Electronic dance music festivals have a strong history across the continent of Europe and this year is packed with wall to wall choices. From classics like Belgium’s Tomorrowland and EXIT Festival in Serbia to boundary pushers like Sonar Festival out of Barcelona and the new summer edition of Awakenings, the EDM festival scene has never been stronger. And while it may be impossible to pick the “best EDM festivals”, we have selected 15 of our favorites that we hope you get a chance to discover.
Tomorrowland 2024
July 19-28, 2024
Boom, Belgium
One of the top electronic music festivals in the world, Tomorrowland in Belgium should be on the bucket list of every festie. It's known for epic stage production along with its insane fireworks displays, and is one of the few festivals in Europe so popular that they hold two editions over two consecutive weekends.
Featured Artists: A-Trak, Adam Beyer, Afrojack, Alesso, Alok, Amelie Lens, Armin Van Buuren, Bassjackers, Bonobo, Boris Brejcha, Cat Dealers, Dannic, David Guetta, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Dixon, Don Diablo, Dvbbs, Felix Jaehn, Four Tet, Hardwell, Henri Pfr, Lost Frequencies, Mattn, Mike Williams, Nervo, Nicky Romero, Oliver Heldens, R3hab, Steve Angello, Sub Zero Project, Swedish House Mafia, Tale of Us, The Blessed Madonna, Tiesto, Timmy Trumpet, Vintage Culture, W&W
Photo Credit: Tomorrowland
Ultra Europe 2024
July 12-14, 2024
Split, Croatia
Hosted every year on the idyllic Dalmatian Coast in Croatia, the European edition of the massively popular Ultra Festival has become one of the largest electronic festivals on the continent. The multi-venue event is known for changing up venues around Split, so expect everything from a massive stadium to intimate beach parties.
Featured Artists: Adam Beyer, Armin Van Buuren, Boris Brejcha, Eric Prydz, Hardwell, Martin Garrix, Timmy Trumpet
We Are FSTVL 2024
Cancelled
Upminster, UK
After a standout debut in 2013, the award winning We Are FESTVL continues to evolve into one of the UK's most popular electronic festivals. Taking place over the August bank holiday weekend, hundreds of international DJs descend upon the aptly named Airfield of Dreams (just east on London) to play on more than 15 custom stages.
EXIT Festival 2024
July 10-14, 2024
Novi Sad, Serbia
For those of you tired of festivaling in a field, check out this Serbian festival. One of longest running music festivals in the East, the annual EXIT Festival distinguishes itself by being held in an ancient Petrodovian fortress. The constantly evolving festival has recently added a sister festival held on the shores of the Adriatic Sea.
Featured Artists: Black Coffee, Black Eyed Peas, Bonobo, Carl Cox, Dub Fx, Gucci Mane, Helena Hauff, John Newman, Maceo Plex, Steve Angello
Hideout Festival 2024
June 23-27, 2024
Pag, Croatia
You're going to need a vacation from your vacation after Hideout. With five packed days and nights of pool, boat, and after parties with 100+ DJs and thousands of electronic fans tearing it up under the Croatian sun, Hideout remains one of the standout electronic parties of the summer.
Featured Artists: Bicep, Eats Everything, Gorgon City, Joy Orbison, Skream, Solardo
Photo Credit: Hideout Festival
Creamfields 2024
August 22-24, 2024
Daresbury, UK
With two decades spent at the forefront of electronic music, there are not many festivals in the world that can compare to the behemoth that is Creamfields. This UK fest features 300 artists performing across a mind-blowing 30 stages with over 70,000 festies in attendance. Every summer, this four-day festival unleashes a lineup that covers the full spectrum of dance music.
Featured Artists: Alesso, Aly & Fila, Andy C, Armin Van Buuren, Bicep, Calvin Harris, Charlotte De Witte, Chase & Status, Christina Novelli, Dash Berlin, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Eats Everything, Eric Prydz, Example, Fatboy Slim, Ferry Corsten, Fisher, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Gorgon City, Hardwell, Jamie Jones, Markus Schulz, Martin Garrix, Peggy Gou, Pete Tong, Solardo, Steve Angello, Sub Zero Project, Tiesto, Timmy Trumpet
Photo Credit: Anthony Mooney
Mysteryland 2024
August 30-September 1, 2024
Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands
The longest running dance festival in the world takes place in the Netherlands for two days every August and even spawned a spin-off in the United States. After a day of hedonistic dancing, Mysteryland fans find solace at Holy Ground Camping. Mysteryland strongly believes in festival soul, focusing on sustainability, and local participation.
Featured Artists: Adam Beyer, Charlotte De Witte, Fedde Le Grand, Nicky Romero, Oliver Heldens, R3hab, Sander Van Doorn, Sub Zero Project, Vini Vici, W&W, Warface, Yellow Claw
Sonar Barcelona 2024
June 13-15, 2024
Barcelona, Spain
Since its founding in 1994, Sónar has held 25 editions of the festival in Barcelona and another 74 events in 33 cities around the world. The flagship event in Barcelona embodies the event at its core which is to be the “pulse of the current electronic landscape”. During Sónar by Day, the festival features a huge music program along with its own tech conference called Sónar+D. At night, the event moves to a massive venue that easily makes this Spain's largest electronic festival. With its unique format and ever-changing style, Sonar continues to redefine the festival landscape.
Featured Artists: Air, Ben Bohmer, Charlotte De Witte, Danny Tenaglia, Floating Points, Jessie Ware, Kaytranada, Paul Kalkbrenner, Richie Hawtin, Sevdaliza, The Martinez Brothers, Vince Staples
Awakenings Summer Festival 2024
July 5-7, 2024
Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands
After a successful debut, the epic Awakenings Festival returns with a spectacular, summertime camping experience not to be missed. Featuring the best of European techno and dance artists, this is an incredible introduction into the Dutch festival scene.
