They said it would never return. But on September 25, 26 and 27, 2026, one of Ibiza’s most infamous and era-defining party brands is officially back.
Manumission, the boundary-pushing spectacle that helped define late-90s Ibiza is returning for a special three-day celebration titled “Le Weekend”, promising to channel the intoxicating spirit of 1998 into the modern island landscape.
The Comeback Nobody Expected
At its peak, Manumission wasn’t just a party, it was a cultural rupture. Theatrical, provocative, extravagant and unapologetically hedonistic, it blurred the line between nightclub and performance art. Now, its original creators Andy McKay, Mike and Claire Manumission are reuniting to bring the concept back to life for one carefully curated weekend.
The 2026 edition won’t be confined to a single venue. Instead, the revival unfolds across multiple spaces:
- A Sundays at Pikes takeover at Pikes Ibiza
- A day-to-night event at 528 Ibiza
- Additional surprises yet to be revealed
The format mirrors Manumission’s original ethos: immersive, unpredictable, and sprawling beyond conventional club structures.
Launched in 1994 by Andy McKay alongside promoters Claire and Mike Manumission, Manumission quickly became the most talked-about and controversial night on the island. Originally held at Privilege (then Ku), it exploded into a full-scale theatrical production blending circus performers, fetish aesthetics, acrobats, fire breathers and a defiantly open-minded crowd.
“It wasn’t a party, it was a statement” Andy McKay once reflected in interviews, describing it as a rebellion against predictable club formats.
At its height in the late ’90s, thousands would queue for hours to witness what many described as “organized chaos,” with elaborate stage builds reportedly costing more than some festivals at the time. One enduring anecdote tells of performers descending from the ceiling mid-set while dancers moved through the crowd in surreal costumes, no phones, no livestreams, just mythology spreading by word of mouth. The name itself, meaning ‘release from slavery,’ was intended as a metaphor for liberation from routine, conformity, and restraint, everything that Ibiza still represents today.
Love it or hate it, Manumission reshaped Ibiza’s nightlife DNA, proving that a club night could be immersive theatre, spectacle, and cultural flashpoint all at once.
Back to 1998, But Not Frozen in Time
The announcement promises a return to the “intoxicating atmosphere of 1998,” a reference to the golden period when Manumission dominated Ibiza’s underground narrative. Originally hosted at the former Privilege superclub, the party became synonymous with extravagant stage production, flamboyant performers, open-minded crowds, and a fearless collision of music, art and spectacle.
But this isn’t positioned as nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake.
“The good old days meet the new Ibiza,” reads the announcement suggesting a dialogue between eras rather than a museum recreation. In an island now defined by polished mega-residencies and hyper-produced superclub experiences, Manumission’s return introduces something rawer: organized chaos with intention.
Is Manumussion even “2026 compatible”?
Ibiza has evolved. The scale is bigger. The infrastructure is sharper. The production budgets are astronomical. But with that evolution, many argue, came a softening of risk.
Manumission was risk.
It was theatrical excess before Instagram.
It was unpredictability before brand alignment.
Bringing it back in 2026 isn’t just about reliving the past; it’s about reintroducing a mindset. A reminder that Ibiza’s mythology was built on freedom, experimentation and nights that felt slightly out of control in the best possible way. This echoes the recent campaign “Ibiza changed, we didn’t” , orchestrated by Amnesia for its 50th anniversary, a club which successfully traveled in time, keeping the essence of the island across 5 decades.
This is exactly what Manumission is aiming for in 2026: for three days in late September, the island won’t just remember its past. It will attempt to step back into it, and bring you back to 1998.
Get more info on Manumission’s official website.
📷 : Cover Photos Credits and additions pictures courtesy of Pikes Ibiza PR, Manumission, Mike & Clair Manumission”
