concerns

Residents living near Can Coix also raised concerns about the preparations.

Heavy trucks and other vehicles were reportedly moving around the area during the construction and dismantling phases, creating disruption around nearby facilities.

There were also concerns about generators and butane gas cylinders reportedly being present near an area classified as having high wildfire risk.

The concerns came during one of the most sensitive periods of the summer for fire prevention in Ibiza.

The Artificial Lake Becomes the Biggest Issue

The most controversial element, however, may have been the artificial lake created for the party.

According to Diario de Ibiza, the temporary lake covered approximately 850 square metres and was around 20 centimetres deep.

Based on those dimensions, the newspaper calculated that filling the lake would require at least 170 tonnes of water.

The organisers later stated that the amount of water used was approximately 60 tonnes.

The discrepancy between the two figures has become part of the debate, but the controversy goes beyond the exact quantity.

Ibiza and Sant Antoni were under a pre-drought alert at the time, making the decision to construct a large ornamental body of water particularly sensitive.

Sant Antoni Distances Itself From the Lake

Following the backlash, Sant Antoni Town Hall publicly distanced itself from the artificial lake.

The council said it had not been aware that the feature would be installed and described its construction as difficult to justify while the municipality was operating under drought restrictions.

The municipality has itself been promoting responsible water consumption during the drought alert, including measures encouraging residents to reduce unnecessary water use.

The council subsequently expressed its categorical opposition to the construction of the ornamental pool.

Ibiza's Water Pressure

The controversy comes at a time when water remains one of Ibiza's most sensitive environmental issues.

The island experiences significant pressure on its water resources during the summer, when tourism dramatically increases demand.

That makes the contrast particularly striking: while authorities encourage residents and businesses to conserve water, an elaborate private event created a temporary artificial lake as part of its production.

For critics, the issue is therefore not simply how much water was used, but what the use represents during a period when Ibiza is being asked to conserve a limited resource.

A Party "Fit for a Pharaoh"

Images and videos from the event show the scale of the production.

The former quarry was transformed with Egyptian-inspired architecture, large-scale projections, dramatic lighting and the reflective artificial lake.

The organisers described the event as a party "fit for a pharaoh", creating a spectacular private experience for invited guests.

The contrast between the extraordinary production and the surrounding environmental and political concerns has helped turn the event into one of the most discussed private parties of Ibiza's 2026 summer.

What Happens Next?

The controversy has raised wider questions about how private luxury events should use public spaces in Ibiza, particularly when those events involve substantial infrastructure, extended occupation of municipal land or significant resource consumption.

It also highlights the tension facing the island as it balances its growing luxury-event economy with environmental pressures including drought, wildfire risk and water scarcity.

For Sant Antoni, the debate now extends beyond one party.

It raises questions about how public land is valued, how private events are regulated and what limits should apply when luxury productions take place during periods of environmental stress.

The party may have lasted only one night, but the debate surrounding it is likely to continue well beyond the event itself.

Source: Diario de Ibiza