Who can’t wait for the Fairy Festival season?
The best and biggest festivals in Europe are also some of the most popular in the rest of the world. Glastonbury and Tomorrowland are undoubtedly the leaders, but big giants like Creamfields, Ultra Europe, Sziget, Primavera Sound and Rock am Ring are not far behind.
Here’s our list of 25 festivals not to be missed in 2021.
The order is random.
Creamfields
Festival Poster (2021): deadmau5, Carl Cox, Martin Garrix, Adam Beyer, Tiësto, Timmy Trumpet, Erix Prydz, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
Creamfields is always full of global stars and is one of the most prestigious dance festivals on the planet. Whatever type of electronic music you prefer, at Creamfields you will find much more than you could ever ask for.
When and where: August 26-29, 2021; Daresbury
Spring Sound
Festival Poster (2021): The Strokes, Gorillaz, Tame Impala, FKA Twigs, Tyler, the Creator, Jorja Smith, Iggy Pop, Disclosure
The King of Indie and a great enthusiast of new music, Primavera Sound is proud of its contribution to the alternative panorama. Creativity is his priority, which is why he counts on truly unique alignments.
When and where: June 2 to 6, 2021; Barcelona, Spain
Rock am Ring & Rock im Park
Poster (2020): System of a Down, Green Day, Volbeat, Deftones, Billy Talent, Korn, Weezer, Broilers
If what you like is rock and metal, then the German Rock am Ring festival doesn’t need performances. Pairing up with its brother festival, Rock im Park, its line-ups are truly unique and one of the most attended in the world.
When and where: June 11-13, 2021, Mendig and Nuremberg, Germany
Isle of Wight Festival
Festival Poster (2021): Lionel Richie, Lewis Capaldi, Snow Patrol, Duran Duran, Happy Mondays, Primal Scream, Razorlight, Jess Glynne
The Isle of Wight Festival is known for its exclusive poster, headed by legendary artists: Fleetwood Mac, The Stone Roses, Bruce Springsteen and eclectic alignments that pay tribute to their own incredible history. Now over 50 years old, the IOW is in full swing.
When and where: June 17 to 20, 2021; Isle of Wight
Ultra Europe
Poster (2020): David Guetta, Afrojack, Pendulum – TRINITY, Armin van Buuren, DJ Snake, Marshmello, Richie Hawtin, Steve Aoki
Imported directly from the glamorous city center of Miami, Ultra Europe wasted no time in establishing itself in the role of successor to the FMU. The world’s greatest DJs praise the magnificent Adriatic coast.
When and where: July 9-11, 2021; Split, Croatia
Let it Roll
Festival Poster (2020): Pendulum, Sub Focus, Dimension, Alix Perez, DJ Marky, Dub Phizix & Strategy, Culture Shock, SpectraSoul
Let it Roll is undoubtedly recognized as the largest and most influential drum and bass festival in the world.
As the core of drum and bass, Let it Roll represents the most important artists on the circuit, bringing with it more than 300 DJs and producers, to more than eight stages, all of them with their own themes.
When and where: August 5-7, 2021, Milovice, Czech Republic
Sziget Festival
Poster (2020): Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa, The Strokes, Kings Of Leon, Major Leisure, A$AP Rocky, Stormzy
Sziget is one of those festivals that even if you don’t spend more money on marketing will sell out every year. Its reputation precedes it and Budapest is the ideal host city.
When and where: August 2021; Budapest, Hungary
Wireless Festival
Poster (2020): A$AP Rocky, Lil Uzi Vert, D-Block Europe, Skepta, Meek Mill, AJ Tracey, Burna Boy, Young Thug
Rap and dance music form the perfect partnership at the Wireless Festival and create a distinctive weekend that embodies one of London’s many subcultures to perfection.
When and where: July 2-4, 2021; London
EXIT Festival
Poster (2020): David Guetta, Tyga, James Arthur, Fatboy Slim, Kosheen, Boris Brejcha, Roni Size, Metronomy
Many titans of dance and some pop and indie, or even some heavy metal in between, as was the case of Motörhead in 2015 at the EXIT Festival in Serbia. The Sea Dance Brother Festival continues the party in the beautiful bathing area of Budva, Montenegro.
When and where: July 2021; Novi Sad, Serbia
Roskilde
Festival Poster (2021): Tyler, the Creator, Thom Yorke Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes, FKA Twigs, Floating Points, TLC, Moses Sumney, Mayhem, The Whitest Boy Alive
Races with everything to the delight and crazy parties in the camp do not define many of the modern music festivals, but the historical roots of Roskilde attract the public year after year for much more than just music.
When and where: June 26 to July 3, 2021; Roskilde, Denmark
Tomorrowland
Poster (2020): Martin Garrix, David Guetta, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Marshmello, Amelie Lens, Adam Beyer, Eric Prydz, NERVO
Tomorrowland is, without a doubt, the greatest music show in the world. Incredible alignments handpicked from a list of limitless artists, combined with attention to every detail, create a fantastic universe that continues to fascinate the world.
When and where: July 16-18 and July 23-25, 2021; Boom, Belgium
Mad Cool Festival
Festival Poster (2021): The Killers, Twenty One Pilots, Deftones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mumford & Sons, Faith No More, Pixies, Royal Blood
With only a few years of existence, Mad Cool is already one of the most popular and attractive festivals in Europe. Yes, it’s true that this festival doesn’t have the history and reputation of its Barcelona rival Primavera Sound, but in Mad Cool, Spain finally finds an event to match the spring.
