Yahoo News Dance music festivals 2019: The best events in the UK and Europe
Pull on your dancing shoes, dig out your UV paint and limber up — it’s time to get excited for festival season.
As the winter retreats and summer begins to appear over the horizon, it’s important to plan your musical exploits for the season.
For the dance music obsessives, the options are plentiful, whether you want to stay in London, the UK or even venture overseas.
Here is our pick of the boogy-worthy events taking place, covering the very best festivals in both this country and into Europe.
Re-Textured
What is it? Forward-thinking electronic music meets London's Brutalist and Modernist landmarks for a brand new festival, organised by Krankbrother.
Who’s playing? Nina Kraviz, James Ruskin, Anastasia Kristensen, Ben Sims and more.
When is it? March 28-31
Where is it? Various venues
Tickets: Various prices per event, re-textured.com
DGTL
What is it? A festival with outposts all over the world — from Sao Paulo to Tel Aviv — but is based in Amsterdam.
Who’s playing? Amelie Lens, Bicep, Ben Klock, Disclosure and others.
When is it? April 19-21
Where is it? Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tickets: €142 (approx £125), dgtl.nl
Brixton Disco Festival
What is it? Disco, disco and — you guessed it — more disco, all taking place across various venues in Brixton.
Who’s playing? Evelyn “Champagne” King, Greg Wilson, Francois K, Colleen “Cosmo” Murphy and more.
When is it? April 27
Where is it? Various Brixton venues
Tickets: from £25 for all-day passes, brixtondiscofestival.com
Arcadia London
What is it? Dance the night away beneath the ominous gaze of Arcadia's iconic spider, a huge structure that looms over the stage. Expect lots of high-octane music.
Who’s playing? Jamie Jones, DJ EZ, Hot Since 82, Sub Focus, Flava D and others.
When is it? May 4-5
Where is it? Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, E20 2ST
Tickets: from £85 for weekend passes, arcadiaspectacular.com
We Are FSTVL
What is it? Can't make it South West Four this year? We Are FSTVL is a more than worthy alternative, with a line-up packed to the brim with hard-hitting DJs.
Who’s playing? Andy C, Armand van Helden, Basement Jaxx, The Black Madonna, Honey Dijon and more.
When is it? May 24-26
Where is it? Damyn's Hall Aerodrome, Aveley Road, Upminster, RM14 2TN
Tickets: from £119.50 for weekend passes, wearefstvl.com
Gala
What is it? A gathering of some of the best house and techno DJs around, all playing within a laidback, free-flowing environment.
Who’s playing? To be announced. Derrick Carter, Midland, Horse Meat Disco and Honey Dijon were involved last time around.
When is it? May 26
Where is it? Peckham Rye Park, SE15
Tickets: from £35, thisisgala.co.uk
Distortion
What is it? A series of street parties and club nights that take place in various spots across Copenhagen.
Who’s playing? To be announced. Acid Arab, Charlotte de Witte, Mall Grab, Yaeji and more all played in 2018.
When is it? May 29-June 2
Where is it? Copenhagen, Denmark
Tickets: £55.65, cphdistortion.dk
UNUM
What is it? A brand new beachside festival, proving that Albania might just be the next location of choice for dance music holidaymakers.
Who’s playing? Joseph Capriati, Luciano, Ricardo Villalobos, Margaret Dygas and more.
When is it? May 31-June 3
Where is it? Shengjin, Albania
Tickets: €156.40 (approx £138), residentadvisor.net
Gottwood
What is it? Celebrating its 10th year in 2019, Gottwood is a hedonistic retreat in the lush woodland of north Wales. It consistently pulls in the very best DJs around.
Who's playing? Hunee, Sonja Moonear, Craig Richards, DJ Stingray, Skee Mask and more.
When is it? June 6-9
Where is it? Anglesey, Wales
Tickets: from £165 for weekend passes, gottwood.co.uk
Junction 2
What is it? One for the techno obsessives, this festival brings together the finest DJs on the scene, based beneath the M40 motorway bridge in west London.
Who’s playing? Bicep, Adam Beyer, Daniel Avery, Apollonia, Daphni and more.
When is it? June 7-8
Where is it? Boston Manor Park, TW8 9JU
Tickets: from £47.50, junction2.london
Kala
What is it? It made a big splash when it landed on the Albanian Riviera last summer, and this time round the beachside festival is receiving a fair bit of hype.
Who’s playing? Honey Dijon, Jayda G, Fred P, LTJ Bukem and more.
When is it? June 12-19
Where is it? Dhërmi, Albania
Tickets: £169, kala.al
Hideout
What is it? One of the most popular festivals on the vibrant Croatian festival scene, promising plenty of beachside bangers.
Who’s playing? Bicep, Eats Everything, Hannah Wants, Camelphat and more.
When is it? July 1-5
Where is it? Pag, Croatia
Tickets: £159, hideoutfestival.com
Love International
What is it? Expect plenty of boat parties and sunrise DJ sets at this festival based within the idyllic settings of the Croatian coastline.
Who’s playing? Ben UFO, Horse Meat Disco, Shanti Celeste and more.
