Spring is now just around the corner, so it’s absolutely reasonable to start dreaming of a summer of fun in 2023.

With the festival season back in full swing after a few years of uncertainty, now is the time to start planning your European expeditions, and with such a huge range of choice available and decent value tickets, there’s something to please every music fan.

Here, we’ve rounded up the European festivals you need to know about. Bon voyage.

The Warehouse Project Rotterdam

What is it? The world famous Manchester club night, Warehouse Project, has taken over multiple venues across the city since 2006, and now the iconic event is growing its wings and expanding outside the UK for the first time, taking over Rotterdam for a three-day extravaganza.

When is it? April 28-30

Who’s playing? Peggy Gou, Bicep, Dan Shake, Josey Rebelle, Joy Orbison, Mella Dee, Overmono, Saoirse, Seth Troxler, Skream and many more artists to be announced.

Where is it? Rotterdam, Netherlands

Tickets: from £299, thewarehouseproject.com

Hospitality on the Beach

What is it? A drum’n’bass extravaganza run by the legendary London label, Hospital Records, bringing together some of the scene’s biggest names.

Who’s playing? Andy C, Wilkinson, Camo & Krooked, Kings of the Rollers + INJA, Flava D, S.P.Y, P Money & Whitney Degs and many more artists have been announced.

When is it? June 4-11

Where is it? Tisno, Croatia

Tickets: from £160, hospitalityonthebeach.com

Primavera Sound

What is it? Undoubtedly one of the finest festivals Europe has to offer, with incredible depth of quality on its line-up, this year spread out across two main weekends. Rap? Hyperpop? Thrash metal? You can probably find it here.

Who’s playing? Depeche Mode, Kendrick Lamar, Blur, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Rosalía, Halsey, FKA twigs, Skrillex, Måneskin, Four Tet, Fred again.., Skrillex, St. Vincent, The Moldy Peaches, Calvin Harris, Le Tigre, Alison Goldfrapp, Christine and the Queens and many more acts announced.

When is it? June 2-12

Where is it? Barcelona, Spain

Tickets: €325 (approx. £282), primaverasound.com

Rock am Ring/Rock im Park

What is it? Feeling like something of a Reading and Leeds throwback — before they broadened their horizons beyond simply rock bands — this huge German festival is spread across two separate sites on one weekend.

Who’s playing? Foo Fighters, Bring Me The Horizon, Machine Gun Kelly, Limp Bizkit, Sum 41, Nothing ButThieves, Tenacious D, Papa Roach, Nova Twins, Hollywood Undead, Yungblud and many more acts have been announced.

When is it? June 2-4

Where is it? Nürburgring/Nürnberg, Germany

Tickets: €229 (approx. £200), rock-am-ring.com / rock-im-park.com

Melt

What is it? An open-air spectacular with a line-up rooted mostly in electronic music but with a few intriguing deviations.

Who’s playing? Solomun, BICEP (Live), Slowthai, FKA Twigs,The Blessed Madonna, Nia Archives, Folamour, HAAI, Joy Orbison, Young Marco, Eliza Rose, Boys Noize, D4VD, Skin on Skin, Daphni and many more to be announced.

When is it? June 8-11

Where is it? Gräfenhainichen, Germany

Tickets: from €164.95 (approx. £145.50)

Sonar

What is it? Sonar in fact carves itself a niche by focusing on bass-heavy sounds, from UK rap to techno, and celebrates its 30th anniversary with some of the biggest names in underground music.

Who’s playing? BICEP LIVE, Little Simz, Solomun, Eric Prydz presents HOLO, Fever Ray, Peggy Gou, Amelie Lens, Laurent Garnier, Honey Dijon, Richie Hawtin, The Blessed Madonna, Black Coffee, Aphex Twin, DJ EZ, Bradley Zero b2b Moxie and many more acts to be announced.

When is it? June 15-17

Where is it? Barcelona, Spain

Tickets: from €195 (approx. £170), sonar.es

Roskilde

What is it? Reliably the best festival in Denmark, year after year, pulling in headliners to rival festivals anywhere else in Europe.

Who’s playing? Kendrick Lamar, Blur, Lizzo, Burna Boy, Christine and the Queens, Queens of the Stone Age, Rosalia, Fever Ray, Central Cee, D-Block Europe, Loyle Carner, Denzel Curry, Tove Lo, Rina Sawayama, Alice Glass, Tobias Rahim, Japanese Breakfast and many more acts to be announced.

When is it? June 24-July 1

Where is it? Roskilde, Denmark

Tickets: 2400 DKK (approx £284), weekend passes sold out, join the waiting list; roskilde-festival.dk

Balaton Sound

Europe’s largest and most colourful open-air and beach festival, Balaton Sound is located nearby the extremely popular holiday destination, Siófok, and is set-up on the blissful sunny shore of Lake Balaton.

