Sun’s out, festival wear’s out! It’s finally summer in the Western Hemisphere, and that means it’s time for some of the most iconic music festivals to come alive all across Europe. Here’s our shortlist of must-attend music festivals happening in June!
Summer sure hits differently in other parts of the world, and it’s completely understandable, seeing how they had to endure the frigid cold for months on end. Our favourite part about summers in Europe? You get completely immersed in the way the balmy weather is romanticised — think picnics by the park, vibrant flowers blooming in all shapes and sizes, cool dips by the sea, and more importantly? The parties and music festivals.
And as the party-goers begin to thaw, we’re starting to see tons of festivals popping up and raring to go. In fact, this is probably the first year where the world pretty much moved on from COVID, which explains the sudden surge in demand for gigs and why we’re seeing some of the most epic bands and artists making their comeback (revenge performing, maybe?). Anyway, if you’re planning a trip out to Europe in June, here are 10 music festivals to consider — from big-name electronic music festivals to chill, quiet escapes.
Read on to learn more 👇
💜 Stay Up To Date:
– Camping Sites Around The World For The Nature-Friendly Family
– How To Capitalise On The Malaysian Ringgit Right Now
– Budget-Friendly Family Holidays In Europe
1. Primavera Sound (Barcelona, Spain)
Image Credits: Primavera
What started out as a humble concert has evolved into a worldwide phenomenon, with several international instalments happening across summer in major cities around the world. This is Primavera Sound, an iconic music festival that often sees an eclectic lineup of artists. What we love about Primavera is that it doesn’t simply gun for a star-studded lineup; it celebrates music for what it truly is and uses its platform to showcase some of the finest alternative and underground talent from all parts of the world.
This year, expect a diverse lineup including Pet Shop Boys, Kendrick Lamar, The Moldy Peaches, The Voidz, Depeche Mode, and many more. We know — we can’t quite put a finger on how it all works, but we’re absolutely in love with the spread.
Dates: 29 May – 4 June 2023
Admission: Weekend tickets from €275.00 (~S$403.20)
Music Festivals In Europe To Look Forward To This Summer 2023: Purchase tickets and learn more about Primavera Sound here
2. Glastonbury Festival (Pilton, England)
Image credits: Bristol Live
Ah, here’s another bucket list option. From the iconic Pyramid Stage to the muddy, muddy campgrounds, Glastonbury is probably one of the longest-standing musical festivals, first kicking off in 1970. Today, it is one of the must-play venues for artists all over the world, with many big names in the industry getting their big break at the hallowed grounds.
Headlining this year’s festival includes Elton John, Guns ’N Roses, Arctic Monkeys, Lizzo, and Lil Has X, alongside Lana Del Ray, Cat Stevens, and alt-J — and we’re barely scraping the surface here. You can expect hundreds of other performers and artists to grace the week-long event. The best part? Your attendance will also be supporting non-profit organisations including Oxfam, WaterAid, Greenpeace, and many more.
Dates: 21 June – 25 June 2023
Admission: Weekend tickets from £335.00 (~S$563.10)
Music Festivals In Europe To Look Forward To This Summer 2023: Purchase tickets and learn more about Glastonbury here
3. Roskilde (Roskilde, Denmark)
Image credits: Lyte
First founded by two high school students in 1971, Roskilde Festival has evolved and grown into one of the largest festivals in Europe and by extension, the Nordic countries. Today, it draws in a crowd of more than 130,000, all looking to bask in the goodness of music. Expect an eclectic lineup of artists from all around the world, with headliners including afrobeats star Burna Boy, French pop icon Christine, and the Queens, as well Lorna Shore, Florence Adonis, and Rina Sawayama.
And since you’re already in the city of Roskilde, go on and explore the city — it oozes with history, has a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is a great place for those who love the storied lives of the Vikings. An all-around cultural experience, it seems.
Dates: 24 June – 1 July 2023
Admission: Full festival tickets from DKK 2,400 (~S$472.50)
Music Festivals In Europe To Look Forward To This Summer 2023: Purchase tickets and learn more about Roskile here
4. Sónar (Barcelona, Spain)
Image credits: Festivals United
Whaaat? Another epic music festival in Barcelona just two weeks after Primavera concludes? We don’t know about you, but we’d definitely plan our Eurotrip around these two festivals if we could! For a more exciting change of pace, Sónar serves up some heart-pounding fun. From the likes of AphexTwins, Peggy Gou, and Honey Dijon, you can expect to dance the weekend away to some of electronic music’s most feted performers.
