Summer is the season when cities come alive with color, rhythm, and celebration. Around the globe, festivals burst into full swing—honoring tradition, music, food, and pure joy. The following is a list of the most iconic summer festivals around the world that offer unforgettable experiences for travelers.
JUNE 2025
Copenhagen Distortion Festival
Known for its wild street parties, club events, and its eclectic lineup of DJs and performers, the Copenhagen Distortion Festival transforms Copenhagen’s neighborhoods into massive open-air dance floors. With a focus on community, creativity, and cutting-edge music, the event draws tens of thousands of revelers, offering a blend of underground culture and urban energy.
Genres: EDM
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Dates: June 4-8, 2025
Website
Primavera Sound Barcelona
Primavera Sound Barcelona is a renowned music festival held annually at Parc del Fòrum, attracting over 75,000 attendees each year. Known for its eclectic lineup spanning genres like indie rock, electronic, hip-hop, and pop, the festival has hosted iconic artists such as Radiohead, Björk, and Rosalía.
Genres: rock, alternative rock, punk rock, hip-hop, indie rock, indie pop, electro house, nu metal
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Dates: June 5-7, 2025
Website
World Club Dome
World Club Dome is one of the largest electronic dance music festivals in Europe, held annually in Frankfurt, Germany. Organized by BigCityBeats, the event transforms the Deutsche Bank Park stadium and surrounding areas into a massive “club” with top international DJs, elaborate stage designs, and immersive experiences.
Genres: EDM
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Dates: June 6-8, 2025
Website
North By Northeast (NXNE)
North by Northeast (NXNE) is Toronto’s premier emerging music festival. Held annually in June, the festival transforms over 20 of the city’s top live music venues into stages for more than 200 up-and-coming artists from around the world. With a focus on discovery, NXNE offers fans the chance to experience raw, high-energy performances in intimate settings. Notable past performers include Lizzo, Daniel Caesar, The Lumineers, and Run the Jewels.
Genres: hard rock, avant-garde jazz, hip hop, country, indie pop, R&B, punk, and more
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Dates: June 11-15, 2025
Website
Download Festival
Since its launch in 2003, Download Festival has become one of the UK’s premier rock events, featuring iconic bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Slipknot. Known for its passionate fanbase, high-energy performances, and alternative culture, it typically spans three days each June, drawing tens of thousands of attendees.
Genres: rock, metal, alternative rock
Location: Donington Park, UK
Dates: June 13-15, 2025
Website
Parklife Festival
With an eclectic lineup featuring some of the biggest names in indie, dance, hip-hop, and electronic music, the Parklife Festival attracts over 140,000 revelers each year. Located in Heaton Park, Manchester, this highly anticipated event features eight diverse music stages, a wide selection of food trucks, street performers, and many different types of clubs and DJs.
Genres: EDM, house, techno, drum & bass, UK garage, experimental electronic, pop, and hip-hop
Location: Manchester, UK
Dates: June 14-15, 2025
Website
Hellfest 2025
Hellfest is France’s largest and one of Europe’s most renowned heavy metal festivals. The 2025 edition will feature 184 bands across six stages, including headliners Linkin Park, Scorpions, Korn, and Muse. Tickets for the four-day passes sold out in a record 25 minutes, highlighting the event’s immense popularity.
Genres: metal
Location: Clisson, France
Dates: June 19-22, 2025
Website
Summerfest 2025
Summerfest is Milwaukee’s signature summer event. Held annually at Henry Maier Festival Park along the shores of Lake Michigan, it features over 1,000 performances across 12 stages, showcasing a diverse lineup of artists from genres like rock, pop, country, R&B, and reggae. With its rich history dating back to 1968, Summerfest has become a must-visit destination for music lovers, drawing nearly a million attendees each year.
Genres: alternative, bluegrass, blues, contemporary, country, EDM, folk, funk, gospel, rock, metal, hip hop, indie, jam band, jazz, pop, R&B, reggae
Location: Milwaukee, WI, USA
Dates: June 19-July 5, 2025
Website
Danube Island Festival
The Danube Island Festival attracts around 2.5 to 3 million visitors and features over 600 hours of programming across 16 stages. Beyond music, attendees can enjoy a wide array of food stalls offering global cuisines, family-friendly activities, sports zones, and cultural events. Admission is free, making it accessible to everyone.
