The Biggest Music Festivals in the World

Nothing really beats a music festival; a huge production of all your favourite artists in one spot, it’s like the ultimate way to spend your money. With a choice to choose between a single day or the full experience of camping until your hair can’t take it; music festivals have been the one consistent thing that brings the world together to celebrate some unimaginable scenes. 

However, for those who have never experienced this before, it’s time to get with the times, and what better way to do that than with a list of all the biggest festivals in the world? From the UK to America and all across Europe we have created a list filled with festivals that have no issues bringing in those crowds every single year. And if you want to be a part of this year, scroll down and check it out!

 

Glastonbury

Photo: Glastonbury Festivals / Facebook.com 

When: Wednesday 25th – Sunday 29th June 2025

Where: Worthy Farm in Somerset, England

Attendance: 200,000

2025 lineup: TBA

Glastonbury is easily one of the biggest music festivals in the world, bringing in an immense crowd of people who want to get in on the fun, and possibly the telly. Bringing in some of the biggest names in the music industry, Glastonbury sits securely as one of the few festivals that bring in a crowd while leaving people in suspense with their lineup releases. However, no matter what just know it's going to be good, with previous years seeing the likes of, Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Stevie Wonder, Shania Twain and more there will be a music genre for everyone!

This large capacity festival is nothing short of exciting with quality entertainment in the form of live music, circus performers, cinemas, and so much more. Glasto has come a long way since its humble beginnings back in 1970, a time when the festival was only one day and £1 a ticket, and if you want to be a part of the growing history then Glastonbury is the place to be!

 

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Coachella

Photo: Coachella / Facebook.com 

When: Friday 11th - Sunday 13th & Friday 18th - Sunday 20st April 2025

Where: Indio in California, USA

Attendance: 250,000

2025 lineup: Lady Gaga, Missy Elliot, Green Day, Charli XCX, Post Malone, Megan The Stallion, Zedd, T-Pain, GloRilla, the Prodigy, FKA Twigs, Clairo, beabadoobee, Basement Jaxx and many more

Coachella is one of the biggest music festivals in America and the world, known for attracting the most in-demand artists to its stages, and the biggest celebrities to its grounds. This festival is more than just a music event but a cultural reset that has had some of the most stand-out performances on its stages from, Beychella in 2018, to Frank Ocean in 2017, the resurrection of Tupac in 2012 and so many more. 

However, if you want to hear the jampacked lineup they have in store this year, you're in for a treat as Coachella has bagged some of the best artists to enjoy in that Californian sun. From Lady Gaga, Missy Elliot, Green Day, Charli XCX, Post Malone, Megan The Stallion, and many more. This massive event is one to mark on your calendar whether you plan on attending or not. We're dying to see what legendary performances go down this year as many artists have career-defining sets at this fest. 

 

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Creamfields

Photo: Creamfields / Facebook.com 

When: Thursday 21st - Sunday 24th August 2025 (August Bank Holiday) 

Where: Daresbury in Cheshire, England 

Attendance: 280,000

2025 lineup: TBA

Creamfields is one of the UK's best house and techno music festivals, known for its high-level production, and unreal lineups. With each year being bigger and better than the last Creamfields always manages to outdo itself, and 2025 is no different. With the lineup this year still TBA, they'd had some incredible artists on their stages from Ben Hemsley, Peggy Gou, Camelphat, Azyr, Calvin Harris, Bicep to Tiesto, Calvin Harris, Chase & Status and many more.

With a huge range of genres gracing the grounds from, house and techno, trance, EDM and dance, drum and bass, hardstyles, and more it's quite literally the best way to spend a bank holiday weekend. And with the addition of their new 360 stage, ‘mega halo stage’; their biggest outdoor stage to date, and the return of the insane Teletech stage, you can't really ask for anything better! 

 

Find tickets, FAQs, and more information on Creamfields - HERE

 

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Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas 

Photo: Electric Daisy Carnival / Facebook.com 

When: Friday 16th - Sunday 18th May 2025

Where: Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, USA 

Attendance: 525,000+

2025 lineup: TBA

EDC, 2017 winner of the Festival Of The Year award and further two-time nominee at the Electronic Music Awards, is a huge festival characterised by loads of lights, pyro, and mad stage production. In America, the experience is equally important to the tunes, so you can expect whacky, mind-bending attractions to enjoy in between acts. 