Where? Hungary

When? June 28 – July 1

Who’s on the line-up? Armin Van Buuren, Dimension (DJ set), Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Carl Cox, Tiesto, Charlie Sparks, Charlotte de Witte, Anna, Don Diablo, Hardwell, and many more.

Tickets: from €215 (approx. £187), balatonsound.com

Open’er

What is it? Poland’s biggest festival, with a line-up that covers heavy-hitters from the worlds of pop, rap, rock, dance and beyond.

Who’s playing? Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Arctic Monkeys, Kendrick Lamar, Depeche Mode, Burna Boy, Nothing But Thieves, One Republic, Queens of the Stone Age, Paulo Nutini, Thundercat, Metro Boomin, Young Fathers and many more acts have been announced.

When is it? June 29-July 2

Where is it? Gdynia, Poland

Tickets: from 949zł (approx. £181), opener.pl

Rock Werchter

What is it? As the name suggests, this one specialises in bands making loud music, but there are some pop and rap acts snuck in there too.

Who’s playing? Arctic Monkeys, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Muse, Rosalía, Sam Fender, The Lumineers, Stromae, Fred Again, Slowthai, Christine and the Queens and many more artists to be announced.

When is it? June 29-July 2

Where is it? Werchter, Belgium

Tickets: from €292.00 (approx. £254), rockwerchter.be

Mad Cool

What is it? Another Spanish behemoth which draws the biggest names from all the major genres of pop, rock and dance.

Who’s playing? Headliners: Robbie Williams, Queens of the Stone Age, Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Plus Lizzo, The Black Keys, Liam Gallagher, Lil Nas X, Sam Smith, The Prodigy, The 1975, Franz Ferdinand, Rina Sawayama, Paolo Nutini, Rufus Du Soul, Bombay Bicycle Club, Jamie XX, Years and Years and many more acts announced.

When is it? July 6-8

Where is it? Madrid, Spain

Tickets: from £186.27, madcoolfestival.es

North Sea Jazz Festival

What is it? The North Sea Jazz Festival, which has been running since 1976, has built a reputation as one of the best festivals of the summer, offering a wide range of acts whose music extends way beyond the jazz genre. This year there are some major headliners, including Stormzy, Little Simz, Lizzo, Janelle Monáe, Seal and Tom Jones.

Who’s playing? Other major artists include Duckwrth, Snarky Puppy, Van Morrison, Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples and Jill Scott.

Then there’s Alabaster DePlume, Marcus Miller, Andrew Cyrille Quartet,  Lakecia Benjamin, Bia Ferreira, Bill Frisell FOUR ft. Greg Tardy, Gerald Clayton, and Jonathan Blake, Buddy Guy - Dammn Right Farewell, Camilla George,  Trondheim Jazz Orchestra & GURLS, Somi, Son Little, Cha Wa; Danielle Ponder, Typhoon, Yuri Honing’s Peace Orchestra, Dave Holland New Quartet featuring Kris Davis, Jaleel Shaw, to name just a few on this year’s jam-packed line-up.

When is it? July 7-9

Where is it? Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Tickets: Tickets are now sold out, although resale tickets may become available here. northseajazz.com

Exit

What is it? Another intriguingly eclectic festival, this time in Serbia, promising everything from tech house to ska to hardcore punk in recent years.

Who’s playing? ? Headliners: The Prodigy, Skrillex, Viaga Boys

Keith Flint had previously mentioned that EXIT was his favourite international festival, so the band will be playing in his honour.

Other acts include LF SYSTEM, Keinemusik, CamelPhat, Hot Since 82, Vintage Culture, Indira Paganotto and many more to be announced.

When is it? July 6-9

Where is it? Novi Sad, Serbia

Tickets: €109 (approx £95), exitfest.org

Pohoda

What is it? A veteran festival with more than two decades’ experience, offering a hugely friendly atmosphere and some pretty massive acts from the worlds of pop, rock and beyond.

Who’s playing? Jamie XX, Sofi Tucker, Sampa The Great, Wet Leg, Viagra Boys, Hazey, Charlotte Adigery and Boris Pupul and many more artists to be announced.

When is it? July 7-9

Where is it? Airport Trencin, Slovakia

Tickets: from €129 (approx. £113)., pohodafestival.sk

Bilbao BBK Live

What is it? A festival that feels almost like a mini version of Primavera Sound, with the same variety and quality, just not on the same massive scale.

