From the dancefloors of his hometown Breda to the stages of the world’s largest festivals, Hardwell has built a long-lasting legacy as a DJ, producer, remixer, label boss, filmmaker, and philanthropist. Revered as a pioneer and innovator, the Dutch electronic titan has left an indelible mark on the global music scene with a career defined by reinvention and ambition.
Emerging from the Netherlands’ fertile club scene, Hardwell’s journey began at 14, signing his first record deal before skyrocketing into global consciousness. By 25, he had been crowned the World’s #1 DJ twice, in 2013 and 2014, at the height of the EDM boom. Yet, even as he helped define that era, Hardwell always stood apart, his music driven by a deeper creative impulse than mere trends.
His catalogue features a string of era-defining anthems, ranging from euphoric big-room classics like ‘Spaceman,’ ‘Apollo,’ and ‘Run Wild’ to cross-genre collaborations with global icons such as Craig David, Jay Sean, Austin Mahone, and Jason Derulo. Hardwell has also delivered standout remixes for musical powerhouses like Rihanna, Calvin Harris, Moby, Ellie Goulding, U2, J Balvin, and Coldplay. Despite his genre-crossing versatility, Hardwell has always stayed rooted in his electronic foundations, frequently teaming up with DJ contemporaries and close collaborators such as Armin van Buuren, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Steve Aoki, Afrojack, and Tiësto.
In 2015, his debut album United We Are pushed the boundaries of electronic music, achieving critical acclaim and charting globally. The album laid the foundation for two groundbreaking world tours under the I Am Hardwell banner between 2014 and 2016. Spanning 62 shows across 21 countries, the tours drew nearly a million fans to iconic venues like Madison Square Garden and London’s Brixton Academy. These tours showcased Hardwell not just as a DJ, but as a storyteller; an artist who viewed every performance as an opportunity to connect, inspire, and uplift.
Yet, for all his success, Hardwell is a restless spirit. In 2018, after more than a decade of relentless touring, he took an unexpected sabbatical to recalibrate – a pivotal pause in his career. Before temporarily stepping out of the limelight, the seasoned veteran gave fans a memorable farewell with a special one-off concert at the Ziggo Dome during Amsterdam Dance Event. Collaborating live with the Metropole Orkest Symphony, Hardwell delivered an explorative journey through dance music history, seamlessly merging the worlds of pop, jazz, and electronic music.
When Hardwell returned in 2022 with a surprise headline performance at Ultra Miami, he reemerged as an artist reborn. His sophomore album, REBELS NEVER DIE, marked a creative evolution: a bold and uncompromising body of work that fused hard-edged nostalgia with forward-thinking sound design. Tracks like ‘BROKEN MIRROR’ and ‘INTO THE UNKNOWN’ showcased Hardwell’s ability to distil raw emotion into seismic dancefloor moments.
The album’s accompanying 20-date world tour became another milestone in his career, featuring sold-out shows across continents. Highlights included a triumphant homecoming at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome and standout performances at Ultra Europe in Croatia, Atlas Arena in Poland, Soundstorm in Saudi Arabia, Untold Festival in Romania, Ushuaïa Ibiza, Creamfields, and Tomorrowland, where he captivated audiences across multiple weekends.
Hardwell’s presence as a headliner on the world’s biggest stages has made him a fixture at iconic festivals such as Lollapalooza, Coachella, EDC Las Vegas, Creamfields, and Tomorrowland. A pioneer in pushing the boundaries of live performance, Hardwell became the first DJ to play solo events at Germany’s Hockenheim circuit and the Formula 1 podium at the Mexican Grand Prix. Despite his global reach, Hardwell has stayed deeply connected to the club scene, headlining iconic venues such as Ministry of Sound and Green Valley, while holding residencies at Hakkasan Las Vegas, Ushuaïa Ibiza, and Macau’s Club Cubic – the latter marking a historic first for a Western DJ.
