TRIBAL GATHERING 2026
FAQ

Tribal Gathering is a unique global festival where ancient traditions and modern music come together in a celebration of culture and creativity.

Indigenous communities from around the world share their ancestral knowledge, while renowned musicians and artists push the boundaries of sound and expression. The festival blends diverse cultures, innovation, and alternative lifestyles, encouraging active engagement and meaningful connections.

It celebrates the transformative power of music and dance, creating a dynamic space where the past and present harmonize. Set on the Caribbean coast of Panama, Tribal Gathering takes place annually during the full moon of March, inviting a global audience to experience a festival like no other.

Every element of Tribal Gathering’s production is thoughtfully designed with a commitment to ecological sustainability, grounded in a deep respect for the surrounding environment. The event features 100% composting toilets, fresh filtered well water, and the majority of its bio-construction materials are sustainably sourced from within 2 kilometers of the site. Locally sourced food from farmers and fishermen, off-grid power solutions, and local labor initiatives further ensure that the festival supports both the environment and the community, providing valuable employment opportunities in the region.

With over a hundred workshops covering topics ranging from permaculture, health, and body movement to community management philosophies and alternative financial systems, Tribal Gathering is more than a festival—it’s a platform for promoting meaningful change. The event actively champions proactive solutions for the well-being of both people and the planet.

Tribal Gathering fosters cultural awareness by bringing together Indigenous communities in a dynamic, creative forum that celebrates a level of cultural diversity rarely seen elsewhere. It provides a space for meaningful dialogue, where tribal members can connect, share experiences, explore common ground, and collaborate on solutions to address their needs. Through the exchange of knowledge and creativity, these communities actively contribute to the construction and management of the event itself.

As the heart of Tribal Gathering, these Indigenous voices exemplify the festival’s ethos: while we are united as one, we also reflect the vast richness and diversity of the world.

Full Tribal Pass (February 27 – March 16):

Experience the complete Tribal Gathering journey. From the wisdom of Indigenous elders to the vibrant energy of the next generation. Dive into ceremonies, workshops, and three dynamic stages of global music. Embrace every beat, every moment, and every connection across 18 unforgettable days on the Caribbean coast.


Wisdom Keepers (Feb 27 - March 9):

Engage with a week of immersive workshops and ceremonies guided by Indigenous elders, offering deep insights into their diverse cultural traditions. Three stages will showcase a wide range of music genres, including dub, cumbia, drum & bass, techno, progressive, and world music. Expect exceptional performances from international artists and bands, complemented by nightly circus, cabaret, and carnival productions.

Transition Experience (March 6 - 16):

Over this pivotal weekend, witness the formal handover of cultural responsibilities as Indigenous Elders pass their knowledge to the younger generation. This unique exchange is marked by workshops, ceremonies, and performances from both groups, offering a comprehensive view of traditional and contemporary indigenous perspectives. Enjoy access to all stages featuring house, techno, drum & bass, world music, and more from renowned global artists, alongside nightly circus, cabaret, and carnival shows—all within the stunning Caribbean environment.

Tribal Futures (March 9 - 16):

Engage with the second week as younger indigenous representatives integrate their rich cultural heritage with modern realities. Experience performances across multiple stages featuring techno, progressive, drum & bass, dub, and a diverse range of genres from international artists and bands. Additionally, immerse yourself in 24-hour non-stop psytrance, showcasing the finest talent from our global community.

Gates will open at 4pm on Friday March 5th - Do not plan to arrive before this. The festival location is very very remote and if you come by public bus you will likely be on the last bus and not be able to get back. You will be turned away. It is best to travel early by bus on the 5th to arrive for gate opening.

The easiest, fastest and safest way to arrive is to take the shuttle directly from the airport to the festival site. There are usually two a day, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, with more services added on the busy days. You can book your shuttle [here]

Typically you do not require any vaccinations if you are traveling from North America or EU - However if traveling from some countries with high yellow fever risk like Colombia or Brazil you are required to have a yellow fever shot. This needs to be done at least 10 days before the departure date.

For Europe and much of the Americas you will only receive a stamp in your passport on arrival. This usually allows you to stay between three and six months in Panama as long as your passport expiration date is later than that. You are limited to driving only for three months. Make sure you come with an exit ticket and proof of sufficient funds to cover your expenses during your stay in the country.

Keeping with our policy of helping the local communities we have arranged secure paid parking for everyone in Playa Chiquita. All cars and vans can park there.

