Summer is finally here, and that means festival season is about to kick off.
With some of the world’s biggest artists coming to Europe this year, there are plenty of reasons to start planning a summer break around one of the following events.
From the biggest rock and electronic festivals to jazz and world music, here’s a list of the best festivals in Europe to attend in 2023.
- Positivus Festival: Riga, Latvia, July 14-15
- Flow Festival: Helsinki, Finland, August 11–13
- Tomorrowland: Boom, Belgium, July 21-23 & 28-30
- Sziget Festival: Budapest, Hungary, August 10-15
- Exit Festival: Novi Sad, Serbia, July 6–9
- Nice Jazz Festival: Nice, France, July 18–21
- Mad Cool: Madrid, Spain, July 6–8
- NOS Alive: Lisbon, Portugal, July 6–8
- Musikfest Berlin: Berlin, Germany, August 26 – September 18
- Way Out West: Gothenburg, Sweden, August 10–12
- Calas Mijas: Malaga, Spain, August 31 – September 2
- Méra World Music Festival: Méra, Transylvania, Romania, August 3–6
Positivus Festival
Where? Riga, Latvia
When? July 14–15
If you love music, arts, and culture, you won’t want to miss the Positivus Festival in Riga. Every summer, this amazing event transforms the green Lucavsala Island into a paradise of sound and creativity.
Photo by Krists Luhaers on Flickr
You’ll get to see some of the hottest artists in the world perform live (Sam Smith, Metro Boomin, and Alt-J are the headliners for 2023) and explore the Positivus Bazaar, the festival’s famous marketplace selling unique and beautiful items to take home as souvenirs.
Photo by Krists Luhaers on Flickr
The Positivus Festival started in 2007 and has since cemented itself as one of Europe’s best festivals, regularly bringing some of the biggest acts in the world to the Baltics.
Flow Festival
Where? Helsinki, Finland
When? August 11–13
Emerging from humble origins as an intimate jazz and soul gathering in 2004, the Flow Festival in Helsinki has steadily blossomed into a prominent force on the music festival circuit.
Photo by Petri Anttila on Flickr
This summer, Flow promises an extraordinary lineup featuring huge artists such as Blur, Wizkid, Lorde, Tove Lo, and more, all of them descending on Suvilahti, a former industrial area that’s now a cultural centre.
Photo by Kim Öhman on Flickr
In addition to the music, there are also captivating art installations, delicious food and restaurants on site, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability. Flow proudly holds the distinction of being one of the world’s first carbon-neutral festivals.
Tomorrowland
Where? Boom, Belgium
When? July 21–23 & 28–30
If you love EDM, you know Tomorrowland. It’s the ultimate festival for electronic music fans, with the biggest names gracing the festival’s stages since its inception in 2005.
In 2023, the 360,000 tickets sold out in record time, so mark your calendars already for 2024.
Photo on Instagram
And for those who think it’s just a party, think again; this community takes great care of each other, and the festival has a sustainability angle that encourages good environmental practices as well.
Photo on Unsplash
For past lineups, you need just think of the most famous DJs and electronic artists in the world – from Avicii to Tiësto to Swedish House Mafia, Tomorrowland is where the magic happens. This is without a doubt one of the best music festivals in Europe.
Sziget Festival
Where? Budapest, Hungary
When? August 10–15
Taking place on Óbuda Island in Budapest over six days in August, the Sziget Festival has become one of the best music festivals in Europe.
Born in 1993, Sziget was inspired by the hopeful spirit that enveloped Hungary after its transition to democracy in 1989.
Photo on Instagram
This year marks the festival’s 30th anniversary, and it’s set to celebrate with a bang: headliners include the likes of Billie Eilish, David Guetta, Florence and The Machine, Imagine Dragons, Sam Fender, and more.
The vibe here is inclusive, friendly, and alternative, and the multi-genre lineup draws eager festivalgoers from around the world.
Photo on Sziget festival
The island is completely transformed into the festival site, boasting around 60 stages, with plenty of other things going on as well, from circus and theatre performances to foam parties and art installations.
Exit Festival
Where? Novi Sad, Serbia
When? July 6–9
Probably the most popular festival in the Balkans region, Exit is a captivating event that offers a musical smorgasbord spanning genres from tech house and ska to hardcore punk and rock.
Photo by EXIT photo team on Flickr
This year’s headliners include the legendary acts Prodigy and Skrillex, who will be joined by a variety of musical acts that span every genre imaginable.
As such, it’s a festival that attracts a varied crowd from around the world, but it does so in style; Exit is a two-time winner of the prestigious Best Major European Festival award.
Photo by EXIT photo team on Flickr
Originating as a student movement, the festival played a significant role in unifying the Balkans after a decade of division. There are still undercurrents of activism today, and the event has attracted millions of visitors since its inception in 2000.
Nice Jazz Festival
Where? Nice, France
When? July 18–21
It was in Nice, in 1948, that the world’s first jazz festival took place, headlined by one of the greats, Louis Armstrong.
Since then, the Nice Jazz Festival has gone from strength to strength, an explosive jazz extravaganza taking the French Riviera in its grasp every summer.
