The Best Glastonbury Alternatives for 2022

Didn't get Glastonbury Festival tickets? We know the feeling...

We've picked out some great alternative festivals going down across Europe this summer.

Sziget

Festival lineup: Arctic Monkeys, Dua Lipa, Calvin Harris, Justin Bieber, Kings of Leon, Tame Impala, Lewis Capaldi, Stromae, Anne-Marie

Sometimes labelled as the European alternative to the Burning Man, Sziget is abound with quirky activities, surreal venues, an amusement park and incredible art installations that combine to create a world of wonder, soundtracked by international names in the world of rock, pop and electronic music. 

When & where: 10-15 August 2022; Budapest, Hungary

Sziget Festival 2022 Guide / Book Sziget Festival 2022

Mad Cool

Festival lineup: Metallica, The Killers, Muse, Kings of Leon, twenty one pilots, Imagine Dragons, Pixies, Florence + the Machine, Placebo, Queens of the Stone Age, Stormzy

Mad Cool is arguably the newest addition to Europe's elite music festival scene. In the short space of just four editions, the festival has showcased some of rock and indie's biggest names, as well as an enviable programme of dance music across its three days.

Combine that with the guaranteed sunshine, and the fact you're in in the Spanish capital, and you've got a summer holiday and music festival rolled into one.

When & where: 6-10 July 2022; Madrid, Spain

Mad Cool 2022 Guide / Book Mad Cool 2022

Rock in Rio Lisboa 

Festival lineup: Muse, Duran Duran, Black Eyed Peas, Post Malone, The National, a-ha, Ellie Goulding, Anitta, Liam Gallagher, Bush, Ivete Sangalo, Jason Derulo, UB40

The European outpost of the world-famous Brazilian music festival is now an established and esteemed event in its own right, offering up the same sense of magic as its South American parent, as well as sharing the same commitment to showcasing some of the world's biggest names in rock, pop, rap, dance music and more across two weekends.

When & where: 18-19 and 25-26 June 2022; Lisbon, Portugal

Rock in Rio Lisboa 2022 Guide / Book Rock in Rio Lisboa 2022

Rock en Seine

Festival lineup: Arctic Monkeys, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Tame Impala, Stromae, Rage Against the Machine, FKJ, James Blake, IDLES, Jamie xx

Held each summer in the western reaches of Paris, Rock en Seine has become one of the country's most famous music festivals, showcasing its eclectic lineup inside the grounds of the historic Domaine National de Saint-Cloud.

When & where: 25-28 & 30 August 2022; Paris, France

Rock en Seine 2022 Guide / Book Rock en Seine 2022

NOS Alive

Festival lineup: The Strokes, Florence + the Machine, Metallica, Imagine Dragons, Da Weasel, Stormzy, Jorja Smith, The War On Drugs, Stromae

Each summer NOS Alive brings a sunshine lineup of rock, indie and alternative music to the beautiful Oeiras coast near Lisbon. Its glorious setting means festival-goers spend their days lapping up the sun or taking a dip in the nearby Tagus river, before the main lineup kickstarts a night of full-throttle partying.

When & where: 6-9 July 2022; Lisbon, Portugal

NOS Alive'22 Guide / Book NOS Alive'22

Lollapalooza Paris

Festival lineup: Pearl Jam, Imagine Dragons, A$AP Rocky, David Guetta, Megan Thee Stallion, Anitta, Jack Harlow, Måneskin

France may have waited for over 25 years, but Lollapalooza's distinctive brand has now firmly settled in Paris after expeditions to Chile, São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Berlin. The city's Hippodrome de Longchamp hosts proceedings, providing a unique backdrop to Lollapalooza's continental blend of rock, pop, hip-hop, R&B and electronic music.

When & where: 16-17 July 2022; Paris, France

Lollapalooza Paris 2022 Guide / Book Lollapalooza Paris 2022