The Spanish island renowned for its nightlife is preparing to open the biggest nightclub in the world. In as early as 2025, the club “Privilege”, based in the village of San Rafael, will reopen its doors after shutting down in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. This won’t be the first time Ibiza’s nightlife takes a global title, as the “Hï Ibiza” club was awarded the best nightclub in the world by music magazine, DJ Mag.
The venue is being remodelled and upgraded, having suffered from wear and tear due to a lack of maintenance following its closure. It scales 6,500m² with the main room spanning the same size as an airplane hangar. Previously having a capacity for 10,000, this superclub will now accommodate an additional 5,000 people. Reports state that the restoration is largely supported by the Spanish government who have injected €8 million into the club’s repair.
The venue boasts a star studded history, receiving names such as Madonna, Tina Turner, Freddie Mercury and David Bowie in its time. Queen and Montserrat Caballe even shot the music video for their track “Barcelona” there. It was founded in the early 1970’s and sold to Spanish footballer Jose Antonio Santamaria in 1979 where it was renamed to Ku and became well known as a gay club. The nightclub changed hands again in 1995 when it became “Privilege”, and partied on until the 2020 lockdown put dancing to an end.
Now, it will reopen under the name of “UNVRS”, fully owned by Abel Matutes and managed by Ushuaïa Entertainment and The Night League (TNL). The project comes as a new pursuit, following in the footsteps of Hï Ibiza and Ushuaïa, another Ibiza nightclub awarded among the world’s best. “We’re taking everything we’ve learned from creating Ushuaïa and Hï Ibiza and pushing the boundaries even further,” said Yann Pissenem, founder and CEO of The Night League, billboard.
Actor and international entertainer Will Smith has reportedly been a contributing figure in the club’s relaunch. UNVRS, hailed as the world’s first “Hyperclub,” seeks to define its image through luxury and premium service, along with a first of its kind production style, led by Romain Pissenem, founder of High Scream, a London-based creative production studio. This concept aims to take the Ibiza nightlife to the next level.
“A Hyperclub is the next evolution in global nightlife,” said Pissenem. “Imagine seeing your favourite artists in a space that offers the best elements of a club, the infrastructure of an arena, and the best hospitality in the world. [UNVRS] is about attention to granular detail, from the finishes across the venue to the unique experiences our guests will never forget. It’s a space that retains the raw energy of a rave, connecting the present and future within the walls of stunning architecture.”
The opening is rumoured to be in summer 2025 but a set date is still to be established as refurbishment continues. One thing is for sure that the club’s iconic cage-style dome structure will remain in the plans.
