Armin van Buuren News
Saudi Arabian Music Festival MDLBeast Attracts Over 730,000 Visitors!
MDLBEAST‘s SOUNDSTORM 21 truly made a monstrous impact on the Middle East over four scintillating days in the desert. Over 732,000 visitors attended from around the world, men and women danced together to world-class DJs like David Guetta, Jeff Mills, Major Lazer Soundsystem, Martin Garrix, Steve Aoki, Armin Van Buuren, Carl Cox, Claptone, and many more as locals enjoyed a musical event unlike any other in their lifetimes.
This landmark event offered four days of non-stop entertainment from over 200 global, regional, and local acts. A wide array of tastes were catered for from EDM to pop, local Arab sounds to house, techno and much more. It was a groundbreaking affair on a huge scale. The range of creative artists on offer, the gigantic stage designs, explosive pyrotechnics, lights and lasers all set a new benchmark. The stages included four main areas, BIG BEAST – the world’s tallest and largest stage which featured international headliners, as well as DANCE BEAST and UNDERGROUND.
MDLBEAST CEO, Ramadan Alharatani, commented: “SOUNDSTORM 21 is a beast that changed lives, built a whole new reality in the region and redefined electronic festivals! It exceeded the expectations of everyone, including us as organizers, along with the artists and fans. It has been a success on every level, having attracted a huge number of music lovers and provided them with a safe space to enjoy the highest standards of music entertainment. We are very proud.”
First up was the XP Music Conference which featured a large number of leading industry figures, regional and international, who addressed topics that are essential for the amplification and evolution of the region’s music industry. The live performances, panels, workshops, Q&As, keynotes, fishbowl discussions, and screenings were centered around four main pillars which are the building blocks of the development of the regional music industry: Talent, Scene, Policy, and Impact.
Over the course of the weekend, the world’s best EDM artists including Sebastian Ingrosso, Arab pop stars Elissa, Myriam Fares, Balqees, and fast-rising locals Dish Dash all served up fantastic sets to the diverse crowd made up of men and women of all ages. The third day saw Wael Kfoury, Tamer Honsy, and Armin Van Buuren all make explosive appearances while the standout set came from fan favorite David Guetta. The final day was all about Jason Derulo and electronic dance music phenomenon Steve Aoki as well as a diverse selection of international and regional artists that were tailored to every musical taste.
Said David Guetta of playing MDLBEAST SOUNDSTORM 21, “When I play here it has a special meaning, and it’s incredible to witness history in the making. I came to Saudi Arabia for the first time in 2018 to perform and the first ever mixed concert, and I didn’t even realize it. When I spoke to locals, and they said this is a history-making moment – it made the experience so much deeper than just performing at a festival. It’s unbelievable to see the dance music scene grow in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, and not only does it change the lives of people, but I believe that it can really change and unite the world.”
Global DJ Armin Van Buuren added, “I’m proud to perform in Saudi Arabia for the first time, and it’s incredible that so many people here love my music. I hope that together with events like MDLBEAST SOUNDSTORM 21 we can continue to spread the love for trance music and inspire more people to come to this spectacular festival in the future.”
With new attendance records set, and over 200 artists delivering a four days of nonstop world-class entertainment and breathtaking performances, MDLBEAST SOUNDSTORM 21 truly raised the bar in the Middle East.
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Armin van Buuren announces two-day ASOT LA festival for June 2027, marking the first two-day A State of Trance event in the U.S.
For more than 25 years, A State of Trance has grown from Armin van Buuren’s weekly radio show into a global trance platform. Its events now span Europe, Asia and the Americas. Armin van Buuren has now announced its next major chapter in Los Angeles. The city will host the first two-day A State of Trance festival in the United States on June 11 and 12, 2027. The event will bring ASOT back to California on a larger scale, with further festival details still to come.
A State Of Trance Expands In Los Angeles
Armin van Buuren shared the news on October 8 during ASOT LA Unfiltered, an intimate pop-up in Downtown Los Angeles. Organisers invited a small group of attendees to the previously unannounced event. There, Armin van Buuren played a two-hour set before revealing plans for the 2027 festival at ACE*MISSION Studios.
While A State of Trance has held events in California before, including editions in Oakland and Los Angeles, 2027 will mark a first. It will become the first two-day ASOT festival in the United States. The format follows the larger editions already established elsewhere and gives the U.S. event two full festival dates.
A State Of Trance Hotel Joins The Weekend
Alongside the shows at ACE*MISSION Studios, the Los Angeles weekend will also include an A State of Trance Hotel. Previous editions have offered activities around the main festival. These have included pool parties, pre-parties, dedicated hotel events and early access for guests.
A State of Trance has not yet confirmed the exact package or activities planned for Los Angeles. Registration for A State of Trance 2027 tickets and hotel packages is already open. Lineup and further ticket information will follow.
A State Of Trance Celebrates 25 Years
The Los Angeles festival forms part of A State of Trance’s 25th anniversary, adding another major edition to the celebrations. Armin van Buuren launched the weekly radio show in 2001. Over the following two decades, it expanded into compilations, international events and large-scale festivals while remaining closely tied to trance music.
In May 2026, Armin van Buuren released A State of Trance 2026, the 23rd annual installment in the compilation series. The album features three mixes titled Pulse, Frequency and Energy. Artists across the project include Argy, Andrew Bayer, Joris Voorn, Amy Wiles, Farius, KI/KI and Lilly Palmer. ‘Always You’ by Armin van Buuren, Richard Durand and Dicosis also became the official anthem for the 25-year celebrations.