Do note that it’s a city festival, so you might be travelling quite a fair bit to catch the acts (but we’re not complaining though — just more reasons to explore the beautiful city!). If you’re hoping for a little more action, the team at Sónar has got you covered, with OFFSónar, a series of parties that run parallel to the festival itself.
Dates: 15 June – 17 June 2023
Admission: Weekend tickets from €210.00 (~S$307.90)
Music Festivals In Europe To Look Forward To This Summer 2023: Purchase tickets and learn more about Sónar here
5. Melt! Festival (Gräfenhainichen, Germany)
Image credits: Maximal Trips
This rock, electronic, and pop festival is anything but ordinary. Located just two hours from Berlin and housed in a mid-20th century former coal mining site filled with all sorts of decommissioned machinery, Melt! gives off slight steampunk vibes which we love.
Known for its vast and diverse lineup, 2023’s Melt! is no different. With acts like Bicep, Strangelove, and slowthai taking the stage, you can expect nonstop partying to be had — and quite literally. Melt! is also known for its Sleepless Floor, a cosy little spot that keeps the party going non-stop for the entirety of the event, if that’s your cup of tea. And if you’re in need of some peace and quiet, Lake Gremmin isn’t too far off — giving you access to lush greenery and gorgeous sunsets.
Dates: 8 June – 11 June 2023
Admission: Weekend tickets from €210.00 (~S$307.90)
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Music Festivals In Europe To Look Forward To This Summer 2023: Purchase tickets and learn more about Melt! here
6. Hideout Festival (Novalja, Croatia)
Image credits: The Nitty Gritty Guide
If beach parties are your thing, then Hideout is definitely for you. As its name suggests, the electronic dance festival is tucked away in the stunning Zrce Beach on the Adriatic Coast— but instead of the peace and serenity you’d expect to find, prepare for a weekend of pool and boat parties and jaw-dropping raves across its five beachfront stages!
Expect a lineup of icons and legends, including the likes of Andy C, Patrick Topping, Interplanetary Criminal, and Eliza Rose — to name a few.
Dates: 25 June – 29 June 2023
Admission: Weekend tickets from €199.00 (~S$291.70)
Music Festivals In Europe To Look Forward To This Summer 2023: Purchase tickets and learn more about Hideout here
7. Meadows In The Mountains (Polkovnik Serafimovo, Bulgaria)
Image credits: Crack Magazine
Imagine this: you’re up in the majestic Rhodope Mountains basking in all that nature has to offer. Surrounded by like-minded individuals with music and activities that raise you to the highest vibration — it almost feels like magic.
In its 10th instalment, Meadows In The Mountains prides itself on being a transformative festival that’s serious about creating a future-proof, regenerative culture at its grounds — with rainwater retention landscapes, and solar power infrastructure as some of its initiatives on-site. Don’t expect to see familiar names on the line-up though. Meadows is known for its free-spirited and underground program that has been specially curated to help you escape into tranquillity.
Dates: 1 June – 5 June 2023
Admission: Weekend tickets from €209.42 (~S$307.00)
Music Festivals In Europe To Look Forward To This Summer 2023: Purchase tickets and learn more about Meadow In The Mountains here
8. Rock Werchter (Werchter, Belgium)
Image Credits: Loudwire
It’s no secret by now that Europeans take their parties very seriously — with many of the iconic festivals above harking back to the ‘70s. Rock Werchter is no different, with a storied history of starting out as a one-day festival back in 1974 to becoming the four-day epic event it is today. Some of the class acts this year include Iggy Pop, Interpol, Sigur Rós, City and Colour, Kasabian, and Machine Gun Kelly alongside The 1975, Muse, and Arctic Monkeys.
This multi-genre festival is one of those events that spans generations. Open to all ages, you can expect to see families coming together to bask in the atmosphere and good music. It’s so inclusive, that they even have a breast-feeding area for new mommas who know how to strike a balance!
