Marco Carola Presents Music On 2026 in Dubai

Marco Carola Presents Music On in Dubai brings the Neapolitan DJ’s famous party to Pacha Icons at Playa Pacha, Five Luxe JBR, on Friday 20 November 2026. Carola headlines back to back with Chris Stassy, with Ilario Alicante and Da Vid also on the bill, for a long open-air night of techno and house beside the sea. Doors open at 7pm and the party runs into the early hours.

The organisers describe it as a night of extended sets built on groove and connection, and it marks Music On’s return to Dubai after several earlier visits and a season of its residency at Pacha Ibiza.

Who is Marco Carola?

Marco Carola was born in Naples in 1975 and started DJing at 15, after buying his first pair of turntables. Through the 1990s and 2000s he became one of Italy’s leading techno names, founding labels such as Design Music, Zenit and Question and releasing tracks like Open System and Avalanche. His sound later moved towards minimal techno and tech house, and he mixed the celebrated Fabric 31 compilation for the London club in 2006.

He is known above all for marathon sets. At the height of his Ibiza run he regularly played for nine hours or more, keeping a single, driving groove going rather than jumping between styles. That patience is the heart of Music On.

The story of Music On

Music On launched in 2011 in Miami and arrived in Ibiza in 2012, taking over Friday nights at Amnesia, a slot many on the island considered dead at the time. It quickly became one of the busiest parties of the Ibiza summer, with a stripped-back look, red as its signature colour, lasers and ice cannons. Carola held the Amnesia residency until 2018 and the brand has since run seasons at Pacha Ibiza, alongside residencies in cities such as Miami and New York. Music On is also Carola’s record label.

The Dubai edition keeps the same idea: a small number of DJs given time to build a long, rolling night instead of a quick-fire festival line-up.

The line-up

Marco Carola b2b Chris Stassy

The headline set pairs Carola with Chris Stassy, the Dutch DJ and producer from Leiden who was known as Chris Stussy until August 2026, when he changed his artist name by a single letter. He runs the label Up The Stuss, founded in 2020, and his groovy, deep-leaning house has made him one of the most in-demand selectors of recent years. His single Desire passed 43 million Spotify streams, and his debut album Lost, Found & Forgotten came out in 2026. In a back-to-back set the two swap tracks in turn, so expect Carola’s rolling tech house and Stassy’s warmer house grooves to push each other along.

Ilario Alicante

Born in Livorno in 1988, Ilario Alicante broke through in 2008 with Vacaciones En Chile and caught the attention of Sven Väth, Ricardo Villalobos and Richie Hawtin with his Living Near Africa EP. He went on to join Väth’s Cocoon family and became the youngest artist to play Time Warp in Rotterdam. He runs the labels Deep Moves and Virgo, and brings a deeper, darker techno edge to the night.

Da Vid

Da Vid completes the bill. He is a familiar name on Music On line-ups and has shared bills with Carola and Stassy before, including Vision Open Air in Milan, so his set fits naturally into the flow of the night.

The venue: Pacha Icons at Playa Pacha

Pacha Icons takes place at Playa Pacha, the beach club at Five Luxe JBR on The Walk. The organisers call it Dubai’s number one open-air dancefloor, and the setting is the draw: you dance outdoors facing the Arabian Gulf, with Ain Dubai and the city skyline lit up around you. VIP tables are available for groups who want a base for the night.

By public transport, take the Metro Red Line to Sobha Realty station, change to the tram at Dubai Marina 2 and ride to Jumeirah Beach Residence 1, then walk a short distance to the hotel. Drivers follow Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Naseem Street and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street, turn left onto Al Mamsha Street and take the second exit at the roundabout onto The Walk. Taxis and ride-hailing apps also serve the hotel.

Plan your night

There are two main ticket types. The Entry Before 11pm ticket is valid only if you arrive before 11pm, while Dancefloor Access has no stated entry-time condition. If you want to hear the night build from the first set, the earlier ticket suits the way Music On is designed to be heard.

This night is for techno and house fans who like long, patient sets and would rather settle into one sound for hours. If you have danced at Music On in Ibiza, it is a chance to see how the party works on a Dubai beach.

For more late nights, browse our nightlife in Dubai guide, check what’s on, see the full November calendar, or explore more things to do in Dubai.