From seasoned stalwarts to circuit newcomers, Europe hosts a few of the most noteworthy festivals on the planet. With Europe’s 2020 competition season sadly cancelling due the affect of COVID-19 and lots of tickets rolling over to 2021, subsequent yr’s festivals are quick changing into the world’s hottest waitlist.
Listed here are a few of our competition favourites to get in your radar for future years. (Geese to keep away from being hit by paper cups for not having the ability to point out extra of them).
Pray for raves not second waves, folks!
Sziget
The place: Budapest, Hungary
When: August 2021, actual dates TBC
2021 lineup: TBC, however previous acts have included Arctic Monkeys, Florence & The Machine, Foo Fighters, Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore.
One island, seven days, hundreds of acts: Sziget is much less of a competition, and extra of a vacation that you just by no means need to finish. Hosted on the Island of Freedom (Budapest’s Óbuda Island), Sziget is one among Europe’s largest and most famous festivals. In addition to a setlist that spans the musical spectrum with superstars from the worlds of indie, rock, EDM and R&B, there’s additionally a staggering seven-day program of cinema, comedy, theatre and cultural occasions. It’s the sort of competition the place you make buddies for all times, surrender sporting sneakers, and contemplate promoting all of your possessions to hitch a nomadic circus troupe.
Roskilde
The place: Roskilde, Denmark
The place: 26 June – three July 2021
2021 lineup: Thom Yorke, Tyler, the Creator, FKA Twiggs, Floating Factors, TLC, plus many extra.
A legend on Europe’s competition circuit, Roksilde deserves a well-earned place within the competition corridor of fame. One of many largest festivals in Northern Europe, it’s now its 50th yr. Roskilde is greater than a competition, it’s an establishment: one which celebrates the crowd-pleasers as a lot because the cutting-edge, and the mainstream as a lot because the up-and-comers. In addition to a various show of music and genres, the competition promotes an actual sense of belonging and appreciation for artwork, activism and the avant-guarde – together with Bare Runs on the Saturday annually! The entire expertise comes along with the trademark cool and easy Scandi model that you’d anticipate from the Danish.
Extremely Europe
The place: Break up, Croatia
When: 9 – 11 July 2021
2021 lineup: TBC, however earlier years have included David Guetta, Afrojack, Armin Van Buuren, Carl Cox, Hardwell, Chase & Standing.
Crossing the Atlantic to the glowing shores of the Adriatic, the European leg of the Extremely franchise hosts a few of the biggest dance, techno, trance and home acts from across the globe. From spinning decks to crusing decks, it’s additionally a competition the place you possibly can absorb Croatia’s world-famous summer time occasion scene. The primary competition is in Break up’s Mladeži park, with different Extremely events going down on close by islands, seashores, yachts and fortresses. Whereas the 2021 lineup has but to be introduced, if earlier years have been something to go by, it guarantees to be a who’s who of the planet’s best DJs and dance duos.
Tomorrowland
The place: Growth, Belgium
When: 16 – 18 July and 23 – 25 July 2021
2021 lineup: TBC, however earlier acts have included David Guetta, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Marshmello, Amelie Lens, Martin Garrix, Eric Prydz.
In brief, Tomorrowland is probably the most revered EDM competition on Earth. Growth, drop the mic. (The competition is in Growth in Belgium? By no means thoughts). Tomorrowland’s unforgettable stage designs and spectacular firework shows transport you to a different universe. A universe the place the most important names in EDM, home, hardstyle, drum & bass and extra carry out in a fantasyland of quirky units and theatrics, surrounded by lakes and forests. It’s a completely immersive expertise the place you allow feeling such as you’ve belonged to one thing really extraordinary.
Primavera Sound
The place: Barcelona, Spain
When: 2 – 6 June 2021
2021 lineup: Gorillaz, Tame Impala, The Strokes, FKA Twigs, Iggy Pop, Disclosure, Jorja Smith.
Barcelona’s multi-genre music competition, held on the shores of the Mediterranean within the metropolis’s Parc del Discussion board, is the last word reflection of the town itself. Various, inventive and oh-so-effing-cool. Unfold throughout 16 outside phases, the annual lineup is one thing of a musical masterpiece – taking probably the most influential artists from throughout genres to create a simple 5 days of music. 2021 will probably be Primavera Sound’s belated 20th birthday, so guarantees to be the sort of celebration that each child needs an invitation to.
Afro Nation
The place: Praia da Rocha Seaside, Portimão, Portugal
When: 1 – three July 2021
2021 lineup: Skepta, Wizkid, Beenie Man, French Montana, Burna Boy, plus many extra.
The largest names in city music, on a sun-drenched seashore on Portugal’s beautiful Algarve? What’s to not love. Over three days, beats drop from the masters of hip-hop, dancehall, bashment, Afrobeats and R&B towards a backdrop of golden sands, limestone rocks and crystal-clear waters. In addition to the primary occasion, the aspect events are additionally one thing of sophistication act, with personal seashore and boat events.
FIB: Competition Internacional de Benicàssim
The place: Benicàssim, Spain
When: July 2021, actual dates TBC
2021 lineup: TBC, however previous acts have included Kings of Leon, Liam Gallagher, Travis Scott, The Killers, The Vaccines, Vampire Weekend.
Competition Internacional de Benicàssim – or ‘Beni’ for brief – is a mainstay on the European competition scene, pulling within the crowds with its huge names and sunny seaside vibes. Held within the coastal city of Benicàssim on Spain’s Costa del Azahar, the newest and biggest names in rock, indie, dance and pop run from early night till the early hours to assist fight the summer time Spanish warmth. The added bonus being that festival-goers get their days free to journey/discover/collapse hungover on a seashore (delete as acceptable).
Mad Cool Competition
The place: Madrid, Spain
When: 7 – 10 July 2021
2021 lineup: Religion No Extra, Pixies, Purple Sizzling Chilli Peppers, The Killers, plus heaps extra already introduced.
Regardless of solely being round since 2016, Mad Cool has already established itself as a serious participant on the rock and indie competition circuit. Held in a stadium village in Spain’s capital, Mad Cool doesn’t have the sundrenched seaside setting of Benicássim, however what it lacks in magnificence it greater than makes up for in headline acts. In its quick – however very candy – historical past, it’s already attracted a formidable variety of superstars from rock’s present corridor of fame, together with Foo Fighters, Inexperienced Day, Pearl Jam, Kings of Leon, and Queens of the Stone Age.
Glastonbury
The place: Worthy Farm, Pilton, England
When: 23 – 27 June 2021
2021 lineup: TBC, however previous artists have included… properly, just about everybody.
No competition lineup can be full with out Glastonbury. Hallowed floor for competition followers the world over, Glastonbury is in a world of its personal. From the music royalty of the Pyramid Stage, to the underground world of Shangri-La, late-night hedonism of Arcadia and lazy afternoon hippy vibes of the Therapeutic Fields, Glastonbury is much less of a competition – and extra of a life-style. So far as guestlists go, you want luck in your aspect for this one! Massively oversubscribed, you get tickets by registering upfront after which sitting by means of a nail-biting morning of clicking and refreshing the webpage. 5 days partying at Worthy Farm although? Properly value it.