The Best Hip Hop Festivals

Since its humble beginnings in New York in the 70s, hip-hop has evolved, mutated, and spawned many sub-genres. It’s amazing to see all the talent the genre produces. But it’s even better to see these artists live in the flesh, tearing up the stage and hyping up crowds to a level you can’t even imagine.

With the UK’s main hip-hop festival, Wireless, cancelled this year, it’s good to know there are still plenty of brilliant hip-hop festivals going down in 2026 - plus some multi-genre ones for those of you who’d fancy a side of electronic, R&B, indie, and other genres alongside your hip-hop. 

Whether you like the low-key jazzier sound or the rage stuff, there’ll be something for you among this year’s hip-hop festivals. With offerings in the UK, Europe, and the US, we've got some belters. Here are the best hip-hop festivals in 2026. 

 

Blockfest

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When: Friday 21st - Saturday 22nd August 2026

Where: Ratinanniemi Event Park in Tampere, Finland

2026 lineup: Future, Yeat, Rae Sremmurd, Tyga, 2hollis, VJ, Turisti, Melo, Isac Elliot, JVG, Lauri Haav, IBE

Focusing more on popular sounds like trap, rage, and the kind of rap you’d hear in the club, Blockfest has the big international names but also local talent on its lineup. 

Going since 2008, Blockfest was created in response to a lack of hip-hop on the radio and there being no dedicated hip-hop fests in the country. Now a force in Finnish hip-hop culture, Blockfest has since secured six nominations for Festival of the Year at the Industry Awards Gala.

Staying on top of the genre's trailblazers, the hottest newcomers, and ensuring to book some legends for the headline slots (past bookings include Kendrick, Juice WRLD, Mobb Deep, Carti, Clipse, Rocky, Lil Uzi), their main aim is to boost the culture they live and breathe and create memorable experiences for everyone who comes. 

 

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All Points East: Tyler, the Creator (x2)

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When: Friday 28th / Saturday 29th August 2026

Where: Victoria Park in London, England

2026 lineup: Tyler, the Creator (headline both dates), Rex Orange County, Turnstile, Mariah the Scientist (Friday) / Daniel Caesar, Baby Keem, Dijon (Saturday)

Tyler, the Creator headlines two curated All Points East day festivals this August with two different lineups.​

Rappers joining on the Friday include Clipse, fakemink, Sexyy Red, and Vince Staples. And on the Saturday, there’s Danny Brown, Ghostface Killah, Jim Legxacy, MIKE, and Samara Cyn - a tough choice for sure. But you could also just do both days.

There’ll be four stages, a mix of genres (clearly), and of course there’ll be food and drink on site. With the fest in central London, there are plenty of transport links as well. 

  

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Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival

When: Saturday 14th - Sunday 15th November 2026 

Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA

2026 lineup: Tyler, The Creator, more TBA 

Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw returns in November with an all-star lineup (it’s TBA but trust us), including a performance from Tyler. The 2026 edition will mark the festival’s 12th year. 

Last year, the fest saw sets from Doechii, Clipse, Kali Uchis, Childish Gambino, A$AP Rocky, Earl Sweatshirt, Glorilla, Larry June & 2 Chainz, MIKE, Samara Cyn, Paris Texas, and more from hip-hop, R&B, and some indie. So, if that sounds good to you, keep an eye out for lineup announcements.

Kids under 5 go free, there'll be loads of games and rides, and there are direct transport links to the venue.

Love R&B? Check out the best R&B festivals. 

 

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Boomtown Fair

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When: Wednesday 12th - Sunday 16th August 2026

Where: Matterley Estate in Hampshire, England

2026 lineup: Eve, Kneecap, Hak Baker, Ashnikko, Talib Kweli, TrueMendous, Verb T, Verbz & Mr Slipz, Princess Nokia, Songer, Shy FX, Havoc (of Mobb Deep), Ren, Andy C, DJ EZ, and more

Okay, now Boomtown is definitely not a “hip-hop festival.” But it is a multi-genre festival with some ace hip-hop on its lineup this year (alongside loads of DnB, jungle, dub, UKG, house, techno, reggae, punk, and so, so much more). 

The names we chose above more so highlight Boomtown’s great hip-hop offering, but the festival’s proper big names include Shaggy, Scissor Sisters, Madness, Scooter, Skrillex, Four Tet, and Faithless.  

