Beneath the iconic symbol of Brussels in Heysel Park, Tiësto once again paid tribute to the renewed emotional and nostalgic wave that has been sweeping through the trance scene during this extraordinary 2026: the result was a set that celebrated his entire career, blending rare gems from his legendary early-2000s performances, brand-new productions and fresh reinterpretations of timeless trance classics, ultimately establishing itself as one of the most remarkable trance DJ sets in recent times
What an incredible summer… not only for its less pleasant side, shaped by relentless extreme weather, but even more for its brighter side: the extraordinary moments it continues to give to trance music: it has become almost impossible to keep up with the sheer number of events involving both emerging talents and legendary icons of the scene, yet every single one continues to deliver genuine emotions to trance fans. It is yet another confirmation of what we have been saying for months: 2026 is shaping up to be one of the greatest years for trance music in the last two decades.
Within this remarkable landscape, Tiësto fits perfectly. After enjoying a well-deserved family holiday in Italy, the Dutch legend decided to remain in Europe, taking a short break from the countless US performances awaiting him until the end of the year. His destination was Brussels, where an eagerly anticipated DJ set beneath the iconic Atomium was waiting for him. During the days leading up to the event, the Breda artist encouraged fans to “enjoy the event” through his social media channels, reminding everyone that the performance would also be streamed live on Twitch for those unable to attend: looking back, that enthusiasm proved to be completely justified.
Following opening performances by S3PPA, Fenrick and Helena Lauwaert, Tiësto delivered three hours of music, from 9 PM until midnight, confirming the nostalgic and authentic direction that had already become evident throughout his recent performances. Although this artistic evolution had begun to emerge towards the end of last year, it was at Atomium Open Air where it truly reached its fullest and most convincing expression.
The set opened with his latest release, Echo Sax Finale alongside Caleb Arrendondo, introducing what has now become the defining formula of his recent performances: a perfect balance between contemporary productions and timeless trance classics. This time, however, Tiësto went even further, bringing back several extremely rare gems directly connected to the legendary Tiësto in Concert events from the golden era. It was a choice that gave the entire evening remarkable historical value and an emotional impact that is difficult to put into words.
The objective was clear: to build an invisible bridge between the music that made his performances unforgettable twenty-five years ago and the sound of today’s new generation of trance artists. It was a mission accomplished, thanks in part to the work Musical Freedom has been carrying out in recent years by releasing productions capable of faithfully recreating the old-school atmosphere that defined the history of the genre.
From the Musical Freedom catalogue, Tiësto selected not only his latest production, including Don’t Lose Your Head alongside Olivia Sebastianelli and the still-unreleased Moons Orbit, but also tracks from emerging talents such as CIEIII and the duo DJ TRY & Pagan. The selection also featured productions outside his own label, including Pegassi and NYCO, further highlighting the vibrant creativity currently driving the new generation of trance.
During the first part of the performance, the Dutch producer paid tribute to some of the most iconic records of his career. This time, however, he made a simple yet meaningful decision: to play them in their original versions instead of relying on the modern remixes that have often appeared in his recent performances. Lethal Industry, Forever Today and Flight 643 echoed across the Atomium in their original form, generating tremendous excitement among the crowd.
It was during the middle section of the set, however, that the journey through time reached its peak. Tracks that had become synonymous with his legendary performances of the early 2000s resurfaced, including Generation by Dark Alliance (Fred Baker and Greg Nash) and Airport by Armani & Ghost. These were seamlessly combined with an impressive collection of new Tiësto remixes of legendary trance classics, including Kernkraft 400 by Zombie Nation, Advanced by Marcel Woods, Strange World by M.I.K.E. pres. Push and Sunrise (Here I Am) by Ratty. Together, these reinterpretations once again demonstrated his determination to create a continuous dialogue between trance past and present.
Also making an expected appearance, just as in his most recent performances, was Remember The Future by Mirage, a track that continues to grow in stature thanks to support from artists including Tiësto, alongside the Space 92 remix of Domino by Oxia, already widely recognised as one of the defining electronic music productions of 2026. Even in the closing moments, Tiësto remained faithful to the concept that had defined the entire set. Naturally, Adagio For Strings could not be missing either, while the performance concluded with one final tribute to classic trance through the Thomas Schumacher remix of the legendary The House Of House by Cherry Moon Trax.
For those wishing to explore every moment of this remarkable performance, the complete tracklist of the set is available on 1001Tracklists Tiësto @ Atomium Open Air Brussels, Belgium 2026-07-31