Last year saw some of the biggest names in house, trance, techno, EDM, dubstep, dance, hardstyle and more from, Peggy Gou, Martin Garrix, Interplanetary Criminal, Hedex, SOSA, Paul van Dyk, Wilkinson, and more. As one of the biggest electronic music festivals in the world, the festival delivers unmatched lineups each year, expect 2025 to be an absolute journey. 

 

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Tomorrowland 

Photo: Tomorrowland / Facebook.com 

When: Friday 18th - Sunday 20th July & Friday 25th - Sunday 27th July 2025

Where: Boom in Flanders, Belgium

Attendance: 400, 000

2025 lineup: Sub Focus, Swedish House Mafia, Blasterjaxx, Armin van Buuren, FISHER, FJAAK, Ben Malone, Muze, Party Monster, D. Guaetta, The Blessed Madonna and loads more 

Be one of the people of tomorrow at Tomorrowland; one of the biggest dance music festivals in Belgium. With loads of editions in different countries, Tomorrowland is at a different level when it comes to the festival league. Bringing in a huge crowd of party-goers who want to celebrate the weird and wonderful attractions that Tomorrowland has to offer; it's that piece of dance music heaven you just can't resist. 

This year is a squint worthy lineup as ever squeezing in all the best names in the EDM, dance, house, techno, genres with names such as Sub Focus, Swedish House Mafia, Blasterjaxx, Armin van Buuren, FISHER, FJAAK, Ben Malone, Muze, Party Monster, D. Guaetta, The Blessed Madonna and loads more, you'll be spoilt for choice on who to see. Plus with their, crazy stage designs and immaculate vibes get ready to be blown away this year.

 

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Primavera Sound Barcelona

Photo: Primavera Sound / Facebook.com

When: Wednesday 4th - Sunday 8th June 2025

Where: Parc del Forum in Barcelona, Spain

Attendance: 268,000

2025 lineup: Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Jaime XX, ANOTR, Central Cee, Amine, Michael Bibi, Confidence Man, Wet Leg, LCD Soundsystem, Fontaines D.C and many more

Another one for the list of the biggest music festivals in the world is a festival that has people booking before even looking at flight prices, that's right we're talking about no other than Primavera Sound Barcelona. Bringing in a mass genre of chart-topping sensations this year with the return of Charli XCX to Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Jaime XX, ANOTR, Central Cee, Amine, Michael Bibi, Confidence Man, Wet Leg, LCD Soundsystem, Fontaines D.C and many more. 

This popular European festival never disappoints and with 4 days filled with constant genre-hopping from rock, indie, pop, hip hop, and electronic music on bill you can't go wrong. And if you're not feeling Barcelona that's all good as Primavera Sound is a bit of an international babe with editions across Portugal, the US, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil too. If you ask us, it's a 10/10 shout. 

 

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New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Photo: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival / Facebook.com 

When: Thursday 24th Apr - Sunday 4th May 2025

Where: New Orleans in Louisiana, USA

Attendance: 450,000

2025 lineup: Pearl Jam, Haim, Lenny Kravitz, Burna Boy, Babyface, Tank and the Bangas, Laufey, Cage the Elephant, Lil Wayne and The Roots, Luke Combs, Patti LaBelle, PJ Morton and so many more

With 12 stages this year, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival brings in an absolute mass of joy and soul for just over a week. With over 50 years of history, this is one of the longest-running festivals in America.  Pushing the boat with some legendary names this year to hit their stages, you'll be in for a few throwback treats and more with this year's impeccable lineup from, Pearl Jam, Haim, Lenny Kravitz, Burna Boy, Babyface, Tank and the Bangas, Laufey, Cage the Elephant, Lil Wayne and The Roots, Luke Combs, Patti LaBelle, PJ Morton and so many more. 

