A STATE OF TRANCE UNVEILS FIRST NAMES ON 2026 LINEUP FOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY IN ROTTERDAM

On February 27 - 28, the legendary festival celebrates its milestone uniting global trance fans with groundbreaking performances and cutting-edge production.

A State of Trance (ASOT), the world’s leading trance event curated by Armin van Buuren, celebrates an extraordinary milestone in 2026: 25 years of ASOT. Marking the occasion, the festival returns to Rotterdam Ahoy on February 27-28 for a two-day spectacle that promises to be its most ambitious and emotional edition yet. 

The first wave of names announced sets the stage for an unforgettable ASOT milestone, with Oliver Heldens and Maddix joining forces with Armin van Buuren for a unique b3b (back-to-back-to-back) set, fresh off their explosive debut at Ultra Music Festival 2025. Adding to the euphoria, Cosmic Gate will deliver their signature sound, while Dutch new-wave heavyweights Benwal and Tjade join a powerhouse lineup featuring Estiva, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Korolova, Laura van Dam, and Mauro Picotto to name a few. Capping the celebration, Armin van Buuren himself will headline with an exclusive five-hour ‘time travel’ journey, taking fans through the highlights and all remarkable moments of 25 years of A State of Trance. Seamlessly blending his iconic solo performance with special back-to-back moments, this set promises to make the edition truly historic. Later this year, more artists will be announced, adding even more magic to this already amazing line-up.

True to ASOT tradition, the 2026 edition will feature multiple rooms, diverse sounds and the most cutting-edge production yet, blending the festival’s rich legacy with forward-thinking creativity.

“This isn’t just another festival, it’s a celebration of everything we’ve built together over 25 years,” says Armin van Buuren. “From classic trance to new sounds, from legends to fresh talent, ASOT 2026 will be about uniting everyone who loves this music.”

Tickets for ASOT 2026 are already in high demand. Final phase weekend passes are currently €174,00 excl. service fee, with the official A State of Trance Hotel being sold out, but a limited number of other hotel packages still available. Make sure to secure your spot, for what promises to be the biggest A State of Trance yet. Stay tuned as even more names join the lineup for this historic 25th anniversary edition at Ahoy Rotterdam.

For ticket details, hotel packages, and more information, visit astateoftrance.com.

SXM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FIRST ROUND OF NAMES FOR 9TH EDITION

Carl Cox, Deep Dish, Elderbrook (DJ set), Lee Burridge, Andhim, Layton Giordani and more will all perform at the 2026 edition

Tickets & travel Information: www.sxmfestival.com

The world’s most idyllic dancefloor calls once again as SXM Festival returns for a five-day music, art, and cultural odyssey in Saint Martin, the Caribbean, from March 18 – 22, 2026.

 The ninth edition of this globally renowned gathering returns to the breathtaking island for deep immersion on one of the Caribbean’s most naturally stunning islands. With its Phase One lineup now revealed, the countdown begins for a week of unforgettable sunrises, oceanfront dancefloors, secret jungle stages and world-class music.

Whether you're drawn to the Sunrise Party, where golden light bathes the beach in rhythm, or the legendary Panorama Party, set atop the island’s highest peak with 360° views of the island, SXM Festival is an unforgettable escape perfectly framed by hot sun, twinkling stars, white sand, lush jungle, and handcrafted design.

Over five curated days, SXM offers an experience unlike any other. It is a unique chance to explore a magical world of beach parties where the sand turns to dancefloor, sunrise sessions that start your day with deep, emotional energy, jungle raves hidden among palm trees and lush foliage, exclusive villa parties that redefine private luxury,  The Panorama Party - an iconic SXM highlight atop the island’s highest point, plus pop-up food and culture experiences from local legends and visiting chefs and art installations and decor curated to blend beautifully into the island's environment. 

From bohemian hideaways to architectural marvels, each location is carefully chosen to complement Saint Martin’s raw natural beauty—a core ethos of SXM since its inception in 2016.

