Armin van Buuren took the stage at the Winter Music Conference 2026 in Miami on March 25.

During the session, he joined Stephen Campbell and Tim Sweeney for a keynote discussion.

Together, they explored the future of electronic dance music and shared insights on where the scene is heading.

During the session, he shared a personal story about his career. He revealed that in 2011, he nearly stepped away from music altogether.

This moment stands out because his career looked strong from the outside.

By that time, he had already built a global presence through trance releases, radio shows, and international tours.

However, the challenge did not come from visibility or success. It came from a growing disconnect in how he experienced music itself.

When reflecting on that period, he explained that the issue came from within his creative process.

Over time, repetition and routine began to change how he felt about making music.

Even though his career remained stable, the emotional connection that once drove him started to fade.

His schedule also played a role. Continuous touring, radio commitments, and production work left little space to pause or explore new ideas.

As a result, creative freedom became limited. In addition, trance as a genre faced changing perceptions within the wider electronic scene.

He noted that the genre no longer carried the same stigma, showing that its image had begun to shift.

This mix of internal distance and external pressure created a moment where continuing was no longer automatic.

What brought him back was a change in perspective.

Read more: Armin van Buuren Plans ASOT Festival US Debut

Armin van Buuren Rebuild His Connection to Music

He recognized that he had lost his connection to the music, and that realization became the turning point.

Once he rebuilt that connection, he chose to continue.

This decision did not come from industry demands, but from a renewed sense of purpose within the music itself.

That reconnection also shaped his long-term path.

A State Of Trance continued to grow beyond radio into large-scale events and global stages.

While his presence across festivals remained consistent, the foundation behind it changed. He no longer relied on routine alone.

Instead, he focused on maintaining a direct connection to the sound and emotion that define trance.

This moment still matters in the wider electronic music landscape. It shows that success alone does not guarantee longevity.

Even at the highest level, artists must stay connected to their craft.

In his case, the question was not whether he could continue, but whether the music still held meaning.

Looking at his career today, that turning point did not interrupt his journey.

Rather, it reshaped it.

His continued presence across global stages reflects a clearer sense of direction, where the relationship with music remains the core reason to move forward.

The post Armin van Buuren Almost Quit Music in 2011, What Happened? first appeared on Rave Colony.

Armin van Buuren has confirmed that he is working on bringing a US edition of the A State of Trance Festival.

He shared the update during a backstage conversation with DJ Mag at Ultra Music Festival 2026.

The plan reflects a long-term goal to expand the brand beyond its established European base.

He explained that he does not want to create a single-stage showcase.

Instead, he aims to introduce a full festival format that reflects the identity and vision of A State of Trance.

He sees the event as a dedicated space where trance fans can connect and feel at home.

Earlier this year, Armin hosted an A State of Trance stage takeover at Ultra’s Worldwide Stage.

The lineup included Marlon Hoffstadt and Lily Palmer. However, he has not yet brought the full multi-stage festival concept to North America.

It is like the one held annually in Rotterdam

Looking ahead, he wants the US edition to reflect the same diversity.

Read more: Armin van Buuren Kicks Off 2026 With “Sun Shines On Me”

Armin van Buuren Shared His Vision

The Rotterdam event features multiple areas, each focusing on different sounds.

Some spaces highlight psytrance, while others focus on classics or newer styles.

This format allows the festival to cover a wide spectrum of the genre.

He also pointed out that trance has expanded beyond its original boundaries.

Its influence now appears across melodic techno, hard techno, and other evolving styles.

Artists such as Hannah Laing, Marlon Hoffstadt, Eli Brown, and Anyma reflect this shift.

Even with this evolution, Armin continues to emphasize melody and emotion as the core of the brand.

He had already hinted at this plan in 2024 during an episode of his A State of Trance radio show.

At the time, he discussed the idea while speaking with Pasquale Rotella, signaling early efforts to bring the concept to the US.

The post Armin van Buuren Plans ASOT Festival US Debut first appeared on Rave Colony.

For over two decades, Armin van Buuren has played a key role in shaping the global trance scene.

Back in 2001, A State of Trance began as a small radio show with a modest reach.

At the time, it was simply a platform to share music and connect with a niche audience.

Over the years, it continued to grow.

Gradually, it evolved into a global movement that now brings together millions of listeners under the #TranceFamily.

Now, fans begin to gather at Rotterdam Ahoy for the 2026 celebration.

The moment carries a sense of scale, as the community comes together to mark a major milestone.

In the middle of it all, Armin van Buuren introduces a special release.

Read more: ASOT 2026: Armin van Buuren and Deep Dish B2B

He presents A State of Trance: 25 Years – Official Anthem Collection as a way to capture and celebrate that journey.

The project serves as a retrospective, bringing together key anthems that have defined each era of the radio show over the past 25 years.

This year’s theme, Tranceformation, reflects the ongoing evolution of the genre.

Alongside it, the anthem “Always You” represents the current chapter while connecting to the legacy behind it.

Through this collection, listeners can trace how the sound has developed while still holding onto its core identity.

Following the event in Rotterdam, the release also sets the stage for a wider global tour.

Upcoming stops include Poland on June 20 and Vietnam on June 13, where these anthems will reach new audiences in large-scale settings.

