Pride Pulse’s Guide to ABGT700: What to Expect
What to Expect at ABGT700
ABGT700 is the 700th episode celebration of Group Therapy, the long-running weekly radio show and event series hosted by Above & Beyond — the British trance trio of Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness, and Paavo Siljamäki, who’ve built Group Therapy into one of electronic music’s most significant recurring gatherings since the show began. Milestone episodes — 100, 250, 500, and now 700 — have become genuine touchstones for the global trance community, previously held in cities including London, New York, Prague, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles. ABGT700 runs September 11–13, 2026, marking the first time this specific milestone celebration has been held at The Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington in the United States.
The Gorge itself is central to why this event draws attention beyond the trance scene specifically. Located in Grant County, Washington — roughly 150 miles east of Seattle, in the high desert of central Washington above the Columbia River — the venue is widely regarded as one of the most visually striking concert sites in North America, with lawn-terrace seating overlooking the river gorge and a natural amphitheatre setting that’s hosted major artists across genres for decades. The venue has a capacity of roughly 20,000 to 27,500 depending on configuration, and camping is available as a separate add-on to festival tickets, with multiple tiers including standard and upgraded glamping options.
The 2026 weekend follows a three-day structure: a Friday pre-party featuring a live performance of Above & Beyond’s “Deep Set” alongside a curated supporting lineup, the milestone ABGT700 show itself on Saturday headlined by Above & Beyond, and an Anjunadeep Open Air showcase on Sunday closing with a set from Ben Böhmer.
What is Harm Reduction
Harm reduction is a public health approach built on meeting people where they are — aiming to reduce the negative health and social consequences of substance use without requiring abstinence as a condition of support. At large multi-day music festivals specifically, this typically shows up as a combination of practical safety infrastructure — naloxone access, fentanyl test strips, on-site medical support, and sometimes drug checking — alongside a broader shift in festival culture away from a purely enforcement-based approach to safety. Public health experience and harm reduction organizations like DanceSafe, which provides drug-checking, education, and peer support at electronic music events across North America, have generally found that testing and support services reduce risky behaviour rather than encourage use, a finding that’s gradually shifted how major festivals approach these questions, even though acceptance still varies considerably by event and venue.
Washington State’s own legal framework matters directly here. The state’s Good Samaritan Overdose Law (RCW 69.50.315) provides protection from drug possession charges for anyone who seeks medical help during an overdose, whether calling for themselves or someone else — a broader protection than an outstanding warrant or drug manufacturing charge would receive, but a meaningful one for the possession scenario most people worry about. Separately, RCW 69.41.095 permits any person, not just medical professionals, to obtain, carry, and administer naloxone, including under a prescriber’s standing order, which is part of why naloxone distribution has become more feasible at events like this one over the past decade.
Harm Reduction: Tips and Advice for ABGT700
Plan seriously for a remote, high-desert environment. The Gorge sits in central Washington’s high desert, and September afternoons in this region can still bring significant heat, with cooler nights — a real temperature swing worth packing for. Combined with a multi-day, likely camping-based stay, hydration and sun protection during the day and adequate warmth at night both matter more here than they would at a downtown, single-day event.
If drug checking is available on-site, use it. Organizations like DanceSafe operate drug-checking and fentanyl test strip services at electronic music events across North America, though availability at any specific festival depends on what the promoter and venue permit — this varies event to event, and isn’t guaranteed. Checking with festival information booths or official event communications ahead of time about what harm reduction services will be present is worth doing before you arrive, rather than assuming.
Fentanyl contamination is a documented risk in party drug supplies across North America, not just at this specific venue. Toxicology findings from other major festivals have specifically identified fentanyl present in substances sold as ecstasy/MDMA, underscoring that adulteration risk doesn’t respect genre or venue reputation. Carrying naloxone, and knowing how to recognize an overdose — unresponsiveness, slow or stopped breathing — is a relevant precaution regardless of what you personally plan to use. Buying from a trusted source such as Pride Pulse helps to prevent some of these risks.
Know Washington’s Good Samaritan protections before you need them. If you or someone near you may be overdosing, calling 911 is protected under RCW 69.50.315 — you cannot be prosecuted for simple drug possession for seeking help in that specific situation. This protection doesn’t extend to outstanding warrants, probation violations, or drug manufacturing or distribution charges, but it does cover the possession scenario most people hesitate over.
Naloxone won’t cause harm if the substance involved wasn’t an opioid. Washington State’s own public health guidance is direct on this: if you’re unsure what someone has taken but they show signs of an overdose, administering naloxone is appropriate regardless — it only affects opioids, but there’s no harm in giving it if the cause turns out to be something else, and it may take a few minutes to take effect, so continue monitoring breathing after administering it.
Use the buddy system, especially given the venue’s size and camping layout. With capacity up to 27,500 and multi-day camping on-site, it’s easier to get separated from your group here than at a smaller, single-day event — agree on a meeting point and check-in schedule with whoever you’re attending with.
Frequently Asked Questions
September 11–13, 2026, at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington, marking the 700th episode celebration of Above & Beyond’s Group Therapy series.
The United States — specifically Grant County, Washington, roughly 150 miles east of Seattle.
Washington’s Good Samaritan Overdose Law (RCW 69.50.315) protects people who call for help during an overdose from prosecution for simple drug possession, whether they’re calling for themselves or someone else.
Yes. Washington State law (RCW 69.41.095) permits any person to obtain, carry, and administer naloxone, and it’s recommended as a general precaution at events where unregulated substances may be present.