The countdown to Shambhala is on.
Returning to the Salmo River Ranch from July 24-29, the beloved Canadian festival in 2025 will feature performances from a slew of electronic tastemakers, like ILLENIUM, Excision, Chris Lake, TroyBoi, SOFI TUKKER, Flying Lotus, Bob Moses and EDM.com Class of 2025 inductee Tape B, among many others.
Ahead of the 2025 edition, EDM.com reached out to several past attendees to get their honest take on what makes Shambhala so special. Check out what they had to say about their experiences over the years below.
At the time of writing, Shambhala 2025 is completely sold out but you can join the waitlist here.
"The word 'home' still couldn’t explain the connection you will have with Shambhala. The true meaning of PLURR (peace, love, unity, respect & responsibility) comes to life on the Farm. It goes way beyond the meaning, the love you will immediately be hit by from a crowd of thousands. Everyone is there to share the love for the scene, the music, the people, the production, and the magic that each soul carries in with them.
You haven’t felt this type of love until you have been to Shambs. I personally have never felt so at peace, so genuinely happy, in a crowd of many. Being AuDHD life can be a rollercoaster. The EDM scene has always been a place where I felt I belonged, where I was included, where I could be unapologetically myself. The magic of Shambhala will open your mind & expand that outlook even more. The magic of how we all can truly come together and create such a beautiful family. From the moment you get to the farm, to the very last moments of Fractal Forest’s closing ceremony, to the last WOO that circles the farm, to the moment you pack up camp. The countdown to next year begins, the countdown to getting back home has started, once again." - Pyxie
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"Shambhala helped me unleash my creativity and allowed me to express it freely and with no judgement. After my first Shambhala in 2023, this year will by my third consecutive, it inspired me to take the leap and create my own media business using my unique engaging/POV style of filming.
When I’m at Shambhala I “boop” around and film everything that looks magical to me. It’s shown me that the performer is not the only attraction, but the people in the crowd, the performers, the signs, the stages themselves, pretty much everything are equally as important moments to be captured as well.
I like to tell stories with my videos where people can relive their experiences or if they didn’t / can’t attend what a POV experience would look like. I feel more safe to express my style at Shambhala than anywhere else and I greatly look forward to learning more about myself each year!" - Kelly
"I’ve been attending Shambhala Music Festival for the past 8 years, and somehow, it continues to exceed all my expectations year after year. What keeps pulling me back is simple, it’s the most magical place on Earth.
Shambhala isn’t just a music festival, it’s a transformational experience, a journey that touches your soul in ways words can barely explain. The level of love, detail, and intention put into every element is mind blowing. From the world class sound systems that vibrate through your bones, to the hypnotic laser light shows that dance across the night sky, to the immersive art installations that make you feel like you’ve stepped into another dimension the production is on another level. The artists are carefully curated and never fail to blow minds, spanning every genre and vibe imaginable. Whether you’re deep in a forest at The Grove, vibing at The Village, or losing yourself under the stars at Pagoda every stage offers a completely unique world of its own.
But what truly sets Shambhala apart is the community. The people, the culture, the kindness, the radical self expression it’s pure magic. There’s something sacred about floating down the Salmo River during the day, sharing laughs with new and old friends, then dancing through the night like you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. Each year builds upon the last. You gain wisdom, you find new corners of wonder, and you bring more intention and love into your journey. It genuinely gets better every year, because Shambhala evolves with you or maybe, you evolve with it. This place isn’t just a festival, Shambhala is home. It’s where you remember what it feels like to be free, connected, and fully alive. If you’ve never been, go!! You have to feel it to believe it. Get ready to create your own stories, the kind you’ll carry in your heart forever." - Bianca
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"I’ll never forget my first Excision set in the Village. I wore one of those inflatable t-rex costumes. Two strangers ask me how much I weigh. 'Buck 80,' I replied. They proceeded to crowd surf me to the front where I was dropped into a pit of other inflatable t-rex. Best. Moment. Of. My. Life." - Chris
"Shambhala... it’s one of the best independently run electronic festivals in the world, but for me as an artist and facilitator, it’s a huge reunion. Every year is like coming back home to the farm to catchup with the homies where everyone saves their A-game for both partying and their DJ set. It’s a rare festival where the artists are just as excited to check out their own list of DJs as they are to play their own set. The top artists are also camping like everyone else, and not just bussed in while staying in hotels. Once you’re in the forest, you’re part of the farmily.