A mystical place, there are 12 stages, over 50 hidden areas to explore, thousands of performers, and basically a very otherworldly vibe. And once you’re in that world, chances are you won’t want to step back out into the real one. It’s long been known as one of the UK’s best festival offerings, and it’ll be clear why if you head there this year.

 

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Forwards

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When: Saturday 29th - Sunday 30th August 2026 (bank holiday weekend) 

Where: The Downs in Bristol, England

2026 lineup: Little Simz, Dijon, Tems, Jim Legxacy, Joy Crookes, Princess Nokia, Erika de Casier, RUBII, Tricky, Maribou State, Wet Leg, Goldie, and more

Another that’s not a hip-hop festival but is definitely a shout if you like other genres too, Forwards offers R&B, hip-hop, electronic, and some indie and DnB. 60,000 people are set to flock to The Downs for another round of incredible music. 

They usually have three stages for music and one for talks, where, across the weekend, we’ll hear discussions with Cody Dahler, Jordan Stephens, Travis Alabanza, Yisrael J Arthur, Danny Price, and more. 

Also on the lineup are Amyl and The Sniffers, Kraftwerk, Self Esteem, Viagra Boys, Oklou, and more. There’ll be local food too and also a kids' area to keep any littluns entertained. Once again, it’s looking killer. 

 

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We Out Here

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When: Thursday 20th - Sunday 23rd August 2026

Where: Wimborne Saint Giles in Dorset, England

2026 lineup: Thundercat, Joy Crookes, Digable Planets, Kofi Stone, Stereolab, Sampa The Great, MIKE, Scientist, Knats, Yukimi, Gary Bartz & NTU Troop, Yazmin Lacey, John Glacier, and more

Another multi-genre favourite, We Out Here connects soul, hip-hop, house, Afro, electronica, jazz, and more from live performers and DJs. 

Founded by DJ Gilles Peterson, the festival boasts 15 stages, spanning open-air forest dancefloors to intimate DIY sound systems. This year will be the fest’s seventh edition, returning to seven-acre lakes, woodland, and hidden spots ready to explore.

WOH emphasises high-quality food and drink offerings, its arts programme, family fun, and wellness. 

 

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Love Supreme Jazz Festival

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When: Friday 2nd - Sunday 4th July 2027 

Where: Glynde Place, East Sussex, England 

2026 lineup: Loyle Carner, Ezra Collective, De La Soul (full band), Free Nationals, Sister Sledge, Jalen Ngonda, DJ Pee .Wee (Anderson .Paak), Maze, Samara Joy, Kofi Stone, and more

Love Supreme and the rest of the festivals have come and gone for 2026, but we’re keeping them here to put you on to some great fests you should consider checking out next year. 

Spanning R&B, jazz, soul, disco, and splashes of blues and hip-hop, including two hip-hop headliners, Love Supreme boasts over eight stages of music. There are dedicated stages for emerging jazz artists, underground dance music, and even one with interactive dance sessions, choral workshops, spoken word, and dance battles.

There's also wellness, a community pool, plenty of fun for families, a Rough Trade record shop, talks, and loads more going on. 

 

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Rolling Loud

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When: 2027 dates TBA

Where: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, USA

2026 lineup: Don Toliver, Ken Carson, Playboi Carti, Esdeekid, fakemink, Sexyy Red, Nemzzz, Slayr, TiaCorine, Chief Keef

Probably the world’s biggest hip-hop festival, Rolling Loud is one to keep an eye on if you’re happy to head to the US for some of the genre's hottest names right now. 

Starting as one show in Miami in 2015, the festival has been held in other locations before, such as European cities, Thailand, and India, but it’s hard to predict where it may go next. The only event in 2026 was the Florida festival, its debut in Orlando. 

This year’s bash featured three stages of tunes, food trucks and tents, a Ferris wheel, shopping areas, and plenty of benches and places for people to sit before they headed back into the pits. 

Going for over ten years now, it's put on some huge events, attracting music fans who live up to the “go hard or go home” motto.

 

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Openair Frauenfeld

When: Thursday 8th - Saturday 10th July 2026 

Where: Allmend in Frauenfeld, Switzerland

2026 lineup: Don Toliver, Ken Carson, Yeat, Wiz Khalifa, Gunna, Esdeekid, Ski Mask The Slump God, Destroy Lonely, BIA, and more

Europe’s biggest, wildest hip-hop festival will be back next July, welcoming around 150,000 hip-hop-loving fans for a weekend of rap excellence. 

