LOS ANGELES, CA - I’m finally back from my second trip down the rabbit hole and honestly, my brain is still kind of buzzing. Beyond Wonderland SoCal just wrapped up at the NOS Event Center and the energy was just massive. Between the neon lights and the literal trance the music put us in, the whole weekend was such a win for the community.
Day 1 was a bit of a mission because I was trying to link up with the Gay Almanac crew. If you’ve ever been to the NOS, you already know the cell service is basically non-existent once the crowd hits. We were basically tethered to the public and VIP Wi-Fi just to find each other, but the digital struggle was worth it. Meeting them was easily a highlight since they were so incredibly cool and accepting. They really introduced us to the wider LGBTQ+ scene at the festival and we just bonded over our shared love for EDM. It’s not always the easiest thing to find your people in a sea of thousands, but having that common ground made the first night feel like home.
Walking around the grounds, things felt pretty familiar. If you’ve been before, most of the stages and areas were pretty much the same or very similar to last year. It was the classic NOS Events Center layout we’ve come to expect, which made navigating easy but didn't offer many stage-related surprises. However, they definitely stepped it up with a brand new drone show. I think it’s their first time doing that for Beyond, and seeing those lights coordinate in the sky was a huge "wow" moment.
The production this year was next level, too. Every stage felt like a portal into a different dimension with these super vibrant effects and bright lights that kept the vibes high. We even braved the long lines for the Ferris wheel. It was a bit of a commitment to wait that long, but looking down at the glowing grounds from the top was a perspective you just can’t get anywhere else.
One of my favorite parts was the random exchanges of energy. I walked away with so many trinkets and kandis from people I’d just met. Everyone was so open-minded and kind. We spent some time at the Grand Artique which is a trading post where you can swap items of equal value. It’s those small, real interactions that make Beyond feel like more than just a standard music festival.
For the food and drinks, you definitely have to prepare for the "festival tax." A Beatbox is going to run you about 19 dollars, which is definitely on the premium side for one drink. On the flip side, the food wasn't actually that bad. I grabbed some dumplings for around 15 to 20 bucks and they actually hit the spot without totally breaking the bank.
The music definitely got wilder as the weekend went on. Steve Angello’s set was absolutely amazing and had everyone completely locked in. By Day 2, things got even more intense. On the second night, I spent a lot of time at the Cheshire Woods stage. The sets from artists like Vini Vici and Giuseppe Ottaviani were heavy on the trance and when those high-energy tracks dropped, the entire place just went off. I love the trance community, and having that whole stage curated by Dreamstate was lit as hell.
Overall, Beyond Wonderland 2026 was exactly what I needed. Even with the steep drink prices and the familiar stage setups, the actual "soul" of the festival was stronger than ever. Linking up with a rave crew that makes me feel seen and connecting deeply with total strangers is what keeps me coming back. Between the music, the production, and the people, Beyond reminded me exactly why this community stays so strong and I'm already counting down until we can all do it again.
