SXM Festival delivers again to prove it’s the festival experience not to be missed
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As always, SXM Festival is about more than just the music. The idyllic surroundings of Saint Martin itself plays a central role, with its pristine beaches, tropical landscapes and laid-back atmosphere shaping the entire experience. The crowd is a mix of international travellers and dedicated music lovers and they all bring their own colour and welcoming energy, making it as much about connection as it is about sound.
Friday set the tone with a series of unforgettable moments across the island. At Panorama Mountain, Elderbrook delivered a standout sunset DJ set, with sweeping panoramic views creating a dramatic backdrop as day turned to night. Meanwhile, over at Joa Beach in the north, a more intimate gathering saw Ines Rau ease the crowd into the evening before Chinonegro took things deeper with a perfectly paced set.
Happy Bay once again proved to be the beating heart of the festival’s after-dark energy. Friday night belonged to Layton Giordani, who brought a powerful, driving sound to the beach, while Saturday’s session from Arodes kept the momentum high with a tightly controlled set. The defining moment, however, came on Sunday night as techno titan Carl Cox stepped up for an extended closing set. Playing for five hours into sunrise, he delivered a journey that dealt in all his usual emotional highs and lows, classics and new cool gems in a shared, euphoric finale.
Away from the main stages, the villa party on Saturday offered a different kind of magic. Adassiya opened with a captivating blend of DJing and live vocals, ending her set with a live performance as the sun dipped low in the sky. Nimmo followed before Francis Mercier closed the evening with tastefully deep and soulful rhythms that matched the intimate hillside locale.
Sunday morning delivered another highlight with All Day I Dream man Lee Burridge guiding dancers through a beautifully understated sunrise session. Yet More continued the journey with a set that felt both uplifting and reflective - perfect for a Caribbean island escape.
SXM Festival 2026 was another standout edition, reaffirming its place as one of the world’s most sought-after destination events. Music and nature are the defining features and every moment from sunrise to sunset and deep into the night feels special, like a hideaway only you are privy to and one everyone should try at least once. It is where world-class music meets one of the most beautiful settings on the planet.
