Armin van Buuren Could Finally Bring A State of Trance Festival to the USA

For U.S. trance fans, this is the kind of update that immediately gets your attention. Armin van Buuren has confirmed that he is actively working on bringing A State of Trance Festival to the United States, and the way he described it makes this feel much bigger than a one-off stage hosting or branded showcase. Speaking backstage at Ultra Music Festival 2026, Armin said the goal is to create a real home for trance fans in the U.S. While ASOT does touch down in Miami during Ultra, it’s only one day on a relatively small stage.

That distinction is important. American fans have seen A State of Trance represented in many ways over the years, whether through radio, label support, curated lineups, or special festival takeovers. But Armin’s latest comments suggest he wants something more complete: a full festival experience carrying the ASOT identity, not just a single stage tucked inside a larger event. DJ Mag’s report also noted that this year’s Ultra ASOT programming featured artists including Marlon Hoffstadt and Lily Palmer, which shows the brand continues to stretch beyond a narrow definition of trance while still staying connected to its roots.

For longtime fans, that is probably the most exciting part of this story. A State of Trance has evolved into more than a radio brand or a legacy trance banner. It now reflects a wider spectrum of melodic electronic music, while still protecting the emotional core that made trance so powerful in the first place. That broader vision is visible on the official ASOT festival platform, which currently lists events tied to Rotterdam, UNVRS, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Poland, showing that the brand is already operating as a global festival property rather than a single annual gathering.

This also is not the first time Armin has opened the door to the idea. In October 2024, DJ Mag reported that he had already teased a North American edition during an episode of his A State of Trance radio show, where he spoke with Insomniac founder Pasquale Rotella. At the time, it felt like an exciting possibility. Now, with Armin revisiting the idea publicly at Ultra in March 2026, it feels much closer to a genuine next step, even though there is still no confirmed U.S. city, venue, or launch date.

If this festival finally lands in the United States, it could become a major moment for trance culture here. The American market has always had loyal trance audiences, but the scene has often been spread across club dates, side-stage appearances, and selective festival bookings. A proper A State of Trance Festival would give the genre a central meeting point in the U.S., led by one of its most influential ambassadors and backed by a brand that already has real international scale. That last point is an inference from ASOT’s current global rollout and Armin’s stated ambition, but it is exactly why this announcement feels more meaningful than a normal festival rumor.

For now, fans will have to wait for official details. But after years of hoping, teasing, and wondering whether ASOT would ever make the jump in a serious way, Armin has finally said it plainly: he wants the full festival in America. And for trance lovers in the U.S., that is more than enough reason to start paying close attention.