Who’s playing? Headliners: Arctic Monkeys, Florence + the Machine, The Chemical Brothers, Pavement, Phoenix

Plus Jamie XX, IDLES, The Blaze, DUKI, Love of Lesbian, M83, 070 Shake, Avalon Emerson, BAICUA, Ben UFO, Call Super, HAAi, John Talabot, Young Marco, Róisín Murphy, Delaporte, Desire, RY X, Villano Antillano, Daniel Avery (live), The Murder Capital, Art School Girlfriend, Young Fathers, Rojuu, Neo Pistea, Perfume Genius and many more.

When is it? July 6-8

Where is it? Bilbao, Spain

Tickets: from €175 for a three day pass (approx. £155), bilbaobbklive.com

Awakenings

What is it? Techno heads should make this their number one priority for the summer: it’s the largest outdoor festival dedicated to the genre in the world.

Who’s playing? ANNA, Adam Beyer, Alan Fitzpatrick & Luigi Madonna, Ben Klock, Fjaak, Kölsch, DJ Seinfeld, Richie Hawtin, Maceo Plex, Nina Kraviz and many more artists have been announced.

When is it? July 7-9

Where is it? Amsterdam, Netherlands

Tickets: £TBC, awakenings.com

Ultra Europe

What is it? The European edition of the hugely popular American festival, specialising in EDM.

Who’s playing? TBA

When is it? July 7-9

Where is it? Split, Croatia

Tickets: from €169 (approx. £148), ultraeurope.com

Love International

What is it? A sun-drenched dance music festival on the Croatian coast, with plenty of boat parties and sunrise DJ sets.

Who’s playing? Call Super, Chaos in the CBD, Crazy P Soundsystem, Eliza Rose, Leon Vinehall, Midland, Moxie, OR:LA, Palms Trax, Job Jobse plus many more to be announced.

When is it? July 12-18

Where is it? Tisno, Croatia

Tickets: from £165, loveinternationalfestival.com

Festival Internacional Benicàssim

What is it? A festival popular with both Spaniards and Brits, which has a focus on Latin artists as well as the more widely known international stars.

Who’s playing? Franz Ferdinand, Bastille, Vetusta Morla, Kaiser Chiefs, Crystal Fighters, Tom Odell, Clean Bandit, Orbital, The Wombats, Sigala, Dean Lewis and many more acts to be announced.

When is it? July 13-16

Where is it? Benicàssim, Spain

Tickets: from €47.99 (approx. £42), fiberfib.com

Super Bock Super Rock

What is it? Moving from the urban surroundings of Lisbon and onto a beach further south in Portugal, expect a spread of rap, rock and pop at this festival.

Who’s playing? Headliners: The 1975, Franz Ferdinand, James Murohy

Plus Black Country, New Road, L’Impératrice, Sampha The Great and many more acts to be announced.

When is it? July 13-15

Where is it? Sesimbra, Portugal

Tickets: from €84 (approx. £74), superbocksuperrock.pt

Tomorrowland

What is it? Something of a Mecca for European fans of EDM, this festival promises the biggest names and some bombastic stage production across three weekends.

Who’s playing? Hardwell, Martin Garrix, Amelie Lens, Above & Beyond, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Nina Kraviz, Eric Prydz presents HOLO, Floorplan, Honey Dijon, Steve Aoki, &ME, HAAi, Maceo Plex, Adam Beyer, Tale of Us and many more.

When is it? July 21-23, 28-30.

Where is it? Boom, Belgium

Tickets: €TBA, tomorrowland.com

Off

What is it? The antidote to Open’er’s pop, this Polish festival focuses on the more obscure, experimental side of things.

Who’s playing? Panda Bear & Sonic Boom, OFF!, Melody’s Echo Chamber, The Staples Jr Singers, Balming Tiger, Gilla Band, Tropical Funk Storm, Taxi Kebab, Big Joanie, Underscores, Haru Nemuri, Mind Enterprises, Son Rompe Fera and many more acts to be announced.

When is it? August 4-6

Where is it? Katowice, Poland

Tickets: from 379zł (approx. £72), off-festival.pl

Øya

What is it? A Norwegian festival which proves just how strong its native music scene is, with plenty of homegrown acts headlining alongside international favourites.

Who’s playing? Hakan Hellstorm, Sigrid, FKA Twigs, Devo, Behaire, Jonas Benyoub, Marstien, Gard Nilssen’s Supersonic Orchestra and many more acts to be announced.

When is it? August 8-12

Where is it? Oslo, Norway

Tickets: from NOK 3,664 (approx. £310), oyafestivalen.no

Sziget​ Festival

What is it? A Budapest blowout that seems to book bigger names each year. Expect internationally famous acts across the broad spectrum of rock and beyond.