However, while listed as a jazz festival do not be fooled as this festival boasts a large category of genres from, rock to blues, RnB, funk, gospel, Latin, Caribbean, African, folk, and reggae. And just in case you need any more reason to attend one of the best festivals in the world, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is owned by the nonprofit The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, which uses the proceeds for year-round programs to support music and culture. A huge win-win situation if you ask us. 

 

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Sziget Festival

Photo: Sziget Festival Official / Facebook.com 

When: Wednesday 6th – Monday 11th August 2025

Where: Obuda Island in Budapest, Hungary 

Attendance: 420,000 

2025 lineup: Charli XCX,  Chappell Roan, Anyma, Nelly Furtado, The Blessed Madonna, 999999999, Eliza Rose, I Hate Models, Armin Van Buuren and more

Next we have possibly one of Budapest’s best music festival also known as Sziget Festival. Welcoming artists spanning a range of genres, you can find anything from, electronic, hip hop, are among the most popular. And this year, they're killing as usual with pop sensation, Charli XCX,  Chappell Roan, Anyma, Nelly Furtado, The Blessed Madonna, 999999999, Eliza Rose, I Hate Models, Armin Van Buuren to list just a few of the names on their lineup. 

Sziget takes place on Obuda Island, also known as The Island of Freedom. There’s a beach for chilling on, water for cooling off in, and all the tunes your heart desires. 

 

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Summerfest

Photo: Summerfest / Facebook.com 

When: Thursday 19th - Saturday 21st June, Thursday 26th - Saturday 28th June, and Thursday 3rd Saturday 5th July 2025

Where: Milwaukee in Wisconsin, USA

Attendance: 450,000

2025 lineup: Hozier, Jason Mraz, The Killers, Tesla, Lainey Wilson, Megan Thee Stallion, Flo Milli, Ginuwine, Riley Green and loads more

Classed as the world's largest music festival (according to the Guinness World Records in 1999), Summerfest is a beast when it comes to the festival world. Taking place over three weekends in June and July this festival brings in a huge number of artists to their stages. With 13 stages this year, they're something like no other with hi-tech lighting and unapologetically bold sound. 

Welcoming just about any genre, including country and similar genres such as bluegrass and Americana, rock, blues, but also hip hop, jazz, reggae, RnB, metal, pop and more this is a festival that has it all.  And with still plenty of artists to be confirmed, this is not one to miss. 

 

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Rock in Rio 

Photo: Rock in Rio / Facebook.com

When: TBC

Where: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Attendance: 500,000+ with 2 million at some editions

2025 lineup: TBA

Celebrating their 40th anniversary this year is one of the biggest festivals in the world, Rock in Rio. From its first edition in 1985, the festival was a hit with around 1.4 million people attending and hasn't looked back since. 

Grouping some absolute music legends to their stages such as Rod Stewart, Iron Maiden, Yes, The B-52s, and Ozzy Osbourne and more this is a festival that blows it out of the park every single time. Covering every genre possible, this festival is popular for so many reasons and for that is why we had to include it in our list!

 

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Donauinselfest

Photo: Donauinselfest / Facebook.com

When: Friday 20th -Sunday 22nd June 2025

Where: Donauinsel in Vienna, Austria

Attendance: 3,000,000+

2025 Lineup: TBA 

Donauindelfest is the biggest free open-air festival in the world, yeah you heard that right; it's all completely free to enter. The festival takes place on an island and has eleven open-air stages, 16 tented areas, and features many local bands and DJs alongside some of the biggest names in the industry.

Over three days, the festival brings a variety of genres, including indie, rock, electronic, folk and more, and more than 300 music, cabaret, and theatre acts perform to one of the biggest crowds of 3 million + people. And if you want to be a part of that million we don't blame you in the slightest, after how many times can you say you've been to one of the biggest festivals in the world? 

 

 

 

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And there you have it, the biggest music festivals in the world. From high and low there is a wide range of festivals for you to attend and see some of your faves. And if you want to know what other music festivals Skiddle has got to offer then check them all out - HERE

 

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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.

 

 

  

 

 

 Header image: Sziglet Festival / Facebook.com