The A State of Trance: 25 Years – Official Anthem Collection is now available across major streaming platforms through Armada Music and its imprint Armind.

The post Armin van Buuren Releases ASOT 25 Anthem Collection first appeared on Rave Colony.

A State of Trance 2026 (ASOT 2026) has revealed a major highlight following the announcement of its full 2026 lineup.

To mark its 25th anniversary, the event welcomes Deep Dish for a truly special collaboration.

The legendary duo will step on stage alongside Armin van Buuren on Friday, February 27, during his five-hour set.

Notably, this moment will mark the first-ever back-to-back performance between Armin and Deep Dish.

Meanwhile, the countdown to the anniversary celebration is already underway.

Read more: Armin van Buuren Kicks Off 2026 With “Sun Shines On Me”

Surprire Lineup from ASOT 2026

In just one month, A State of Trance will celebrate 25 years in Rotterdam.

Among the most anticipated moments of this milestone edition is a collaboration fans have dreamed about for years.

Armin van Buuren and Deep Dish will finally share the stage in a back-to-back set.

For many in the trance community, it feels like a long-awaited moment coming to life.

For anyone hoping to witness this rare performance in person, now is the moment to make a move.

Weekend passes are already close to selling out.

At the same time, tickets for both Friday and Saturday are disappearing fast.

This year’s celebration takes place on February 27 and 28, 2026, and reflects how far A State of Trance has come.

What started as a radio show, followed by a small gathering to celebrate its 100th episode, has evolved into a global movement.

Over time, the audience has grown into a close-knit community that feels more like a family.

Now, that family gathers once again. This edition is shaping up to be one of the most memorable so far.

For two full days, pure trance energy will fill the space, creating shared moments and lasting memories on the dance floor.

The post ASOT 2026: Armin van Buuren and Deep Dish B2B first appeared on Rave Colony.

Armin van Buuren has joined forces with Lilly Palmer for a brand-new collaborative EP.

The two-track release, Ayi Giri / Dopamine Machine, arrives after their surprise back-to-back set at Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) last year.

The project continues the strong creative chemistry the pair have built on stage.

In her remarks to Beatportal, Palmer reflected on her journey with Armada.

She described the experience as both intense and exciting.

She pointed to several key milestones along the way.

These included signing to the label, releasing her “Blah Blah Blah” remix, and performing multiple B2B sets.

Together, she said, those moments shaped a fast-moving and memorable chapter in her career.

She went on to say that the shared momentum between them naturally led to something bigger.

In her view, turning that energy into a joint EP felt especially meaningful.

Read more: Armin van Buuren Kicks Off 2026 With “Sun Shines On Me”

The moment carried even more weight because “Ayi Giri” will also appear on her upcoming album.

For her, that connection made the release feel more personal and significant.

Meanwhile, van Buuren has maintained a busy release schedule.

The Dutch trance star Armin van Buuren continues to keep his momentum strong.

After topping last year’s DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll, he recently unveiled his first single of the year.

The track, Sun Shines On Me, arrived via Armada Music and adds another bright entry to his catalog.

The release also features vocals from masked act Glockenbach, bringing an extra layer of intrigue to the production.

In addition, he expanded his catalog last year with his debut acoustic album, Piano.

Palmer also reached a major milestone of her own, entering DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs poll for the first time and securing the No. 57 position.

The post Armin van Buuren and Lilly Palmer Drop New EP first appeared on Rave Colony.

Armin van Buuren starts the new year with strong momentum through the release of his latest single, Sun Shines On Me.

This track marks a fresh collaboration with the mysterious German producer Glockenbach and arrives via Armada Music.

From the first listen, the song highlights a smooth balance between Glockenbach’s electro-pop touch and Armin’s signature trance-driven energy.

Moreover, this release continues Armin’s productive run from 2025.

Last year marked a period of exploration for Armin van Buuren.

He pushed into new creative territory with his album Breathe.

At the same time, he revealed a more intimate side through a piano-driven project simply titled Piano.

With Sun Shines On Me, Armin brings together the ideas he explored in his recent projects.

The sound feels fresh and modern, yet still familiar to longtime fans.

Through this balance, he once again shows how he can evolve while staying true to his core identity.

At the same time, the track lands during an important phase in his career.

Read more: Bobby Suryadi Explores New Depths on Divine Femininity

Next Plan for Armin van Buuren

Armin is preparing for a major year ahead, including the 25th-anniversary celebration of A State of Trance (ASOT), scheduled for February.

During a recent ASOT episode, he shared that he plans to release even more music throughout the year, signaling that this single is only the beginning.

In addition, January is already shaping up to be a busy month for fans eager to see him live.

Armin is set to perform at Marquee Singapore on January 16, followed by an appearance at EDC Thailand on January 18.

As Sun Shines On Me continues to rise on the dance charts, its momentum speaks for itself.

The track highlights Armin van Buuren’s strength as a collaborator and his willingness to adapt to new sounds.

More importantly, it shows that his relevance in the global electronic music scene remains as strong as ever.

The post Armin van Buuren Kicks Off 2026 With “Sun Shines On Me” first appeared on Rave Colony.