The global dance scene is kicking into high gear as a string of major releases hits the airwaves ahead of the 2026 festival season. Topping the momentum is Armin van Buuren, who dominates this week’s headlines with multiple new tracks across ARMADA and ASOT, signalling another high-intensity year for trance and mainstage electronic music.
The Dutch icon re-ignites his Rising Star alias with “Sonic Samba (Rising Star Remix)” on Armind, an uplifting rework already circulating heavily across pre-save charts. He follows it with “Lost In Time”, a melodic collaboration with Alle Farben featuring vocals from Ava Silver, adding a more radio-leaning dimension to his release streak.
One of the most anticipated drops is the official ASOT 2026 Anthem, “Always You”, produced jointly with Richard Durand and Dicosis. Early reactions highlight a classic ASOT feel fused with a modern festival punch — a likely future staple of mainstage sets next year.
Armin further expands his 2026 footprint with “2 KN” alongside rising star Hannah Laing, a tech-driven weapon aimed at late-night sets, and the high-impact “Mouth Go Lala” with Maddix and Caroline Roxy, pushing the harder, rave-focused edge of his recent sound.
Beyond Armada’s dominance, this week’s releases also spotlight key crossover moments in dance music. Hi-Gate’s classic “Pitchin’ (In Every Direction)” receives a pounding 2026 upgrade courtesy of Trance Wax, with an additional Shugz Edit energizing the harder trance community.
Meanwhile, Fred again.., Skepta and PlaqueBoyMax return to the spotlight as their track “Victory Lap” gets a peak-time melodic techno overhaul from Adam Sellouk and UN:COMN, released on Lost Language — a pairing that has already sent shockwaves through DJ forums.
Classic meets contemporary once again with the revival of “Xplode”, reimagined by Yoel Lewis & Graham Bell with an additional Andrew Rayel rework, bringing one of the millennium’s most recognizable hard-dance hooks back to festival relevance.
Techno titan Adam Beyer contributes to the week’s surge with “Close Your Eyes” on Drumcode, a hypnotic, rolling release that reinforces his position at the top of the global techno hierarchy.
Rounding out the list is a high-energy house cut from SIDEPIECE & Westend titled “Take Your Places”, released via Lip Service — already picked up by club DJs for its catchy vocal hooks and floor-commanding bassline.
With trance, techno, house and mainstage all firing simultaneously, this flurry of releases marks one of the strongest weeks in early 2026 dance music. Pre-saves are climbing rapidly, festival rumours are beginning, and the new season is shaping up to be both nostalgic and forward-thinking in equal measure.