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Much like clubbing, over the past half-decade or so music festivals have become not only a mainstream activity, but a popular travel option. The question now isn't which country are you visiting, it's which festival, with backpackers and holidaymakers pinpointing thier must-do events and then planning the rest of the trip around them. And with a plethora of amazing festivals all brimming with eclectic lineups boasting spectacular locations, it's easy to see why.
Here we list 20 of some of the biggest and best festivals that are worthy picks to travel across the globe for. Forget niche and boutique for the time being - these are the big puppies to look out for. Start booking, get packing!
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#20 - Labyrinth [Japan]
Labyrinth festival is unique from so many angles. The festival is held annually in the mountains of Niigata prefecture Japan, famous for its steep and luscious green mountains that are covered with powdery snow by winter. Foreign visitors rush from around the world to get their hands on elusive “international” tickets, though around 95% of the festival tickets can only be purchased domestically.
With an expertly crafted line-up of ambient interwoven with more industrial 4x4, Labyrinth has made a full turn-around stylistically from the trance-fuelled rave that they once were. This transition was done with pure genuineness and the urge to be diverse. Proof is in the pudding; locals return year after year, the atmosphere remains relaxed and intimate, Extrawelt even advised me that they loved playing during the transition period years ago because it made sense to listeners and artists like them. With four hours of Petar Dundov going into Peter Van Hoesen; no one was complaining! So if you are one of the lucky ones at Labyrinth 2014, you’re in for a surreal experience – just don’t forget to pack a rain jacket. [Sonia Miles-Khan]
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#19 - Eastern Electrics [London]
A relatively new kid on the scene, Eastern Electrics, like most successful festivals, had a humble birth in 2008. Since then it has grown into one of the UK’s best and most credible dance music events. Last year saw its biggest edition to date; a two-night, three-day affair at Knebworth Park, just 30 minutes outside of London. This week the festival revealed that it’s “squeezing all the fun into one day,” in 2014, announcing a return on Saturday August 2nd. Better start warming up those dancing shoes. [Pulse HQ]
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#18 - Mutek [Montreal]
Since 2000, MUTEK has brought electronic music and the digital arts to cities around the world. Its central platform is a five-day festival in Montreal that generally runs from late May into early June. Over 100 prominent artists, panelists, and industry figures participate in this massive gathering, joining several new talents who gain exposure at the event that oftentimes leads to successful careers. This year, MUTEK is joining forces with Elektra, Montreal’s digital arts festival, to celebrate their combined fifteenth anniversary. EM15, the major two-in-one festival, is set to run from Tuesday, May 27th until Sunday, June 1st showcasing over 100 artists through an “expansive and multidimensional experience.” [Liz Mallalieu]
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#17 - Snowbombing [Mayrhofen, Austria]
Currently celebrating 13 years of fun, frolics and music deep in the Austrian Alps, Snowbombing has remained an annual pilgrimage for extreme sports nut-jobs and rave headcases alike. Set across an entire week across the charming and eccentric resort of Mayrhoffen. Roast pork sarnies, apres ski and some of finest, cleanest snowruns in Europe by day; by night, it's an electronic music fan's playground, playing host to legendary artists and labels such as Innervisions, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Booka Shade, Andy C and even Snoop Dogg in 2012. Its all about having the most fun you can have in the space of a week both on and off piste.