The money collected from parking fees will go directly to the local community, helping them activate the local economy.

Playa Chiquita is a very small quiet fishing village with just over 80 inhabitants. It has a bar and a couple of small living room shops. They are really nice people who are really looking forward to meeting and helping you all.

Main gates are 1km up the road from the parking area. Locals with pickup trucks will be happy to help you with your bags should you require for a small tip.

It’s then a 350 meter walk down our road to the beach.their local economy. Members of the Local Community safeguard and look after the Parking area.

The final several kilometres of your journey is on a wide well maintained gravel track, just take it easy and you’ll have no issues.

The program of activities finishes 6am Monday March 22nd. Everybody needs to be off site by Tuesday, March 23rd @ 2pm so our crew can proceed to do the festival pack down and the after party preparations. Our cafes, bars and bakery will carry on serving during these 2 days whilst everybody leaves the event site. We appreciate your collaboration in leaving the site timely.

Tribal Gathering takes place in a remote jungle beach in the north coast of Panama. The road was built in recent years and there is no tourism in the area whatsoever so hotels and hostels are very scarce and not close to the festival site. The usual and preferred form of accommodation is CAMPING. When you purchase a ticket you gain access to camp anywhere you choose within the camping grounds of TG. There are camping areas right next to the beach and also shaded ones in the forest, surrounded by exotic fruit trees, several types of palms and cane with ample shade. Campsites are not assigned, so please set up in a space that works for you, while being respectful to those you are choosing to set up next to. Bring your camping gear and all the bedding and equipment you need to have a comfortable camping experience.

For those who want to travel light, we have available glamping and regular camping tents, air mattresses, tarps and hammocks that can be pre-booked online and are waiting for you on arrival. Glamping Tents are already set up and ready to enjoy as soon as you arrive. They are the most convenient option by far! Regular camping tents, air mattresses, hammocks and tarps need to be picked up at the Hub Services Desk on arrival and you have to set them up yourself. To guarantee availability, you can pre-book these accommodation options here. If still available, they can also be booked onsite at the Hub Services Desk, first come, first served basis.

All parking, including live aboards, will be at Playa Chiquita, a seaside village within a walking distance from the gathering. The local community there are well happy to host you. Please, arrange your parking fees with them and although we don’t provide electricity or sanitary facilities for these vehicles, asking the neighbours you might get some help with this. Good practical advise would be to find a small solar rig and to come with your water tank full and your waste tanks empty!

There will be a basic communal kitchen with wood burning stoves available for use, but you will need to bring with you all the utensils, pots and pans you may need if you are intending to cook anything there. Please, respect the kitchen and clean after yourself. Don't bring bags full of supermarket items to the jungle. They produce an incredible amount of trash and by doing so you support the wealthy families of Panama instead of supporting the tribes, locals, like-minded vendors and tribal gathering team who make this extraordinary event possible. If you need to buy cooking ingredients use Nisla´s fruit & veg stall at Tribal Gathering food market or the local convenience store in Playa Chiquita, the little fishermen village at a walking distance down the beach. Supermarket items found during admission will be taken as a donation to the tribal kitchen.

There is a strict no fire policy. We have a designated fire in the Global Village. These restrictions are for the safety of everyone, so please respect them. We want everyone at Tribal Gathering to feel safe in their campsites, day and night, for themselves and their children. The camping areas are only partially lit, so bring a flashlight.

It never really gets very cold at night, but a sheet or light weight sleeping bag is recommended, as well as a thin jacket or long sleeve shirt... especially if it's windy.

There will be a washing facilities area with showers and taps. Showers are basic, but a real delight after days of dancing and playing in nature. Please, use only biodegradable soap and detergent. Tribal Gathering will provide attendees with hand made soap when they arrive (until stock is finished). There are also several sinks with antibacterial soap for hand washing near each toilet block. It's extremely important in the tropics, and even more so at a festival, to wash your hands with soap after using the toilet and before you eat. This will keep you safe from uncomfortable tummy bugs and skin infections.

Beautiful pure uv filtered drinking water from our two wells is available for free. Reusable water thermal bottles are for sale at the Tribal Gathering Bazaar.

Yes! We have a team of doctors and paramedics with ambulance 24/7 and life guards during the daylight to keep you all safe. Bug repellent spray and sunscreen could be handy for you to bring but they will also be available for sale on site. Watch out for sunburn, most attendees come from winter locations and skin is very white and not ready for long exposure to strong tropical sun. Beware! With the lovely sea breeze may not feel too hot, but will still burn your skin. Keep out of the bushes and overgrown areas to avoid crossing paths with snakes, tarantulas or scorpions. It's a jungle out there!

