Top 25 Music Festivals in Europe 2022

Europe's finest and biggest music festivals are also some of the heaviest hitters in the world. When you think of the likes of Glastonbury, Tomorrowland, Primavera Sound, Rolling Loud Portugal and Mad Cool, it's easy to realise how spoilt we are on the continent. 

Here's our run-down of 25 European bucket list festivals, in no particular order and covering all kinds of genres. 

Tomorrowland

Festival lineup (2022): Martin Garrix, Armin van Buuren, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Marshmello, Amelie Lens, Adam Beyer, Eric Prydz, NERVO

Tomorrowland is, simply put, the biggest electronic music show on earth. Massive lineups cherry-picked from any artist they could want, allied to an intense attention to detail, create an unrivalled wonderland that keeps on mesmerising the world.

When & where: 22-24 July & 29-31 July 2022; Boom, Belgium

Tomorrowland 2022 Guide / Book Tomorrowland 2022

Glastonbury

Festival lineup (2022): Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney, Kendrick Lamar, Diana Ross, Burna Boy, Herbie Hancock, Pet Shop Boys, Lorde   

Glastonbury Festival is one of the world's most famous music and performing arts festivals (if not the most famous). Embracing each and every genre across the spectrum, from rock and pop to minimal house, techno and full-throttle drum 'n' bass, music-lovers flock to its spiritual fields down in Somerset for a life-changing weekend. If they're lucky enough to secure a ticket that is...

When & where: 22-26 June 2022; Pilton

Glastonbury Festival 2022 Guide & Mailing List

Mad Cool Festival

Festival lineup (2022): Metallica, The Killers, Muse, Kings of Leon, twenty one pilots, Imagine Dragons, Faith No More, Pixies, Placebo

Only a few years old, Mad Cool is already one of Europe's most glittering, glaringly popular festivals. It may not have the history and reputation for breaking ground that its Barcelona rival Primavera Sound commands, but in Mad Cool, Spain has gained another festival that stands alongside the continent's biggest and best.

When & where: 6-9 July 2022; Madrid, Spain

Mad Cool Festival 2022 Guide / Book Mad Cool Festival 2022

AMF

Festival lineup (2021): David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, Brennan Heart, Timmy Trunpet, Tiësto, Afrojack, Nicky Romero, Topic

AMF is one of dance music's biggest nights of the year, taking place in the Dutch capital's biggest stadium. For one night in October, EDM royalty all come together to celebrate what they love best. 

Formerly known as Amsterdam Music Festival, AMF has become EDM's main event thanks in part to its partnership with DJ Mag to reveal their vaunted Top 100 DJs list live in front of a packed house.

When & where: 22 October 2022; Amsterdam, Netherlands

AMF 2022 Guide & Waiting List

Afro Nation Portugal 

Festival lineup (2022): Burna Boy, Wizkid, Megan Thee Stallion, Chris Brown, Davido, Beenie Man, Koffee, Tems, Popcaan

Afro Nation brings star-studded lineups covering dancehall, bashment, Afrobeats, hip-hop and R&B to occupy Praia da Rocha's blissful beach for a weekend of pure heat, both in temperature and vibe. 

When & where: 1-3 July 2022; Portimão, Portugal

Afro Nation Portugal 2022 Guide / Book Afro Nation Portugal 2022

All Points East

Festival lineup (2022): Gorillaz, Tame Impala, Kraftwerk, Chemical Brothers, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Disclosure, The National

After a thrilling debut in 2018, All Points East has become a staple of east London's Victoria Park as they continue to take things to an even higher level with stacked yet clearly curated lineups that span scenes and genres.

When & where: 19-20 and 25-28 August 2022; London, UK

All Points East 2022 Guide / Book All Points East 2022

Rolling Loud Portugal

Festival lineup (2022): A$AP Rocky, Future, J. Cole, Lil Uzi Vert, Rae Sremmurd, Lil Baby, Trippie Red, Ski Mask the Slump God

Rolling Loud's Florida flagship festival has seen the hip-hop brand become North America's biggest rap music festival of the past few years. Its long-awaited and eagerly anticipated debut edition in Portugal looks to cement the title of Europe's too.

When & where: 6-8 July 2022; Portimão, Portugal

Rolling Loud Portugal 2022 Guide / Book Rolling Loud Portugal 2022

Isle of Wight Festival

Festival lineup (2022): Muse, Lewis Capaldi, Kasabian, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Pete Tong presents Ibiza Classics, Blossoms, The Kooks, Madness

Isle of Wight Festival is renowned for legendary headliners – Fleetwood Mac, The Stone Roses, Bruce Springsteen – and eclectic lineups that pay homage to its own incredible history. Now over 50 years on from the original edition, IOW is as strong as ever.

