Last Friday night, the Junkyard kicked off its 2026 season with a bang. Armin van Buuren transformed the industrial outdoor venue into a sea of emotion, energy, and connection. For two hours, the crowd was fully locked into a state of trance.
Located just outside downtown Denver, the Junkyard’s gritty warehouse atmosphere is reminiscent of the Infinity Room stage at Factory Town in Miami. It blends raw industrial aesthetics with massive-scale production. With a capacity of around 12,000 people, the venue filled slowly as fans arrived early to secure parking and watch the opening DJs that started at 5:00 pm. Because of its location, there isn’t a lot of parking around the venue. Nearby businesses were charging between $20 and $30 per vehicle.
By the time Armin took the stage at 8:00 pm, the crowd was ready for the journey they were about to embark on. Even with the venue nearing capacity, the layout never felt overwhelming. There was still room to dance and move freely through the crowd. Bars and restrooms were easy to access throughout the night. Drink options were limited and priced on the higher side.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Armin emerged surrounded by his massive Orb stage production. He stood in his iconic pose, with his arms held out at his sides while the intro played. What makes trance special is its ability to make thousands of strangers feel connected. Armin understands that better than almost anyone. He carefully built up the set, letting euphoric melodies wash over the crowd before unleashing heavier drops and driving rhythms.
No Armin set would be complete without “In and Out of Love,” one of the greatest trance songs of all time. Phones lit up the sky while fans wrapped their arms around friends and shouted every lyric back at the stage. It was one of those moments that reminded everyone why trance continues to resonate so deeply after all these years. It’s music that makes people feel something.
As the set pushed toward its 10:00 pm finale, Armin shifted gears into darker, faster territory. The final ten minutes delivered pounding techno energy mixed with some psytrance. Here is where crowd favorites “Great Spirit” and “Blah Blah Blah” were found. He closed the night with “This Is What It Feels Like,” sending the crowd home in a wave of euphoria.
The next day, Armin posted on Instagram, “Denver you never disappoint.” After a performance like that, it’s safe to say the feeling was mutual. There’s a reason Armin van Buuren has remained one of the most respected names in dance music for nearly three decades; few artists can create moments like that.
This performance was one of the many 25th anniversary celebrations for A State of Trance, the iconic radio show that evolved into a global movement connecting millions of trance fans around the world. Keep up with everything Armin has planned by using the links below.