Yes! We have pretty neat composting toilets that get emptied and cleaned several times a day so they are disinfected and kept from bad smells. We provide plenty of toilet paper, hand sanitizer and garbage bin in each toilet cubicle. There is also a row of hand washing sinks and antibacterial soap right outside. Its extremely important in the tropics, and even more so at a festival, to wash your hands with soap after using the toilet and before you eat. This will keep you safe from uncomfortable tummy bugs and skin infections.

Tribal Gathering has a bar, several restaurants/cafes, a bakery/pizzeria, smoothie/juice bar, a chai shop and fruit&veg market stall. Meals styles will range from international cuisine, to local traditional "comida costeña" from the area. There will be a mix of meaty, veggie, raw and vegan. Most of our food is locally grown, reared etc. We ask that no supermarket food is bought on site as it lines the pockets of the already wealthy and brings with it a lot of rubbish. Groceries can be purchased at Nisla´s fruit & veg stall at Tribal Gathering food market or at the local convenience store in Playa Chiquita, the village nearby, at a walking distance down the beach. Villagers are friendly and in much need of the income, so it’s the best choice to source your food ingredients. With this produce in mind we provide a communal cooking area, with wood burning stoves, so bring your pots and pans if you wish.

Beautiful pure uv filtered drinking water from our well is available for free and we sell bamboo water flasks at the Tribal Gathering Bazaar

Unfortunately, not. There is an ATM in the Police Station near Nombre de Dios approximately 45 min drive away and another one in Portobelo (over 1h away), but often they are out of cash. The closest reliable ATM is in Sabanitas, more than 2 hours from the gathering, so please come prepared with ample cash for the duration of your stay.

During Tribal Gathering you will pay with the festival cashless payment system (prepaid "TG credit") for all the Hub Desk Services, food, drinks, wellness area private sessions and Tribal Gathering Bazaar (our charity shop onsite). You will also use TG credit on your bracelet to exchange it (at the Bazaar or the Hub) for Village Plata rfid-enabled coins and barcoded notes to use at the 3rd party market vendors (direct cash only accepted by tribes and blanket vendors).

There are different ways to top up your TG Credit account:

- At the TG LAB Online Store (with paypal or a bank card) from late February/early March. We highly recommend doing so before you arrive at TG, so you can come in with your pre-paid credit ready in your account and save the hassle of having to wait in line at the desk or wait for the potentially slower festival wifi to process the same purchase onsite.

- At the Hub Cash Desk onsite using your credit or debit card, paypal, yappy, nequi or cash. Opening hours are 7am to 10pm, then it opens for a minimum of 30 min when the last daily shuttle arrives, usually between midnight and 1am. If you forgot to top up before and you don’t have access to online payment options, this is your chance to ensure you have credit throughout the night.

- There will also be a terminal kiosk to check your current credit and self top-up online when the Hub is closed.

Please, note that the festival services can be booked and paid directly at the online Geo Store with paypal or credit card, before or during TG. TG Credit is only needed for these if you want to book them in person at the Hub Services Desk.

Cash is only accepted at the blanket and tribal vendors, nobody else is allowed to accept cash at the point of sale. Its mandatory all selling premises use the TG Credit System or Village Plata (in case of the 3rd party market vendors), as the only form of payment. Please, don't ask them to break the rules for you. If you see or hear about someone breaking these rules don't hesitate to report it at the Hub or the TG Bazaar. GeoParadise Charitable Fund receives a % of the gross sales coming via the TG Credit System, so when a cashier or vendor is selling to you directly for cash, is basically taking money away from the tribe's projects fund and immediate action needs to be taken to correct this. Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.

There is WIFI service available for a cost in a designated area. There is also some cell phone coverage onsite.

Nevertheless, we recommend to take this opportunity to relax and detox from connectivity and social media. Enjoy the present moment and real human interactions, social network posting can wait. There is WIFI service available for a cost in a designated area. There is also some cell phone coverage onsite.

Nevertheless, we recommend to take this opportunity to relax and detox from connectivity and social media. Enjoy the present moment and real human interactions, social network posting can wait. 🏖️🌴🌊🎶🔥🌙

We offer locker service at the Hub Service Desk. You can pre-purchase it online at the Geo TG Store or if still available, you can purchase it onsite at the Hub.

