Solomun will return to New York on June 19 to open Pacha New York, breaking a rule he’s held for over a decade. The Diynamic Music founder will play the night without a fee, offering free access to fans who attended his recent Fulton Fish Market and Knockdown Center shows through a registration lottery.

The story behind the decision reveals just how much his recent New York performances meant to him.

Solomun was aware of Pacha New York’s opening plans from early on and was asked to be part of the launch. He considered it — Pacha has been central to his career for more than fourteen years, and the relationship runs deep. But his focus was on his own New York shows, and the only available date fell squarely in the middle of his Ibiza season. His answer had to be no.

For more than a decade, his summers have followed the same rule. Once the season starts, he stays in Europe. No long-haul flights, no major international shows, no crossing time zones. It’s a rhythm that has worked for years, a comfort zone he trusts and protects, and one he hadn’t broken in over ten years. The Pacha date, like others before it, was not going to be the exception.

And then the Bronx happened.

In May, thousands gathered at Fulton Fish Market. The rain came early and stayed for hours, and almost no one left. They danced soaked, until the very end. Then another five hours together at Knockdown Center. A crowd that refused to walk away is not something he could easily set aside.

Watching those fans give up their own comfort, standing in the rain for hours with nothing asked in return, made his own routine harder to defend. If they were willing to step out of theirs, he wanted to step out of his.

“I held that rule for over ten years. I never questioned it. And then I watched thousands of people stand in the rain for hours without moving. After that, staying home was not an option anymore,” Solomun explained.

Access to the opening night dancefloor will be offered through a registration lottery to those who attended the Fulton Fish Market show and the Knockdown Center afterparty. Rather than rewarding speed or spending power, everyone eligible has the same chance to get in.

“This isn’t about selling tickets,” Solomun adds. “It’s about thanking the people who were already there.”

The night also continues a long relationship with Pacha. Since launching Solomun +1 in 2013, he has helped shape one of Ibiza’s longest-running residencies. Opening Pacha New York carries that connection across the Atlantic.

2026 is a milestone year for the Bosnian-German artist. It marks the 20th anniversary of Diynamic Music, alongside sold-out shows including two nights at Alexandra Palace in London. Recent releases include his remixes of Nina Simone’s ‘Take Care Of Business’ and Max Styler’s ‘One More,’ as well as ‘Kinesphere,’ his collaboration with Coco Nancy. Solomun has an exciting run of new releases and collaborations on the way this summer, with several set to make their live debut on the dancefloor at the Solomun +1 Residency at Pacha Ibiza.

The gesture reflects Solomun’s approach throughout his two-decade career. Born in Bosnia and raised in Hamburg, he started with second-hand tapes and record-store digging before becoming one of electronic music’s most recognizable figures. Through Diynamic, he continues to support new artists with a focus on authenticity, emotional connection, and long-term development.

Further information is available at Pacha-NYC.com. You can read his full post below.