The best DJs of the 2000s
From Tiësto and Paul van Dyk to Andy C, Slimzee and Carl Cox, these are the DJs who defined the 2000s. Explore the trance, house, drum & bass, UKG, grime, dubstep and techno legends who shaped the decade.
Date published: 18th Feb 2026
You’ve read our thoughts on the best DJs of the ‘90s, but we couldn’t leave out the 2000s. Much like the previous decade, the noughties were packed with unforgettable moments and scene-defining sounds. Trance was everywhere, with some of its biggest stars crossing over into the mainstream and scooping up awards left, right and centre.
But it wasn’t the only genre shaping dancefloors. Progressive house continued to evolve, while minimal and Berlin techno came to the forefront thanks to selectors like Ricardo Villalobos, Luciano, Ellen Allien and Marcel Dettmann. In the UK, garage’s chart success began to splinter into something darker and more underground, with grime and dubstep dominating the pirate radio stations and taking hold in clubs like Plastic People.
From Tiesto to Slimzee, here are the best DJs of the 2000s.
trance
Tiësto
Image: Tiesto / Facebook.com
Not many DJs can say they were the first in their profession to play at the Olympics, but Tiësto can. At the 2004 games in Athens, the Dutch DJ and producer soundtracked the opening ceremony with a mix of brand new tracks and classics like ‘Adagio For Strings’. Of course, Tiësto didn’t get to the Olympic stage overnight. He spent the 90s playing residencies in the clubs of the Netherlands, eventually reaching the summit of electronic music. He played to packed crowds and topped DJ Mag’s Top 100 three years in a row. It’s this dominance that cements him as one of the best DJs of the 2000s.
Paul van Dyk
Image: Paul van Dyk / Facebook.com
Talking about trance without talking about Paul van Dyk? It’s almost blasphemy. After sending ravers into a frenzy with ‘For An Angel’, recording an Essential Mix at Cafe Mambo and making Gatecrasher his home in the 90s, you’d think he’d take a bit of a break. But no, in the 2000s, things went up a level. He released ‘The Politics of Dancing’ – which, by the way, absolutely slaps – in 2001. PvD takes us on a journey, spinning deep trance grooves from beginning to end. Over the years that followed, he embarked on massive world tours, scoring regular top 10 entries in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs and winning the prize in 2005 and 2006.
Armin van Buuren
Image: Armin van Buuren / Facebook.com
Want to hear a master at work? Listen to Armin van Buuren’s A State of Trance mix CDs. Throughout the 2000s, they were essential listening. Plus, they gave van Buuren a place to show off his skills. 2005’s edition features two CDs, with one ‘light’ mix and one ‘dark’ mix, while 2007’s edition features an ‘On The Beach’ side and an ‘In The Club’ side. Both are absolutely brilliant, and van Buuren’s ability to mix darker, progressive trance with the typical uplifting feel you’d find in the genre proves why he was one of the best DJs of the 2000s.
Judge Jules
Image: Judge Jules / Facebook.com
For many, Judge Jules’ radio shows and mixes were the beginning of a night out, or a way to keep up on the hottest new tracks in electronic music. Whether it was on the radio, at clubs like Gatecrasher or at Eden for Judgement Sundays, you could always count on Judge Jules to deliver a set packed with the anthems you needed to hear. The awards came through, too. 2000 saw The Judge win Best Radio DJ at the Smirnoff Dance Awards and Best International DJ at the BBM Awards, accolades he’d pick up again in 2001. But even without the trophies, his staying power on the airwaves and clubs would make him a shoo-in for the decade's best.
Ferry Corsten
Image: Ferry Corsten / Facebook.com
Ferry Corsten is up there with the trance gods. Tracks like ‘Out of The Blue’, ‘Cry’ and ‘Carte Blanche’ showed he had the chops as a producer, crafting striking melodies and high-energy rhythms. As a DJ, he was equally strong. In his set at Trance Energy 2000, he builds to emotional highs with a selection of gorgeous melodies and driving percussion. Corsten maintained a steady stream of releases and live shows, visiting Australia, the US, Romania, Brazil and Lebanon in support of the ‘Twice In A Blue Moon’ remix album, each DJ set proving why he was one of the genre’s top talents.
house / progressive / electro
Sasha & John Digweed
The 2000s saw Sasha & John Digweed continue to innovate. Take Delta Heavy, for example. It’s a documentary of their 2002 tour of the same name, and one of the first films to portray DJs in the superstar light we’re so used to today. The tour itself was a highlight, too. The duo played 31 cities, armed with extensive stage production, lights and lasers, and once other DJs saw the impact, they quickly followed suit. The duo would go their separate ways, returning in 2007 and 2009, opening up their influential progressive sound to a whole new generation of listeners.
