MIAMI – As part of a multi-agency security effort, police officers were enforcing a traffic pattern change as a long line stretched for hours during the first day of the Ultra Music Festival in Downtown Miami.
The law enforcement community and fire rescue personnel expected more than 150,000 electronic dance music fans to take over Bayfront Park. The line to get in stretched for hours.
To make way for the pedestrians, police officers closed a section of Biscayne Boulevard to drivers from 9 p.m., Thursday, to 7 a.m., Monday. Police officers re-routed northbound traffic at Southeast First Street and southbound traffic at Northeast Sixth Street.
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The three-day festival’s chest-rattling bass started at about 4 p.m., Friday. The park’s network of stages had DJs waiting to perform sets simultaneously until midnight.
The festival is set to continue during a breezy Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon when the risk of rain will be at 50%. The lineup ends after midnight on Monday.
Detectives asked the public to beware of fraudsters purporting to be reselling tickets in-person or online. This year’s general admission sold out and UMF was already accepting requests for the 2026 tickets waitlist on Wednesday.
UMF will be streaming some of the sets and interviews live. This year’s headliners include Skrillex, Solomun and Anyma, Hardwell, Oliver Heldens, Martin Garrix, Zeds Dead, deadmau5, Carl Cox, Dom Dolla, and Tiësto.
This year fans’ fashion prioritized comfort with lightweight stretchy fabrics and sneakers that allowed freedom of movement. Most women opted for bikinis and microshorts.
Some EDM fans had fun with vibrant neon colors and reflective holographic patterns. The accessories included feathers, shimmer, and sunglasses to protect from the bright lights.
Aside from hotels, the afterparty venues also include yachts, bars, lounges, and nightclubs increasing traffic mostly on Biscayne Bay and Miami Beach and in the city’s Downtown, Brickell, Midtown, and Wynwood neighborhoods.
This spring break weekend, Miami-Dade County is also hosting the Miami Open Tennis Tournament and the Winter Music Conference. Law enforcement was also on alert for spring break parties in Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach.
As of Monday, police officers in both cities announced they had arrested nearly 400 people, most were in Miami Beach, where the rules include not playing loud music in the car and passing a screening before being allowed on the beach near Ocean Drive.
RULES AT UMF
The line to get into the festival is long because guests are screened for a long list of banned objects including opened over-the-counter medication or eye drops; and opened packs of cigarettes or tampons.
UMF bans the obvious: “Illegal or illicit” substances or paraphernalia, weapons “of any kind” including self-defense sprays, and anything flammable including aerosols.
Travel light. UMF also prohibits stuffed animals; glow sticks; drones; markers, pens, or spray paint; and big backpacks, purses, or bags; and outside food or beverages.
The event’s security staff also doesn’t allow fans to bring bottles, cans, canteens, flasks, or coolers; balloons, balls, inflatable balls, frisbees or flying disks; or umbrellas, chairs, blankets, sleeping bags or tents.