About the festival

ZNA Gathering 2026 takes place July 15 to 22 at Montargil Lake, Portugal, nestled inside a nature reserve about 100km from Lisbon. This biennial "retro-futuristic" pilgrimage serves as the global headquarters for old school Goa trance, celebrating the sounds and spirit of the 90s Goa scene with the 2026 edition marking the "Big Return" after a year off in 2025. Strictly limited to around 5,000 attendees to maintain a family atmosphere, ZNA features an impressive lineup of pioneers who played the beaches of Anjuna in 1994, performing on a stage with analog, organic UV-reactive decor rather than modern 3D mapping. This seven-day gathering is set in a natural cathedral of ancient pine and cork trees providing shade for the dancefloor, with Montargil Lake essential to the experience as attendees spend days in the water escaping the intense Portuguese July sun. ZNA operates at a marathon pace designed for community bonding, chill-out sessions, and workshops, embodying the "Zambu" spirit where attendees are called ZambujAliens. Tickets priced around €250 to €260 sell out extremely quickly (sometimes within 48 hours), with extensive glamping options (tipis and pre-pitched tents) available due to nature reserve restrictions, and dedicated ZNA Bus service running from Lisbon Airport to the remote lake location.