Global trance institution A State of Trance (ASOT) opened its 25th anniversary weekend in Rotterdam with 20,000 fans filling the venue on Friday, marking a monumental start to the milestone celebration.
The opening night featured a carefully curated line-up reflecting both the legacy and future of trance. Highlights included a special 25 Years Celebration set by Armin van Buuren, an exclusive Armin van Buuren F2F Funk Tribu performance, Ruben de Ronde, Ferry Corsten, SUPERSTRINGS, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Mauro Picotto, Will Atkinson and Matty Ralph. Together they delivered a powerful tribute to 25 years of the ASOT sound.
Armin’s five-hour headline set became the emotional core of the evening, taking fans on a musical journey through a quarter century of trance. During the set, he also announced his return to Ibiza this summer with a brand-new A State of Trance residency at UNVRS. As part of the 25 Years of ASOT celebrations, he revealed that he will perform five extended five-hour sets throughout the residency, once again deep diving into the sound and history of A State of Trance, adding another major chapter to the anniversary year.
Today expands the experience with a daytime programme including Shaping A State of Trance with Armin van Buuren, Inside the OTTAGON, Drop Your Track, and A State of Mind with Armin van Buuren. The night line-up bridges generations across the trance spectrum, featuring Armin van Buuren b3b Oliver Heldens and Maddix, alongside Laura van Dam, Ottagon, Cosmic Gate and rising names including Olivia Lensen, Newtone, DART b2b Inafekt and Tjade.
Reflecting on the weekend, Armin shared: “Celebrating 25 years of A State of Trance together with fans from all over the world is beyond anything I could have imagined when we started this journey. Seeing multiple generations unite on the dance floor, honoring the roots of trance while embracing what’s next, makes me incredibly proud. And announcing our ASOT residency at UNVRS Ibiza during this milestone weekend made it even more special.”
What started 25 years ago as a radio show has evolved into a worldwide movement, connecting millions of listeners and eventgoers across the globe. This anniversary edition celebrated ASOT’s legacy while confidently setting the tone for the next era of trance, further cementing its status as one of electronic music’s most influential brands.
With the final night still to come, the 25-year milestone of A State of Trance has already secured its place as a landmark moment in the genre’s history.