In parallel with his performance resurgence, Hardwell’s stylistic evolution continued in 2023. Collaborations with luminaries like Afrojack, Space 92, Maddix, Nicky Romero, Timmy Trumpet or hardstyle juggernauts Sub Zero Project underscored his versatility, while electrifying remixes for David Guetta/Benny Benassi and Calvin Harris/Ellie Goulding reaffirmed his place as a studio visionary. Whether revisiting classics like 4Strings’ ‘Take Me Away’ or reimaging He also reimagined Tomcraft’s iconic 2002 hit ‘Loneliness’, Hardwell’s sound remained as unpredictable as it was infectious.
After a hiatus of two and a half years, 2023 marked the return of his Hardwell On Air radio show. For a decade, until its pause in January 2021, Hardwell On Air was a cornerstone of the electronic dance music scene, garnering a massive following, championing new music, and spotlighting emerging talent. The decision to relaunch the show followed immense anticipation and growing demand from listeners eager to hear Hardwell back on the airwaves. Now broadcast on FM stations worldwide, the show is also available to stream on Hardwell’s YouTube channel, and recently ranked the 3rd most popular dance Radio Show Of 2024 according to 1001Tracklists A State Of Dance Music 2024 report.
The momentum continued in 2024 as the electronic music community celebrated further releases like ‘16’, ‘XTC’, ‘I’m The Devil’, and the vocal-driven, bass-heavy techno anthem ‘No Sleep’ with Sarah de Warren. Other highlights included a remix of David Guetta & OneRepublic’s ‘I Don’t Wanna Wait’ via Warner Music, an electrifying edit of Nifra and 2 Unlimited’s ‘Control Your Body’ and crafting a future anthem with hardstyle legend Outsiders. He also reunited with Armin van Buuren on their long-anticipated second studio project, ‘Follow The Light’.
In 2024, Hardwell collaborated with Apple to release a free sample pack for producers, available via GarageBand and Logic Pro. The pack aims to inspire aspiring artists and producers, enhancing their musical creativity and skills.
With over 8.2 million Facebook followers, 7 million X followers, 5 million Instagram followers, 6 million monthly Spotify listeners, and 1.3 billion YouTube views, Hardwell stands as one of the most influential and widely recognized artists in electronic music. A trailblazer in live streaming, his record-breaking sets, such as his 2012 Tomorrowland performance, which famously crashed servers, and his 2013 Ultra Music Festival set, with over 35 million views, have become iconic moments in dance music history. Among his many accolades, Hardwell has earned an MTV European Music Award, multiple International Dance Music Awards, two World #1 DJ titles, and honours like ‘Best Global DJ’ and ‘Best Electro House DJ,’ cementing his place as one of the most decorated figures in the scene.
Hardwell’s influence also extends to his label, Revealed Recordings. A launchpad for countless rising stars, the imprint also serves as a platform for Hardwell’s creative vision, including its milestone 1000th release, ‘Move’, a euphoric collaboration with KAAZE. Meanwhile, his philanthropic efforts – such as the World’s Biggest Guestlist concerts, funded the education of over 120,000 children in India.
In recent years, Hardwell’s notable performances have not only loomed large at Ultra’s Miami festival, but also at its worldwide editions, including Australia, Bali, Taiwan, Peru, Chile, and Europe. He has also headlined festivals such as Untold Dubai, Balaton Sound, Dreambeach, Mysteryland, Medusa Festival, Sunburn Festival, and Storm Festival, along with a celebrated return to Tomorrowland Brasil. Iconic venues such as New York’s Brooklyn Mirage, Cavo Paradiso, Vancouver’s Harbour Convention Centre, Chicago’s TAO Nightclub, and Brazil’s Laroc Club have also been popular fixtures in his globe-straddling gig schedule.
As 2025 unfolds, with new music on the horizon, the monthly broadcast of his ‘Hardwell Presents Euphoria’ show on Tomorrowland’s One World Radio, and a run of confirmed shows at Ultra Miami, A Summer Story, Aura Festival, Electronic Love Festival, Airbeat One Festival, Medusa Festival, and Parookavile, Hardwell continues to demonstrate an unrelenting drive to push boundaries.
Territories: Exclusive Worldwide