S2O turned ten this year. What started in 2015 as an EDM festival built around Thailand’s most iconic season has become one of the biggest fixtures on the Songkran calendar. I started going in 2016, and even then, it already felt like a full production. That year had names like Nicky Romero, Afrojack, and Deorro. The stage was big, the water was constant, and the crowd came prepared. Every few minutes, the cannons would go off and nobody stayed dry for long. The whole thing was designed to be wet, loud, and non-stop from the first set to the last.
By 2017, the bookings brought in more variation. Dash Berlin and Don Diablo were both on the lineup. Yellow Claw’s set that year drew a huge crowd, and their mix of trap and hardstyle flipped the mood completely from what came before. The screen setup had more depth that year, and it was one of the first times it felt like the visuals were being treated as part of the show, not just an afterthought.
2018 saw DJ Snake, Krewella, and Tchami take over. Each brought something completely different, which gave the weekend more balance. The water never let up. No matter where you stood, there was always something coming at you. Tiësto and Steve Aoki were key moments in 2019, and Fatboy Slim gave a set that surprised a lot of people who didn’t expect to hear those kinds of tracks at S2O.
The 2023 edition brought back Tiësto again, this time alongside Baauer and Sebastian Ingrosso. Then in 2024, The Chainsmokers finally showed up, along with Armin van Buuren and Illenium. That year felt more refined, with a lineup that leaned into both familiarity and surprise.
2025 was the tenth year, and it didn’t just repeat the formula. It changed the setting entirely.
The Move to Rajamangala
This year, S2O moved from Live Park to Rajamangala Stadium. It was the first time the festival took place inside a venue of that scale, and it changed how everything felt. The space made it easier to move between areas, and the layout gave the entire event more structure. From the moment you stepped inside, the welcome stage was already playing, with sponsor booths, merch stalls, and photo zones lined up across the entry path. It felt like part of the festival, not just a walkway you passed through.
Inside, the transition to a stadium layout gave people more room without losing the atmosphere. It didn’t feel empty, but you could actually find space to stand, dance, or just regroup between sets without having to push your way around. The viewing angles were better, the sound travelled further, and the entire main arena felt more open compared to previous years.
Security checks were faster, crowd flow made more sense, and even basic things like getting to the restrooms or food stalls felt less stressful. For a festival that’s known for being full-on from start to finish, Rajamangala offered a bit of breathing room without taking away from the chaos people come for.
A New Look for the Stage
The stage this year didn’t just look different. It was the most noticeable change after the move to Rajamangala. S2O dropped the usual industrial setup with exposed beams and pipes. Instead, the design leaned into something smoother and more futuristic. The LED screens were arranged in layers, not just a single wall of visuals. The lighting moved cleanly across the structure and matched the set pacing throughout the weekend. For someone who grew up on action and sci-fi films, it instantly brought Tron to mind. Not in a gimmicky way. It looked like something that belonged in a stadium, not just a temporary setup.
Alan Walker
He played a hardstyle remix of Better Off (Alone, Pt. III) by D-Block & S-te-Fan. The moment it dropped, the water jets and fireworks went off together. It felt perfectly timed. Everyone around me looked surprised and started cheering at the same time. It was one of those moments that shifted the whole crowd at once.
Wukong
His set was easily one of the most memorable. He twisted cartoon visuals into something completely different, dropped Thai memes mid-set, and brought out a popular Thai singer for a surprise appearance. The whole thing felt like a tribute to both rave culture and Songkran. It was weird, fun, and specific to the crowd in front of him.
Diplo
He played twice. First as himself, then later with Major Lazer Soundsystem. The solo set was more stripped back and flowed smoothly from track to track. The Major Lazer slot was louder and more involved, with more crowd response and sharper transitions. It was good to see both sides rather than just a repeat with a different name.
DJ Snake
He closed out the weekend and held the crowd the whole way through. He’s played S2O before, and this year people were already focused on the mainstage well before he started. His set leaned into trap and stayed intense without dragging anything out. The stadium stayed full until the very end. Everyone was soaked, shouting, and clearly not ready for it to end.
The Rest of the Experience
The fireworks at S2O this year were on another level. They weren’t just saved for the end. Some were timed mid-set during key moments, especially during Alan Walker and DJ Snake. The way they lit up the stadium felt planned rather than random, and people actually looked up and reacted instead of just filming and moving on. It added to the show without distracting from it.
The water setup was the strongest I’ve seen at S2O. There was no dry zone, no area where you could stand and avoid getting hit. Whether you were up front, walking around the sides, or even near the back, the water came from all directions. They didn’t hold back. The festival really stuck to its own catchphrase, body needs water. Most people gave up on staying dry within the first hour of day one and just leaned into it.
Sponsor booths at S2O 2025 were more useful than in previous years. Some had games or drinks, others had shaded areas and mist zones that helped people cool off between sets. It didn’t feel like dead space. People were actually hanging out, grabbing stuff, and using those areas to reset before heading back in.
The VIP box made the weekend easier to enjoy without stepping away from the experience. The view was solid. I could still hear everything clearly and see every visual on stage. It was also easier to get in and out when I needed a break or food. It didn’t separate me from S2O. It made the weekend feel smoother without taking anything away from the festival itself.
Final Thoughts
S2O 2025 felt like more than just another edition. The move to Rajamangala, the updated stage design, the lineup, and the crowd all came together in a way that showed how far the festival has come over the past ten years. I’ve seen S2O go through different phases since 2016, but this was the first time it felt like they were thinking ahead instead of just repeating what worked before. It didn’t feel like they were chasing the past. It felt like they were ready to do something new.
Whether you came for the water, the music, the visuals, or just to celebrate Songkran with your crew, this year gave people more than just a weekend. It gave the sense that S2O has grown into something bigger without losing what made it fun in the first place.
Let’s see where they take it next year.
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