Photo by Veran Inlien on Nice jazz festival
The city is the perfect setting for a jazz festival; there’s something timeless about both the genre and the location, the warm summer air filled with lilting melodies, the velvety tones of trumpets and guitar, the sultry pianos, and the echo of drums.
Photo by David NOUV on Nice jazz festival
This particular event is also surprisingly intimate, with only two stages and plenty of time to see the acts you want to see.
Still going strong in 2023, the Nice Jazz Festival is a testament to the enduring allure of the genre.
Mad Cool
Where? Madrid, Spain
When? July 6–8
The Mad Cool Festival in Madrid – a huge celebration of rock, indie, and electronic music – has swiftly earned its place among the elite festivals of Europe.
Despite only being around since 2016, it has attracted some of the biggest names in music, from Metallica and The Who to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Arctic Monkeys.
Photo by Paco Poyato on Instagram
Picture a passionate crowd basking in the Spanish sun, embracing the frenetic energy of some of the world’s best artists. Impeccable sound quality amplifies the impact of each performance, while the festival’s sold-out full-weekend tickets testify to its irresistible allure.
Photo on Instagram
With a unique late start time to the daily schedule, attendees can explore Madrid’s culture, nightlife, and architecture before the music takes centre stage.
NOS Alive
Where? Lisbon, Portugal
When? July 6–8
Taking place by the river on the outskirts of Lisbon, NOS Alive offers an immersive and captivating blend of vibrant festival energy and urban exploration.
Photo on Facebook
This esteemed music festival has showcased an electrifying lineup each year since it began, with some major heavyweights in the rock and indie world gracing the stage, including Bob Dylan, Radiohead, and The Strokes.
But those genres aren’t all that’s on offer here. NOS Alive also extends into genres such as pop, hip-hop, R&B, disco, and house, further drawing enthusiastic crowds from around the globe.
Photo on Facebook
The festival’s beautiful location on the banks of the Tagus River near the Atlantic Ocean is also incredible. Within ten minutes, you can be exploring Lisbon’s historical centre, lazing on a nearby beach, or surfing the world-class swell.
Musikfest Berlin
Where? Berlin, Germany
When? August 26 – September 18
For something completely different to most other festivals on this list, we have Musikfest Berlin. This festival is for fans of classical music, with the three-week event ushering in the Berlin concert season as summer fades.
Photo by Martin Walz on Berliner festspiele
Chamber orchestras, choral ensembles, soloists, and symphony orchestras all take to the stage at two venues in Berlin.
Each year there’s a different theme, and the performances tend to focus on rare and unusual works, both from the modern day and those forgotten in history.
Photo by Marco Borggreve on Berliner festspiele
Travellers to Berlin for the festival can also expect other interesting events to go to, such as art exhibitions and professional panels.
Way Out West
Where? Gothenburg, Sweden
When? August 10–12
Arguably Sweden’s most highly acclaimed music festival, Way Out West is a stunning music extravaganza taking place in the serene woodlands of Gothenburg.
Photo by Way Out West
Since its inception in 2007, this captivating event has welcomed renowned artists such as Kanye West, Stormzy, and Florence and The Machine, and the 2023 lineup promises nothing short of brilliance, with appearances by Blur, Wizkid, and Caroline Polachek.
From hip-hop to rock and indie, the festival delivers a diverse musical experience, while the enchanting location in Gothenburg’s Slottsskogen lets you immerse yourself in the beautiful nature and bright summer evenings in Sweden.
Photo by Way Out West
The vibe here also has a strong sustainable element: food is vegetarian, and the festival has been awarded the environmental ISO 20121 certification thanks to its eco-friendly efforts.
At night, the festival continues across venues in Gothenburg.
Calas Mijas
Where? Malaga, Spain
When? August 31 – September 2
While summer may be ending for other parts of Europe, the sun still sizzles in southern Spain, the perfect backdrop for the Calas Mijas music festival in Malaga.
2023 marks only the second year for this music festival, but it’s in good hands; the creators are the same people who are behind the famous Bilbao BBK festival in northern Spain.
Photo on Calas Mijas
The vibe here is infectious, a bit of a beachside party, with lots of dancing and DJs playing late into the night after the day’s acts have finished up on the stage.
Nestled between the mountains and coast of Andalucía, with Malaga only a stone’s throw away, this is a great choice for capturing the feeling of an endless summer; especially when you consider the 2023 headliners Arcade Fire, The Strokes, and Florence and The Machine.
Photo on Calas Mijas
Méra World Music Festival
Where? Méra, Transylvania, Romania
When? August 3–6
For something truly special, we have the captivating Méra Festival, a small event that abounds with local pride.
Nestled within the heart of Transylvania in Romania, the quaint village of Méra reveals its enchanting secrets with a big focus on world music, the different cultures harmoniously coming together through music to intertwine with the humble village setting and Transylvanian culture.
Photo on Mera world music
This is an intimate festival, with only around 12 to 14 artists taking to the stage in the small, barn-like venue each year. And the organisers are committed to keeping it that way, much to the delight of fans who cherish the atmosphere – this is truly something special.
Photo on Mera world music
The village itself, known for its vibrant Hungarian heritage, picturesque old homes, and folk traditions, is just as captivating as the music.