Danny Tenaglia
Image: Danny Tenaglia / Facebook.com
They call Danny Tenaglia ‘the DJ’s DJ’, and it’s not for nothing. When he played at Space Miami, the crowd would be filled with a who’s who of famous selectors. You can hear why he was so popular with fellow DJs and ravers alike by listening to mixes like ‘Global Underground: London’. Released in 2000, it blends tribal rhythms, euphoric house sounds and hypnotic grooves into a delightful music cocktail made to please the ear and move the body. The New York-born DJ continued the 2000s in stellar fashion, cracking the UK Top 40 with ‘Music Is The Answer’ and eventually going on to secure a residency at Space Ibiza. When it came to DJing, Tenaglia had it all, with a musical ear not many could rival.
Roger Sanchez
Image: Roger Sanchez / Facebook.com
Speak to any Ibiza devotee from the 2000s, and they’ll tell you about Roger Sanchez. He’s held residencies at some of the White Isle’s most popular clubs since the beginning of the decade, with his Release Yourself parties at Pacha being the stuff of legend. The ‘Release Yourself’ mix CDs from the early 2000s show the energy of the party in full force, with Sanchez laying down funky basslines, sweet grooves and vocal house tracks that transport you to sunny climes no matter where you are in the world. Away from Ibiza, Sanchez scored number 1 in the UK Singles Chart with ‘Another Chance’, scooped up a Grammy for his remix of No Doubt’s ‘Hella Good’ and recorded an Essential Mix in 2002, a two-hour journey full of space-age synths and utterly danceable rhythms. From Ibiza residencies to chart-topping crossover hits, Sanchez proved house could thrive in the underground and the mainstream.
David Guetta
Image: David Guetta / Facebook.com
Ask your Mum about DJs, and she’ll probably say David Guetta. A superstar force in the dance world and the mainstream, he came up in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s in both his native France and Ibiza, hosting events, managing clubs and kicking off his now-renowned ‘F*** Me I’m Famous!’ parties. But his true breakout came with 2009’s ‘One Love’, an album of dance-pop collaborations with international superstars. Kelly Rowland? Check. Akon? Check. Rihanna? Check. Huge arena tours, festival appearances and awards would follow, as well as regular slots at some of Ibiza’s best clubs. Without David Guetta, we’re not sure if we’d see DJs in the same way today.
Deadmau5
Image: Deadmau5 / Facebook.com
There’s only really one word for Deadmau5 – iconic. As soon as you see the mask, you know exactly who you’re looking at. If you were growing up in the 2000s, the Canadian DJ and producer was likely one of your first entry points into electronic music. Just take his set at Earl’s Court in 2010. It’s Deadmau5 at full tilt, supplying a non-stop wave of heavy beats to a crowd transfixed by what they’re witnessing. Throw in the lights, spectacle and anthems, and you’ve got a clear reason why Deadmau5 is one of the best DJs of the 2000s.
James Zabiela
Image: James Zabiela / Facebook.com
It was Muzik Magazine’s Bedroom Bedlam DJ competition in 2000 that gave James Zabiela his start. His tape was passed on to Sasha, which resulted in Sasha taking Zabiela under his wing and on tour as a support act. The Southampton-born DJ grew in popularity, thanks to an intricate mixing style, which he showcased in 2002 and 2004 with two entries into the Essential Mix series. Both sets are packed with groove, deep blends and driving beats.
Erol Alkan
Image: Erol Alkan / Facebook.com
At Erol Alkan’s Trash night, you could hear guitar and electronic music collide. Held at The End, The Annexe and Plastic People, it quickly became a melting pot of scenes and sounds, with future indie stars partying alongside fashion kids and ravers. Trash also helped popularise the subgenre of electroclash, as Alkan made mash-ups of tracks from different genres, thinking nothing of throwing two styles at each other to create something new. Trash’s impact was felt in the electronic music world, with Mixmag naming Alkan as DJ of the Year in 2006. The club night would close a year later after running for 10 years, but its impact is still felt, with many name-checking it as a vital London club night in the 2000s.
