There are milestones, and then there are monuments. When Above & Beyond announced ABGT700 — the 700th episode of their genre-defining Group Therapy radio show — the trance community didn't just take notice. It collectively held its breath. Slated for September 2026 at one of the most visually staggering concert venues on the planet, this isn't just another anniversary broadcast. It's a pilgrimage to the edge of a canyon with 25,000 of your closest friends, sound ricocheting off ancient basalt walls while the Columbia River catches the last light of a Pacific Northwest sunset. If you've been waiting for a reason to make the trek to the Gorge, this is it.
Above & Beyond: ABGT700 Dates and Venue
ABGT700 is confirmed for September 11-13, 2026, spanning a full weekend at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington. That three-day window marks a significant expansion from previous milestone shows, which have historically been single-night affairs. The extended format suggests Above & Beyond are treating this as the definitive Group Therapy experience, with room for deeper programming, surprise guests, and a more immersive arc than a single evening could contain.
The Gorge Amphitheatre needs no introduction to anyone who follows live music, but it deserves one anyway. Carved into the cliffs overlooking the Columbia River Gorge in eastern Washington state, the venue seats roughly 27,500 and offers what many consider the most dramatic natural backdrop of any concert venue in North America. The stage faces west, meaning sunset performances unfold against a panorama of layered canyon walls, river bends, and sky that shifts from gold to violet in real time.
For ABGT events, this setting takes on an almost spiritual quality. The Group Therapy ethos has always leaned into communal emotion — hands raised, eyes closed, the space between drops filled with something that feels genuinely sacred to the people in the crowd. Place that energy at the edge of a gorge with the wind sweeping through, and you begin to understand why this venue was chosen for the 700th milestone rather than a stadium or arena.
A Note on the Setting
George, Washington is remote by design. The town itself is tiny, sitting about 150 miles east of Seattle along Interstate 90. The surrounding landscape is high desert — sagebrush, dry grass, wide-open sky. Temperatures in mid-September can swing dramatically, from warm and sunny during the day to genuinely cold after dark when the canyon wind picks up. This is important logistical context that should shape your packing list, your travel plans, and your expectations. The beauty is real, but so is the exposure.
Above & Beyond: ABGT700 Lineup Highlights
As of this writing, the full Above & Beyond: ABGT700 lineup has not been officially released, but we can make educated projections based on the Anjuna ecosystem and precedent from previous milestone shows. ABGT500 at the Banc of California Stadium and ABGT600 drew heavily from the Anjunabeats and Anjunadeep rosters, and ABGT700 will almost certainly follow suit — while raising the stakes.
Above & Beyond will anchor the weekend with what is expected to be an extended headline set, likely closing Saturday night. Their milestone performances are legendary for debuting unreleased material, incorporating live vocal guests, and constructing emotional arcs that run the full spectrum from progressive warmth to peak-hour trance euphoria. If past is prologue, expect a two-to-three hour journey rather than a standard festival slot.
Anjuna Family and Beyond
The supporting cast will likely draw from Anjunabeats staples like ilan Bluestone, Andrew Bayer, Genix, and Gardenstate, alongside Anjunadeep's deeper contingent — artists like Marsh, Yotto, Tinlicker, and Nox Vahn. Previous milestones have also featured appearances from legacy trance figures and crossover acts that nod to Above & Beyond's broader influence on melodic electronic music. Names like Seven Lions, Jason Ross, and Amy Wiles have all appeared at past milestones.
With a three-day format, there is also room for extended or back-to-back sets, yoga and wellness programming (an Anjuna tradition at multi-day events), and potentially a dedicated Anjunadeep stage or day that gives the label's moodier, deeper sound its own space. Keep an eye on Anjunabeats' official channels for lineup drops, which typically roll out in waves beginning a few months before the event. You can also use our festival lineup builder to track announcements and plan your schedule as details emerge.
What to Wear to Above & Beyond: ABGT700
The Gorge demands a different approach to festival fashion than your typical desert or urban event. The venue's elevation and canyon exposure mean temperatures can be comfortable in the low 70s during afternoon sets and drop into the mid-40s by the time the headliner closes the night. Wind is a near-constant factor, funneling through the gorge with enough force to make lightweight fabrics flutter and exposed skin go cold fast. Any outfit strategy that doesn't account for layering is going to leave you miserable by midnight.
