The DJ Mag Top 100 DJs awards ceremony was the perfect closing event for the 2026 Ibiza season. Inside the walls of [UNVRS], an unforgettable night unfolded, bringing together music, club culture, unity, love and a shared sense of connection on one extraordinary dancefloor. Korolova opened the evening with a powerful set, and by the time Anyma took the stage the venue was packed to capacity. But the true highlight of the night was Charlotte de Witte. In just one hour, the Belgian techno powerhouse brought the entire dancefloor together, reminding us once again why she stands among the most influential figures in contemporary techno culture.
The 2026 DJ Mag Top 100 DJs awards ceremony took place at the world’s first hyperclub, [UNVRS], on a night that would turn out to be historic in more ways than one. David Guetta was named the World’s No.1 DJ for the sixth time, making him the most successful artist in the history of the Top 100 DJs. But the evening was not only about Guetta’s victory or the awards. It was also about Charlotte.
One particularly memorable moment came when David Guetta approached Charlotte de Witte. The two spent several minutes talking, and the encounter felt like more than a simple congratulations; there was a clear sense of mutual respect and recognition. Charlotte’s achievements within techno culture and the history of electronic music are truly significant, as she was once again named World’s No.1 Techno DJ at this year’s DJ Mag awards.
In a world that has long been dominated primarily by male artists, Charlotte has consistently represented techno culture at the very highest level. With this year’s victory, Charlotte wrote her name into the history of club culture. That is precisely why it was so meaningful to see Guetta acknowledge her. Two global stars stood face to face, and no words were needed to feel the significance of the moment.
On this night, Charlotte de Witte received more than just an award. She also carried with her the love of the crowd and the recognition of a global club culture in which she has become an undeniable force.
Korolova opens the night with an outstanding set
From the very first hours, it was clear that we were in for a special night. The crowd gradually filled the venue, while the atmosphere continued to build. By the time Anyma took to the stage, [UNVRS] was completely packed.
The club in itself already made for an extraordinary sight. The combination of visuals, sound and the energy of the crowd created an atmosphere that perfectly demonstrated what makes this venue so special.
[UNVRS] is not simply another Ibiza club. In 2026, DJ Mag named it the World’s No.1 Club, making history by reaching the top of the list in its very first year of operation. The venue combines the scale of an arena with the intimacy of a nightclub, while its lighting and sound technology offer creative possibilities that perhaps even theatres could envy.Within this futuristic setting, the scene was perfectly set for Charlotte de Witte.
Charlotte de Witte unites the dancefloor
The true highlight of the night, however, was Charlotte de Witte’s set.
Not simply because it was technically and musically powerful, but because she created a connection.
It was one of those moments that remind you why being there in a club, in person, matters. For one hour, she took us on a journey through the worlds of techno and trance. The dancefloor simply became one.
It did not matter where anyone came from, what language they spoke or what kind of musical background they had. The shared love of music was enough.
This is perhaps one of the hardest things to create in a club: the moment when the distance between the DJ and the audience disappears and something collective emerges. A single energy flowing through the entire room.
At the end of the set, when the crowd began chanting Charlotte’s name, the love and respect between the DJ and the audience was almost tangible. This is what makes Charlotte de Witte truly special.
It was uplifting to witness and feel that connection.
Charlotte once again demonstrated that techno is far more than simply a genre of music. It is a common language. All it takes is a rhythm, a dancefloor and several thousand people tuning into the same frequency.
Music as a common language
During the DJ Mag awards ceremony electronic music icon, Luciano, and Charlotte both emphasised the importance of love, club culture and unity on the dancefloor. It was a particularly important message at a time when electronic music has reached unprecedented levels of popularity and DJs are now performing in front of stadium-sized audiences.
Charlotte, however, reminded us where it all began.
On the dancefloor. With the people. With a shared experience.
A woman at the top of a male-dominated techno world
Charlotte’s success is significant in its own right, but its cultural importance is even greater.
The history of electronic music, and techno in particular, has long been a strongly male-dominated world. In that environment, Charlotte de Witte is not simply present. She is at the top.
Once again named World’s No.1 Techno DJ in a seventh consecutive victory, the message is powerful: a woman maintaining her leading position year after year in a musical world that has historically been dominated by men.
According to this year’s DJ Mag results, Charlotte also climbed to sixth place in the overall Top 100 DJs ranking, a feat she has accomplished without having to compromise her own voice or style.
Her example leads the way in opening doors and serving as inspiration for the thousands of other talented female selectors out there.
Psytrance and trance back in the spotlight
It was also a particular joy to see a female artist bringing renewed attention to the psytrance culture that remains such an important part of the wider electronic music landscape.
Psytrance is one of the most distinctive and deeply rooted genres within electronic music, yet in recent years it has received less attention than it deserves. Charlotte, however, brings new energy to the scene while preserving the identity and unique spirit of the genre.
She has shown that her musical identity reaches beyond the boundaries of techno. Through carefully selected trance records woven into her sets, as well as her appearances at dedicated trance festivals, she continues to connect different sides of electronic music and introduce these sounds to new audiences.
What makes this particularly significant is the way she approaches the music. Rather than treating trance as a nostalgic reference to the past, Charlotte gives these sounds a place within a contemporary club context, allowing them to live and breathe alongside the harder, more driving elements of her sound.
For a culture that has sometimes been pushed away from the centre of the electronic music conversation, this visibility matters. Seeing an artist of Charlotte’s stature embrace these sounds and bring them to major audiences is a powerful reminder that trance and psytrance remain deeply relevant.
It is inspiring to see a female artist with such a strong artistic identity helping to keep these sounds alive while also giving them space to evolve. As a result, psytrance is once again gaining greater visibility within global electronic music culture.
A new era powered by female energy
This year’s Top 100 DJs results also demonstrate how continuously electronic music is evolving.
House and techno are becoming increasingly influential, new names are emerging, and the traditional boundaries between genres continue to expand. The list features 13 new entries and three returning artists, while Anyma climbed seven places to reach No.3.
But in Charlotte’s case, this is not simply about a ranking or another award. Her success is part of a broader cultural shift. More and more female artists are moving to the centre of attention, and there is growing evidence that the future of techno is not tied to one gender or one stereotype.
Charlotte is one of the strongest symbols of that change.
Guetta put the crown on the night
The evening ultimately came to a close with David Guetta, who won the Top 100 DJs poll for the sixth time. With this achievement, he became the most successful DJ in the history of the list.
It was a fitting conclusion to a night that celebrated the great names of the past, the defining artists of the present and the next generation of electronic music.
But one image that will remain with me from this night is Charlotte behind the decks.Thousands of people in front of her. The music transforming them into a single community, and the hair-raising moment when the entire dancefloor chanted her name together at the end of the set.
Charlotte de Witte. A woman at the top of the techno world.