The festival has been running since 1985 and has grown exponentially, now consistently delivering hard lineups. If you have a passport and love hip-hop, keep your eye on this one. Boasting plenty of big names alongside up-and-comers, the fest covers a range of hip-hop sounds, mainly focusing on the newer waves, with artists taking over three stages. 

There’s a supermarket on site; they give out free earplugs so you can protect your ears, and you can bring three litres of alcohol onto the campsite. 

 

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Roots Picnic

When: 2027 dates TBA - usually taking place in June

Where: Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 

2026 lineup: Jay-Z & The Roots, Erykah Badu, Kehlani, Brandy, T.I., Mariah The Scientist, Black Thought & Wale, De La Soul, and more

The Roots’ annual bash brought another belting lineup in 2026. They were joined by some serious heavyweights in hip-hop, including Jay-Z, who they’re set to perform alongside. Of course the fest has wrapped up, but it’s definitely one to watch for the future (or consider the London edition).

Always going down in the group’s hometown of Philadelphia, the festival extends hip-hop, also offering R&B, house, and more.

When acts aren’t tearing up the stage, they have trap and R&B karaoke, the food and drink from the best Philly restaurants curated by The Roots, and the Black vendor village to check out.

This year, the first-ever London edition of Roots Picnic took to Crystal Palace Bowl with Nas & The Roots, J. Period Live Mixtape (ft. Black Thought, Yasiin Bey, Benny The Butcher), Common, Musiq Soulchild, Floetry, and loads more - fingers crossed it returns in 2027! 

 

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Jazz Cafe Festival

When: 2027 date TBA - usually taking place in August 

Where: Burgess Park in London, England

2026 lineup: Ari Lennox (UK exclusive), Greentea Peng, Smino, Boldy James, Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn, Durand Bernarr, Kofi Stone, and more 

At the opposite end of the sonic spectrum to the likes of Openair Frauenfeld, Jazz Cafe Fest showcases the sounds of jazz, R&B, Latin, and the kind of hip-hop that typically leans closer to jazzier, acoustic instrumentals rather than trap and rage. 

Returning for its third year, the day festival will spread tunes across four stages from midday to 10pm. Focusing on the rappers, America’s Smino and Boldy James hit the lineup, joined by England’s Kofi Stone, RUBII, namesbliss, Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn, and more. 

Tying it together, tickets were a bargain at £45-65. 

If you love jazz, check out the best jazz festivals! 

 

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splash! Festival

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When: Thursday 8th - Saturday 10th July 2026 

Where: Ferropolis in Gräfenhainichen, Germany

2026 lineup: Gunna, Ken Carson, Bonez & Friendz, RIN, Destroy Lonely, Esdeekid, Quavo, Ski Mask The Slump God, bktherula, Feng, Smokedope2016, and more 

The first hip-hop festival in the German-speaking area, Splash blew up rapidly. Going since 1998 - over 25 years in the game. The insanely cool festival site, dubbed the “city of iron”, Ferropolis has been Splash’s home since 2009. 

You’ll find Splash between Leipzig and Berlin, where a bunch of hip-hop heads will gather for pretty much a non-stop moshpit from start to finish. The country’s biggest hip-hop party, outside of the tunes, there’s Lake Gremmin to cool off in - temperatures usually hit around 30 degrees. 

Beer will be cheaper (and better) compared to UK festivals, there's a variety of food available, and tunes run until the early hours. 

 

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Les Ardentes

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When: Thursday 1st - Sunday 4th July 2027 

Where: Roucourt in Liège, Belgium

2026 lineup: Playboi Carti, Future, Aya Nakamura, Black Eyed Peas, Esdeekid, Destroy Lonely, Charlotte De Witte, Lost Frequencies, Homixide Gang, Booba, and more

Brimming with modern hip-hop royalty, Les Ardentes centres on hip-hop, but also boasts plenty of dance music, especially hard dance and hard techno DJs. 

The crowds always bring the energy to match, creating wild scenes every year. This makes sense as “ardent” describes something or someone who’s passionate or burns intensely. 

Outside of checking out some of the most in-demand artists on the circuit, there's loads to get stuck into at this Belgian festival. They’ve had basketball, gaming zones, karaoke, silent discos, and more over the years, so there’s certain to be plenty to try.

 

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Think Festivals Think Skidde. Festival season isn't over yet - discover plenty of festivals in the UK and beyond now on Skiddle. 

 

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Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.

 

 

  

 

 

 

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