Festival season is currently in full swing. So far this summer, the world has been treated to a slew of groundbreaking events that have welcomed some of the best live performances to hit the stage in recent years. For example, Elton John provided a legendary set at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, while Aitch shut down his hometown during his headline performance at Manchester’s Parklife.
Now, there’s still a wide variety of events commencing across Europe, hosting a melange of intriguing and emerging talent in new places to discover them. From hip-hop, rock, and country to R&B, soul, and Afrobeats, more music festivals are coming soon that are ready to create memories and stories for you that will last a lifetime.
With this in mind, Hypebeast has listed a selection of the best festivals across Europe that you should attend this year. Check out the best of the rest on offer in the full list below.
AMA Festival
Running from August 23 through to August 27, AMA Festival will be home to a slew of internationally-renowned artists and bands that are nailed on to make midsummer evenings for all attendees truly unique. Hosted at the Villa Ca’ Cornaro, in Romano d’Ezzelino, Italy, the event is now at its seventh edition.
And while the venue will host several stages with best-in-class music, the event also includes a collection of relaxation and large food areas. Furthermore, visitors can also catch performances that delved into performing arts with cultural itineraries that will allow you to discover the territory by promoting sustainable tourism.
Flow
Standing as one of Helsinki’s favorite urban boutique festivals, Flow has been one of the city’s most popular destinations since its inception in 2004. Born out of its founders’ passion for culture, Flow was created to fill a void in Finland that was crying out for a high-quality and alternative music festival. Now, 19 years deep, Flow has evolved from a small club event to a trailblazing European music and arts festival that attracts fans from across the globe.
Sziget Festival
Welcoming thousands of Szitizens each summer, Sziget Festival is an event that brings the biggest names in music from a wide variety of genres across 60 stages for six days straight. As Sziget translates to “island” in Hungarian, Sziget Festival also locates itself on Obuda-Island, a remote island in the heart of Budapest. However, in and amongst the picturesque scenery, Sziget offers more than just music. The event provides experiences that tap into love, art, and freedom in all of its possible forms, with several non-music stages based in and around the hundreds of food and relaxation areas.
Rock en Seine
Running for almost 20 years now, Rock en Seine has been one of the biggest dates on the French music summer calendar, with its 40,000 people capacity being one of the great and unmissable European festivals. Throughout the festival, Rock en Seine welcomes a collection of the world’s best international pop and rock acts, with emblematic headliners and the best up-and-coming talent. Additionally, the French festival also supports all types of artistic creativity, with a vast number of events, exhibitions, talks, and even a festival for the younger generation: Mini Rock en Seine.
Reading/Leeds Festival
Reading and Leeds Festivals are twinned music festivals and two of the biggest to hit the UK every summer. Both events have been held since the 1970s and over the years, have featured famous acts such as The Beastie Boys and grunge pioneers, Nirvana. Now, the two events continue to share the same line-ups, with Reading being held at Little John’s Farm on Richfield Avenue, and Leeds taking place in Bramham Park.
Reading and Leeds now welcome a collection of the biggest stars in the world, across a wide range of genres. From UK rap and grime to rock, R&B, and soul, attendees can expect star upon star across various stages that are surrounded by multicultural food stalls – that stock everything from Nando’s Peri-Peri to jollof rice – and zen relaxation spaces.
All Points East
East London’s All Points East is returning for its fifth year this summer and welcomes its most versatile line-up yet as it prepares for two star-studded weekends in August. This year, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Haim, and grime star Stormzy are heading the bill, while the likes of Girl in Red, Trove Lo, The Sniffers, and Angel Olson will also hit the stage, making the roster arguably its most varied it has been since the event’s inception.
Additionally, All Points East will also open the doors to Stormzy’s “This Is What I Mean Day,” where the likes of Kehlani, Lucky Day, Ms. Banks, Knucks, and Sampha will all support Big Mike throughout the day.
Pukklepop
Originally launching as a small local music event in 1985, Pukklepop has grown into an outdoor alternative festival in the heart of Belgium. Now, as one of Europe’s most popular music events, the venue welcomes almost 200 music performers every year, with living legends and visionary alternative artists making the trip to Pukklepop annually. Welcoming hi-octant rock and lo-fi singer-songwriters to bright splashes of pure pop and banging house and hot metal, Pukklepop will also include opportunities for attendees to immerse themselves in street theater, exhibitions, and the Food Wood area that serves up delicious dishes from around the world.
Lovestream
Hosted over three days, Lovestream is one of the biggest music events in Slovakia, with the festival moving from Tehelné Pole to the Old Airport in Vajnory. The first day will be opened with a selection of world-renowned names such as Martin Garrix, The Killers, and Aly-J, who will then be followed by the likes of Catalan singer Alvaro Soler, Jason Derulo, and Hardwell. The final day will then be concluded with Celeste Buckingham, Jessie Ware, and Imagine Dragons.
Creamfields North
As one of the most popular electronic dance events in the UK, Creamfields has blazed the trail for all things dance music since 1998. The original dance festival was set out to provide the clubbing world with a large-scale outdoor event, putting DJs center stage for the first time. Now, its flagship UK festival has grown from a 25,000-capacity one-day show to a four-day camping experience that attracts crowds of over 70,000 people.
Renowned for attracting the biggest names in electronic music, its huge production designs and ambitious staging welcomes over 300 artists that perform over 30 stages. In past years, some of the big-name acts to perform have come in the form of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz, and Calvin Harris. This time around, Creamfields North attendees can expect to see the likes of Carl Cox, David Guetta, and Chase and Status who are expected to lead one of the best electronic music festivals of the year.
