Top 10: Trance Festivals in Europe

James Kilpin
15 Aug 2018
First Published 2 Aug 2017

There was a time when trance music reigned supreme. It was the unmistakeable sound of Ibiza, and it found its way into charts and onto radios across Europe.

That might not be the case now, but with the likes of Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Markus Schulz and Ferry Corsten still commanding respect in the upper echelons of dance music, and psytrance festivals ploughing an altogether more understated but no less popular furrow, the scene is in a very strong position to this day.

Stylistically diverse in its sound, aesthetic and fanbase, it's not easy to combine all facets of the genre in one place, but here's our pick of the best European festivals that should cover all bases for trance fans across the continent.

A State of Trance Festival

Headliners (2019): Armin van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Cosmic Gate, Vini Vici, Astric

A festival brought to you by trance veteran and scene icon Armin Van Buuren, taking its name from the legendary radio show that has since become a global event brand. Few individuals are so intrinsically linked with the scene, and the ASOT name has become a beacon for showcasing the best that the genre has to offer.

When & where: 23 February 2019; Utrecht, The Netherlands

A State of Trance Festival Utrecht 2020 Guide & Waiting List

Luminosity Beach Festival

Headliners (2018): Paul van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, Markus Schulz, Purple Haze

Held in Beachclub Fuel on the sands of Dutch seaside town Zandvoort, Luminosity Beach Festival's lineup is consistently one of the best anywhere in Europe. Despite the huge names, however, the festival's comparatively small setting makes it an incredibly intimate experience.

When & where: 27 June - 30 June 2019; Zandvoort, The Netherlands

OZORA Festival

Headliners (2018): Cosmo, Kala, Ace Ventura

Born out of a party to celebrate the solar eclipse of 1999, Hungarian psytrance gathering OZORA has become one of the biggest and most popular of its kind anywhere in the world. Held over seven days, the festival creates a haven for like-minded individuals looking to share in unforgettable experiences.

When & where: 2019 Date TBA; Dádpuszta, Hungary

Festicket Guide / 2019 Waiting List

Transmission

Headliners (2018): Aly & Fila, Markus Schulz, Ferry Corsten

Transmission is one of the world's biggest trance festivals in nearly every way. Renowned for filling Prague's vast O2 Arena with incredible light shows, spectacular staging and the huge sounds of the scene's leading lights, the festival is a must for any trance fan. Such is the popularity of the European edition, it has now spawned satellite events in Thailand and Australia.

When & where: 12 October 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Transmisson 2019 Festicket Guide / Book Transmission 2019

Electronic Family

Headliners (2019): Above & Beyond, Ferry Corsten Presents: System F, Ilan Bluestone, Andrew Bayer

Calling themselves 'the global trance community' and 'the biggest outdoor trance festival', Dutch festival Electronic Family have got all avenues covered when it comes to the genre. With stages dedicated to trance classics, psy, progressive, "Who's Afraid of 138?" and more, the two day affair is a comprehensive celebration of trance music in all its forms.

When & where: 25 July 2020; Den Bosch, The Netherlands

Electronic Family 2020 Festicket Guide & Waiting List

Psychedelic Circus Open Air

Headliners (2019): Ace Ventura, Neelix, Astrix

As the name suggests, Psychedelic Circus is an open air celebration of trance music's most psychedelic elements, featuring performers from across the globe and the culture's unmistakable aesthetic – think lasers, lighting and eye-catching decoration.

When & where: 14-17 May 2020; Glasin, Germany

Psychedelic Circus Open Air Festival 2020 Festicket Guide & Waiting List

New Horizons

Headliners (2019): Martin Garrix, Major Lazer, Dimitri Vegs & Like Mike, Don Diablo, Alison Wonderland, Vini Vici

New Horizons seeks to offer the experience of seven different festivals in once place, with dedicated areas created specifically for the genre on display. Trancetonia and the Garden of Goa are two of these areas, with each offering a hugely impressive lineup packed with the respective scene's biggest names.

When & where: 24-25 August 2018; Nürburg, Germany

New Horizons Festival 2020 Festicket Guide & Waiting List

Tomorrowland

Trance Acts (2018): Vini Vici, Ferry Corsten, Netsky, Aly & Fila

Obviously there's a whole lot more going on at Tomorrowland than just trance, with stages and areas for most conceivable dance music genres. But amongst all that, there's no shortage of big names from the scene, with Armin's iconic A State of Trance brand hosting its very own stage in 2017.

When & where: 2019 Date TBA; Boom, Belgium

Tomorrowland Mailing List

Indian Spirit

Headliners (2019): Astrix, Ace Ventura, Neelix, Vini Vici

Another festival from the team behind Psychedelic Circus, Indian Spirit is a similarly unapologetic celebration of all things psy and goa, with a lineup that boasts some of the scene's biggest names.

When & where: 29 August - 3 September 2019; Eldena, Germany

Indian Spirit 2020 Festicket Guide

Insane Festival

Headliners (2019): I Hate Models, Vini Vici, Asian Dub Foundation, Marcel Dettmann

Although not dedicated entirely to trance, with stages for techno, bass music and hardstyle, Toulouse's Insane Festival is organised in conjunction with World Trance, who each year host their own stage at the festival. This means a serious helping of trance music is more-or-less guaranteed.

When & where: 10-11 August 2019, Toulouse, France

Insane Festival 2020 Festicket Guide & Waiting List