DJ Mag Top 100 DJs 2022: 1.3 million people vote from 234 countries in the world's biggest music poll

Martin Garrix is back at the top of the pile this year, a position he held from 2016-18. The Dutchman’s fourth No.1 placing elevates him into second position in the all-time rankings, just one win behind fellow Dutchman Armin van Buuren, who remains in the top five for the 21st consecutive year.

Three times champion David Guetta, winner for the past two years, places at No.2, while Belgian brothers Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike are back up to No.3 and remain the highest DJ group in the chart. Brazilian bass phenomenon ALOK remains at No.4 — the highest Latin American DJ — and Steve Aoki is up three places to No.7 and remains the highest North American DJ. The same 10 DJs are in the top 10 as 2021, with Timmy Trumpet up one place while remaining Australasia’s highest DJ, and Don Diablo claiming the Highest Future House DJ award despite falling two places. The ever-consistent Afrojack is a non-mover at No.6, and Oliver Heldens remains in the top 10, despite also tumbling two places. Half of the top 10 are Dutch.

In the chasing pack, Brazilian house music party-starter Vintage Culture is knocking on the door at No.11, up a healthy six places. Will he break into the top 10 in 2023? And at whose expense? Vintage is now the world’s No.1 house DJ, while the world’s No.1 techno DJ — Charlotte de Witte — is up nine places to No.14, and must surely be a contender to break the stranglehold that male DJs have had on the top 10 places for the past 20 years. The Belgian DJ/producer has had another huge year, as has the second highest techno DJ — Carl Cox — who is up a healthy five places to No. 22.

Also in the top 20, Calvin Harris, Tiësto and Fedde Le Grand are all non-movers, while Alan Walker is back in at No.17 — up five places. Nicky Romero is also back in the top 20 for the first time in a number of years — the Dutchman is up six places.

Outside of the EDM world, Peggy Gou is up 14 places to No.24, and GORDO — who used to be the EDM act CARNAGE before switching to house — is up 12 places to No.25. After a highly successful Ibiza season with his Paradise parties at Amnesia, Jamie Jones is one of the highest climbers — up 18 places to No.32 — while the actual highest climber is Black Coffee, who helmed the Saturday night at Hï Ibiza for the whole of the 2022 season and is rewarded by climbing 29 places to No.39. He also remains the Highest African DJ in the Top 100.

There are six re-entries into the chart this year, most notably former winner Hardwell who came back into the fold with a triumphant set at Ultra Music Festival in Miami in March and a number of other huge shows after four years off. Italian spinner Deborah De Luca is back into the chart, as are Swedish House Mafia after further headline shows this year. Lucas & Steve, Solomun and Jay Hardway are also back in the chart now, having all dropped out in recent years.

Reinier Zonneveld is the highest new entry in 2022’s poll, in at a very respectable No.49. The Filth On Acid boss is streets ahead of the next highest new entry, former Geordie Shore star Joel Corry, who is now the fifth highest UK DJ in the chart. Other new entries include Honey Dijon, Dubdogz, Maya Jane Coles, and New York’s the Martinez Brothers, who squeeze in at No.100 after a hugely successful Ibiza season as residents for Hï.

Hardstyle has taken a bit of a hit this year. Angerfist is the Highest Hard DJ once again, although he’s down 17 places, and Miss K8 is down 36 places to No.89. Brennan Heart at No.68 (up five) is the only other hardstyle DJ remaining in the chart now.

Other significant climbers in the T100 include tech-house showman FISHER, who is up 29 places to No.48; Cat Dealers (up 19 to No.66); and KAAZE (up 13 to No.70).

Votes this year again came from most countries in the world. Among the lesser-known 234 territories who participated, we still received votes from St Kitts & Nevis, Djibouti, Micronesia, Isle Of Man, Palau, the Falkland Islands, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu, Montserrat, and even a vote from the Vatican City, demonstrating the truly global reach of the Top 100 DJs poll these days.

Despite clubs and events continually stopping and starting due to pandemic factors and international DJs being chiefly unable to tour there, 18% of votes came from our dedicated China voting app — up 3% on last year. Receiving the popular vote from DJ Mag fans based in China this year, BEAUZ are China’s No.1 DJs for 2022, closely followed a few places behind by Carta, who is also up in the poll.