Genres: rock, pop, hip hop, EDM, and more
Location: Vienna, Austria
Dates: June 20-22, 2025
Website
Pinkpop Festival
Pinkpop, the world’s oldest annual open-air pop and rock music festival, has been held since 1970 in Landgraaf, Netherlands. With a capacity of 70,000 attendees per day, Pinkpop offers a mix of rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronic music across four stages. The festival is renowned for its rich history, having hosted nearly 1,000 unique acts and welcomed over 3 million visitors over its five-decade run.
Genres: rock, indie, alternative rock, hip-hop, EDM, metal, and more.
Location: Landgraaf, Netherlands
Dates: June 20-22, 2025
Website
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival is one of the world’s most iconic music and performing arts events, held annually in Somerset, England. It features a diverse lineup of music across multiple genres, along with theater, circus, cabaret, and other arts. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and countercultural roots, Glastonbury draws hundreds of thousands of attendees and has become a symbol of British festival culture.
Genres: rock, pop, folk, EDM, world music
Location: Somerset, UK
Dates: June 25-29, 2025
Website
Defqon.1 Netherlands
The end of June is the time to visit the Netherlands for the Defqon.1 Weekend Festival. The event spans four days and features multiple stages showcasing over 500 artists. Highlights include the iconic The RED, the event’s main stage, immersive end shows, and unique experiences like the Warrior Workout and the Open Air Bed Concert. Defqon.1 is renowned for its elaborate stage designs, pyrotechnics, and a strong sense of community among attendees.
Genres: EDM mainly
Location: Biddinghuisen, Netherlands
Dates: June 26-29, 2025
Website
Montreal Jazz Festival
Recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest jazz festival on the planet, the Montreal Jazz Fest has been synonymous with musical passion and memorable moments for over 40 years. Located in the heart of downtown Montreal, the event site becomes the meeting place for jazz lovers worldwide for ten days. Together, they enjoy close to 150 indoor concerts and the famous outdoor component, consisting of more than 350 free, open-air shows.
Genres: jazz, blues, world music
Location: Montreal, QC, Canada
Dates: June 26-July 5, 2025
Website
Solidays 2025
Solidays is held at the Hippodrome de Longchamp in Paris, typically during the last weekend of June. Founded in 1999 by the association Solidarité Sida, the event combines live performances with a strong commitment to social causes, particularly the fight against HIV/AIDS. The 2025 edition, scheduled from June 27 to 29, will feature over 80 concerts across nine stages, showcasing artists like Damso, Sean Paul, MC Solaar, and Fisher.
Genres: hip-hop, rock, EDM
Location: Paris, France
Dates: June 27-29, 2025
Website
JULY 2025
Rock Werchter
In 2025, this legendary Belgian festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Rock Werchter features a diverse lineup of top international artists across genres like rock, pop, electronic, and hip-hop. Known for its world-class production and vibrant atmosphere, the festival typically spans four days in early summer, attracting more than 150,000 people who come to listen to the sixty or so groups performing on three stages.
Genres: alternative rock, rock, indie rock, pop, hip-hop, metal, EDM, dance music
Location: Werchter, Belgium
Dates: July 3-6, 2025
Website
Quebec Summer Festival (FEQ)
The historic Quebec City center sets the scene for a sizzling summer music festival, with close to 1.5 million revelers enjoying around 300 acts at a dozen indoor and outdoor venues. Top international superstars such as the Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Bryan Adams, Elton John, and Placido Domingo have played at the FEQ on the largest self-standing stage in North America.
The Quebec City Summer Festival also features streets and terraces packed with joyful festival-goers, surprise performances across the city, a family-friendly program, and the discovery of emerging artists. Headliners for the 2025 edition include Rod Stewart, Benson Boone, Avril Lavigne, Def Leppard, Slayer, and Shania Twain.
Genres: rock, pop, punk, hip-hop, EDM, metal, world music
Location: Quebec City, QC, Canada
Dates: July 3-13, 2025
Website
Afro Nation Portugal
Afro Nation Portugal is a premier music festival that celebrates African and international artists across a variety of genres, including Afrobeats, R&B, hip-hop, dancehall, and more. While the flagship event is held annually in Portugal, Afro Nation has also expanded globally with editions in Ghana, Puerto Rico, Miami, and Detroit.
Genres: afrobeats, amapiano, dancehall, R&B, hip-hop
Location: Portimão, Portugal
Dates: July 9-11, 2025
Website
NOS Alive
Established in 2007 by the Portuguese live entertainment company Everything is New, NOS Alive has become a staple in the European music scene, attracting music enthusiasts from around the globe. The festival’s name is inspired by the Pearl Jam song “Alive,” reflecting its vibrant and energetic atmosphere.