SXM Festival’s first wave of talent for 2026 brings a masterful blend of house and techno legends, live innovators and underground risers. Carl Cox, one of the most influential DJs of all time, will make his long-awaited SXM Festival debut after over a decade of performing in the Caribbean. Deep Dish, the Grammy-winning duo, return to the global stage and reunite for a tropical performance. Elderbrook, celebrated for his chart-topping hits and genre-bending live shows, brings a special DJ set to the island. Lee Burridge, pioneer of All Day I Dream, will once again deliver his signature sunrise sounds and claim back his crown at one of the most anticipated events of the week. Germany’s Andhim, known for their playful and melodic approach to house, join the bill, alongside Layton Giordani, one of tech-house’s brightest rising stars.

The lineup also features Spencer Brown, beloved for his progressive journeys, Natascha Polké with a full live performance, and Eli Fola, presenting his unique hybrid DJ set of Afro sounds and live saxophone and drums. Fresh talent includes Marten Lou, Maxi Meraki, Nimino, Rafael, Sistek, Yet More, Lumia, and the return of the charismatic &Friends, rounding out a first wave that embodies the festival’s balance of established icons and boundary-pushing new voices.

“SXM Festival was born to unite people from all over the world in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Phase One gives just a glimpse of the journey we’re creating for 2026 - a celebration of music, art, and community alongside the Caribbean’s magical backdrop” said festival founder Julian Prince.

SXM Festival is deeply committed to sustainability, local culture and elevated travel. Guests are encouraged to explore the island from culinary adventures and catamaran cruises to guided hikes, and eco-tourism experiences. Throughout the week, the festival works in harmony with the local community, investing in eco-conscious infrastructure, supporting local artists and artisans, and creating economic opportunities for residents.

LINEUP A-Z

&Friends

Andhim

Carl Cox

Deep Dish

Elderbrook (DJ Set)

Eli Fola (Hybrid)

Kadosh

Layton Giordani

Lee Burridge

Lumia

Marten Lou

Maxi Meraki

Natascha Polké (Live)

Nimino (DJ Set)

Rafael

Sistek

Spencer Brown

Tripolism

Yamagucci

Yet More

ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL UNVEILS INTERGALACTIC 2025 AFTERMOVIE ‘INTO HYPERSPACE’ AND OPENS WAITLIST FOR FESTIVAL’S 26TH EDITION NEXT MARCH

Waitlist for #ULTRA26 is now open at https://ultramusicfestival.com/tickets

Ultra Music Festival will celebrate its 2026 installment from Friday, March 27 - Sunday, March 29, 2026, at its longtime home of Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami

Last March, Ultra Music Festival concluded its sold out 25th anniversary celebration at Bayfront Park - a legacy-defining weekend from Friday, March 28 - Sunday, March 30. The three-day festival brought together a powerhouse roster of electronic icons - Skrillex, Martin Garrix, Carl Cox, Armin Van Buuren, Charlotte De Witte, Steve Aoki, Alesso, and many more - alongside landmark moments like the world debut of Anyma B2B Solomun, the Ultra debut of Everything Always (John Summit & Dom Dolla), and Afrojack’s historic surprise with Sia and David Guetta, who performed “Titanium” together for the first time. The result was a 25th anniversary event that paid homage to the festival’s iconic history while further cementing Ultra as the World’s Premier Electronic Music Festival. 

Ahead of the festival’s forthcoming 2026 edition, which will take place from Friday, March 27 - Sunday, March 29, 2026 at its longtime home of Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami, fans can relive the magic of Ultra Music Festival's 25th anniversary with the release of the official aftermovie: ‘Into Hyperspace’. 

Produced by UMF Films and FINAL KID FILMS, ‘Into Hyperspace’ is an intergalactic journey directed by FINAL KID FILMS’ founder Charly Friedrichs in collaboration with two new school creative powerhouses: Spanish editor Victor Eguiguren (aka Vizitron) and expert VFX artist JP Caruana. Together, they've transformed the standard Ultra aftermovie formula into a ‘Cinematic Hyperreel,’ a hybrid format that reimagines the aftermovie for a new generation. It’s a longform film crafted to be watched as one immersive journey, yet structured in a way that each chapter can stand on its own - as a high-impact reel, a memory, a moment. It merges the soul of traditional storytelling with the versatility and speed of digital-native content. One film. Many moments. Endless ways to feel it. 