We offer 3 different plans:

- "No access" (can only retrieve your item once when you are ready to leave)

- "Once-a-day Access" (can only retrieve your item once per day)

- "Unlimited Access" so you can come to the Hub desk and ask the volunteers working there to bring your belongings as many times as you need. Every move in and out will be registered and signed.

Click [here] for the complete Terms and Conditions of this and other TG services.

We offer charging of mobile devices, tablets, laptops and other electronic devices.

You may pre purchase this service online or at the Hub. Cost for a full charge varies depending on the item size. You must provide the charger & cable. Click [here] for the complete Terms and Conditions of this and other TG services.

Tribal Gathering is in a very remote part of Panama on the Caribbean. Untouched beaches and landscapes, unique wildlife, flora and fauna.

There are no services in villages around the event please come prepared. Nearest town with services is Sabanitas - just over 2 hours away. There are medical centres in Nombre de Dios and Portobelo and hospitals in the city of Colon. There is a petrol station in Miramar, 20 minutes from the festival location.

The festival site beach is perfect for bathing as it is beautifully protected from big waves by the reef in front of it. We ask that all guests swim in the lifeguard on duty area and adhere to any warning signs. The sea is very rough outside the designated safe areas. Although there are waves at the TG beach, we don't advise surfing on the reefs as it can damage these protected areas.

Bugs are not a huge issue here as its a windy area that time of the year. However we do recommend using bug repellent or citronella. Bug repellent will be available for sale onsite.

Weather is generally warm (27°C - 30°C), sunny and dependant on wind, sometimes humid. Please protect your skin from the sun! Even on cloudy days you catch the rays.

Sun cream and aloe vera is available in our Care Center and at the market.

Generally the weather at TG is lovely, but there is always the chance it may rain for short periods of time. Some years more than others... These can be intense downpours (tropical style) followed by lovely blue sky minutes later, so ensure your tent is waterproof and well zipped up and that you are not camped extremely close to the ocean. The ocean can be unpredictable.

All in all, don’t worry, rain is not gonna stop you from enjoying Tribal Gathering. It can even be a refreshing and pleasurable experience in a hot and sweaty day!

Workshops begin on Saturday 6th March and run through to the end of the programme on Sunday 121st March.
Throughout the event, there will be a wide range of workshops taking place across the site.

From this year onwards, Indigenous-led workshops will also continue until the final day of the programme, offering more opportunities to learn directly from the cultures at the heart of Tribal Gathering.

All workshops are free of charge, with the exception of those held within the Wellness Area. These sessions are more individually focused, often one-to-one or in small groups, and may involve specialised therapeutic work.

There will be a multitude of Indigenous and non Indigenous practitioners and healers teaching and offering services such as massage, acupressure, sound healing, myofascial and much more. Private sessions are bookable on site for a cost at the Wellness Reception Desk. Please check the Wellness Therapies and Ceremonies offerings in our WellBeing binder which will be available at our reception. If you are a therapist or a Healer and interested in joining our workshops or wellness area, visit our Get Involve page and submit the application form for the area you’re interested in. Our application will be open until end of January 2026.

Daily sweats with various Elders from different backgrounds. Please, sign up as a volunteer if you are interested to help in tending the sweats or setting up the temascal at the beginning of the Gathering. We also require Sacred Fire keepers, to help collect wood and maintain and tend the flame during the Gathering.

Each day there will be multiple cultural art workshops. Make your own flute, weave and dye fabric, bead bracelets, make chocolate and all kinds of things! These are all free!

Tribal Gathering has a shop with goods like wooden cutlery, fans and different drinking cups, designed by our Crew. Also, every Indigenous Tribe brings their own unique handicraft art, so make sure to walk by our friends' shops to check their uniqueness and richness of Culture.

At Tribal Gathering, dance music runs through our veins, deeply rooted in the earliest rave scenes where our journey began. Our lineup reflects this heritage, offering an unparalleled selection of genres that span the globe. From funky, smooth, and chilled-out rhythms to fast, high-energy beats, we curate an eclectic mix of sounds that celebrate both global and indigenous cultures. Featuring local DJs, international stars, bands, and indigenous artists including producers and DJs. Our stages showcase the best in world music. Central to the experience is our legendary psytrance stage, featuring an extraordinary lineup of artists across a diverse range of psytrance subgenres, delivering 24-hour non-stop immersive soundscapes for an unparalleled auditory experience.