Genres: rock, alternative rock, pop, and electronica
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Dates: July 10-12, 2025
Website
Lollapalooza Berlin
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Lollapalooza Berlin. In addition to an eclectic music lineup, the festival features interactive experiences like Fashionpalooza, Grüner Kiez, and Lolla Fun Fair. With the presence of Kidzapalooza, the event caters to all ages, offering a colorful array of music and creative activities for the little ones.
Genres: alternative rock, punk rock, metal, pop, hip-hop, EDM, soul
Location: Berlin, Germany
Dates: July 12-13, 2025
Website
Lollapalooza Paris
After a forced hiatus in 2024 due to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Lollapalooza Paris is back in 2025. This famous music festival created by Perry Farrell is making its comeback at the Hippodrome de ParisLongchamp from July 18 to July 20, 2025, with three new days that promise to be explosive.
Genres: alternative rock, punk rock, metal, pop, hip-hop, EDM, soul
Location: Paris, France
Dates: July 18-20, 2025
Website
Das Fest
Das Fest is one of the largest open-air music festivals in Germany. Known in Germany as simply The Festival, this event has been taking place annually since 1985. With free camping and an admission price under $20, this is one of Europe’s top budget festivals.
Genres: rock, pop, hip hop, reggae, dancehall, folk, punk, techno, tech house
Location: Karlsruhe, Germany
Dates: July 24-27, 2025
Website
Pol’and’Rock
Here’s the Woodstock of Poland: Pol’and’Rock Festival, previously known as Woodstock Festival Poland, is a free music event that attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees every year. It actually hosts a crowd of up to 750,000 people, either camping on-site, passing by to see a show, or visiting the Academy of the Finest of Arts.
Genres: rock, punk rock, reggae, rapcore, folk music, metal, EDM
Location: Czaplinek, Poland
Dates: July 31-August 2, 2025
Website
Lollapalooza Chicago
Lollapalooza Chicago is a famous annual music festival held in Grant Park, featuring a diverse lineup of rock, pop, hip-hop, electronic, and alternative acts. Since its inception in 1991, it has become one of the largest music festivals in the U.S. Known for its sprawling stages and iconic performances, Lollapalooza offers a mix of established stars and emerging talent across multiple genres.
Genres: rock, hip-hop, pop, EDM
Location: Chicago, IL
Dates: July 31-August 3, 2025
Website
AUGUST 2025
Hard Summer
Hard Summer Festival is a high-energy electronic music festival held annually in Southern California. Top DJs and producers across genres like EDM, hip-hop, and trap gather in Hollywood Park in Inglewood. With large-scale production, art installations, and a diverse crowd, the festival is a major summer event for electronic music lovers.
Genres: EDM, alternative dance, hip-hop, dance-punk, dubstep, house
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Dates: August-2-3, 2025
Website
Outside Lands
Outside Lands celebrates music, food, wine, beer, art, and everything we love about the Bay Area. Held annually in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, it spotlights a diverse lineup of artists across various genres, creating a vibrant and immersive cultural experience.
Genres: rock, pop, indie, hip-hop, dance, jam, soul, funk
Location: San Francisco, CA
Dates: August 8-10, 2025
Website
Pukkelpop
Pukkelpop is a four-day festival established in 1985 by the Humanist Youth of Leopoldsburg. From its modest origins, the festival has blossomed into a premier European music event, attracting a staggering 66,000 visitors each day. Its growth is a testament to the power of grassroots initiatives in shaping cultural landscapes.
Genres: rock, pop, EDM, dance, hip-hop, punk, metal
Location: Kiewit-Hasselt, Belgium
Dates: August 14-17, 2025
Website
Creamfields
What began as an offshoot for the legendary Liverpool nightclub, Creamfields is now the UK’s leading dance festival. Its massive lineups feature top global DJs and producers, who deliver high-energy performances across multiple stages with impressive production, drawing tens of thousands of EDM fans each year.
Genres: house, techno, EDM, trance, drum and bass, hardstyle, and more
Location: Darebury, UK
Dates: August 21-24, 2025
Website
Summer festivals are more than events—they’re a window into the heart of a culture. The above global celebrations promise memories that will last long after the season ends. So pack your bag, grab your ticket, and let the world be your stage this summer.