Looking for some unreal UK dance festivals to party at with your mates this year? Here are the best electronic music festivals in the UK, no matter what vibe you’re looking for.
Skiddle Staff
Last updated: 13th Feb 2023
Did you know there are loads of benefits to dancing? Among the many benefits are better brain health, stress relief, reduced depression, and higher confidence.
But, since you’re here, you probably already knew that.
With festival season getting closer and closer, you’re probably seeking the best electronic music festivals to dance your socks off at.
To help you find your dream fest, we dug through the interwebs to find the best UK dance festivals going down this year. Check them out below, and we’ll see you down the front!
Photo: Creamfields / Facebook.com
When: Thursday 24th - Sunday 27th August 2023
Where: Daresbury in Cheshire, England
2023 lineup: Swedish House Mafia, and many more TBA
If we’re talking about the best EDM festivals, it only makes sense to kick off with the biggest, baddest fest of all!
Everyone and their dog has heard about Creamfields. And with good reason. This truly massive celebration of every groove-worthy electronic genre goes down each year, attracting thousands and thousands of party animals to its home in Cheshire. (If you’re in the south and Cheshire sounds too far, stay calm and check the next fest below!)
So far, only Swedish House Mafia has been confirmed as the Sunday night headliners, but many more will be announced soon. And Creamfields never mess about with their lineups, inviting huge artists from an array of electronic genres to soundtrack a wild weekend.
Tickets for Creamfields North
Photo: Creamfields / Facebook.com
When: Friday 26th - Sunday 28th May 2023
Where: Hylands Park in Chelmsford, England
2023 lineup: Swedish House Mafia, Tiesto, Calvin Harris, and many more TBA
Following the unbelievable success of Creamfields North, the team behind it decided to bring the party down south to allow more ravers to experience this wonderful madness. Almost identical to its northern sister, Creamfields South has mega pyro, lighting, and visual spectacles to take the whole experience up a level. What’s a huge, euphoric drop without some fireworks and confetti?
The lineups tend to be pretty similar, with some differences here and there. Like the northern edition, you can find plenty of electronic, house, drum and bass, dubstep, techno, EDM, hardstyles, dance, and more. So there are plenty of artists and genres to explore that’ll keep you moving all weekend.
Tickets for Creamfields South
Photo: FLY Open Air / Facebook.com
When: Saturday 20th - Sunday 21st May 2023
Where: Hopetoun House in Edinburgh, Scotland
2023 lineup: Ben Hemsley, Chaos in the CBD, Eliza Rose, Hannah Laing, Interplanetary Criminal, Job Jobse, and many more
If you love dancing to banging tunes in beautiful locations, let us introduce you to Edinburgh’s FLY Open Air. Set in front of Hopetoun House, this fest sees crowds lose it in front of typically charming Scottish architecture with the hottest names on the scene on the decks.
On the lineup for 2023, we’ve got Chaos in the CBD, known for spinning dance tunes with a dreamy vibe, Eliza Rose and Interplanetary Criminal, the team behind summer anthem B.O.T.A, and Ben Hemsley, another name making colossal waves. With a dazzling reputation and the best DJs in a picturesque location, you’ll have a ball at FLY.
Tickets for FLY Open Air
Ticket waiting list for FLY Open Air Festival 2023 - Hopetoun House
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Emerge Music Festival Belfast
Photo: EMERGE BELFAST / Facebook.com
When: Saturday 26th - Sunday 27th August 2023
Where: Boucher Playing Fields in Belfast, Northern Ireland
2023 lineup: Bicep (live), Nina Kraviz, Camelphat, Carl Cox (Hybrid live), Charlotte De Witte, Skin On Skin, Alan Fitzpatrick, Blk., FJAAK, and more
If you’re in Belfast and love a good dance, you’d be daft not to consider Emerge. Already boasting a massive lineup with titans of various genres, including Nina Kraviz, Carl Cox, Bicep, and Charlotte De Witte, it’s mad to think there are still many more artists to be announced. Only a 12-minute drive from Belfast City Centre and roughly a half hour from the airport, Emerge is easy to get to, has a smashing lineup, and will no doubt be the city’s biggest party this year. Get us over there!
