Sunburn Festival 2025 marked a defining shift as the iconic EDM event moved from Goa to Mumbai for the first time, expanding into a lifestyle-led experience with music, food, flea markets, gaming zones and global headliners.
For nearly two decades, Sunburn Festival has been inseparable from Goa and its moonlit beaches, crashing waves, and three nights of nonstop electronic music. But in 2025, the country’s biggest EDM festival turned a corner. For the first time in its history, Sunburn packed up from the coast and landed in Mumbai, and in doing so, quietly reimagined what a music festival in India could be.
Since its launch in 2007, Sunburn has been a December ritual on Goa’s sands, drawing global DJs and devoted EDM fans year after year. So when organisers announced in August that the 2025 edition would unfold at Infinity Bay in Sewri from December 19 to 21, it felt like a bold, almost risky move. The decision, driven by fan feedback and the pull of Mumbai’s scale and accessibility, marked Sunburn’s first outing beyond Goa, and the beginning of a new chapter.
On the ground, that shift felt deliberate and expansive. Yes, the music was still front and centre, with heavyweight names like
David Guetta, Axwell, Above & Beyond, and Sara Landry delivering the kind of high-energy sets Sunburn is known for. But the experience stretched well beyond the main stage. The festival grounds buzzed with activity all day, blurring the line between a concert and a cultural carnival.
Festivalgoers wandered through curated flea markets, browsing indie fashion and exclusive merchandise, while food stalls offered everything from familiar street bites to more indulgent festival fare. Scattered chill zones gave people a chance to slow down, catch their breath, and soak in the atmosphere between sets.
Sunburn 2025 also leaned into interaction. A dedicated gaming zone brought esports and creator culture into the mix, complete with tournaments, meet-and-greets, and hands-on experiences. It felt like a conscious nod to how today’s youth culture overlaps, where music, gaming, content, and community coexist rather than compete.
The mood at Infinity Bay shifted effortlessly through the day. There were moments of pure, hands-in-the-air chaos during headline performances, balanced by the easygoing hum of people exploring stalls, playing games, and discovering new corners of the venue. Even the flea markets doubled as playful spaces, with interactive activities and giveaways keeping energy levels high.
The weekend wasn’t without its challenges. The dusty terrain and long walks across the grounds tested some attendees, and overlapping sound from stages occasionally crept in. But with public transport close by and access relatively smooth, the logistical hiccups rarely overshadowed the larger experience.
By the time Axwell closed out the final night, blending nostalgia with emotion in a set that felt like both a farewell and a promise, it was clear that Sunburn 2025 had become something more than just a music festival. It was a statement about how far India’s live-event culture has come.
Whether Mumbai becomes Sunburn’s permanent home or the start of a more flexible, city-hopping future remains to be seen. But one thing is certain – 2025 will be remembered as the year Sunburn took its biggest leap yet from the beach to the city, from sound to a full-fledged festival ecosystem, and reintroduced itself to a new generation of fans.
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