Who’s playing? Headliners: Billie Eilish, David Guetta, Florence + The Machine, Imagine Dragons, Lorde, Macklemore, Mumford & Sons,

Plus Sam Fender, Niall Horan, Bonobo, Yungblud, Foals, Diplo, Jamie XX, M83, Moderat, Sven Vath, Arlo Parks, Mimi Webb, Nothing But Thieves, Two Feet, Viagra Boys, Amyl and The Sniffers, Dixon, 070 Shake, Yung Lean, Jeff Mills, Mall Grab, Acid Arab and many more.

When is it? August 10-15

Where is it? Budapest, Hungary

Tickets: One day tickets from €75 (approx. £66), three day tickets from €240 (approx. £210) and full festival passes from €349 (approx. £306), szigetfestival.com

Glitch

What is it?  What is it? Malta’s Glitch Festival has quickly become a highlight of the summer calendar, offering a line-up packed with some of the biggest names in dance music, as well as experiences that include day and night boat parties.

Who’s playing? Charlotte de Witte, Mall Grab, Bonobo, I Hate Models, Len Faki, Marcel Dettmann, Richie Hawtin, Skin on Skin, Helena Hauff B2B Hector Oaks, DVS1 and many more.

When is it? August 13-16

Where is it? Rabat, Malta

Tickets: from €84.90 (approx. £73.80), glitchfestival.com

Flow

What is it? A varied festival, booking everyone from legacy rockers to cult favourites, held within the industrial surroundings of a disused power station.

Who’s playing? FKA Twigs,  Caroline Polachek, DEVO, Suede, 070 Shake, Shygirl, Amyl and The Sniffers, Jockstrap, Sexmane, Ege Zulu, Olavi Uusivirta 40/20, Yona, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Anna Puu,  Ruusut and many more acts to be announced.

When is it? August 11-13

Where is it? Helsinki, Finland

Tickets: from €225 (approx. £198), flowfestival.com

Rock en Seine

What is it? Paris’s biggest festival, delivering a crowd-pleasing blend of rock and pop music that draws an increasingly international crowd each year.

Who’s playing? Arctic Monkeys, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Stromae, Tame Impala, FKJ, Jamie XX, Kraftwork, La Femme, The Blaze, Aurora, DIIV, Jeremy Beth, Los Bitchos, London Grammar, Yungblud, Fred Again, James Blake and many more acts announced.

When is it? August 25-27

Where is it? Paris, France

Tickets: from €75 (approx. £66), rockenseine.com

Meo Kalorama

Following a successful first-edition, Meo Kalorama is bringing back its unforgettable city festival for another year. Located in the beautiful Bella Vista Park in Lisbon, music fans can enjoy stunning vistas, ancient history, architecture, beautiful beaches and a globally recognised nightlife scene.

Where? Lisbon, Portugal

When? August 30 – September 2

Who’s on the line-up? Florence + The Machine, Arcade Fire,The Blaze, Foals, Metronomy, Aphex Twin, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Lil Yachty, Slowthai and many more.

Tickets: from€145 (approx. £126), meokalorama.pt/en

Cala Mijas

Cala Mijas is one of the final outdoor dances of the summer: the coastal town of Mijas on the sunny shores of Malaga invites travellers to enjoy its exceptional location and explore its local beaches and gastronomy. Prepare for an unforgettable party hosted by international and local acts.

Where? Malaga, Spain

When? August 31 – September 2

Who’s on the line-up? The Strokes, Florence + The Machine, Slowthai, Idles, Charlie Cunningham, Arcade Fire, Arca, Foals, The Blaze, Metronomy and many more.

Tickets: from €180 (approx. £156), calamijas.com/en

Dimensions

What is it? A collection of cutting-edge DJs and musicians, ranging from techno to jazz, which has now moved away from its home in a 19th century fort and into the ever-popular Tisno.

Who’s playing? Adam Pitts and Lisene, Alex Kassian, DJ Assault, DJ Bone, DJ Perception, DJ Stingray 313, DJ Voices, Donato Dozzy, Dr Banana, Enrice Felqui, Flo Dill, , Fumiya Tanaka, Gene on Earth b2b Dyed Soundsystem, Helena Hauff, Nicholas Lutz, Prosumer, Skee Mask, Zip and more acts to be announced.

When is it? August 31-September 4

Where is it? Tisno, Croatia

Tickets: from £154, dimensionsfestival.com

ION

What is it? A brand new festival from the people behind London house and techno favourite Junction 2, taking place on the Albanian Riviera, after first making plans to launch in 2020.

Who’s playing? Bizarre Trax, Half Baked, Junction 2, Krankbrother, Chaos in the CBD, Daniel Avery, Dixon, DJ Seinfeld, Helena Hauff, Jimi Jules, Nicholas Lutz, Otik, Sam Bangura and many more acts to be announced.

When is it? September 6-13

Where is it? Dhërmi, Albania

Tickets: €TBA, ionalbania.com