The 30 Best Music Festivals In The World

WHEN: September 30-October 2; October 7-9, 2016 WHERE: Austin, Texas WHY: With around 200,000 people in attendance and more than 130 bands performing across the 8 stages in Zilker Park, it's clear why Austin has earned its reputation as "the live music capital of the world." As has been the trend with most of Austin's festivals, ACL has grown so large in recent years that the festival upped its schedule to repeat over two weekends. Plus, the dates have shifted closer to mid-autumn territory, which means the triple-digit Texas temps will have had a chance to cool—slightly. WHO'S PLAYING: To be confirmed. Last year's headliners included Drake, The Weeknd, Foo Fighters, The Strokes, Florence + The Machine, Disclosure, and more. For additional information and tickets visit aclfestival.com. Photo: Getty

WHEN: July 14-17, 2016 WHERE: Benicàssim, Spain WHY: Festival Internacional de Benicàssim is the stuff of every insomniac, beach lover's dreams. The event takes place on the coast of the Mediterranean, in case you get the urge to take a quick dip, and the schedule starts at sundown and continues through the wee morning hours. Expect some level of nudity—you are on the Iberian Peninsula, after all. WHO'S PLAYING: Major Lazer, The Chemical Brothers, Muse, Disclosure, Kendrick Lamar, and more. For additional information and tickets visit fiberfib.com. Photo: Getty

WHEN: June 9-12, 2016 WHERE: Manchester, Tennessee WHY: A destination for true music lovers and hippie breeds, Bonnaroo boasts four days in the wilderness of Middle of Nowhere, Tennessee. Despite its sprawling 700-acre grounds and 150 performances across 10+ stages, this festival manages to maintain an intimate feel, a close-knit community, and a lasting culture code that Bonnaroovians continue to uphold year after year. WHO'S PLAYING: Pearl Jam, LCD Soundsystem, J.Cole, Ellie Goulding, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Tame Impala, Death Cab for Cutie, Haim, and more. For additional information and tickets visit bonnaroo.com. 03 Of 30 BONNAROO WHEN: June 9-12, 2016 WHERE: Manchester, Tennessee WHY: A destination for true music lovers and hippie breeds, Bonnaroo boasts four days in the wilderness of Middle of Nowhere, Tennessee. Despite its sprawling 700-acre grounds and 150 performances across 10+ stages, this festival manages to maintain an intimate feel, a close-knit community, and a lasting culture code that Bonnaroovians continue to uphold year after year. WHO'S PLAYING: Pearl Jam, LCD Soundsystem, J.Cole, Ellie Goulding, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Tame Impala, Death Cab for Cutie, Haim, and more. For additional information and tickets visit bonnaroo.com. Photo: Getty

WHEN: April 15-17; April 22-24, 2016 WHERE: Indio, California WHY: The pinnacle of summer music festivals, Coachella's draw is as much about its style scene as it is about the music. Every year, hundreds of thousands of flower crown-clad, denim cut-off wearing folk flock to the Indio desert to bask in the SoCal sun, catch some tunes, and rub flash-tatted elbows with celebrities and fashion bloggers alike—all of which will undoubtedly be well documented and highly filtered on Instagram. WHO'S PLAYING: Ellie Goulding, Calvin Harris, Sia, Major Lazer, Sufjan Stevens, LCD Soundsystem, Guns N' Roses, Disclosure, CHVRCHES, Halsey, and more. For additional information and tickets visit coachella.com. Photo: Getty

WHEN: June 17-19, 2016 WHERE: Las Vegas, Nevada WHY: Be prepared to dance till dawn to amped-up raver tracks and thumping beat-drops. The trippy pyrotechnics and downright dizzying light shows rival those on the Vegas Strip, and like its home city, things don't really kick into high gear until midnight at the earliest. Stamina is key for surviving this energetic dance fest, which has rightly earned the nickname of "American Ibiza." WHO'S PLAYING: To be confirmed. Past lineups have featured artists such as Calvin Harris, Avicii, Bassnectar, Moby, Flume, Kiesza, Tiësto, and more. For additional information and tickets visit electricdaisycarnival.com. Photo: Getty

WHEN: July 7-10, 2016 WHERE: Novi Sad, Serbia WHY: What began as a political movement of students fighting for democracy and peace has rapidly become one of the most major, mainstream music festivals in Europe. Set in the heart of the Petrovaradin Fortress along the right bank of the Danube, its no wonder Exit has won awards for its unique offerings. Exit brings in top artists from a range of musical genres, all while maintaining its fundamental, socio-political values, and remaining one of the most affordable festivals around. WHO'S PLAYING: Ellie Goulding, Bastille, Wiz Khalifa, and more. For additional information and tickets visit exitfest.org. Photo: Getty