The anniversary celebrations have also extended to Ibiza. A State of Trance began a five-date residency at [UNVRS] in September 2026, running every Monday from September 7 to October 5. Armin van Buuren plays a five-hour extended set on each date alongside invited artists and collaborators. The accompanying A State of Trance, Ibiza 2026 compilation features Andrew Bayer, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Matt Fax, Solarstone, MaRLo, BLR and Richard Durand.
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ASOT Continues Into 2027
Before attention turns to Los Angeles, A State of Trance will return to Rotterdam on February 26 and 27, 2027. The event continues the two-day format already established in the Netherlands. Registration for the next Rotterdam edition is already underway as the anniversary celebrations continue into another year.
Four months later, Los Angeles will become the next major stop on the ASOT calendar. Several important details, including the lineup and individual day schedules, have yet to be announced. More information about the A State of Trance Hotel will also follow. Those reveals will complete the picture before the first two-day U.S. ASOT festival begins at ACE*MISSION Studios on June 11 and 12, 2027.
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A State of Trance reveals first artists for Rotterdam 2027 with Armin van Buuren five-hour set, exclusive vinyl show and new b2b performances
A State of Trance has announced the first artists for its Rotterdam 2027 edition at Rotterdam Ahoy on February 26 and 27. Armin van Buuren will play a five-hour set on Friday. He will then appear twice on Saturday with a solo set and an exclusive vinyl performance. The announcement also includes Aly & Fila b2b John O’Callaghan, Key4050, Giuseppe Ottaviani & Hypaton and Vini Vici b2b Space 92. More artists will follow.
First Artists Announced for Rotterdam 2027
At the centre of Friday’s four-stage program is Armin van Buuren’s five-hour set.
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Aly & Fila b2b John O’Callaghan also brings three established trance names together for one of the biggest collaborations announced so far. Friday’s lineup includes Alex M.O.R.P.H., Ben Gold, Billy Gillies, Ciaran McAuley, Dash Berlin, David Forbes and Farius. Modeā, Ørjan Nilsen, Push and Richard Durand will also perform on February 26.
The following night expands to five areas and introduces several more combinations across Rotterdam Ahoy. Giuseppe Ottaviani & Hypaton, Key4050, NRG2000 b2b SUPERSTRINGS and Vini Vici b2b Space 92 are among Saturday’s first names. The lineup also includes BLR, Driftmoon, Enigma State, Factor B, Mark Sixma, Olly James, onTune and Ruben de Ronde. Sarah de Warren, Talla 2XLC, The Rocketman, XiJaro & Pitch and Youna complete the names announced so far. Ferry Corsten will also play a b2b set, with his partner still to be announced.
Before the main Saturday program begins, Armin van Buuren will play an exclusive vinyl set. Guests with official hotel packages and Early Access tickets will have access to the performance. He will then appear again later for his solo set. This separates the vinyl performance from the main five-area program and gives Saturday two different Armin van Buuren sets.
A State of Trance Marks 25 Years
The Rotterdam 2027 announcement follows the 25th anniversary of A State of Trance, which began as a radio show in 2001. The weekly broadcast now reaches millions of listeners across 84 countries. Over the years, A State of Trance has also hosted more than 100 events across five continents. Rotterdam remains the flagship destination for its large-scale event and brings its international trance community together over two nights.
The first artists announced for 2027 reflect that history while introducing several combinations created specifically for the weekend. Long-established names include Aly & Fila, John O’Callaghan, Ferry Corsten, Ørjan Nilsen and Richard Durand. Pairings such as Vini Vici b2b Space 92 and NRG2000 b2b SUPERSTRINGS add less familiar combinations to the two-day event.
More artists and program details are still to come, while day and weekend tickets are now available for A State of Trance Rotterdam 2027.
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Armin van Buuren releases new [UNVRS] documentary exploring dancefloor psychology, human connection and the impact of his five-hour A State of Trance sets
For 25 years, A State of Trance has brought people together through radio, events and dancefloors. That shared experience is now the focus of Armin van Buuren’s new 10-minute documentary, The Psychology of the Dancefloor. He created the film with psychotherapist Rachel Giddings during his debut residency at [UNVRS] in Ibiza. It asks why music can make strangers feel connected and why a crowd can create a sense of belonging. The documentary also looks at why some moments stay with people long after the night ends.
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Inside The Psychology of the Dancefloor
Filmed during Armin van Buuren’s five-hour sets at [UNVRS], The Psychology of the Dancefloor follows the crowd as each night develops. Psychotherapist Rachel Giddings joins him in examining how people react when thousands hear the same breakdown, build or climax together. Their conversations explore the emotional response behind those moments and how a room full of strangers can begin to feel connected through music.
Each Monday gives that experience several hours to develop, with Armin van Buuren playing five consecutive dates from September 7 to October 5. The extended sets allow him to guide the room through different parts of his sound while the documentary pays close attention to how the crowd responds along the way. Those reactions become part of the story as the night changes from one moment to the next.
Speaking about the film, Armin van Buuren says the people in front of him are where “the real magic happens.” He also questions why music can affect people so deeply and why strangers can suddenly feel part of something together. That perspective keeps the documentary grounded in the people experiencing the night and the emotions they take home with them.
25 Years of A State of Trance
The five-week residency also marks 25 years of A State of Trance, which first began as a radio show in 2001. It now reaches around 44 million listeners across more than 80 countries, while more than 100 A State of Trance events have taken place across five continents. What started through weekly broadcasts has grown into a global community that regularly comes together in person.
Celebrating that anniversary through five-hour sets in Ibiza gives Armin van Buuren time to revisit what A State of Trance has meant to people over the years. The Psychology of the Dancefloor adds a more personal layer to that anniversary by asking what people actually carry away from those nights. After 25 years of bringing listeners together, the film looks beyond the music itself and into the memories, emotions and connections that keep people coming back.
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