Fatboy Slim
Image: Fatboy Slim / Facebook.com
Fatboy Slim – aka Norman Cook – needs no introduction. He was already a titan of the DJ world in the millennium, and he built on that with the release of ‘Weapon Of Choice’ in 2001, which scooped up six awards at the VMAs. We can’t forget the Big Beach Boutique parties held at Brighton Beach in 2001 and 2002, either. The first was something, but the second has gone down in history as one of dance music’s most memorable events. It was Fatboy Slim at his peak, a moment of pure, in-the-moment raving unlikely to be replicated again.
drum & bass
Andy C
Image: Andy C / Facebook.com
As the 2000s came along, Andy C solidified his status as a figurehead of the drum and bass scene. He released three volumes of his popular mix series ‘Nightlife’ via his own imprint, RAM Records. The series shows Andy C at full force, his selections brimming with energy, something he’d showcase up and down the country and overseas when he played live. As label boss of RAM, he had a hand in helping the next generation of talent, releasing music from Sub Focus and Chase & Status. Throw in a Best DJ win at the Drum & Bass Arena Awards in 2009, and it’s clear to see why Andy C was considered one of the best DJs of the 2000s.
Randall
Image: Randall / Facebook.com
Randall’s name continued to hold weight in the 2000s. If you want an idea of where he was in the new millennium, just take a listen to any of his sets at Accelerated Culture. His 2002 set is a highlight, with Randall spinning deep, dark and dangerous tunes from the likes of Dillinja, Ray Keith and Total Science, never looking back to a nostalgic era. Away from the decks, his label, Mac II Recordings supplied DJs with dancefloor weaponry, while Stepback Sessions gave a platform for producers of the day to remix classic jungle tunes from years gone by.
Friction
Image: Friction / Facebook.com
Friction broke through on Hospital Records in the early 2000s and hasn’t ever really looked back. In 2004, he launched Shogun Audio, which quickly became a key outpost for the genre, helping to nurture talent like Alix Perez throughout the decade. Armed with a technical mixing style and often using three decks, his club sets and mixes captivated drum and bass fans. Don’t believe us? Take a listen to Next Level 2 and hear the wizardry unfold.
Marcus Intalex
Marcus Intalex – DJ, producer and label boss – was a key part of Manchester’s drum and bass scene, one of the first people to bring names like Fabio, Grooverider, Doc Scott and LTJ Bukem to the city’s venues. Tracks like ‘Cabin Fever’ and ‘Neptune’ showcased his ability to balance melody and grit, a quality carried through to his label Soul:R and his DJ sets. For a snapshot of his style, check out Marcus Intalex's Fabriclive.35 mix. Released in 2007, it's a 77-minute drum and bass exploration, full of gliding drums and sleek synths.
DJ Hype
Image: DJ Hype / Facebook.com
While DJ Hype made his name in the 90s, the 2000s were equally fruitful. He scored two Fabriclive mixes – Fabriclive.03 and Fabriclive.18 – the latter a collaborative mix with fellow drum and bass soldier Andy C. Fabriclive.03 is a raucous and driving hour of tunes, while Fabriclive.18 goes straight from the jugular from start to finish. Hype would spend the 2000s at the helm of a show on Kiss FM, win best DJ at the Accelerated Culture Awards in 2001 and run Playaz Recordings, which helped launch the careers of Sub Zero and Hazard. It’s this commitment to unearthing new sounds and artists which secures his place on the list.
ukg / grime / dubstep
DJ EZ
Image: DJ EZ / Facebook.com
EZ was iconic in the ‘90s, and he was iconic in the ‘00s. As garage peaked at the turn of the millennium, EZ was one of the major players, making ravers dance at events like Garage Nation and Sun City. It was EZ behind the decks for the ‘Pure Garage’ mix CDs and in 2003, he brought esteemed producer Todd Edwards to the UK for the first time ever, booking him at Romford’s Time & Envy nightclub for a set which has lasted through the ages. While grime, dubstep and UK funky supplanted garage in the early to mid 2000s, EZ held firm, delivering his technical mixing style on radio and at raves both at home and abroad.
Dreem Teem
Dreem Teem – DJ Spoony (left), Timmi Magic (centre) and Mikee B (right) – were true figureheads of the UKG scene. The trio kicked off the new millennium by moving to BBC Radio 1, and their Essential Mix from the same year is an era-defining snapshot. Recorded in the scene’s second home, Ayia Napa, it features two hours of bassy delights, massive tunes and classic 2-step production. You can practically hear the energy through the headphones. Whether it was in the club or on the airwaves, Dreem Teem were the selectors fans looked for to break the newest tunes and ignite the dancefloor with serious energy.