Featured Artists: Amelie Lens, Ellen Allien, Honey Dijon, Nina Kraviz, Tale of Us
Photo Credit: Awakenings Festival
Balaton Sound 2024
July 3-6, 2024
Zamardi, Hungary
'Seaside lounges, restaurants, bars and anything you need to enjoy the Balaton sunset, plus a great number of stars on several stages, that’s the already beloved concept of Balaton Sound. The event attracts approx. 100 000 visitors each year and turns Zamárdi, a small town on the southern shores of Lake Balaton into a massive party arena. The festival’s venue is a picturesque beach resort at the biggest lake of Central Europe, also regarded as a touristic center of the region.'
Featured Artists: Adam Beyer, Alison Wonderland, Amelie Lens, Borgore, John Newman, Laidback Luke, Lost Frequencies, Maceo Plex, Marshmello, Nervo, Paul Kalkbrenner, Timmy Trumpet, Vintage Culture, Warface, Zomboy
Photo Credit: Sandor Csudai
Untold Festival 2024
August 8-11, 2024
Cluj, Romania
The Untold Festival of Romania unfolds another chapter this summer in the charming city of Cluj. The heart of Untold is the open air Cluj Arena where international superstar electronic headliners play sets until the sun comes up. The soul of the festival lives in Central Park, a shady expanse of trees and grass filled with hammocks, small stages, and art.
Featured Artists: Alok, Carl Cox, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Fisher, Lenny Kravitz, Lost Frequencies, Martin Garrix, Sam Smith, Swedish House Mafia, Timmy Trumpet
Boomtown 2024
August 7-11, 2024
Hampshire, UK
'Boomtown rose up from the underground to become one of the UK’s wildest and most inspiring independent festivals. A sprawling metropolis and home to every species of creative miscreant, its thousands of citizens embark a journey of discovery, dancing through its labyrinthine streets and plazas on a non stop weekend joyride to a soundtrack of ska, folk, gypsy, reggae, world, punk, pirate, disco, electro-swing, jazz, blue-grass, breaks, bass, jungle, techno and all in a spirit of unity and freedom!'
Photo Credit: Boomtown
Airbeat One 2024
July 10-14, 2024
Neustadt-Glewe, Germany
It's all about the hardstyle at the Airbeat One Festival in Neustadt-Glewe, Germany. For over 15 years, Airbeat One has entertained fans with the harder side of electronic music, putting on an event that features forward thinking stage design, epic light shows, and top notch DJs from around the world.
Featured Artists: Afrojack, Alok, Angerfist, Armin Van Buuren, Astrix, Bassjackers, Blasterjaxx, Boris Brejcha, Charlotte De Witte, Danny Avila, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Fedde Le Grand, Mariana Bo, Mattn, Neelix, Oliver Heldens, Paul Kalkbrenner, R3hab, Sub Zero Project, Tiesto, Timmy Trumpet, Vini Vici, W&W, Warface, Wildstylez, Zatox
Sea You Festival 2024
July 19-21, 2024
Freiburg, Germany
There's more to Sea You than just two full days with more than a 100 artists playing on 7 stages. There's chilling on the water with views of the Black Forest. There's free wake-boarding. There's dancing in and on the water. It's Germany's largest beach club and you're invited.
Featured Artists: Adam Beyer, Astrix, Boris Brejcha, Boys Noize, Fisher, Neelix, Nora En Pure, Sven Vath, Vintage Culture
ParookaVille 2024
July 19-21, 2024
Weeze, Germany
'Parookaville is a city that comes to life once a year to keep the legend of Bill Parooka alive. It was built as an artistic, free flowing and mad musical place where people can make contact with their pure selves, experience true connections and feel deep sensation of bliss and fulfillment. Step into the dark if you dare, follow your inner light and dive into a spectacular world of freedom and love!'
Featured Artists: Above & Beyond, Angerfist, Armin Van Buuren, Blasterjaxx, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Dirtyphonics, Don Diablo, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Hardwell, John Newman, Juicy M, Kshmr, Mariana Bo, Martin Solveig, Mike Williams, Modestep, Neelix, Paul Kalkbrenner, Quintino, Ray Volpe, Robin Schulz, Showtek, Sub Zero Project, Timmy Trumpet, W&W, Warface, Yellow Claw
Photo Credit: Parookaville
Amsterdam Dance Event 2024
October 16-20, 2024
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Dutch capital of Amsterdam goes off in mid-October when ADE comes to town. 300 parties, 80 venues, and 2000 DJs makes this the electronic event of the season. Amsterdam Dance Event began life as a conference back in 1996 and the daytime events are stuffed with industry professionals and panels. At night, the showcase festival moves into the wild clubs and stages of Amsterdam for non-stop entertainment.
Photo Credit: @dutchwnderer
Junction 2 Festival 2024
July 26-28, 2024
London, UK
This London techno festival is held at Boston Manor Park for three days of beats from the genre's top artists. Junction 2 merges the natural beauty of green fields and woodland pathways with striking industrial features that make the site iconic. With a promise of great sound and obsessive attention to detail along with a no VIP policy, this festival continues its fantastic journey.
Featured Artists: Adam Beyer, Amelie Lens, Honey Dijon, Jeff Mills, Jon Hopkins, Paul Kalkbrenner, Richie Hawtin, The Blessed Madonna, The Martinez Brothers
Photo Credit: ShotAway