Photo: Terminal V / Facebook.com
When: Saturday 8th - Sunday 9th April 2023
Where: Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland
2023 lineup: Amelie Lens, Charlotte De Witte, Ewan McVicar, Kettama, Folamour, Fraz.ier, Franky Wah, Alan Fitzpatrick, and many more
If you prefer darker, faster, heavier tunes, you’ll probably adore this techno haven. Terminal V has an incredible reputation among both artists and fans. They bring the best of the genre to around 20,000 people who travel from all over for two days of nothing but bangers.
The lineups are always incredible, and it’s already clear they’ve done it again for 2023. And they still have some left to announce! Perfect for those who don’t like rain and cold (who does?) Terminal V is an indoor, no-camping event. We’ll see you there! (As always!)
Tickets for Terminal V
Photo: Junction 2 / Facebook.com
When: Friday 21st - Saturday 22nd July 2023
Where: Boston Manor Park in London, England
2023 lineup: Underworld (live), Jeff Mills, Charlotte De Witte, Ben UFO B2B Helena Hauff, Nina Kraviz, DJ Stingray 313 B2B Objekt, Adam Beyer, FJAAK, and many more
Junction 2 is known for its top sound quality, fantastic production, and bringing the best from artists in the underground scenes to one place.
The Friday has a varied bill of artists covering UK techno, bass, and house, with Saturday focusing on techno, minimal, and tech house. And with Underworld performing live this year, we can’t imagine there’ll be a single person not on their feet, jamming all weekend long. Both days will feature B2B sets that will no doubt be super special, especially in such a lush green setting.
Tickets for Junction 2
Photo: Flashback Festival / Facebook.com
When: Saturday 20th May 2023
Where: Platt Fields Park in Manchester, England
2023 lineup: Fatman Scoop, D:Ream, Sweet Female Attitude, Artful Dodger, DJ Sammy, Dave Pearce, Mark Doyle, Livin' Joy, and many more
If you’re seeking throwback sounds, Flashback is a dream come true. Throwing you back in time with tunes from the 90s and 00s, Flashback will take over Platt Fields Park for one day of pure nostalgia. Expect club classics, old skool anthems, trance, retro house, garage, and more from over 60 artists to get you dancing all day and night. If you need more, there are rides and the official after-party to keep the party going strong until late. It’s going to be brill.
Tickets for Flashback Festival
Photo: Mint Festival / Facebook.com
When: TBA September 2023 (2 days)
Where: Newsam Green Farm in Leeds, England
2023 lineup: TBA
Back and bigger than ever, Mint Festival will be two days this year! The fest brings all the danceable genres, including house and techno, drum and bass, UKG, and more.
We don’t have a lineup for this year yet, but 2022 featured Eats Everything, Shy FX, Patrick Topping, The Martinez Brothers, Girls Don't Sync, Sammy Virji, and Sub Focus. So we’re sure that not only will 2023’s lineup be brill but that there’ll be a fair few genres on display. Leeds knows how to party, so you’ll have a cracking time here.
Tickets for Mint Festival
Warm Up Festival
Photo: Warm Up / Facebook.com
When: Thursday 17th - Sunday 20th August 2023
Where: Hertfordshire, England
2023 lineup: Booka Shade (live), Acid Pauli, Township Rebellion, Cristoph, and many more
Warm Up is one of the best UK dance festivals dedicated solely to having a great time in a forest by dancing to the best tunes. By creating a strong community vibe, if you head to this fest alone, you’re certain to make a friend or two to dance with. Even if you go with a group of mates, you’ll likely end up sharing a dance with a few other music lovers. And with it based in a forest, it’s never been easier to let loose, enjoy the atmosphere, and immerse yourself in tunes.