My favourite part is getting to lead various workshops - acro yoga, sound baths, blindfolded yoga, crowdsurf simulators - to bring in that community and connected vibe during the day and balance out the full send of the rave" - John
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"Last year, I got to play Shambhala Music Festival for the first time — a dream I’ve had since before I even started making music. What first inspired me to produce was a set I saw years ago at Fractal Forest, when Rob G dropped an hour and a half of straight bangers and I couldn’t stop dancing. Fast forward, and I was given the exact same slot — 4 to 5 p.m. on Sunday at that very stage. It was a full-circle moment, and one of the most meaningful shows of my life." - Thomas
"Shambhala isn’t just a festival, it’s a reunion with my truest self. From the moment I first stepped onto the farm, I knew that place was different. Each year peels back a new layer, leaving me more present, more connected and more alive. After my first year, I got the Pagoda stage tattooed as a permanent reminder of the self-awakening I experienced. I'm heading into my third year now, and it’s the magic that keeps pulling me back.
As you arrive you watch the farm become a city, a community built from love, compassion, and intention. You wake up with yoga and a dip in the river, and end your nights with bass pulsing through your chest, beneath laser lit skies. Each stage has its own atmosphere, each one holding a different energy.
The real magic is the people. It's in their art, their outfits and radiant self expression. It’s in every hug, every smile from a stranger. It lives in the spontaneous moments of connection through conversation, dance or trading trinkets.There’s a true sense of freedom and belonging. Those strangers become family, the music becomes medicine, and the farm becomes home.
Shambhala is a place where love reigns supreme, where you’re safe to be exactly who you are, and celebrated for it. It reminds me of what’s possible when we lead with love. I carry that feeling all year long and every time I leave, I’m already dreaming of coming back." - Vanessa
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"It’s going to sound so cliché, but Shambhala is absolutely sacred. It’s a celebration of existing, where all walks of life come together to share the same love. It’s healing. There is nothing that I can say that will verbalize how grateful I am for Shambhala. It just feels like it is where I belong. I’m surrounded by the most beautiful people, immersed in nature with the most insane PK setup in existence.
Every unique piece of Shambhala brings a different aspect of ‘childhood awe’ back, that just lets you truly be you. Their commitment to their community is what creates the culture behind the festival. They’re committed to harm reduction, which is such a lacking piece of the community as a whole, especially in the states. They’ve continued to stay independent, by staying true to what they believe in.
It’s an adventure for us to get there, but I will never not make the journey back home. I love Shambhala and truly have no words to describe it, other than: Go. But you must bring love and the best attitude to the farm." - Madi
"The first time I went to Shambhala I fell in love with the Grove Stage. There were dancers that moved like cats and circus artists that were spinning in the air. It was the most captivating and thing I ever saw in my life and I decided in that moment with no training background whatsoever that I would somehow get up on that stage one day. 9 years later I was the first performer to perform aerial chains on that stage.
Shambhala is a place where dreams are created and where dreams can come true. It’s been that for me and countless others. A space that the festival invites art, creativity and alternative self expression. It’s a space where all of you is celebrated and welcomed, even in your rawest states. I’ve met best friends, loves of my life and eclectic characters that make me feel like life is magical.
Shambhala is one of the most unique festivals you can go to in the world and every single year I find myself wondering I’ll be going back again and again to my farmily. Shambhala has changed my life in so many ways and I’m forever grateful for that festival." - Luna
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"For me, Shambhala is my own personal New Year. It’s a time when the noise of life fades, and what’s left is connection, clarity, and a whole lot of bass. I come out the other side dusty, sleep-deprived, but somehow completely recharged for another year.
I’ll never forget standing at Fractal with my buddy Sean—just two happy dudes in the crowd. I knew he had a dream, and I used to egg him on: “You’ll be playing for us up there one day.” Ten years later, I watched him live that dream, right there at Fractal, down in front. That was an ethereal moment that has stuck with me. So maybe Shambhala isn’t just where we escape life—it’s where we remember what matters." - Zach
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