Another year, another unforgettable edition of WHOLE Festival. And damn, was it good! From July 18 to 21, Ferropolis once again transformed into a temporary queer utopia, welcoming over 10,000 people from all over the world for four days of music, community, and freedom. In a time when political tensions are high and LGBTQ+ rights are under attack in so many places, having a space like this is absolutely necessary.
This year’s festival was the biggest yet, and it showed. With six stages, the music was as diverse as the crowd: house, techno, disco, Brazilian funk, ambient, and more, all curated by and for queer artists and partygoers. The Beach Stage brought sunshine and serotonin with Maria Politi, Bashkka, and Lakuti B2B Tama Sumo, while the Arena Stage went harder, darker, and witchier with Juliana Huxtable, Ellen Allien B2B Dr. Rubinstein, and a closing set by Shaun J. Wright B2B Kiddy Smile that had the crowd screaming to Don’t Cha.
Under the trees at the Forest Stage, sunset sets from Spacer Woman and Tygapaw turned dancing into something spiritual, mixing house, acid, and global rhythms into a hypnotic flow. The Crane Stage brought the heat with Oscar NÑ, Papi Juice, and DJ Pendejo, where the beats were fierce and the dancefloor became a sweaty, twerking celebration. Meanwhile, the Ambient Stage offered a peaceful retreat for deep listening and reflection, while the Performance Stage had acts like M¥SS KETA and the Queer Church of Ballet.
This is why queer festivals matter. They’re sanctuaries, places where we can exist freely, love loudly, and dance like no one’s watching (even when they are). In a world that still tries to silence us, WHOLE is a reminder that our joy is resistance, our community is power, and the dancefloor will always be ours.
And of course, Fucking Young! was there to capture it all. Our photographer Manuel Cardozo was on the ground, snapping exclusive shots of the looks, the vibes, and the unstoppable energy of WHOLE 2025.
Check it out below, and see you next year at Ferropolis!