WHEN: July 22-24, 2016 WHERE: Mount Naeba, Japan WHY: You know you're attending a special music festival when you have to take a cable car to travel between stages. Fuji Rock is Japan's largest music festival, nestled in the mountains around the Naeba Ski Resort, boasting verdant hills and trickling streams for the ultimate idyllic setting. And if the view from the world's longest gondola lift doesn't enchant you, perhaps the remarkably clean toilets will. WHO'S PLAYING: Sigur Rós, Disclosure, James Blake, Beck, Wilco, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and more. For additional information and tickets visit fujirock-eng.com. Photo: Flickr Creative Commons/Genta

WHEN: June 22-26, 2016 WHERE: Somerset, UK WHY: A heavyweight champ in the world of music festivals, Glastonbury first started in 1970 as the UK's answer to the wildly successful Woodstock. Each year, the lineup always features major artists in the industry, and the crowd is always overflowing with models and celebs. Just be sure to pack your rainboots—900 acres of farmland + England's ever-present drizzle = mud more often than not. WHO'S PLAYING: Adele, Muse, Coldplay, Beck, LCD Soundsystem, ZZ Top, Disclosure, Ellie Goulding, Grimes, AlunaGeorge, CHVRCHES, Santigold, Cyndi Lauper, and more. For additional information and tickets visit glastonburyfestivals.co.uk. Photo: Getty

GOVERNORS BALL WHEN: June 3-5, 2016 WHERE: New York City, New York WHY: As eclectic as its host city, Governors Ball brings top artists from countless genres to its grassy slopes on Randall's Island in New York. The City's dedicated indie lovers, hipster kids, and Brooklynites all venture out onto the ferry daily to reach the festival grounds—which is really saying something. WHO'S PLAYING: Kanye West, The Strokes, The Killers, Beck, Robyn, Death Cab for Cutie, M83, Haim, CHVRCHES, Elle King, and more. For additional information and tickets visit governorsballmusicfestival.com. Photo: The Governors Ball/Facebook

WHEN: July 15-16, 2016 WHERE: London, UK WHY: Calling all party people—grab your neon gear and flashy festival extras because Lovebox is the good-time soirée your former sorority girl self will appreciate. If the live music and DJ sets don't satisfy your thirst for a rocking good time, perhaps the performance art or the roller disco will do the trick. If not, there's always the afterparties. (Of course.) WHO'S PLAYING: Major Lazer, MØ, LCD Soundsystem, Miike Snow, Diplo, and more. For additional information and tickets visit loveboxfestival.com. Photo: Getty

WHEN: July 14-17, 2016 WHERE: Southwald, UK WHY: The sweet, shy, wholesome sibling to England's Glastonbury festival, Latitude's lakeside scene near the quiet town of Southwald has been a hit since it began ten years ago. The event caters to newly-thirty-somethings, families, and young-at-heart middle-classers who are willing to make the journey to the remote grounds to get their fix of boho, indie tunes and cotton candy-colored sheep. WHO'S PLAYING: The National, New Order, Maccabees, M83, The Lumineers, CHVRCHES, Beirut, Grimes, MØ, and more. For additional information and tickets visit latitudefestival.com. Photo: Latitude

WHEN: May 20-28, 2016 WHERE: Rabat, Morocco WHY: Otherwise known as "Rhythms of the World," Mawazine showcases artists from around the world as part of Morocco's initiative to promote a more liberal, culturally diverse image. Since it was founded almost fifteen years ago, the festival has grown beyond its initial intention to become a major melting pot of musical styles. Mawazine has hosted major stars such as Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, and Mariah Carey, mixed in with a slew of international musicians and eclectic artists. WHO'S PLAYING: Iggy Azalea, Christina Aguilera, Wyclef Jean, and more. For additional information and tickets visit festivalmawazine.ma. Photo: Sife el Amine/Mawazine

WHEN: July 1-16, 2016 WHERE: Montreux, Switzerland WHY: Set on Lake Geneva's sapphire blue waters, Montreux Jazz Festival has evolved from a jazz-only event to a large-scale music festival that boasts a broad array of artists and draws an international crowd over the course of two weeks. WHO'S PLAYING: Lana del Rey, Air, Muse, Flume, Future, ZZ Top, Sigur Rós, M83, Beirut, Lou Doillon, Jamie Cullum, Neil Young, Grimes, Santana, and more. For additional information and tickets visit montreuxjazz.com. Photo: Flickr Creative Commons/Olivier Bruchez

WHEN: May 5-8, 2016 WHERE: Havana, Cuba WHY: With political relations and travel restrictions between the US and Cuba relaxing for the first time in decades, now is the perfect time to discover the magic and culture of Havana. And what better way to do so than by soaking up the local soundscape and Caribbean-inspired music scene at the Musicabana festival? For additional information and tickets visit musicabana.com. Photo: Musicabana