Photo: Lost Minds Festival / Facebook.com
When: Saturday 29th April 2023
Where: Leazes Park in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
2023 lineup: Ben Nicky, W&W, Bryan Kearney, Dr. Peacock, Sub Zero Project, Shugz, and more
If all these festivals so far sound a bit soft, Lost Minds is here to offer you an intense day of hardcore, hardstyles, trance, and EDM tunes in the heart of Newcastle. Back again after a sold-out debut, Lost Minds brings the most hyped-up dance music with huge headliners and SFX across three stages. Outside of the banging tunes, you can have a go on the rides, visit the zen tent, get your heart pumping at rave aerobics, and admire the art installations. Certain to sell out again this year, if you fancy hitting one of the best EDM festivals this year, don’t hang about!
Tickets for Lost Minds
Photo: Retro In The Park / Facebook.com
When: Saturday 27th - Sunday 28th May 2023
Where: Towneley Park in Burnley, England
2023 lineup: Roger Sanchez, Judge Jules, Lovely Laura & Ben Santiago, Todd Terry, Graeme Park, N-Trance, and many more
Another one for fans of throwback tunes, on the lineup for Retro In The Park this year, we’ve got some absolute legends, including Graeme Park, Judge Jules, Todd Terry, and Roger Sanchez, to teleport us back with that old school sound. The fest boasts a top lineup, genres including club classics, house, trance, and disco house, and a warm atmosphere. If you love that old school sound, there’s no competition.
Tickets for Retro In The Park
Cultivate Festival 2023: Summer Edition
When: Friday 12th - Saturday 13th May 2023
Where: Aberdeen beach in Aberdeen, Scotland
2023 lineup: Hannah Laing, testpress, Franck, Charlie Sparks, Matt Guy, many more TBA
Up in the northeast of Scotland is a beach festival with artists blasting techno, house, bass music, disco house, deep house, and tech house to around 2,500 ravers per day. Intimate, in a cool location, and with some stunners on the lineup, Cultivate always goes down a treat. Music is showcased across multiple indoor and outdoor stages and, of course, with a crowd full of Scots, you know the crowd is going to be on top form, singing, dancing, chanting, and creating a buzzing atmosphere. You can’t beat Scottish crowds.
Tickets for Cultivate Festival 2023: Summer Edition
Ticket waiting list for Cultivate Festival 2023: Summer Edition
Tickets you want not available? We know it's frustrating, but don't worry we've got your back. Join the waiting list below and we'll reserve you tickets if they become available.
When: Saturday 3rd - Sunday 4th June 2023
Where: Riverside Museum in Glasgow, Scotland
2023 lineup: Patrick Topping, Sherelle, Denis Sulta, Hector Oaks, Charlie Sparks, OTTA, Brutalismus 3000 (live), and more
Going hard for its tenth birthday, Riverside Festival in Glasgow is already looking mega with plenty of hard-hitting techno and house on the roster for 2023. One of the city’s biggest and best electronic music festivals, ravers come from all over to enjoy the delightful chaos only a Scottish crowd can deliver. Head over this year to join in the special 10th-anniversary event and rave until your legs don’t work anymore!
Tickets for Riverside Festival
When: Saturday 16th September 2023
Where: Apps Court Farm in Walton-on-Thames, England
2023 lineup: TBA
One Out Festival is put on by three festival lovers for festival lovers. Freddie, Holly, and Josh are just three regular people who love music and know how to put on a proper bash. Obsessed with finding the hottest new sounds, you can trust these three to put together a solid lineup of artists. 2021 saw the first edition of One Out with a huge turnout, lovely weather, and the crowd going wild until sunset. We don’t have 2023’s lineup yet, but the fest offers drum and bass, disco, and house, including subgenres deep house and electro house. Oh, and the tickets are super cheap!
Tickets for One Out Festival
Leave all your cares behind and dance your socks off at any one of these cracking UK dance festivals. We know you’ll have a blast, even if your feet (and head) are sore the next morning.
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.
Header: Creamfields / Facebook.com
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