Top 9 European music festivals to hit up this year

Going to a music festival is definitely the thing to do over the summer - and Europe has more than enough events and festivals on offer, catering to all different kinds of music tastes, from rock and punk to hip-hop and RnB.

Some of the best festivals Europe has to offer

Whether you're after a one-day-only kind of thing or a whole weekend affair, there are plenty of music festivals in Europe featuring impressive lineups, friendly crowds, and glorious surroundings. Here are some of our top picks:

1. Tomorrowland, Belgium

If you're a fan of electronic music, you need to head to Tomorrowland, which is generally considered to be one of the best electronic music festivals in the world. Taking place in Flanders in Belgium each July, this festival is famous for its insane lineups, incredible show stagings, and fabulous crowd. 

Video: YouTube / Tomorrowland

2. Glastonbury, UK

Probably the first name that pops into anyone's mind when they think about music festivals, Glastonbury is one of the world's most famous performing arts festivals. It covers multiple different music genres and sees 200.000 people from all walks of life head to Somerset in England each year for a one-of-a-kind experience. Your only challenge will be getting a ticket. 

Video: YouTube / BBC Music

3. AMF, the Netherlands

Also known as Amsterdam Music Festival, AMF has been taking place in the Johan Cruijiff ArenA - the biggest stadium in Amsterdam - every year since 2014. It is considered one of EDM's main events and sees some of the biggest names in music, along with 70.000 fans, head to the Dutch capital in October for a fantastic night of beats and magnificent stage production. 

Video: YouTube / AMF

4. Rolling Loud, Portugal

Famous for its festivals in Miami, New York and Los Angeles, Rolling Loud has now hopped over the Atlantic to start taking Europe by storm. Rolling Loud Portugal continues the festival's signature blend of stunning locations and knock-out hip-hop lineups, taking place on a gorgeous beach in the Algarve.

Video: YouTube / Rolling Loud

5. Time Warp, Germany

Time Warp made a welcome comeback in 2023 after missing out in 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has been a legend of EDM entertainment since the mid-1990s and continues to deliver solid techno beats year after year to its thousands of adoring fans. 

Video: YouTube / Time Warp

6. Openair Frauenfeld, Switzerland

This hip-hop festival has been taking place in the same Swiss city almost every year since 1985. Openair Frauenfeld is a legend on the hip-hop festival scene and the largest open-air festival in Switzerland, welcoming over 100.000 attendees annually. It features top hip-hop artists in an amazing venue. The festival grounds are located on a protected nature reserve with camping and day ticket options. 

Video: YouTube / Openair Frauenfeld

7. Rock en Seine, France

Taking place at the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, just west of Paris, Rock en Seine is a three-day music festival. Although primarily known as a rock festival, it caters to all different kinds of music tastes and sees 40.000 people attend annually.

Video: YouTube / Rock en Seine

8. Exit Festival, Serbia

Exit Festival is one of the hottest festivals in Europe, promising a lineup heavy with rock, techno, EDM, metal, hip-hop, reggae and punk legends. It is held at the Petrovaradin Fortress in Serbia for four days in July and is known for its stunning stage setups.

Video: YouTube / Exit Festival

9. Sziget Festival, Hungary

Over 550.000 festival-goers rush to the marvellous Danube to experience pop, rock, and indie music at the Sziget Festival in Budapest each summer. Taking place on the island of Obuda, the festival hosts over 1.000 performances each year, making it one of the largest music and cultural festivals in Europe. 

Video: YouTube / Sziget Festival

This summer is for music festivals

Fancy spinning out an evening at one of these festivals, or booking yourself in for a weekend of camping? Tickets tend to sell out early, so you need to get your skates on! If you've got any top tips for other music festivals, let us know in the comments below.

This article originally appeared on IamExpat in Switzerland.