From July 15 to 22, the shores of Lake Montargil in Portugal’s Portalegre nature reserve will host the anniversary edition of ZNA Gathering, an event widely regarded within the trance community as the mecca of old-school Goa trance.

It is essentially the world’s only major non-commercial festival dedicated entirely to the trance sound of the 1990s. Every two years, artists who helped shape the genre gather here — many of whom rarely, if ever, perform elsewhere. That is precisely why ZNA has become a pilgrimage site for multiple generations, bringing together scene veterans and those born long after its golden era on the same dancefloor.

The format is deliberately intimate, with attendance capped at 5,000 people. The organizers have consciously chosen atmosphere over growth, and regular attendees have even earned their own nickname: the Zambu Warriors. The location reinforces that philosophy. The festival takes place beneath centuries-old pine and cork oak trees, while the lake offers the chance to swim between sets — a welcome refuge in the heat of a Portuguese July.

Beyond the main Zambu Temple stage, the site features a chillout area on a peninsula, daytime workshops, yoga sessions, art installations, a dedicated children’s space, and even the Kosmicare psychological support service.

Reviews from previous editions tend to agree on two points: the sound system ranks among the best on the European festival circuit, and the lineup is truly unique. The most common complaints concern the condition of sanitary facilities toward the end of the week and the mandatory reusable cup system. Judging by how quickly tickets sell out long before the festival begins, however, neither seems to discourage many people.