When & where: 16-19 June 2022; Isle of Wight, UK

Isle of Wight Festival 2022 Guide & Waiting List

Primavera Sound

Festival lineup: (2022): Massive Attack, Tame Impala, The Strokes, Tyler, the Creator, Jorja Smith, Gorillaz, Beck, Lorde, Dua Lipa, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Megan Thee Stallion

One of the most respected and celebrated festivals in the world, Primavera Sound celebrates a 20th anniversary edition in 2022 by doing what they do best – showcasing an eclectic, exciting, and progressive array of talent across the expansive lineup.

And as it's a landmark edition, the Barcelona stalwart extends to two weekends for the first time, with a full week's programming in the interim.

When & where: 2-12 June 2022; Barcelona, Spain

Primavera Sound 2022 Guide / Book Primavera Sound 2022

cinch presents TRNSMT Festival

Festival lineup (2022): The Strokes, Lewis Capaldi, Paolo Nutini, Foals, Wolf Alice, Sam Fender, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Sigrid

Started as a replacement for T in the Park, the city centre event includes all the revelry of a traditional music festival, but also gives festival-goers the chance to explore the city's bars, restaurants, nightclubs and cultural attractions.

When & where: 8-10 September 2022; Glasgow, UK

cinch presents TRNSMT Festival 2022 Guide / Book cinch presents TRNSMT Festival 2022

Bilbao BBK Live

Festival lineup (2022): LCD Soundsystem, The Killers, Pet Shop Boys, J Balvin, Placebo, Stromae, M.I.A., Moderat  

Bilbao BBK Live is one of Europe's best-loved music festivals, taking place each summer in the northern Spanish city. Musically diverse, the lineup is comprised of alternative favourites and indie superstars alongside figures from the worlds of pop, hip-hop and electronic music.

When & where: 7-9 July 2022; Bilbao, Spain

Bilbao BBK Live 2022 Guide / Book Bilbao BBK Live 2022

EXIT Festival

Festival lineup (2022): Calvin Harris, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Boris Brejcha, Iggy Azalea, James Arthur, Honey Dijon, Maceo Plex, Afrojack

Titans of dance are scattered with the occasional note of hip-hop, indie, pop or even heavy metal at Serbia's EXIT Festival, as the historic Petrovaradin Fortress becomes a hotbed of hedonistic musical delight each summer.

When & where: 7-10 July 2022; Novi Sad, Serbia

EXIT Festival 2022 Guide & Waiting List

Hideout

Festival lineup (2022): Andy C, CamelPhat, Sherelle, Gorgon City, Hybrid Minds, Jamie Jones, Patrick Topping, Maya Jane Coles

Hideout's electronic waves break on the shores of Zrće Beach for a week of awesome boat and beach parties that span the depths of house and techno, drum and bass, dubstep and garage 

When & where: 3-7 July 2022; Novalja, Croatia

Hideout Festival 2022 Guide & Mailing List

Outlook Origins Festival

Festival lineup (2021): Ghetts, Skream, Children of Zeus, D Double E, Goldie, Alicai Harley, Calibre, Mala, Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra

The stage locations at this festival are insane, with urban and bass beats pumping sounds around a spectacular cliff-top fortress by the sea in Sibenik, before moving onto Tisno's stunning Garden Resort for the main festival and five days of blissful partying. 

When & where: 28 July - 2 August 2022; Tisno, Croatia

Outlook Origins 2022 Guide / Book Outlook Origins 2022

NOS Alive

Festival lineup (2022): Metallica, The Strokes, Imagine Dragons, Da Weasel, Faith No More, Royal Blood, alt-J, St. Vincent, Caribou, Phoebe Bridgers

Now one of Portugal's biggest and most popular festivals, NOS Alive has been consistently curating forward-thinking lineups since 2007, mixing all-time greats with newfound talent in one of Europe's most vibrant cities.

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

NOS Alive'22 Guide / Book NOS Alive'22

MEO Sudoeste

Festival lineup (2022): Major Lazer, Lewis Capaldi, Steve Aoki, Timmy Trumpet, Masego, Morat, Giulia Be

Spread over five days, MEO Sudoeste's expansive lineup extends from the worlds of EDM and big room house into hip-hop, pop and more, culminating in a star-studded summer party in the beautiful coastal town of Zambujeira do Mar.

When & where: 2-6 August 2022; Zambujeira do Mar (Odemira), Portugal

MEO Sudoeste 2022 Guide / Book MEO Sudoeste 2022

Parklife

Festival lineup (2022): Tyler, the Creator, 50 Cent, Megan Thee Stallion, Lewis Capaldi, Chase & Status, Bicep, Jamie xx

Parklife Festival is one of the UK's most popular and famous weekend music festivals, laying on a programme of diverse and cutting-edge music inside Manchester's Heaton Park. Curated by a number of the UK's most renowned clubbing brands, the weekender has rubber stamped its position at the very front of the country's dance music scene, but the array of hip-hop on offer is also top tier.

