With our final Croatia festival now officially over, read on for a message from our CEO Wez Saunders...
The music may have stopped, but the memories live on. If you missed out on merch at Defected Croatia, or simply want to own a piece of this unforgettable final chapter, the official One Last Dance collection is now available exclusively via our online DStore: https://store.defected.com/collections/croatia-2026-one-last-dance
Celebrate the end of an iconic era with limited-edition pieces that commemorate the last dance on the Adriatic.
"Dear Defected Family,
Defected Croatia. Where do I begin?
To everyone who has been part of this incredible journey over the last ten editions. Whether you came for one year or ten. Whether you danced through a single sunrise or much of the 1,000+ hours of music we’ve shared together. Whether you found lifelong friends, found love, found yourself, or simply found a place where you belonged… thank you.
To every artist who stepped behind the decks. To Simon Dunmore, who helped build the foundations during those first five years. To Nick & Charlotte and everyone at The Garden. To our production teams, artist liaison, office staff both on and off the island, drivers, cleaners, security, photographers, videographers, designers, the accounts team, bar staff, waiters, technicians, suppliers, partners and every single member of my team who has helped make this festival what it became, past, present and future. To my friends, my family, my wife and my children. Thank you.
Over the last decade, I’ve watched my kids grow up at The Garden. I’ve watched the children of friends and colleagues do the same. I’ve seen staff join us and develop into incredible people. I’ve witnessed proposals, weddings, babies, reunions and friendships that will last a lifetime. I’ve also seen our community come together to support one another through life’s hardest moments, and enjoy and dance together year after year in the beautiful sunshine on the Adriatic cost. Defected Croatia has never just been a festival. It’s been a family.
It’s a rare thing in life to be able to close a chapter while it’s still at its very best. This weekend, together, we did exactly that.
One Last Dance was everything we hoped it could be and more. Every artist, every member of staff and every single person on that dancefloor brought their absolute A-game. Once again, you reminded the world that there is no community quite like the Defected community.
Your energy. Your kindness. Your passion. Your love for house music. That’s what made Defected Croatia so special. That’s what makes Defected so very special.
Whether we’ll see you in Ibiza, Malta, London, Manchester, Amsterdam, Australia, across Europe, the Americas, in the basement at Defected HQ, or connecting with us online, you continue to represent everything Defected stands for. You are simply the best community in the world.
One Last Dance was never a marketing campaign. It was exactly what we said it was. Together, we signed off what I genuinely believe has been one of the greatest festival journeys any of us could ever have imagined.
Of course, I’ve learned never to say never and I’m not afraid to change my mind. Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, for our 30th anniversary in 2029, we’ll find ourselves back on the Croatian coast for one more celebration. But for now, we continue to explore all options as to what comes next. I’m not one to do anything for the sake of it, and your trust is crucial to me. We will keep you updated on developments of the next stages of Defected events after Malta.
But for now, this chapter is complete. And what a way to finish. This isn’t goodbye. Because Defected has never been a place. It’s never been a festival. It’s never been a destination. Defected is you, and you are Defected.
As one chapter closes, another begins. We look ahead to the next ten incredible weeks in Ibiza, to Drumsheds this September, Malta in October, ADE, Australia, New Year’s Eve and everything still to come.
The future is exciting. And wherever we go next… You are the headliners. Defected Forever. House Music All Life Long.
Thank you for every memory.
Until next time… thank you again.
See you on a dancefloor soon.
Wez Saunders, and all of us at Defected"
Missed out on Croatia this year? Tickets remain for Defected Malta in October. Day tickets also available. Browse all ticket options over at our official Malta website.