Phenomenal conclusion of Beats for Love: Records were falling thanks to David Guetta’s world show in Ostrava!
The 10th year of the biggest electronic dance music festival in Central Europe, Beats for Love, has ended. And the final party was worthy of a jubilee birthday. It was reigned by probably the most famous DJ in the world, David Guetta, who gave a breathtaking performance in Ostrava. And a look at the crowds of fans showed that the jubilee anniversary also brought an audience record.
Almost 8 years of futile negotiations. Until 2024 when the world-famous Frenchman David Guetta found time in his busy calendar for Beats for Love. But the waiting was worth it, the author of hits like Titanium, When Love Takes Over or Memories offered fans a fantastic show full of world-famous songs, dances and pyrotechnics. “It was a great end to the whole festival. David Guetta has dozens of famous tracks in his repertoire that have billions of plays on the Internet. And hearing our fans singing was a great feeling,” said Beats for Love director Kamil Rudolf.
And the head of the festival announced a record attendance at the same time. “On Wednesday, 34,000 people arrived at the vennue, on Thursday 38 thousand, on Friday we passed the 40,000 mark. And on Saturday, an incredible 50,000 fans poured into our area. It’s fantastic,” Rudolf added, noting that more people had never moved through the venue during Beats for Love in a single day. The fact that it significantly increased the capacity for the jubilee year helped the festival. And thus he could sell more tickets.
Mainly thanks to the nearly sold-out final day, the overall audience record from 2022 also fell. 160,000 people came to see Armin van Buuren and others then – this year the total stopped at 162,000 and a few hundred more. “It is a great appreciation of our work. But at the same time, we take it with huge respect. Yes, we are celebrating a beautiful 10th birthday. We will rest for a while, but very soon we will start preparing the 11th year,” said Kamil Rudolf, who has been at the head of Beats for Love since 2013, when the first edition was held in Dolní Vítkovice.
Bigger, richer, more colorful
This year’s edition was accompanied by classic “beatsack” weather. The opening hours in drops of rain, but the temperatures and the number of visitors gradually increased. A light rain also closed the show of another headliner, Swedish Eric Prydz, who performed in Ostrava on Thursday.
A total of 512 artists performed on 18 stages. The Zion stage, dedicated to reggae, jungle and hip-hop styles, underwent major modifications. The extravagant stage was decorated with a 3D image of a lion’s mouth. And the organizers also presented a number of other novelties. The so-called “molten district” dedicated to fire and light was created, others will be added in the following years. “Nearby D&B Forge by Ostrava!!! and we lit the Freedom stage red and completed everything with fiery scenery. We’re glad it caught the fans’ attention. And the performers also contacted us. They liked that they could enjoy the crowd energy more in the themed zone,” said Kamil Rudolf.
A number of performers caught the audience’s attention. Either dancers swinging over people on so-called “sway poles” or a procession led by a mythical dragon. The accompanying program was many times richer compared to previous years, which was also proven at the Talking Beats conference. Compared to last year, it was extended from one to three days – but it always found its audience.
The partners of the festival also shone. Thanks to them, visitors could try oxygen therapy, helicopter flights, taste alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, drool after tasting global cuisine, take smiling selfies in the area or buy festival promotional items.
The development of Beats for Love was also helped by a new method of payment, i.e. the cashless system. There were fewer queues at the food stalls and fans had more time to enjoy their favorite performers. Under the blast furnaces, payment was made by card, mobile phone and watch. However, the option of choice remained partially – some of the arrivals loaded cash on a one-time card.
Amounts for a good cause also left imaginary wallets. Through its Beats for Charity project, the festival will support nine-year-old Isabel Kavalová from Petrovice u Karviná and seven-month-old Dorian Příborský from Havířov. The collection, which has already raised hundreds of thousands of crowns, will continue until the end of August.
The organizers say a big “THANK YOU” to all fans, artists, partners and volunteers. Thanks to them, the 10th anniversary Beats for Love was written in gold not only on the Czech, but also on the global festival map. The eleventh will take place in Ostrava from 2 to 5 July 2025.
