Bram ReusenEurope is known for its vibrant festival scene, celebrating everything from rich historical traditions to food and music. If there’s something worth celebrating, you can bet there’s a multi-day festival dedicated to it somewhere across the continent.
We’re zooming in on the top European music festivals in this article. It’s important to note that this list is by no means exhaustive — Europe hosts hundreds of music festivals each year. What follows is just a snapshot of some of the most popular and iconic events, offering a taste of the diverse musical experiences Europe has to offer!
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Top music festivals in Europe
1. Rock Werchter, Belgium
Image Credits: Lee Gwyn | Flickr
Every year in June, the small Belgian town of Werchter gets transformed into one of Europe’s biggest festivals. Originally started by a local youth movement, the festival has exploded into one of the best music festivals in the world – it has won the award for best festival in the world several times. It draws in 80,000 people every day for four days and the line-up is always world-class.
2. Glastonbury, England
Image Credits: adair broughton | Flickr
Glastonbury is easily one of the most iconic music festivals in the world – and the largest one too. Even though the festival has become known to be accompanied by extremely bad weather (rain and downpours), it still sells out within hours, if not minutes, and is attended by about 180,000 people.
3. Roskilde, Denmark
Image Credits: Thomas Rousing | Flickr
Roskilde Festival is the largest festival in Denmark and is among the largest in Europe as well. This is a four-day festival with a four-day “warm up” in the historic town of Roskilde, a short drive from Copenhagen. It attracts more than 100,000 party-goers and features some of the biggest acts in the world.
4. Sziget, Hungary
Image Credits: Jonan Basterra | Flickr
Sziget Festival is Hungary’s largest and most exciting music festival. Every year in August, it takes over Oduba Island in the Danube River in the heart of Budapest. This eclectic festival has many different stages, where people can enjoy all kinds of music, from reggae and jazz to rock and dance.
5. Primavera Sound, Spain
Image Credits: paniko.cl | Flickr
Held in Barcelona, Spain, Primavera Sound is a superb urban festival, featuring an impressive list of world-renowned artists. It’s held at the end of May and offers an entertaining addition to any visit to the Catalan capital.
6. Tomorrowland, Belgium
Image Credits: MIXTRIBE | Flickr
Tomorrowland has grown from a small festival organised by two brothers into one of the most famous electronic music festivals in the world. Originally it used to be a small local festival in the town of Boom, near Antwerp, Belgium, but years of professionalism and uniqueness have resulted in admiration and recognition from around the world. Now, the festival even cooperates with major airlines to bring people from all corners of the world. Its expansion is shown in the founding of Tomorrowworld, which is held in the United States and Brazil.
7. Pukkelpop, Belgium
Image Credits: PCauberghs | Flickr
Pukkelpop is yet another major Belgian music festival. It’s an alternative to Rock Werchter, featuring a more varied mix of artists. Pukkelpop is well-known for giving an opportunity to new talent to showcase their music. Besides numerous stages, there are fairs, shops and theatres as well.
8. Lowlands, the Netherlands
Image Credits: Wolf Schouten | Flickr
Lowlands is a major performing arts and music festival in the Netherlands. It’s held in the course of three days in August and features music genres including hip hop, dance, rock and dance, as well as stand-up comedy, literature, cinema and theatre. There are more than ten stages and two hundred acts.
9. EXIT, Serbia
Image Credits: Richard Sims | Flickr
The Exit Festival is held in the historic Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, Serbia, which has to be one of the most striking festival venues on earth. An award-winning festival, Exit Festival was founded by a student movement to fight for democracy and peace in the Balkans. It’s a non-profit and still aims to improve the lives of young people in the region.
10. Melt Festival, Germany
Image Credits: Henne | Flickr
When it comes to the number of acts and performers, Melt Festival in Germany is one of the biggest music festivals in Europe. This indie and electronic music festival is held at a huge industrial site, including enormous cranes and other equipment, and attracts thousands and thousands of party-goers.
11. Worldwide Festival, France
Image Credits: Cik Ili M | Flickr
The Gilles Peterson Worldwide Festival is inspired by the radio show of Gilles Peterson and features a fun-filled week of music, inspiration and culture. It’s a progressive festival, the ideal venue to introduce and showcase new ideas and events. There’s not only music to be enjoyed, but also exhibitions, speeches and great food from southern France.
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Whether you’re a fan of electronic beats, rock anthems, or classical symphonies, these music festivals in Europe promise unforgettable experiences that showcase the continent’s rich cultural diversity and love for live music!
