Ultra Music Festival
📍 Miami, USA
One of the most famous electronic music festivals, held in downtown Miami. It has also spread to editions in many other countries.
Official site ↗The world’s biggest music festivals
From the fields of Glastonbury to the fantasy stages of Tomorrowland: when the biggest festivals take place, what music they play and how to enjoy your first one.
A festival is the fastest way to discover dozens of new artists in one weekend. Filter the list by month to plan your trip, and use the tips below to prepare.
Vive Latino
📍 Mexico City, Mexico
The biggest festival of Spanish-language rock and alternative music, with a strong line-up of Latin American bands.
Official site ↗Coachella
📍 Indio, California, USA
A desert festival famous for trend-setting line-ups, art installations and headliners from pop, hip-hop, indie and electronic music.
Official site ↗Strawberry Music Festival
📍 Beijing and other cities, China
One of China’s best-known festival brands, with Chinese rock, indie and pop bands playing outdoor stages in several cities.
Primavera Sound
📍 Barcelona, Spain
A seaside festival loved by music critics for its adventurous mix of indie, pop, electronic and experimental artists.
Official site ↗Sónar
📍 Barcelona, Spain
A festival of advanced music, creativity and technology, with electronic artists by day and by night.
Official site ↗Glastonbury
📍 Somerset, England, UK
Legendary farm festival with more than 100 stages of music, theatre and art. The Pyramid Stage is one of the most famous stages in the world.
Official site ↗Mawazine
📍 Rabat, Morocco
A huge free-to-attend festival of world music bringing together Arabic, African and international stars.
Official site ↗Roskilde Festival
📍 Roskilde, Denmark
One of Europe’s oldest festivals, non-profit and volunteer-run, with a famous orange main stage.
Official site ↗Montreux Jazz Festival
📍 Montreux, Switzerland
Legendary festival on the shore of Lake Geneva. It started with jazz and now welcomes soul, blues, rock and pop legends.
Official site ↗Tomorrowland
📍 Boom, Belgium
The world-famous electronic music festival with fairy-tale stage designs and fans from over 200 countries.
Official site ↗Fuji Rock Festival
📍 Naeba, Niigata, Japan
A festival in the mountains famous for its clean, friendly atmosphere and a mix of Japanese and international acts.
Official site ↗Afro Nation
📍 Portimão, Portugal
The biggest afrobeats festival in the world, celebrating afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B and amapiano by the beach.
Official site ↗Lollapalooza
📍 Chicago, USA
A festival in Grant Park in the heart of Chicago, with editions in South America and Europe.
Official site ↗Sziget Festival
📍 Budapest, Hungary
A week-long “Island of Freedom” on the Danube river with music of every genre and visitors from all over Europe.
Official site ↗Summer Sonic
📍 Tokyo and Osaka, Japan
A city festival held in two cities at the same time, famous for big international pop and rock headliners and K-pop and J-pop acts.
Official site ↗Wacken Open Air
📍 Wacken, Germany
The world’s most famous metal festival, when a small German village becomes the capital of heavy music.
Official site ↗Rock in Rio
📍 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
One of the largest music festivals on the planet, with rock, pop and metal superstars in front of huge crowds.
Official site ↗Ziro Festival of Music
📍 Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, India
An eco-friendly outdoor festival in a beautiful valley, focused on Indian independent music, folk and rock.
Official site ↗⚠️ Months are typical; exact dates, line-ups and even whether a festival takes place change every year. Always check the official website before buying tickets or travel.
Tips for your first festival
- Buy tickets only from official sellers. Big festivals sell out in minutes, and fake tickets are common on social media.
- Make a plan, but leave room for surprises. Mark 3–4 artists you must see and spend the rest of the time discovering smaller stages. That is where you find new favourites.
- Protect your ears. Music at festivals often reaches 100 dB. Musicians’ earplugs lower the volume without muffling the sound.
- Drink water, eat and rest. Long days in the sun or rain are tiring. Comfortable shoes, a rain jacket and a power bank are must-haves.
- Agree on a meeting point. Mobile networks often fail in big crowds, so choose a clear spot where your group meets if you get separated.
Festival types
Multi-genre festivals (Glastonbury, Roskilde, Sziget) have rock, pop, hip-hop and electronic stages together. Specialised festivals focus on one style: Wacken for metal, Tomorrowland for electronic music, Montreux for jazz. For your first festival, a multi-genre event is usually the best choice: it is the perfect place to discover new music.