WHEN: August 31- September 4, 2016 WHERE: Pula, Croatia WHY: Whether or not you are an aficionado of the electronic dance genre or not is beside the point—Outlook's picturesque setting is more than enough reason to attend. Situated alongside the glistening Adriatic Sea, the grounds feature a 2000-year-old Roman amphitheater and an abandoned fortress from the 19th Century, making it as much an historic, almost museum-like experience as it is a music festival. For additional information and tickets visit outlookfestival.com. Photo: Outlook

WHEN: August 5-7, 2016 WHERE: San Francisco, California WHY: Everyone knows the cultures in Northern and Southern California couldn't be more different, and music festivals are no exception. While Coachella may be all about scene and be seen, San Francisco's Outside Lands finds a more delicate balance between mainstream and underground. Plus, it's a veritable heaven for foodies and those with an outdoorsy streak. WHO'S PLAYING: Radiohead, Lionel Richie, LCD Soundsystem, Lana del Rey, J.Cole, Duran Duran, Zedd, Major Lazer, Air, Sufjan Stevens, Chance the Rapper, Beach House, Halsey, Grimes, and more. For additional information and tickets visit sfoutsidelands.com. Photo: Getty

WHEN: August 26-28, 2016 WHERE: Reading & Leeds, UK WHY: One lineup, two towns. England's Reading and Leeds share the same festival billing over the August Bank Holiday, reaching a broad audience with its diverse musical program. These events are particularly popular with the younger crowd, and make for an exceptional first experience among festival newbies. WHO'S PLAYING: Foals, Disclosure, CHVRCHES, Twenty One Pilots, Fetty Wap, Imagine Dragons, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Haim, The 1975, Fall Out Boy, A$AP Rocky, AlunaGeorge, and more. For additional information and tickets visit readingfestival.com and leedsfestival.com. Photo: Getty

WHEN: June 30- July 3, 2016 WHERE: Werchter, Belgium WHY: This Belgian bash matches top-notch music with top-line beers for a combo that can't be beat. The scene is a smorgasbord of established artists and rising stars, but there's not much else beyond the music (which many purists will appreciate). Except for the bountiful food and beverage options, that is. Local brews flow from the tap and food stands serve up traditional Belgian comfort food that'll put you in just the right mood to lounge on the lawn and listen to some jams. WHO'S PLAYING: Ellie Goulding, Paul McCartney, Florence + The Machine, Disclosure, Alessia Cara, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Beck, New Order, Flume, Daughter, The 1975, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tame Impala, Band of Horses, and more. For additional information and tickets visit rockwerchter.be. Photo: Rock Werchter

WHEN: June 25- July 2, 2016 WHERE: Roskilde, Denmark WHY: Despite its massive size and mainstream popularity, Roskilde has somehow magically maintained a decidedly bohemian, hippie sensibility against all commercial odds. Profits go to support arts and humanitarian causes, leftover food is donated to homeless shelters, drinking water is free—oh, and there's a naked run hosted every year. WHO'S PLAYING: Wiz Khalifa, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, CHVRCHES, Grimes, Santigold, Tenacious D, Neil Young, Tame Impala, Foals, Future, James, Blake, Peaches, LCD Soundsystem, New Order, and more. For additional information and tickets visit roskilde-festival.dk. Photo: Getty

WHEN: June 17-19, 2016 WHERE: Reykjavik, Iceland WHY: If Icelandair's cheap flights aren't incentive enough to give this festival a go, the weather in Reykjavik this time of year surely will be. Secret Solstice, aptly named for the weekend of never-ending daylight, draws a hip crowd for its unique electronica artists and DJ sets. The sun won't set for three days during the festival, so plan to party accordingly—and if you need a break, hit the geothermal spa at The Blue Lagoon. WHO'S PLAYING: Radiohead, Of Monsters and Men, Deftones, Die Antwoord, and more. For additional information and tickets visit secretsolstice.is. Photo: Getty

WHEN: June 16-18, 2016 WHERE: Barcelona, Spain WHY: Sonar also goes by the International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art. If you're thinking that sounds a bit fancier than your average EDM event, you'd be correct. While its primary calling card is the music, Sonar's schedule features lectures on digital media and trends, art installations, and more culturally relevant happenings for festival-goers to slot in between DJ sets and shows. WHO'S PLAYING: Santigold, Flume, James Blake, A-Trak, New Order, and more. For additional information and tickets visit sonar.es. Photo: Getty

WHEN: March 2017 WHERE: Austin, Texas WHY: South by Southwest is all about discovery—from tech to film to music. And while more mainstream artists will hit the Austin scene as well, the joy is discovering the up-and-coming gems of the industry. Scattered around Austin's countless venues, SXSW rallies a live music scene that is not to be missed. WHO'S PLAYING: To be confirmed. The 2015 lineup featured artists such as Erykah Badu, ASTR, AlunaGeorge, Steve Aoki, Bloc Party, Chairlift, Charlie XCX, CHVRCHES, Future, Ghostland Observatory, Santigold, Rooney, and more. For additional information and tickets visit sxsw.com. Photo: Getty