When & where: 11-12 June 2022; Manchester, UK

Parklife Festival 2022 Guide & Waiting List

Sziget Festival

Festival Lineup (2022): Justin Bieber, Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa, Arctic Monkeys, Kings Of Leon, Tame Impala, Stromae

A mammoth and magical music festival set in the heart of Budapest, Sziget Festival transforms Obuda Island into a haven of multi-genre music with over 550,000 festival-goers heading straight for the Danube each year. With the sheer breath of pop, rock, and indie talent on offer, you can understand why it's been one of Europe's go-to music festivals for nearly three decades.

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

Sziget Festival 2022 Guide / Book Sziget Festival 2022

Wireless Festival

Festival lineup (2022): A$AP Rocky, J. Cole, Tyler, the Creator, Cardi B, SZA, Nicki Minaj, Dave, Burna Boy

Rap royalty from both sides of the Atlantic make their way to London each summer for what has become an almost unparalleled showcase of the scene's biggest and best-loved superstars – held across consecutive weekends on either side of the capital in 2022, as well as in Birmingham.

When & where: 1-3 July and 8-10 July 2022; London and Birmingham, UK

Reading & Leeds Festivals

Festival lineup (2022): Arctic Monkeys, Rage Against the Machine, Megan Thee Stallion, Dave, Halsey, Bring Me The Horizon

Reading Festival rightly sits among the world's genuine rock elite. Along with Leeds Festival – its northern English little brother – Reading has diversified somewhat over the last decade, but still packs a heavy punch each August.

When & where: 26-28 August 2022; Reading & Leeds, UK

Reading Festival 2022 Guide & Waiting List

Leeds Festival 2022 Guide & Waiting List

Super Bock Super Rock

Festival lineup (2022): A$AP Rocky, Foals, C. Tangana, DaBaby, Hot Chip, Jamie xx, Leon Bridges, Nathy Peluso

Lisbon's kingpin festival boasts seriously impressive headliners every year, though its worldwide profile remains a little lower than it rightfully deserves. SBSR is also an unbelievable excuse to see one of Europe's most breathtaking cities.

When & where: 14-16 July 2022; Lisbon, Portugal

Super Bock Super Rock 2022 Guide / Book Super Bock Super Rock 2022

SAGA Festival

Festival lineup (2022): Tiësto, deadmau5, Timmy Trumpet, DJ Snake, Afrojack, Marshmello, Honey Dijon, Sven Väth

SAGA Festival Bucharest is a new innovative music festival which debuted in the Romania's capital in 2021. Brought to you by the tastemakers and electronic music event pioneers ALDA, SAGA Festival Bucharest promises a new era of contemporary music festivals in the city, bringing together the finest talent from across the spectrum of electronic music.

When & where: 3-5 June 2022; Bucharest, Romania

SAGA Festival 2022 Guide / Book SAGA Festival 2022

AMP Lost & Found Festival

Festival lineup (2022): Annie Mac, Helena Hauff, Gorgon City, The Blessed Madonna, Bad Boy Chiller Crew, TSHA, Sherelle, Katy B

Showcasing progressive lineups filled with house, techno, garage, grime, drum & bass and more across open-air clubs, pool parties, boat parties, beach parties and even castle parties, Lost & Found Festival has become a sun-drenched paradise for dance fans.

When & where: 1-4 June 2022; St. Paul's Bay, Malta

AMP Lost & Found Festival 2022 Guide / Book AMP Lost & Found Festival 2022

Time Warp

Festival lineup (2020): Richie Hawtin, Nina Kraviz, Adam Beyer, Sven Väth, Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens, Seth Troxler

A bastion of techno music's evolution for nearly three decades now, Time Warp's German flagship event is still the quintessential rave for any techno purist; ground-breaking audio-visual production, the scene's biggest names, and like-minded electronic music enthusiasts consistently keep Time Warp at techno's fore. 

When & where: 2 April 2022; Mannheim, Germany

Time Warp 2022 Guide & Waiting List

Creamfields

Festival lineup (2021): Armin van Buuren, Nina Kraviz, Carl Cox, Martin Garrix, Bicep, Tiësto, Timmy Trumpet, David Guetta

One of the two or three most prestigious dance festivals on the planet, Creamfields is always full to bursting with worldwide stars. Whatever flavour of electronic music you're into, you'll find more than you could ask for at Creamfields.

When & where: 25-28 August 2022; Daresbury, UK

Creamfields 2022 Guide & Waiting List