Sublimation Festival 2025 took place on September 12-13 at the Tashkent’s Yunusabad Sports Complex, at the foot of the TV Tower and offered two days of music, discovery, and inspiration in the open air.
The Festival has been named one of the top 10 must-see festivals in the world, according to Resident Advisor. This year, the festival attracted over 8,000 people over two days.
In its second edition, Sublimation brought one of the world's most influential music communities, Boiler Room, to Uzbekistan. The format was fully preserved: dancing alongside the DJs, a seamless experience between artists and audience, and recordings of sets that will soon be released on Boiler Room's YouTube channel. Back in 2023, Boiler Room Uzbekistan was ranked among the top 3 best Boiler Room events in the world.
The organizers invested enormous efforts to take the festival to a new level this year. This wasn't just about technical quality—lighting, sound, and stages—but also about creating a special atmosphere that every guest feels. Their goal was to ensure that people don't just come to a concert but experience a holistic cultural experience.
Boiler Room executives particularly praised the authenticity of Sublimation. According to them, Uzbekistan has a vibrant scene that isn't copied from the West, but rather has grown from local realities. It was important to them that artists and audiences feel comfortable, and that the team knows how to work according to international standards while maintaining its own signature style. It is this combination of professionalism and authenticity that makes Sublimation unique and recognizable worldwide.
Sublimation doesn't discriminate between artists by status—local and international stars share the stage.
The festival featured Acid Arab, Kikelomo, Chloe Lula, SAMRATTAMA, Leona, and other international artists performing in Uzbekistan for the first time. Unique collaborations made the program truly inimitable: Lola x Youth Choir of Uzbekistan, QARAQOOM x Saya Musa, Doppi Twins x Khayriniso Akbarova, and a hybrid percussion set by Sabinē x Gulomjon Mukhammedzhanov (live). These performances were created exclusively for Sublimation Festival and will not be repeated anywhere else.
Day 1 — Festival Opening, Two Stages, Boiler Room Stage and House Stage
On September 12, the festival opened across two venues. The Boiler Room Stage, a live-only stage, brought together headliners and experimental acts: Acid Arab, LOUD373, a percussion set by Sabinē x Gulomjon Mukhammedzhanov, Doppi Twins x Khayriniso Akbarova, Trace, and many others. The House Stage, a stage for electronic music, featured a rotating lineup of local and regional artists, including Malichavangard, ITNI, KMRN, Electrofocus, Bajjo, and Smirnov.
Day 2 — Three Stages and New Formats
On the second day, a third stage, the Inspiration Stage, opened, featuring electronic experiments. The House Stage was curated by Refuge Worldwide, one of the most respected media outlets in the fields of culture and music.
The Inspiration Stage featured Sugar Theatre, Thegarda, AIKÒ, Josef Tumari x eenkay, Chloe Lula, Xyarim, Edigee x ayacantstop. These bold DJ sets and unusual combinations offered a deeper dive into the electronic sounds of the region and the world.
The Live Stage featured collaborations and live performances by QARAQOOM x Saya Musa, Q.zlar, Bu Qala, Khayriniso Akbarova, CÖC, SAMRATTAMA, Shaxriyor, Lola x Youth Choir of Uzbekistan, and, of course, the opening act of the evening, the Youth Choir of Uzbekistan Yoshlar.
The Refuge Worldwide Stage brought together selectors from around the world: ISL, No Plastic, Leona, DSL System, basic chanel, and Kikelomo.
Meeting with Resident Advisor
A special feature of the program was a meeting with Resident Advisor, one of the most authoritative independent media outlets in the field of culture and music. Before the opening of the second day of the festival, a discussion was held on the role of local scenes, how music is born in Uzbekistan and Central Asia, and how to promote it beyond the region. This provided an important exchange of experiences and demonstrated that Sublimation is not only about music but also about the professional development of the scene.
Ambiance and Scale
For two days, the area at the foot of the TV Tower transformed into a hub of inspiration and creative energy. Over 100 artists from Uzbekistan, Central Asia, and Europe brought together different genres and generations on three stages. An atmosphere of freedom, unexpected encounters, and musical exchange made Sublimation Festival 2025 an unforgettable event.
Full lineup (September 12-13):
September 12
BOILER ROOM STAGE
HOST — Saidazim Rizayev
4:00 PM — IANIIIRON
5:00 PM — Less Feeling (LT)
6:00 PM — Doppi Twins × Hayriniso Akbarova LIVE
7:00 PM — Trace
8:00 PM — DJ SET Acid Arab (FR)
9:00 PM — Sabinē × G’ulomjon Mukhammedjanov LIVE
10:00 PM — LOUD373
HOUSE STAGE
5:00 PM — Malichavangard
6:00 PM — ITNI
7:00 PM — KMRN
8:00 PM — Electrofocus
9:00 PM — Bajjo
10:00 PM — Smirnov
September 13
LIVE STAGE
4:30 PM — Ulugbek Mamatxanov
16:45 — Azizjon Qosimov
17:00 – QARAQOOM × Saya Musa
17:45 — Q.zlar
18:30 - Bu Qala
19:00 — Hayriniso Akbarova
19:45 — CÖC
20:30 — SAMRATTAMA (KZ)
21:15 — Shaxriyor
22:00 – Lola × Choir LIVE
22:15 – Choir LIVE
REFUGE WORLDWIDE STAGE
17:00 — ISL
18:00 - No Plastic (DE)
19:00 — Leona (PT/DE)
20:00 — DSL System Live
21:00 – basic chanel (UK)
22:00 - Kikelomo (NG/UK)
INSPIRATION STAGE
16:30 - Sugar theater
17:00 — Thegarda
18:00 — AIKÒ (KG)
19:00 — Josef Tumari × eenkay
20:00 — Chloe Lula (US/DE)
21:00 — Xyarim
22:00 – Edigee (KZ) × ayacantstop (TM/DE)