When is it? July 3-10
Where is it? Tisno, Croatia
Tickets: from €150, loveinternationalfestival.com
Hospitality on the Beach
What is it? The sunnier sibling of London festival Hospitality in the Park, this festival always draws a huge number of drum'n'bass fanatics across to Croatia.
Who’s playing? Andy C, Noisia, High Contrast and more.
When is it? July 11-15
Where is it? Tisno, Croatia
Tickets: from £129, hospitalityonthebeach.com
Tomorrowland
What is it? One of the best known dance music events on the entire continent, this is something of a Mecca for EDM fans. Expect big names and bombastic stage production across two weekends.
Who’s playing? To be announced. Arman van Buuren, Netsky, Steve Aoki and Martin Garrix all played last time round.
When is it? July 19-21, 26-28
Where is it? Boom, Belgium
Tickets: €249 (approx £224), tomorrowland.com
Dekmantel
What is it? Always one of the shining highlights of the summer calendar, this Amsterdam festival is renowned for bringing together the finest selectors for a hedonistic few days.
Who’s playing? To be announced. Last year, Ricardo Villalobos, Objekt, Mount Kimbie, Jamie XX and Floating Points were all in attendance.
When is it? July 31-August 4
Where is it? Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tickets: To be announced, dekmantelfestival.com
51st State
What is it? Dance music heroes from all musical backgrounds converge on north London for a gloriously eclectic day of boogying.
Who’s playing? To be announced. Carl Cox, Derrick May, Derrick Carter and Norman Jay all played the festival last time.
When is it? August 3
Where is it? Trent Park, EN4 0PS
Tickets: £30, 51ststatefestival.com
Eastern Electrics
What is it? A line-up that is absolutely heaving with talent, from the DJs who have been plying their trade for decades to those who are on course to be the next big things.
Who’s playing? To be announced. Jamie Jones, Eats Everything, Skream, David Rodigan and Bad Company UK were part of the 2018 edition.
When is it? August 3-4
Where is it? Morden Park, SM4
Tickets: from £45 for weekend tickets, easternelectrics.com
Houghton
What is it? With a 24-hour license and a sprawling line-up, Houghton burst onto the festival back in 2017 and is already a classic.
Who’s playing? To be announced. In 2018, Seth Troxler, Ricardo Villalobos, Nicolas Lutz, Sonja Moonear and Margaret Dygas all played.
When is it? August 8-11.
Where is it? Houghton Hall, Norfolk
Tickets: To be announced, houghtonfestival.co.uk
Art’s House
What is it? The formula is simple: one day, two DJs and lots of great music. It's all organised by the loveable party-starter Artwork.
Who’s playing? Artwork and a yet-to-be-announced guest. Last year, he was joined by DJ Harvey.
When is it? August 10
Where is it? Three Mills Island, E3 3DU
Tickets: from £30, residentadvisor.net
Creamfields
What is it? A festival with something of a anything-goes vibe, blasting out the biggest hits from the world of EDM and the broader dance music universe.
Who’s playing? Swedish House Mafia are the first headliners to be announced this year. Last time the line-up included Adam Beyer, Carl Cox, Diplo, Andy C and Annie Mac.
When is it? August 22-25
Where is it? Daresbury, Cheshire
Tickets: four-day camping passes from £265, creamfields.com
South West Four
What is it? The biggest dance music festival in London by quite some way, both in terms of its sheer scale and the artists it books. It's an August bank holiday staple.
Who’s playing? To be announced. In 2018, Marshmello, Netsky, Armin van Buuren and Andy C were among the headliners.
When is it? August 24-25
Where is it? Clapham Common, SW4 9DE
Tickets: price TBA, southwestfour.com
Dekmantel Selectors
What is it? The smaller, more intimate version of Amsterdam’s Dekmantel, with the same musical outlook but limited to just 2,000 tickets and taking place in Croatia.
Who’s playing? Ben UFO, Objekt, Violet, Palms Trax and more.
When is it? August 22-26
Where is it? Tisno, Croatia
Tickets: €164.50 (approx £145), dekmantelselectors.com
Dimensions
What is it? Fancy a rave-up in a 19th century fort? Of course you do. See a collection of cutting-edge DJs and musicians at this festival.
Who’s playing? To be announced. In 2018, Craig Richards, DJ Stingray, Helena Hauff, Hunee and more played.
When is it? August 28-September 1
Where is it? Pula, Croatia
Tickets: from £110, dimensionsfestival.com
Hospitality in the Park
What is it? A showcase of the very best in drum'n'bass. It's hosted by one the genre's most iconic labels, Hospital Records, whose Hospitality events travel the world.
Who’s playing? To be announced. Last year, Goldie, LTJ Bukem, Grooverider and Alix Perez were on the line-up.
When is it? To be announced.
Where is it? Finsbury Park, N4
Tickets: price TBA, hospitalityinthepark.london
Southport Weekender
What is it? A hugely popular, long-running dance party which made a triumphant comeback in 2018.
Who’s playing? To be announced. David Morales, Sister Sledge, Hector Romero and DJ Jazzy Jeff all played last year.
When is it? To be announced.
Where is it? To be announced.
Tickets: price TBA, southportweekender.co.uk
