IT’S THE SHIP 2025 wrapped up another unforgettable voyage, turning the Genting Dream into the ultimate floating festival. Now in its 9th Singapore charter, Asia’s largest festival at sea welcomed thousands of Shipmates from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and beyond for three days of non-stop music, wild surprises, and once-in-a-lifetime memories.
This year, a record 66% of attendees were first-time Shipmates – a clear sign that IT’S THE SHIP continues to reel in curious ravers looking to escape the ordinary. And for the 34% returning crew? It’s proof that once you sail, you're hooked for life.
Four floating stages transformed the ship into a 24/7 rave resort. EDM heavyweights Alok, Nicky Romero, and Timmy Trumpet took headline duties, unleashing explosive sets that shook the decks well into the night.
STMPD RCRDS brought the throwback feels with their Golden Era of EDM showcase featuring DubVision, Justin Mylo, and Telykast. Fans danced from dusk to dawn with high-octane sets by Code Black, Tita Lau, and more. From sunrise sets on the open deck to glow-in-the-dark dancefloors, the energy never dipped.
What sets IT’S THE SHIP apart from every other festival? The total blur between artist and audience. Artists weren’t just behind the decks – they were everywhere. Sharing BBQ bites, swinging on the golf course, stretching into yoga flows, or leading neon dance workouts – the DJs were right there, living it up with fans.
This year also saw the first-ever Pickle at Sea installation – a pickleball court overlooking the ocean, launched in collaboration with Pickle in the Sky’s Pocket Pickle. Fans challenged DJs to rallies in spontaneous matches, making it the ultimate crossover of sport, sea, and sound.
Experience partners FICTION (Korea) and ALTRXEGO (Guam) elevated the voyage with curated workshops, interactive art spaces, and surprise pop-ups. Whether it was creative journaling or secret parties in unexpected corners of the ship, these collectives made sure Shipmates were never short of discoveries beyond the music.
In a moment that stole the show, Malaysian couple @trusthebuzz and @lavalicioussss got engaged during Timmy Trumpet’s set. With thousands of Shipmates cheering, confetti flying, and bass dropping, love took centre stage.
“It still feels like a dream,” said the newly-engaged @lavalicioussss. “To more crazy shenanigans,” added @trusthebuzz.
Every night brought a complete transformation. Retro Metro delivered nostalgic bops, Sleepless Society went full underground, and the Superheroes vs Villains party saw Shipmates in everything from spandex to sci-fi armour.
The iconic Foam Party returned with a bang, featuring a fierce hip-hop set from DJ Irwan and a live show from Thai breakout Tobii. Emotions ran high at the Who Hurt You party, where everyone screamed heartbreak anthems under the stars – no shame, just vibes.
From late-night dancefloors to 7 AM bonding over breakfast, IT’S THE SHIP is where strangers become friends, friends become family, and sometimes – like this year – family becomes forever.
“Every sailing writes its own story, told by the people on board,” shared Samira Davidson, Project Lead of IT’S THE SHIP. “It’s why so many return year after year, and why thousands are discovering us for the first time”.
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