Marking its tenth year in SoCal, Dreamstate 2025 will be taking over the Queen Mary’s event space on Nov. 22 and 23. With it, it transforms Long Beach’s south shore into a euphoric, multi-stage haven of BPM bliss. From 4PM to midnight each night, the iconic all-trance festival from Insomniac will bring together legends, rising stars, and genre-bending visionaries across progressive, psytrance, uplifting, and tech trance.
And yes, tickets are now on sale—but there’s a much bigger surprise. The trance titan himself Tiësto will be performing a rare all-trance set. And this is amongst other legends like Ferry Corsten, Gareth Emery, Paul Oakenfold, and Giuseppe Ottaviani, who share the bill with psy-warriors like Astrix and Burn in Noise.
Dreamstate in Long Beach is a testament to the resilience and reinvention of a genre that refuses to fade, and a city that knows how to host a damn good party under the stars.
Dreamstate 2025 marks the festival’s 10th year in SoCal.
Dreamstate, Insomniac Events’ all-trance festival, was launched in 2015 as a love letter to the genre that helped define early rave culture in the U.S. Born from a desire to create a sanctuary for fans of uplifting melodies, ethereal breakdowns, and BPM-centric journeys, the inaugural Dreamstate took place at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino. And with it, immediately established itself as a pilgrimage site for trance loyalists. The lineup was filled with icons like Armin van Buuren and Paul van Dyk. Or Aly & Fila, and, yes, Tiësto. And each set the tone. This wasn’t just a festival; it was a revival.
Over the years, Dreamstate expanded its presence globally, with iterations in Mexico, Poland, the UK, and Australia. But it was the Southern California flagship event that remained the crown jewel. As the trance community evolved—with subgenres like psytrance, tech trance, progressive, and even trance-influenced techno gaining ground—Dreamstate adapted without losing its identity, embracing both legacy acts and next-gen producers.
In 2024, Dreamstate made its Long Beach debut, shifting from San Bernardino to the Queen Mary Waterfront. The decision was more than logistical; it signaled a reimagining. Long Beach offered not only a more scenic, oceanfront setting but also deeper integration into SoCal’s broader cultural and nightlife ecosystem. The industrial-meets-nautical backdrop of the Queen Mary, with its Art Deco ghostship grandeur, proved the perfect stage for trance’s futuristic romanticism.
Artists worth highlighting at this year’s festival.
Tiësto (Trance Set)
Tiësto is arguably the most globally recognized name in electronic music. Though he’s shifted genres over the years, his trance roots are legendary—albums like “In My Memory” and tracks like “Adagio for Strings” helped define the genre’s golden era. A dedicated trance set from Tiësto is extremely rare and highly anticipated by longtime fans.
Paul van Dyk
A pillar of the trance scene since the ’90s, PvD was one of the first DJs to gain international stardom. Albums like “Out There and Back” and “Reflections” shaped trance into an emotional, euphoric genre, and he’s remained fiercely committed to its underground integrity.
Ferry Corsten
A versatile trance pioneer, Ferry Corsten helped shape both uplifting and tech-trance sounds under various aliases (System F, Gouryella). He’s respected for his productions and long-running radio show, Corsten’s Countdown.
Gareth Emery (presenting CYBERPUNK)
Known for anthems like “Concrete Angel” and his “Laserface” shows, Emery brings emotional depth and polished production to trance. His “Cyberpunk” alias leans into futuristic and tech-influenced styles.
Aly & Fila
Egyptian duo Aly & Fila are torchbearers for uplifting trance, continuing the sound popularized by legends like Paul van Dyk and Armin van Buuren. Their “Future Sound of Egypt” label and radio show are institutions in the global trance scene.
Giuseppe Ottaviani
One of trance’s most technically skilled live performers, Ottaviani is known for producing and performing tracks entirely live on stage. His music is a staple in uplifting and melodic trance sets worldwide.
John O’Callaghan
With tracks like “Big Sky” and “Find Yourself”, JOC helped redefine trance’s vocal and emotional core in the 2000s. His Subculture label remains highly influential.
Astrix
Astrix is one of the most iconic names in psytrance, bridging that scene with more traditional trance audiences. His high-energy sets and Israeli trance roots give him global cult status.
Ben Nicky (presenting Emotional Havoc)
Known for his energetic mashups and genre-hopping sets, Ben Nicky’s “Emotional Havoc” brand focuses on emotional, melodic, and hard-hitting trance with mainstream appeal.
Vini Vici
A dominant force in psytrance, Vini Vici have become crossover stars, playing festivals from Tomorrowland to Ultra. Their big-room psy hybrid sound has opened the genre to wider audiences.