The vibe at Anjuna events skews toward the expressive but not chaotic — think curated rave aesthetics rather than costume-party energy. You'll see a lot of bodysuits, mesh tops, flowing pants, and reflective accessories that catch stage light without going over the top. The key is building a look that works at 3 p.m. in the sun and still holds together when you add a light jacket or hoodie for the evening. Versatile pieces that layer well are your best friend here. Comfortable footwear is non-negotiable; you'll be on your feet on sloped concrete and grass for hours, and the walk back to camping is no joke.
If you're looking for pieces that handle exactly this kind of temperature range while still looking intentional, browse our collection of best rave outfits — everything is designed with real festival conditions in mind, not just photo ops.
Pregame Playlist
No proper ABGT preparation is complete without immersing yourself in the sound. Above & Beyond's catalog is vast, spanning nearly two decades of releases, but the milestone shows tend to lean on newer material alongside a handful of untouchable classics. Tracks like "Sun & Moon," "We're All We Need," and "Northern Soul" are near-guaranteed to surface, but the real magic of ABGT milestones lives in the IDs — the unreleased tracks debuted live that won't appear anywhere else for months. To get yourself in the right headspace, start with the artists most likely to appear and let the algorithm do the rest.
Essential Listening
Begin with Above & Beyond's most recent album cycle and work backward. Their Group Therapy radio show archives are also available as podcasts and are worth revisiting in the weeks leading up to the event — particularly episodes 500, 600, and any "Deep Warm Up" sets, which capture the slower-build energy that defines the first hours of a milestone show. From there, branch into the Anjunadeep catalog for artists like Marsh, Yotto, and Tinlicker, who represent the label's more textured, atmospheric side.
Tickets and Getting There
Above & Beyond: ABGT700 tickets are expected to move through multiple release tiers, beginning with a Group Therapy loyalty pre-sale followed by general on-sale waves. Previous milestones have sold out, and with the three-day format adding camping and premium options, demand for ABGT700 tickets will be intense. Register for the Anjunabeats mailing list and follow their social channels to get first access to sale dates and pricing tiers.
Ticket Tiers to Expect
- General Admission: Standard entry for all three days, likely in the $250-$400 range based on precedent from comparable Gorge events.
- GA + Camping: Bundled with on-site tent or car camping — the most practical option given the venue's remoteness.
- Premier Camping: Upgraded camping with closer proximity, showers, and additional amenities.
- VIP / Gold Camping: Premium tiers with dedicated viewing areas, expedited entry, and enhanced campground facilities.
Travel and Accommodation
Getting to the Gorge requires planning. The nearest major airport is Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA), roughly a 2.5-hour drive east on I-90. Car rental is the most flexible option, and many attendees coordinate rideshares through community forums and the Anjuna subreddit. There are no rideshare services operating reliably in George itself, so having your own vehicle or a confirmed shuttle reservation is essential.
On-site camping is the default for most attendees and the experience the event is designed around. Waking up at the Gorge with the canyon stretched out below you is its own kind of magic, and it eliminates the logistical headache of commuting from distant hotels. If camping isn't your style, the closest towns with lodging are Ellensburg (about 35 miles west) and Quincy (about 25 miles north), but availability books up fast once the event is announced. Securing accommodation early is strongly recommended.
What to Bring
- Layers — a light jacket or windbreaker is essential for after dark
- Refillable water bottle (hydration stations are standard at Gorge events)
- Sunscreen and sunglasses for daytime exposure
- Portable phone charger
- Earplugs — quality ones that reduce volume without killing clarity
- Camping gear if staying on-site: tent, sleeping bag rated for 40-degree nights, camp chair, headlamp
- Cash and cards — cell service at the Gorge is notoriously unreliable, so don't count on mobile payments
Making the Most of ABGT700
The milestone Group Therapy shows occupy a unique space in electronic music culture. They are not quite festivals, not quite concerts, not quite raves — they are something closer to a shared emotional experience that happens to have a world-class sound system. The three-day format at ABGT700 gives that experience room to breathe in a way that single-night milestones never could. Arrive early. Explore the grounds. Watch the sunset from the upper lawn before the music even starts. Let the weekend build the way an Anjuna set builds — slowly, deliberately, with the payoff earned rather than forced.
Whether this is your first Group Therapy milestone or your fourth, the Gorge will make it feel different from anything that came before. The setting demands it. And when Above & Beyond drop that first chord of the headline set against a sky turning every shade of violet the Pacific Northwest can produce, you'll understand why people travel from every corner of the world for this. Gear up with the right layers and looks from Freedom Rave Wear, get your logistics locked in early, and let the canyon do the rest.
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