WHEN: July 22-24, 2016 WHERE: Byron Bay, Australia WHY: July is the dead of winter for Australia, but you'd never know it. Splendour in the Grass holds all the sun-drenched, surf-side glory that you'd expect from a summer's day. Bring plenty of water and shoes made for walking, because this Down Under destination is sprawling. (We're talking a 20-minute walk between some stages.) WHO'S PLAYING: The Strokes, The Cure, Flume, James Blake, Sigur Rós, Santigold, The 1975, and more. For additional information and tickets visit splendourinthegrass.com. Photo: Splendour In The Grass/Facebook

WHEN: June 29- July 3; July 5-10, 2016 WHERE: Milwaukee, Wisconsin WHY: If bigger is better, then Summerfest is the best. Boasting the title of the world's largest music festival, this massive event on the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee welcomes close to a million visitors and 800 performers over the course of 11 days. WHO'S PLAYING: Selena Gomez, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Jason Derulo, DNCE, Paul McCartney, Nelly, The Roots, Death Cab for Cutie, Luke Bryan, Willie Nelson, Passion Pit, O.A.R., Alabama Shakes, Gavin Degraw, Billy Idol, Sir Mix-a-Lot, The Fray, Elle King, Weezer, Panic! at the Disco, and more. For additional information and tickets visit summerfest.com. Photo: Summerfest

WHEN: August 10-17, 2016 WHERE: Budapest, Hungary WHY: The energy is palpable at Sziget where over 400,000 music maniacs gather for this week-long event of 200 shows daily across 50 different venues. From music concerts to parties to performance art, theater and circus shows, there is never a dull moment. WHO'S PLAYING: Rihanna, Muse, Sia, David Guetta, Bastille, Sigur Rós, The Lumineers, M83, Crystal Castles, CHVRCHES, Travis Scott, and more. For additional information and tickets visit szigetfestival.com. Photo: Getty

WHEN: July 8-10, 2016 WHERE: Perthshire, Scotland WHY: Scotland's largest festival may seem like your standard 'camp, drink, and catch some good music' affair, but a couple key details make T in the Park stand out from the pack. For starters, it's held at Strathallan Castle—yes, a real castle—which is beyond spectacular. Secondly, it's become somewhat of a tradition to observe Fancy Dress Friday, on which day festival attendees come dressed in their wildest, craziest costumes. WHO'S PLAYING: Disclosure, Calvin Harris, Bastille, The Stone Roses, Alessia Cara, The 1975, Red Hot Chili Peppers, LCD Soundsystem, Major Lazer, James Bay, and more. For additional information and tickets visit tinthepark.com. Photo: Getty

WHEN: July 22-24, 2016 WHERE: Boom, Belgium WHY: Tomorrowland ranks somewhere around really, really, ridiculously impressive as far as music festivals go. Not only is it the largest electronic dance fest in the world, but it also takes second place as largest festival overall. Fifteen stages host 400+ performers as social butterflies and glitter-drenched dancers party it up among the confetti and disco balls at this EDM extravaganza. Did we mention it's located in a town called Boom? WHO'S PLAYING: Deadmau5, David Guetta, Tiësto, Laidback Luke, Steve Aoki, A-Trak, and more. For additional information and tickets visit tomorrowland.com. Photo: Getty

WHEN: August 11-13, 2016 WHERE: Gothenburg, Sweden WHY: Named for its position on the southwest coast of Sweden, Way Out West is among the most innovative festivals in the world. Its lineup is consistently thoughtful and diverse, and its commitment to eco-friendly practices (right down to the organic-made festival merch and the bio-degradable cutlery provided at the food stalls) is praise-worthy. During the day, fans spread out on the lush lawns, then at night the events continue on at local venues for what is known as Stay Out West. WHO'S PLAYING: Sia, CHVRCHES, Daughter, Haim, M83, James Bay, Travis Scott, and more. For additional information and tickets visit wayoutwest.se. Photo: Getty

WHEN: April 22- 24; April 28- May 1, 2016 WHERE: New Orleans, Louisiana WHY: While the authentic jazz scene still runs hot and wild at this New Orleans fest, recent years have welcomed a more contemporary lineup and crowd as well. Now you can hop from stages showcasing trombone-tooting, scatting musicians to those featuring top pop singers—and wolf down a po' boy and a beignet in between. WHO'S PLAYING: Snoop Dogg, Nick Jonas, Red Hot Chili Peppers, J.Cole, Elle King, Pearl Jam, Van Morrison, Flo Rida, Paul Simon, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, Beck, and more. For additional information and tickets visit nojazzfest.com. Photo: Getty