Jokes aside, Snowbombing's line up (cherry picked from current and legendary talent), uniwue venues decked out with custom built FunktionOnes and unrivaled atmosphere keep their lofty hijinks a cut above the other alpine romps. And by the end of the week, Jagaermeister will become your best friend. [Joe Gamp]
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#16 - Tomorrowland [Belgium]
It’s the festival that sold out in almost an instant in 2013, and upon doubling its capacity in 2014 by holding the festival over two weekends, sold 360,000 tickets in under an hour. It’s stages are of some of the most elaborate and fanciful ever constructed – last year’s main stage was a giant volcano, complete with fireworks and a blowing top – and play host to the biggest DJs in the world, ranging from Carl Cox to Hardwell to Armin Van Buuren, and it all takes place in the quite, beautiful countryside of Belgium. Tomorrowland is about as big as it gets for a dance music festival, and if you ever manage to snag a ticket before they sell out, should be right near the top of your bucket list. [Chandler Shortlidge]
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#15 - Fuji Rock [Naeba, Japan]
Don’t let them name fool you, Fuji Rock boasts just as many cutting edge electronic acts as it does rock and indie. Nestled in the forest at the base of the Naeba Ski Resort, just an hour north of Japan, the festival is one of the major destinations for bands and DJs touring the world circuit, resulting in a large chunk of foreign travellers in attendance. But don’t fret, the bulk of the 100, 000+ attendees are locals, who with their gracious manner truly make Fuji Rock the wonderful experience that it is. Though make no mistake, courteousness aside, the Japanese still know how to party.
Whether you want to sit by a beautiful creek cradling a beer, get your mosh on with ‘Hello Kitty’ adorned teeny-boppers, dance the night away in a huge field to world class DJs, or just get lost in the beautiful surroundings, Fuji Rock has got even the most discerning of festival-goers covered. Read our review of Fuji Rock 2010 here. [Henry Johnstone]
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#14 - Movement [Detroit, USA]
One of the clear favorites of dedicated house and techno fans, Movement Electronic Music Festival is a staple in many of our festival seasons. The three-day extravaganza takes place in Detroit each Memorial Day weekend and features an all-star lineup of dance music pioneers as well as talented emerging artists. Past editions of the festival have brought legends such as Richie Hawtin, Carlo Cox, Loco Dice, Dubfire, Art Department, Carl Craig, and many more to the birthplace of the music we know and love. 2014 marks the ninth year of Movement, set to run from May 24th to May 26th – don’t miss out! [Liz Mallalieu]
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#13 - Melt! [Ferropolis, Germany]
Some festivals rely on their unique location as major drawcards. You could accuse Germany’s Melt! Of this, with it’s jaw-droppingly surreal location of Ferropolis (an open air museum of old huge industrial machines) certainly a major factor for punters to consider. But Melt! certainly doesn’t rest on its aesthetic laurels, boasting some of the best electronic music lineups on the planet. How’s 2014 looking? How does Tiga, Brodinski, Dixon, Moderat, Boys Noize and Portishead sound? Yeah, we thought so. [Pulse HQ]
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#12 - Electric Daisy Carnival [Las Vegas, USA]
Kicking off in Los Angeles back in 1997, Electric Daisy Carnival has since moved to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and grown in scale with over 300,000 attendees at the most recent iteration. Several spinoff events have been held in North American locations including New York, Puerto Rico, Orlando, Texas, and Chicago, with a festival planned for Mexico City this spring. EDC is known for bringing in the world’s biggest artists such as Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, Svicii, Afrojack, and more for three days of great music while still focusing on the experience of guests, which it dubs its true “headliners.” The 2014 edition is scheduled for June 20th to June 22nd directly following Insomniac Events’ third annual EDMbiz conference and expo. [Liz Mallalieu]
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#11 - Kazantip [Ukraine]
One of the most unique experiences around, The Republic of kaZantip is a 14-day gathering of music lovers in Crimea, who have chosen to disconnect from everyday life for two weeks of raving in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The party takes place along seven miles of beach lining The Black Sea. The massive main stage and surrounding smaller venues host parties and showcases all day and night including Circoloco, Paradise, Ellum Audio, Armada, Diynamic, Flying Circus and more. All it takes is a viZa and a journey to the remote beaches of Ukraine to take part in this truly one-of-a-kind unforgettable experience! [Liz Mallalieu]
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#10 - BPM [Playa Del Carmen, Mexico]