Dates: 29 June – 2 July 2023
Admission: Full festival tickets from €292.00 (~S$428.10)
Music Festivals In Europe To Look Forward To This Summer 2023: Purchase tickets and learn more about Rock Werchter here
9. Copenhell (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Image Credits: Loudwire
Calling all metal heads — this one’s for you. It’s not very common that you have a full festival dedicated to the love of halftime drum beats and killer guitar solos. Copenhell, as the portmanteau quite affectionally suggests, is a hardcore music festival held in Copenhagen with quite an impressive lineup of heavy metal artists.
From classics like Def Leppard, Slipknot, Gojira, and Mötley Crüe, to modern hardcore hits like Architects, Speed, The Ghost Inside, and Touché Amoré, we absolutely love how well-curated the program is and we’re sure plenty of others feel the same way too — regular festival tickets have all been snapped up, so you’re left with just the RIP tickets (that’s Copenhellspeak for VIP), which, might not necessarily be a bad thing!
Dates: 14 June – 17 June 2023
Admission: Weekend tickets from DKK 3,855.00 (~S$758.90)
Music Festivals In Europe To Look Forward To This Summer 2023: Purchase tickets and learn more about Copenhell here
10. Parklife Festival (Manchester, England)
Image Credits: Manchester’s Finest
For something a little smaller (and by smaller, we mean under 100,00) but with the same amount of oomph, you have Parklife Festival for the taking. Happening in charming Manchester, UK, Parklife is known for its big-name lineup of electronic and hip-hop icons of the day, with iconic pop and rock bands not to be missed too.
This year, expect an amazing lineup including The 1975, Fred Again.., I Hate Models, Wu-Tang Clan, and NxWorries (Anderson.Paak and Knxwledge) — we’re already so stoked.
Dates: 10 June – 11 June 2023
Admission: Weekend tickets from £185.00 (~S$310.95)
Music Festivals In Europe To Look Forward To This Summer 2023: Purchase tickets and learn more about Parklife Festival here
Bonus: Tomorrowland (Boom, Belgium)
Image Credits: Manchester’s Finest
Discover the magic of Tomorrowland — the world’s largest dance music festival, and immerse yourself in a world of electrifying performances, enchanting stages, and unforgettable experiences! With its rich history, unique features, and commitment to sustainability, Tomorrowland stands as a must-attend event for music festival enthusiasts. Spanning over two weekends across 14 stages, expect an impressive line-up of over 6000 acts including Afrojack, the Chainsmokers, Martin Garrix, Purple Disco Machine, Robin Schulz, and Steve Aoki — just to name a few.
Dates: 21 July – 30 June 2023
Admission: Weekend tickets from €125.00 (~S$181.89)
Music Festivals In Europe To Look Forward To This Summer 2023: Purchase tickets and learn more about Tomorrowland here
Put On Your Dancing Shoes — Festival Szn Is Here!
We know we’re probably just scratching the surface when it comes to music and dance festivals in Europe, but we hope that the guide has been useful in helping to spark that free-spirited energy in you! Just remember that if you’re purchasing your tickets, our trusty YouTrip Card comes with reliable wholesale exchange rates to help you save where it matters — because every cent counts when you’re working your way towards an epic festival outfit.
Couldn’t make it, or missed out on tickets? Fret not — there’s always next year! As Singapore’s favourite multi-currency wallet, we aim to get those pesky fees out of the way and help you save on your travels. With the best foreign exchange rates, no longer will you have to deal with those long queues at money changers! So if you’re looking for a go-to travel card, sign up for your complimentary YouTrip card today with <YTBLOG5> and get FREE S$5 in your account! Then, head over to our YouTrip Perks page for exclusive offers and promotions — we promise you won’t regret. For more great tips and articles like this, join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here or down below.
And while you’re at it, why not join the conversation with thousands of #YouTroopers in our very own Community Telegram Group @YouTripSquad? Get tips and tricks to everything YouTrip including exclusive invites to exciting events and experiences, & be part of the #YouTripSquad! 💜
Rock out!
Related Articles
Solo Travelling In 2023: Must-See Destinations For The Independent Adventurer
How Many Months In Advance Should You Be Booking Your Flights?
The Ultimate 7-Day Finland Itinerary For Summer 2023
