Sonic Bridges: Sónar İstanbul 2025 Lights Up the City’s Electronic Pulse

Istanbul has always been a city where contrasts meet and melodies mingle. From the echo of the call-to-prayer drifting over the Bosphorus to indie gigs hidden in Karaköy basements, the metropolis hums with sound. Galleries pop up in old hans, experimental theater fills repurposed factories, and rooftop bars shake each sunset with DJ sets that bounce between East and West. In short: art and music are woven into daily life here, and every season finds a new way to surprise us.

This spring, the surprise is extra loud. On May 9–10, the legendary Sónar marathon returns to town, taking over Zorlu PSM with a lineup that reads like the who’s-who of global electronic music. Think The Chemical Brothers rolling out a decades-spanning DJ set, Richie Hawtin unleashing his hardware-heavy DEX EFX X0X show, and Modeselektor throwing their genre-bending magic into the mix. Add Jamie xx’s long-awaited Istanbul debut, avant-garde icons like Actress, and a host of homegrown heroes, and you’ve got two nights primed to shake every corner of the venue.

In the sections that follow, we’ll break down the lineup, share insider tips for navigating Zorlu PSM, and show you how to weave Sónar İstanbul 2025 into an unforgettable Istanbul itinerary with the ultimate Istanbul Tourist Pass®. Let’s dive in!

About Sónar Istanbul: From Barcelona Roots to Bosphorus Beats

Born in Barcelona in 1994 as the “Festival of Advanced Music and Congress of Technology & Creativity,” Sónar quickly became a global touchstone for forward-thinking electronic sound and digital art. Istanbul joined the family in 2017, when Zorlu PSM hosted the city’s first sold-out edition and drew 9,000 curious ravers. Since then, the festival has returned every spring, even through the pandemic years, showcasing everything from headline techno to boundary-pushing audiovisual projects.

Solar Istanbul 2025 Edition

Sónar Istanbul’s ninth outing lands on 9–10 May 2025 with a marathon roster: The Chemical Brothers (DJ set), Richie Hawtin’s hardware-heavy DEX EFX X0X, Jamie xx’s long-awaited city debut, and a stacked bill of innovators like Actress, Modeselektor, plus44Kaligula, and Tokyo icon ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U. Local heroes—including BASHKKA, Evrim de Evrim b2b Ece Özel, and Venus Exotica—round out the mix, proving Istanbul’s own scene is every bit as bold.

Program Highlights

Big-room energy: Expect decades-spanning rave anthems from The Chemical Brothers, blistering acid lines from Richie Hawtin, and Jamie xx’s emotive, genre-blurring selections.

Live & hybrid shows: Marie Davidson and Jersey bring high-voltage live sets, while Gaia Ekho unveils a new hybrid performance.

Audiovisual journeys: Grand River & Abul Mogard’s In uno spazio immenso and Sara Persico & Mika Oki’s Sphâira transform sound into cinematic light.

B2B surprises: Kettama goes toe-to-toe with Special Request; Evrim de Evrim links up with Ece Özel for a hometown throw-down.

About the Venue: Zorlu PSM

Zorlu Performing Arts Center (PSM) is Istanbul’s modern temple of culture: think world-class acoustics, cavernous halls, and a modular layout that flips from seated concerts to all-night club mode without missing a beat. Located in Beşiktaş, it sits above a metro hub and a sleek shopping mall, so grabbing a late-night bite or hopping a ride home is effortless. For Sónar, multiple stages pop up across the complex, meaning you can glide from a glitchy ambient set in the Studio to peak-time techno in the Main Theatre in minutes.

With its mix of global legends, local innovators, and a venue built for big sound, Sónar Istanbul 2025 promises two nights where Istanbul’s centuries-old skyline vibrates to the future. Stay tuned for our next section, where we’ll share insider tips on tickets, schedules, and making the most of your Istanbul Tourist Pass®.

Unlocking the City with Istanbul Tourist Pass®  

Picture this: you dance till dawn at Sónar, crash for a few hours, then stroll past the ticket line at Hagia Sophia with a single scan on your phone. Or after a long day of dance music, you join a Bosphorus Cruise Dinner to have another amazing music experience with Turkish shows! That’s the magic of the Istanbul Tourist Pass®. One purchase, more than 100 attractions, and zero paperwork.

Why pack the Pass in your festival bag?  

Skip-the-line freedom: Hagia Sophia, Dolmabahce Palace, Basilica Cistern, Bosphorus cruises… show your pass, walk straight in.  

Unlimited public transport on discount: Trams, ferries, metros, buses. Getting from your hotel to Zorlu PSM or from an after-party to sunrise on the Asian side is effortless.  

Instant digital delivery: Buy online, get the code in seconds, download the App on your phone. Perfect for last-minute planners.  

Local help from professionals: WhatsApp customer support line answers in English on every weekday, when you can’t find that hidden meyhane or the right metro exit.  

Festival-friendly extras: Airport transfers, pocket Wi-Fi or eSIM, Bosphorus breakfast cruise, and even a traditional hammam session to soothe rave-tired muscles.

Pick the pass that fits your stay (1–5 days) 

1-day pass: Perfect for a lightning visit: cram in the Old City before the opening set.  

2-day pass: Ideal for weekend warriors pairing two Sónar nights with the city’s top icons.  

3-day pass: Add a Bosphorus brunch cruise and a hammam detox between festival rounds.  

4-day pass: Extra time for Princes’ Islands, street-art hunts, and shopping in Kadıköy.  

5-day pass: Deep dive: museums, galleries, hidden cafés, and sunsets from Çamlıca Tower.  

How to weave it into your Sónar weekend  

Arrive to Istanbul Airport, flash your pass for the airport shuttle, drop bags, and catch sunset at the Blue Mosque. Spend the following morning breezing through Topkapı Palace and the Cisterns, regroup with meze in Karaköy, then ride the metro to Zorlu PSM for Jamie xx’s first beat. After night two, cool down on a moonlit Bosphorus cruise that’s already included. Fly home with a photo roll, and wallet that feels surprisingly full.

The Istanbul Tourist Pass® turns Istanbul into your personal backstage area; daytime history, nighttime bass. Grab yours online in two clicks and let the city open up as wide as the festival speakers.