Although The BPM Festival is relatively new, it has quickly gained notoriety as a personal favorite among many in the dance music community. Launched in 2008, this annual, ten-day-and-night party happens in beautiful Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and begins just after New Year's Day. This year, thousands enjoyed jungle parties, sunrises and sunsets on beautiful beaches, and many more of the lovely magical experiences one can imagine would occur at a festival in Tulum, from January 3rd to January 12th. BPM is smaller and more relaxed than festivals like WMC and Burning Man, but offers equally amazing events like All Day I Dream, Music On, Wisdom of the Glove, Circo Loco, Enter. and many more. Check out the video recaps on The BPM Festival’s Facebook page to get an idea of how this crowd vibes. [Sonali Sen Sharma]
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#9 - Stereosonic [Sydney, Australia]
The grand-daddy of Australian electronic music festivals, Stereosonic dropped another monstrous line up last year that ran the gamut of genres from dubstep, deep house, trance and everything in between (Pulse Radio even hosted a stage in Sydney with s Maceo Plex, Solomun, Claude VonStroke, Justin Martin, Fritz Kalkbrenner and Hot Since 82). It also successfully transitioned into a two day event in each capital city across the country, a luxury afforded to organisers after being acquired by American events giant SFX Entertainment. This year Stereosonic is returning once again for #twodays, and looks set to prove that it’s got the right toys to play with the big boys in USA and Europe. [Henry Johnstone & Marissa Demetriou]
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#8 - Time Warp [Mannheim, Germany]
One of Germany’s biggest dance music festivals, Time Warp has been running since the mid 90s. Initially putting on its first parties in various cities around the country, the festival has grown into one massive event in Mannheim with 20,000 ravers frothing over techno and house music’s biggest DJs. This year Time Warp once again welcomes back usual suspect veterans like Richie Hawtin, Ricardo Villalobos, Carl Cox and Sven Vath alongside your newer generation names a la Seth Troxler, Tale Of Us and tINI. Do yourself a favour and get there. [Pulse HQ]
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#7 - Dimensions [Fort Punta Christo, Croatia]
The only word to adequately describe Dimensions Festival in the infamous Fort Punta Christo in Pula, Croatia, even at just two years old, is 'flawless.' Every aspect has been executed with loving care. From the breathtakingly adventurous location, to the indisputably flawless (there's that word again) sound-systems, and the to the meticulously sharp programming – which fuses beach parties, boat parties, and the best music from across Europe, the UK and US – every detail has been painstakingly planned. Years past has seen Dyed Soundorom and Andrew Weatherall take over Fort Arena, Ben Klock, Steffi and the Osgut Ton family in the glorious & notorious Moat Stage, and Moodymann's red wine-fuelled charisma adorning the Outside Arena. With its sensational considered delivery, Dimensions Festival ticks every conceivable box for a true house and techno lover. [Sophie G James]
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#6 - Bestival [Isle Of Wight, UK]
Without a doubt one of the UK’s best festivals, Bestival each year blows punters away with its top-shelf and varied lineups. You’re just as likely to catch massive pop names like Elton John or Flaming Lips as you are underground techno from Berlin’s Marcel Dettmann. Each September, Bestival takes over Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle Of Wight, curated by BBC Radio 1 host and DJ Rob Da Bank. This year the dress up theme is Desert Island Disco and so far the lineup boasts Outkast, Disclosure and Major Lazer. Expect a DJ lineup to drop in the coming months that will have more jocks than you can poke a stick at. [Pulse HQ]
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#5 - Coachella [Indio, USA]
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival takes place in the California desert over two weekends in April. Launched in 1999, the festival was originally only one weekend but due to popular demand, it expanded to two in 2012. Coachella is both different and amazing because it offers a little something for everybody; there are a variety of genres and artists performing each year. With acts like AFI, Beck, Blood Orange, Art Department, Bonobo, Dixon, Fishbone, Flosstradamus, Lana Del Ray, Kid Cudi, Lee Burridge, and many more, rap, hip-hop, techno, pop, dubstep, trap and several other genres are represented. Coupled with a beautiful setting featuring a variety of rides (ferris wheel, anyone?), tents, lights and art pieces, Coachella is truly a sight to be seen. Unfortunately, even with the expansion, tickets disappear very quickly. This year’s event is already sold out, but don’t lose hope - there’s always a way to finagle something. [Liz Mallalieu]
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#4 - Sonar [Barcelona, Spain]
The middle of June has been Sonar’s preserve in Barcelona for over twenty years, and the Catalan capital has something for even the most veteran festivalgoer. While the more laid-back (comparatively) and eclectic daytime program showcases everything from tech demos to big Euro DJs and esoteric Latin performance art, the nighttime is all about industrial-scale electronica.
