MKWeekender: Ultravegas – The Next Chapter
- Stuart Margetts
- Aug 15
- 5 min read
Nearly 3,000 people. A scorching summer’s day. A 32-piece orchestra. Legendary DJs, fairground rides, two stages and an official after-party that kept Milton Keynes dancing until 4am.
On Friday 14 August 2026, MKWeekender arrived at Campbell Park — and what happened next felt like the beginning of an incredible new chapter for one of Milton Keynes’ most iconic dance music brands.
The temperature climbed into the low thirties, the sun shone from start to finish and the atmosphere was electric. From the moment the first beat dropped, the whole place was absolutely bouncing.
Ibiza Revival Meets Ultravegas
For us, being asked to play at MKWeekender was something genuinely special.
Ultravegas has played a huge part in Milton Keynes’ dance music story, so getting behind the decks as ARKO//STU and looking out across thousands of people in Campbell Park was a moment we won’t forget.
We played alongside fellow Ultravegas DJs Jay J, Ross Wood, Lady Roulette and Ashley Kellett, with every set helping to build the energy across the day. These are DJs who understand the Ultravegas sound, its history and, most importantly, its crowd.
ARKO and I are already proud members of the Ultravegas family, but this event took everything to another level. Standing on that stage, surrounded by friends and seeing so many people dancing in the sunshine was an unforgettable experience.
Two Dance Music Legends Go Back-to-Back
The energy moved up another gear when the legendary Seb Fontaine and Tall Paul stepped up for a huge back-to-back performance.
These are two names woven into the history of British club culture. Seeing them together behind the decks, commanding a packed Campbell Park and delivering one massive record after another was exactly the kind of moment MKWeekender was created for.
It was a proper celebration of house music: connecting the people who were there during the original clubbing era with a new generation discovering that sound and atmosphere for themselves.
Symphonic Ibiza Bring the Festival to an Epic Close
Closing the main show were the fantastic Symphonic Ibiza — and what a way to finish.
Their spectacular production brought together a 32-piece orchestra, live singers and DJs to perform some of dance music’s most recognisable records. Hearing those anthems reimagined with the full power of a live orchestra created a genuinely emotional finale.
Thousands of people were singing, dancing and raising their hands together as the sun began to drop over Campbell Park. It was euphoric, uplifting and the perfect ending to an extraordinary day.
The Sophisticated Society VIP Stage
MKWeekender wasn’t only about the main stage.
The VIP area was home to the Sophisticated Society stage, offering its own soundtrack and atmosphere throughout the festival. It created another dimension to the event, giving VIP guests a more exclusive space while keeping them connected to the energy of the wider show.
Add in the fairground, festival bars and the glorious weather, and Campbell Park felt completely transformed. Everywhere you looked, people were smiling, dancing and making the most of a beautiful summer’s day.
Thirty Years of Ultravegas
Ultravegas was born in Milton Keynes in 1996 and has grown into far more than a club night. It is a cultural movement built around quality house music, inclusivity, emotional connection and unforgettable atmospheres.
From the legendary nights at the Winter Gardens to its return as a forward-facing music and events brand, Ultravegas has remained deeply connected to Milton Keynes and the people who built its community.
The original UV massive were out in force at MKWeekender, but so were plenty of people experiencing Ultravegas for the first time. That mixture of nostalgia and new energy is what makes this next chapter so exciting.
Ultravegas respects its history without being trapped by it. The music, scale and ambition continue to move forward, while the sense of community that made those original nights so special remains right at its heart.
Dancing for Willen Hospice
MKWeekender was also about turning the power of music into something positive.
Willen Hospice was represented on site as part of Donate 2 Dance, Ultravegas’ not-for-profit mission to use events and dance music to support causes that make a real difference within the community.
That charitable purpose brings another level of meaning to the Ultravegas journey. People aren’t simply coming together for a brilliant day of music; they are helping to support an organisation that provides vital specialist care to local people and their families.
It proves that a great party can create an impact that continues long after the final record has finished.
The Man Behind the Madness
A massive shout-out must go to Marc Carter — the main man behind Ultravegas and the person who came up with this wonderfully crazy idea.
Staging an event of this size in the heart of Milton Keynes takes an extraordinary amount of vision, determination and hard work. Marc believed in what MKWeekender could become, brought the right people together and delivered an event that thousands of us will remember for a very long time.
What he created wasn’t simply another festival. It was a celebration of 30 years of Ultravegas, a homecoming for the UV family and a bold statement about where the brand is heading next.
The Team Behind the Festival
An event on this scale cannot happen without an incredible production team working behind the scenes.
A huge thank you goes to Concept Event Solutions, who delivered the festival infrastructure that made the entire show possible. From the staging, sound and electrics to the toilets, fencing and essential site facilities, their team helped transform Campbell Park into a fully functioning festival venue.
Months of planning and a huge amount of work go into creating something that feels effortless once the gates open. The team did an exceptional job in incredibly hot conditions and played a vital role in making MKWeekender such a success.
The Official After-Party at MERKUR Casino
For around 600 hardcore partygoers, the end of the festival was only the beginning of the next part of the night.
The official MKWeekender after-party took place at MERKUR Casino Milton Keynes, where Sammy Dean, SAYA and Tina Maria kept the music pumping until 4am.
All three delivered fantastic sets to a crowd that clearly wasn’t ready to go home. After hours of dancing in the Campbell Park sunshine, hundreds of people still found the energy to carry on through the night.
That takes some serious commitment — and it was the perfect ending to an incredible Ultravegas celebration.
The Next Chapter Has Begun
MKWeekender showed exactly why Ultravegas still holds such an important place in Milton Keynes’ dance music culture.
Nearly 3,000 people came together in the sunshine to celebrate brilliant music, treasured memories, lifelong friendships and the feeling of belonging to something bigger. From the local Ultravegas family to legendary international DJs and the spectacular Symphonic Ibiza orchestra, every element contributed to an unforgettable day.
For ARKO//STU and Ibiza Revival, it was an absolute honour to be part of it.
Thank you to Marc Carter, the entire Ultravegas team, Concept Event Solutions, MERKUR Casino, Willen Hospice, Donate 2 Dance, every artist and every member of the crew who helped make it happen.
Most importantly, thank you to every single person who came out, danced in the heat and created that incredible atmosphere.
Thirty years after Ultravegas first began, the music is still playing, the family is still growing and the dancefloor is very much alive.
This wasn’t simply a look back at an incredible legacy.
This was Ultravegas: the next chapter..... what happens next?!
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