Dreamstate SoCal 2026: A New Era at the Queen Mary Waterfront

The trance community is gearing up for a massive milestone as Insomniac prepares to host the eleventh iteration of Dreamstate SoCal. Returning to the iconic Queen Mary Waterfront in Long Beach, California, on November 20 and 21, 2026, the festival is set to evolve significantly. This year, organizers are scaling up the production footprint to include four distinct stages, highlighted by the debut of the Long Beach Amphitheater and a dedicated Beatbox Art Car stage designed to showcase the best of the local trance underground.

Fresh Faces and Nostalgic Returns

The 2026 roster is defined by a bold mix of genre-bending debuts and legendary throwbacks. Among the most anticipated arrivals are three artists making their first-ever Dreamstate appearances: the Ukrainian melodic techno powerhouse ARTBAT, the master of driving techno Enrico Sangiuliano, and the rising Belgian sensation Pegassi, whose signature sound masterfully bridges the gap between Eurodance, hard-hitting techno, and classic trance.

Perhaps the most talked-about booking is the special appearance by Above & Beyond. Rather than a standard festival set, the trio will deliver an exclusive Anjunabeats Classics set. This performance serves as a sonic time capsule, specifically curated for fans who cut their teeth on the label’s seminal releases from the mid-2000s-a period that arguably defined the modern progressive trance soundscape.

A Deep Dive into the 2026 Talent Pool

With a total of over 70 acts scheduled across the two-day event, the depth of the lineup is staggering. The festival is leaning heavily into collaborative energy, featuring high-profile back-to-back sets that promise unique, one-off musical experiences. Attendees can look forward to joint performances from Ferry Corsten and Marsh, Alpha 9 paired with Ilan Bluestone, and the high-octane energy of Hannah Laing alongside Marie Vaunt. Furthermore, the legendary duo of Bryan Kearney and John O’Callaghan will return to perform as Key4050.

The bill is rounded out by a “who’s who” of the global trance scene, including stalwarts like Paul van Dyk, Infected Mushroom, Vini Vici, Astrix, and Solarstone. With the global electronic music market projected to continue its steady growth-reaching an estimated $10 billion valuation by 2027-festivals like Dreamstate remain vital hubs for both legacy acts and emerging producers to connect with a dedicated, global fanbase.

The Complete Dreamstate SoCal 2026 Lineup

The full A-Z roster for this year’s gathering is as follows:

4 Strings (Classics Set), A.N.I., Aaron Hibell (Live), Above & Beyond (Anjunabeats Classics), Ace Ventura, Allen Watts + Talla 2XLC, Alpha 9 + IlanBluestone, Aly & Fila + Billy Gillies, Andrew Rayel pres. Extasia, Andy Moor, Animato, ARTBAT, Astrix, Barakuda, BK, Bryan Kearney + John O’Callaghan pres. Key4050, BT + Matt FAX, Burn In Noise, Chris Metcalfe, Cold Blue, Darren Porter + Sean Tyas, Das Pharaoh, Dash Berlin, David Forbes + Mark Sherry pres. Thick As Thieves, David Rust + Olly James, Discovery Project, Eddie Halliwell + Judge Jules, Enrico Sangiuliano, Ferry Corsten + Marsh, Ferry Tayle + Tonks pres. Mirage (Live), Frankyeffe, Giorgia Angiuli, GMS, Hannah Laing + Marie Vaunt, Infected Mushroom, JOA, John 00 Fleming, John Askew + Simon Patterson, Karmå, Kaufmann (DE), Key4050, Lee Ann Roberts, Marco V, Maria Healy, Marlo, Matty Ralph, Mauro Picotto, Maximizer, Neelix, NRG2000, Nu Aspect, Panteros666, Paul Denton + Will Rees pres. Parallel Worlds, Paul van Dyk pres. The Essence of Acid, Pegassi, Perfect Stranger, Phaxe, Reinier Zonneveld (Live), Rising Dust, Schrotthagen, Sequence Six, Shay De Castro, Sighter, Solarstone, Steve Dekay, Terra, TH;EN, The Rocketman, Vini Vici, Vision