Spread across Fira Gran Via’s cavernous arenas, a swathe of contemporary acts sit alongside luminaries (think New Order, Yazoo, Orbital and Madness in recent times), all surrounded by bumper cars and oddball projections – not to mention the explosion of ‘off-Sonar’ parties that have cropped up in recent years. For a week in the summer, Barcelona is the place to be, and nowhere better than the Sonar Pub at sunrise on the Sunday morning. [Guy Hornsby]
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#3 - Exit [Novi Sad, Serbia]
Housed in a medieval fort on hill overlooking the Danube, Exit’s location in Novi Sad can lay claim as one of the most breathtaking on the festival circuit. Started as a musical protest at the turn of the millennium, it’s grown yearly in size and reputation. But the relative ease of movement across its quirky hilltop arenas mixed with the overwhelming local hospitality means there’s still a real community feel.
While this Best Major European Festival winner always boasts big names, it’s also a rewarding chance to see some of Europe’s less heralded (and local) musicians fly the flag. Roasting temperatures mean it’s strictly an evening gig, giving revelers the chance to soak up some rays on the man-made beach in town all afternoon.15 years on, and post sundown is a spectacular and pleasingly unsullied festival experience, with the dance arena’s natural bowl providing the magical send-off to every night’s revelry. [Guy Hornsby]
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#2 - Glastonbury [Pilton, UK]
It’s a British festival that’s as big as a decent-sized town, has stages that host anywhere from 70,000 people to 10, in fields, tents and even buried underground, covering every genre of music ever invented, and that barely scratches the surface.
Pilton’s finest is an experience everyone has to do once, and preferably many times more: even being washed away is part of its unique lustre, but so is climbing to the stone circle for dawn, getting a massage in the green fields, staggering around the Shangri-La in the darkness, shuffling to the silent disco in mid afternoon, and getting misty-eyed on Sunday evening in the middle of a swaying mass of flags and muddy faces at the Pyramid Stage after a day on the spiced cider. Nothing else, festival-wise, comes close. [Guy Hornsby]
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#1 - Burning Man [Black Rock Desert, Nevada]
Burning Man is a truly unique experience. Set in the heart of the Nevada dessert, it has been described as life changing by many. Music, art, hedonism and spirituality collide under the blistering sun and cold nights to form a melting pot like no other. It is a place of extremes, expression and community. Driving a hundred miles out of Reno you are welcomed by a sea of amazing stages, decorated art cars and scantily dressed Burners. At the centre point, there is a giant woodman Man that is burnt on the penultimate night, celebrating new beginnings and also a Temple, torched on the last evening.
Founded in 1986. itt is based on ten principles; radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leave no trace, participation and immediacy. You cannot buy anything there apart from ice and coffee and you must take everything else with you that you need for the week-long event. This creates a feeling of community between the participants that is seldom found in our corporate world. Coupled with the workshops, orgy tents, talks on quantum physics and sunrise raves at the Robot Heart Bus – where you can catch names like Lee Burridge, Damian Lazarus and Pachanga Boys - Burning Man is an experience that really needs to be seen to be believed. [Robert Friggieri]
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