At least once in a lifetime, we all should experience a music festival. Nothing moves you quite like listening to your favorite artist playing your favorite song at one of the biggest music festivals in the world while surrounded by old and new friends.
From fangirling over your favorite band to dancing your heart out at EDM festivals around the world, music festivals have been a part of our lives for generations. From Woodstock to PinkPop to SXSW, music festivals across the world dare us to take an exciting step to explore the world.
In this article, we will show you where to discover the absolute best music festivals in the world.
Singapore
Singapore has been brewing a strong music scene during the last few years, and as a result has produced some of the biggest music festivals 2019 has seen. Among them is Neon Lights, one of the world’s handfuls of international indie events. Soul-trip, folk, electronic, hip-hop, and pop genres mix in this 2-day arts and music festival. With more than 150 music and art performers, the festival combines gourmet food, family-friendly activities, and various music. It is definitely a thrilling cultural event infused in musical talent not to be missed in 2020. This year’s artist lineup has yet to be released, but past headliners include 2019’s Mumford & Sons and 2018’s Interpol.
Ultra Music has a prominent following as one of the world’s best electronic international festivals and has brought the massive party with world-class lighting and decked out stages to Singapore. The nonstop, 2-day festival spreads across the iconic Marina Bay venue. Headliners of 2019 were Skrillex and Porter Robison with supporting talent Zedd’s Dead and Dyro. This year’s lineup will be announced as the festival draws nearer.
Indonesia
The idyllic islands of Jakarta, Indonesia are primed for some of the best music festivals in the world. If you have not experienced the cultural dose of Jakarta, specifically in the music scene, your bucket list has just been updated. Among the biggest music festivals in the world is Djakarta Warehouse Project with past attendance at nearly 90,000 people.
Electronic fans will be satisfied with the vast range of electronic subgenres featured at this 3-day weekend in December. Last year, Martin Garrixx lit up the main stage along with other EDM legends such as Disclosure, Calvin Harris, Zedd, and Skrillex. While the lineup is still pending announcement for this year, this is one major festival to look out for.
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Thailand
What is there not to love about Thailand? Coastal beaches, mouthwatering cuisine, tropical climate is the perfect vibe for some of the world’s biggest music festivals. Come to Thailand, in April, and you’ll dive right onto the doorstep of Songkran, a massive water fight celebrated by the entire country to mark the Thai Lunar New Year. The water represents washing away negatives from previous years.
Taking it a step further are two music festivals held in Bangkok during Songkran: S20 and Siam Songkran. Festival goers are showered in water cannons as they dance to huge electronic artists. This year at Siam Songkran, Afrojack, Zomboy, and Yellowclaw will display their musical prowess while at S2o, headliners such as Dash Berlin, Don Diablo, and Martin Garrix will grace the stages. When you’re ready to dry off and take a break from the dancing, Siam Songkran also offers Muay Thai and Thai cooking classes.
In December, Thailand holds another hugely popular festival just outside of Pattaya called Wonderfruit. A very popular event with thousands of people around the world flying in to experience the arts and music festival, Wonderfruit offers a wide variety of music, from hip-hop to electronic to rock to indie. This year’s lineup has yet to be announced, but past year artists include Richie Hawtin, Woodkid, and De La Soul. Not only is there great music, but there are also art installations, workshops, presentations, and food banquets held by renowned chefs.
United States Of America
Already well-known for many behemoth festivals (eg. Coachella, Ultra, EDC), USA is one of the best music festival destinations in the world. But the options don’t end at the large-scale dance festivals. USA’s music culture has birthed a vast array of festivals, from small to large, that is sure to please any music fan, whether it’s country folk, indie, underground hip hop or jazz.
If you’re looking for a modern jazz vibe that features not only the best up and coming performers, but also jazz-related movie viewing areas and a big art conference that highlights the talent of today’s American artists, check out Jazz in the Gardens in March at Miami Gardens, Florida. This year’s featured artist is The Roots.
For a full-on immersion of pop culture and media paradise, check out South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. Boasting an enormous lineup list, including Bandits on the Run, SHAH, Simi, and Amanda Black, this year’s festival spans 9 full days in March. Here you’ll find comedy skits, discussion panels, art exhibitions, movie viewings, and, of course, countless music performers playing every kind of genre imaginable.
United Kingdom
No list of best music festivals in the world would be complete without mentioning Glastonbury. Arguably the world’s most popular music festival, this goliath festival will feature Diana Ross, Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, and Wolf Alice this year. In addition to contemporary music, this five-day music festival hosts comedy, dance, theatre, cabaret, circus and other popular forms of performing arts.
Glastonbury is attended by over 200,000 people and gets extensive media coverage owing to its a-list lineup and ever-increasing popularity. Inspired by the ethos of hippie and free festival Glastonbury is an integral part of the British culture.
The world is full of unforgettable experiences just waiting to be embarked upon, and one of the best ways to do that is by experiencing the incredible music festivals the world has to offer. Seize the moment and discover new artists with new friends in new cultures. From the West to the East, there is something for everyone to be found in festivals around the world!