When and where: July 7-10, 2021, Madrid, Spain
Download Festival
Poster (2020): KISS, Iron Maiden, System of a Down, Deftones, Korn, The Offspring, Disturbed, Gojira
The grandfather of rock and heavy metal festivals around the world, for many bands the Download represents the peak of their careers.
When and where: June 4-6, 2021; Derby
Parklife
Festival Poster (2020): Tyler, the Creator, Skepta, Lewis Capaldi, Khalid, Jorja Smith, Giggs, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Robyn
The Parklife Festival is one of the most popular and famous weekend festivals in the United Kingdom and offers a varied program of avant-garde music in Heaton Park, Manchester.
Curated by some of the UK’s most renowned electronic music brands, this weekend event has positioned itself firmly at the forefront of the country’s dance music circuit.
When and where: 12 and 13 June 2021; Manchester
Awakenings Festival
Poster (2020): Carl Cox, Amelie Lens, Richie Hawtin, ANNA, Chris Liebing, Charlotte de Witte, Jeff Mills, Helena Hauff
For this annual festival, Awakenings decides to abandon the media enclosure in the heart of Amsterdam, the Gashouder, opting instead to organize the event in a bucolic setting, turning Dutch green fields into open-air dance floors.
When and where: June 26 and 27, 2021, Spaarnwoude, the Netherlands
Glastonbury
Festival Poster (2020): Sir Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Lana Del Rey, Diana Ross
When it comes to global music festivals, Glastonbury is king. This event receives the biggest names in music in its famous Pyramid Stage, but it is the other face of Glastonbury that really sets it apart from the competition.
From the immersive universe that is Shangri-La, to the flamethrower spider Arcadia, to the underground piano bar, every corner of Glastonbury has a surprise to be discovered.
When and where: June 23-27, 2021; Pilton
Reading & Leeds Festivals
Poster (2020): Rage Against The Machine, Liam Gallagher, Stormzy, Migos, Lewis Capaldi
There is no doubt that the Reading Festival is part of the rock elite. In tandem with Leeds Festival – its younger brother from the north of England – Reading has diversified in the last decade, but continues to impress every year in August.
When and where: August 27-29, 2021; Reading & Leeds
Super Bock Super Rock
Festival Poster (2021): Foals, Kali Uchis, Brockhampton, Local Natives, GoldLink, Slow J, Jungle [DJ set], Boy Pablo
Despite not having the worldwide recognition it deserves, the Lisbon festival presents, every year, truly impressive posters. The SBSR is also the perfect excuse to visit one of the most picturesque cities in Europe.
When and where: July 15-17, 2021, Lisbon, Portugal
Hellfest Open Air
Festival Poster (2021): Deftones, Faith No More, System of a Down, Volbeat, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Incubus, Opeth
All the subgenres of metal can be found in Hellfest, making it one of the heaviest festivals on the planet. It’s undoubtedly not for everyone, but it has a thing of dark beauty that won’t leave you indifferent.
When and where: June 18 to 20, 2021; Clisson, France
FIB: Benicàssim International Festival
Festival Poster (2020): Khalid, Martin Garrix, Foals, Liam Gallagher, Vampire Weekend, Two Door Cinema Club, The Lumineers, Steve Aoki
Nowadays a European favorite, the Benicàssim International Festival has become a portal for fans of music from the continent, who are attracted by the diverse posters and the sunny scenery by the sea.
When and where: July 2021; Benicàssim, Spain
Rolling Loud Portugal
Poster (2020): A$AP Rocky, Future, Wiz Khalifa, Tyga, Meek Mill, Young Thug, Gucci Mane, Playboi Carti
In recent years, the Rolling Loud, which originated in Florida, has established itself as one of the largest urban music festivals in North America. Its debut edition in Portugal promises to conquer more ground, but this time in Europe.
Where and when: July 6-8, 2021; Portimão, Portugal
Time Warp DE
Poster (2020): Richie Hawtin, Nina Kraviz, Adam Beyer, Sven Väth, Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens, Seth Troxler
A bastion of techno music evolution for almost three decades now, Time Warp DE is the essential rave for any purist of this genre; innovative audiovisual production, the biggest names and enthusiasts of electronic music are the reason Time Warp DE is the show it is.
When and where: 20 March 2021, Mannheim, Germany
Rock en Seine
Festival Poster (2020): Rage Against The Machine, Run The Jewels
With almost twenty years, Rock en Seine has already received renowned artists of rock, indie and alternative music in what is considered, by many people, as the most impressive rock music festival in France. And who are we to contest this?
When and where: September 2021; Saint-Cloud, France
Rock in Rio Lisboa
Festival Poster (2021): Foo Fighters, The National, Liam Gallagher, Black Eyed Peas, Anitta, Xutos & Pontapés, Ivete Sangalo, David Carreira
Rock in Rio Lisboa shares its name and legacy with the Brazilian media festival, which alternates its location between Rio de Janeiro and Lisbon. One thing is for sure, the caliber of rock, pop and many other genres is high every year.
When and where: June 19 and 20, 2020 and June 26 and 27, 2021; Lisbon, Portugal