‘Into Hyperspace’ opens with an ULTRAnaut piloting a futuristic spaceship, as archival Ultra Music Festival footage flickers from the ship’s dashboard. He then locks in his next destination: Ultra Miami. Soundtracked by a cinematic remix of deadmau5’ ‘Ghost N’ Stuff,’ the spaceship bursts into hyperspace before emerging into the glow of the iconic Miami skyline, towering over citizens who gaze up in awe. Opening credits roll over soaring drone shots of downtown Miami, gradually revealing the ship’s true form: the legendary Ultra “U” logo. The ship hovers above the festival gates, where eager fans are flooding in, before gliding triumphantly onto the Main Stage - planting itself as the beacon of Ultra’s 25th anniversary celebration. 

Next, waves of enthusiastic Ultra attendees stream inside, faces lit with anticipation and smiles as they ready themselves to dance. ‘Into Hyperspace’ then explodes into an energetic montage: cutting rapidly between Ultra’s state-of-the-art stage productions - the towering Main Stage, the cavernous RESISTANCE Megastructure, the pulsating RESISTANCE Cove, the Live Stage, Worldwide Stage, and more. The Ultra Angels dazzle with mesmerising choreography, interwoven with high-octane performances from global superstars such as Subtronics, Timmy Trumpet, Miss Monique, Mau P, Armin Van Buuren, Steve Aoki, ARTBAT, Joel Corry, Adam Beyer, Four Tet, Eli Brown, Charlotte De Witte, Carl Cox, Solomun, Boris Brejcha, Barclay Crenshaw, LEVEL UP, LTJ Bukem, Peekaboo, Tiësto, I Hate Models, Oliver Heldens, Skrillex, Gesaffelstein, Zedd, deadmau5 B2B Pendulum, ATLiens, Hardwell, Everything Always, Alesso, Martin Garrix, and more.

Binding it all together is the soundtrack - carefully selected and mixed by Final Kid himself. More than just background music, it acts as the film’s lifeblood: a fast-paced, genre-blending megamix that perfectly mirrors the film’s emotional arc. To celebrate the 25-year legacy of Ultra, the soundtrack weaves in historic references and legendary festival tracks - including the indelible “Let me see you work!” moment from Joe Brunning’s iconic song, which went on to become Carl Cox’s signature anthem at Ultra. It’s a full-circle moment that ties back to Final Kid’s first Ultra film in 2011, ‘Can U Feel It’ - where past and future collide in one timeless drop. 

Since releasing the first official Ultra aftermovie, the festival has garnered a well-deserved reputation for producing some of the industry’s innovative and boundary-pushing recap videos. ‘Into Hyperspace’ adds to that legacy, enveloping viewers into the interconnected world of Ultra Music Festival and the dynamic spirit it has cultivated over 25 unforgettable years. 

In tandem with releasing the 2025 aftermovie, Ultra also opened the waitlist for the festival’s forthcoming 26th edition, which will return to Bayfront Park from Friday, March 27 - Sunday, March 29, 2026. Join the waitlist now to secure your #ULTRA26 tickets (while supplies last.)

‘Into Hyperspace’ Soundtrack: (Music Selection and Mix by Charly Friedrichs)

01. Deadmau5, Rob Swire - Ghosts 'n Stuff (Nero Remix)   

02. John Summit feat. Inez - Light Years 

03. Mau P - People Talk People Sing    

04. MORTEN, David Guetta feat Fedde Le Grand - Night in Detroit 

05. Artbat, Vintage Culture - She The Last One

06. Joe Brunning - Now Let Me See You Work

07. Pendulum, Armin van Buuren, Rob Swire - The Sound of you  

08. Maddix, D-Block, S-te-Fan, Leila K - Open Sesame (Abracadabra) 

09. SKRILLEX - KYOTO (FT. SIRAH)  

10. Delirium, Sarah Mclachlan - Silence (John Summit Remix)