KUALA LUMPUR - The city centre lit up this past weekend as Neon Music Festival 2025 took over the city, drawing over 10,000 revellers in what many are calling a landmark moment for Southeast Asia’s electronic dance music (EDM) scene.
But beyond the lasers, pyrotechnics and star-studded lineup, what truly set Neon apart this year was its unprecedented focus on safety — positioning itself as a potential benchmark for large-scale events in the region.
A festival built on safety-first foundations
In collaboration with local authorities, Neon rolled out crowd safety protocols modelled after international festivals like Ultra Miami and Tomorrowland.
The festival grounds were equipped with real-time crowd density monitoring, multiple emergency access lanes and trained response teams — all designed to ensure a seamless and secure experience.
"Safety has always been at the core of what we do.
"This year, we took it even further by working directly with city officials and emergency services to build something world-class," Neon Festival Team said in a statement today.
The result? A night where the only thing attendees had to worry about was losing themselves in the music.
Big names, bigger moments
The music didn’t disappoint. Dutch DJ legend Hardwell brought the house down with a high-octane closing set that combined earth-shaking bass with a visual spectacle that lit up the KL skyline.
One of the night’s biggest surprises came in the form of the world’s first B3B set featuring DubVision, Matisse & Sadko and Third Party.
The rare back-to-back-to-back performance blended progressive house anthems into a euphoric soundscape that left the crowd roaring.
Melodic techno icons Artbat also made their mark with a hypnotic, cinematic set that introduced many Malaysians to their genre-defying sound — a moment that signaled just how far Neon is pushing the envelope musically.
Homegrown talent shines bright
But Neon wasn’t just about big international names. Malaysian acts like Blink and DirtySignal shook up the stage with a surprise B2B set, while regional talents like 22Bullets, Marvinz1r, RXB, Honey Gee and Chukiess & Whackboi brought high-voltage energy that matched the global heavyweights.
Their performances underlined a growing reality: Southeast Asia’s EDM scene is not just catching up — it’s redefining what the genre looks like on this side of the world.
More than just a party
The festival delivered curated experiences ranging from luxe lounges to interactive brand zones. Visuals and sound were dialed in by D8 Projects, whose stage production elevated the night into something cinematic.
As Malaysia continues to position itself as a cultural hub in the region, Neon 2025 may well be remembered as the event that showed how the country can pull off a festival that’s not only massive in scale but responsible in execution.