After a full decade of Trance euphoria, Insomniac’s Dreamstate SoCal finalizes yet another successful edition. Taking place at the Queen Mary Waterfront in Long Beach for the third year in a row, on November 21 and 22, Trance and Techno were alive and well once again. From the classics to new, futuristic yet timeless sounds, Dreamstate SoCal is one of the biggest celebrations of Trance music in the US. As we usually do, we’re here to highlight our favorite moments of the weekend.
Production
Dreamstate SoCal has some of the best production for Insomniac. Given that it is a smaller venue, they can focus on delivering high-quality sounds and visuals on all four stages and an Art Car. From returning vendors, and a wide variety of high-quality food options, dreamers were in search of dusk and dawn. Our favorite design this year was the Vision, with screens that were aligned behind one another; the visuals had dimension and perspective, amplifying the excitement through each set.
In terms of logistics, the festival remains similar to past years. Free shuttles run from Downtown Long Beach to and from the festival all day, including the Afterparties, which go til 6 am. Of course, in later hours of the night, the festival reached its busiest, which made changing stages a bit slower. Nonetheless, there were no significant issues this year, and the festival ran smoothly. Ground control and the Med Tent had easy access all around the festival, keeping attendees safe, and cleaning personnel made sure the venue remained in pristine conditions throughout the weekend.
The Music
As always, we can count on Dreamstate to bring out Trance’s heavyweights. From legendary sets to fresh sounds and high-intensity frequencies, each artist brought something unique and joyful. Psytrance continues to deliver fantastic moments, with sets from Vini Vici, Ritmo, Freedom Fighters, Blazy, Giorgia Angiuli, Mandragora, and more. Special classic sets included Chicane, Jeffrey Sutorius, Fish56Octagon, and Ferry Corsten. Furthermore, artists brought out some of their special sets, such as Gareth Emery Presents Cyberpunk and Ben Nicky Presents Emotional Havoc. Of course, we can’t forget about the moment of the year, Tiësto’s return to Trance, closing out the main stage with a blend of timeless classics and updated tracks that bring new influences to the genre. And, shoutout to Sequence Six for a gorgeous and heartpounding set at the Beatbox Artcar Saturday night.
Dreamstate has opened its doors to other genres such as Hard Techno, Melodic, and Progressive House, and a few other subgenres. In this case, artists that captivated us this year included Lilly Palmer, Novah, Miss Monique, Eli & Fur, Argy dropping a Psytrance version of his hit ‘Aria’, and Shingo Nakamura. Furthermore, Trance Wax made his way to the Mainstage for a celestial early set after not being able to perform last year.
The Vibes
Naturally, Dreamstate’s crowd is by far one of the most musically and emotionally mature crowds in the US. From respectful and caring individuals to highly energetic shufflers, dreamers are Insomniac’s pride and glory. We will never grow tired of returning to this festival as long as the positive energy and the responsible fun keep going.
It all felt like a dream we did not want to wake up from, so we’re already counting the days to our return to Dreamstate SoCal. Presale for 2026 starts Wednesday. For more information check here.
And in more exciting news, Queen Mary Waterfront is getting a re-up with a brand new amphitheater. Although we do not know how this will affect Insomniac events such as Dreamstate, Apocalypse, and Daytrip, we sure hope it is for the best.
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