DJ Fonti
Image: Heartless Crew / Facebook.com
For many garage lovers, DJ Fonti and Heartless Crew will go down as one of the genre’s greats. The full crew consists of Fonti (pictured centre), Bushkin and Mighty Moe, but we’ll focus on the DJ for this article. Supplying the ammunition for Bushkin and Mighty Moe to spit bars over at events like La Cosa Nostra, Sidewinder and Sun City, he helped the crew forge and sustain a high reputation in the scene. But in reality, Fonti’s record bag had everything. This is best displayed on the 2002 mix CD ‘Heartless Crew Presents Crisp Biscuit Vol.1’, where Fonti lays down jungle, soul, early dubstep, r&b and garage for Bushkin and Mighty Moe to go wild over. It’s like a soundsystem crew transported directly into 2002.
Slimzee
Image: Quann / Slimzee / Facebook.com
Garage was full of vibes and energy in the mainstream, but the underground began to craft a new sound. Beats got sparse and dark, giving space for a brand new cohort of MCs determined to get their names out on the pirate radio stations of London. We now know this as grime. But, back then, it was a fluid sound, and DJ Slimzee was one of the pioneers. The Rinse FM co-founder saw success as a DJ in Pay As U Go, Wiley’s pre-Roll Deep Crew, but things really got going as the new millennium began to take shape. He’s perhaps best remembered for Sidewinder sets with Wiley and a young Dizzee Rascal, recordings that would be etched in grime history for years to come.
Youngsta
Like grime, dubstep grew out of garage in the noughties, and Youngsta was one of the DJs pushing the new sound forward via pirate radio stations and club nights. Perhaps the most prominent of those nights? FWD>>. It was here that Youngsta, along with others, would shape what early dubstep would become, with tunes from future scene superstars like Skream, Benga, Loefah, Mala and Coki turning dubstep from a garage offshoot into a fully-fledged genre of its own.
techno
Carl Cox
Image: Carl Cox / Facebook.com
No list of the best DJs of the 2000s would be complete without Carl Cox. 2001 saw the superstar DJ kick off a 15-year residency at Ibiza’s legendary Space club, and in 2004, he launched the Carl Cox and Friends Stage at Ultra Music Festival in Miami. His 2000 Essential Mix, recorded in the studio, is a two-hour treat of driving techno, and you only need to take a look at crowd footage of his Dance Valley set in 2001 to see just how much people loved his sound.
Ricardo Villalobos
Image: Ricardo Villalobos / Facebook.com
As minimal techno began to rise in the mid-2000s, Ricardo Villalobos was at the forefront. His Fabric 36 mix, recorded in 2007, comprised 15 brand new tracks recorded by the producer and DJ. Clocking in at 74 minutes, it’s a journey through the sound Villalobos was synonymous with throughout the decade, opening with scratchy glitches and unfurling into a sea of pulsing basslines and minimal melodies. Put simply, it’s a DJ at the peak of his powers and a snapshot of a techno sound that captivated the ears of ravers.
Luciano
Image: Luciano / Facebook.com
Born in Switzerland, Luciano got his start in the underground clubs of Chile before moving back to his birth country, where he became a regular at Geneva’s Weetamix club. By 2001, he’d joined the team at Cocoon, eventually going on to play era-defining sets with Sven Vath and Ricardo Villalobos. By 2008, he’d released Fabric 41, a masterclass in minimal techno with sharp percussion and deep grooves.
Ellen Allien
Image: Ellen Allien / Facebook.com
By the time the 2000s arrived, Ellen Allien had been DJing for a while, appearing at famed clubs like Tresor, running a label called Braincandy, holding down radio slots and working at the record shop Delirium. But her stock would rise massively in the 2000s. She launched the then-named BPitch Control label in 1999, and the first major release was her 2001 album ‘Stadtkind’. This put Allien on the radar of club promoters around the world, giving her the platform to tour the world and become synonymous with the Berlin techno sound. More DJ sets and records from Allien would follow, and her label would become home to future stars, with Ben Klock, Paul Kalkbrenner, and Modeselektor just a few of the names who’ve released on BPitch.
Marcel Dettmann
Image: Marcel Dettmann / Facebook.com
You can’t get more techno than being a resident at Berghain – That’s Marcel Dettmann. The selector grew up outside of Berlin, and after being introduced to techno, beginning to DJ and promote his parties, and he was invited to become a resident of Ostgut. That club would become Berghain, and it’s there where he would craft a hypnotic, booming techno sound that would help define the genre.
From trance anthems and progressive house epics to pirate radio grime sets and Berlin techno hypnosis, the 2000s gave us DJs who soundtracked nights out and shaped entire scenes. Whether you lived through the noughties or you’re only discovering them now, these selectors prove one thing: great DJing never goes out of style. Head here to catch some of these DJs playing live in your city.
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