Best Music Festivals in the World

Every year I tell myself I’ll cut back, fewer sleepless nights in tents, fewer passport scans at budget airports, fewer frantic dashes from one stage to the next. And yet, come June, I find myself pulling on battered boots, stuffing a poncho in my bag, and heading back into the fray. Because there’s nothing else quite like festival season.

2025 has been a particularly special year, from the legends gracing Glastonbury’s fields, to Primavera’s seaside pulse, to Horst’s architectural rave-spaces, I’ve been lucky enough to experience firsthand some of the greatest music gatherings on earth and pick my Best Music Festivals in the World. What makes a festival “the best” isn’t just the lineup. It’s the stories, the communities built, the sets that leave your chest vibrating long after the amps are switched off.

So here it is, my definitive take on the Best Music Festivals in the World in 2025—the ones that defined the summer, set the internet ablaze, and reminded us why festivals remain cultural touchstones.

1. Glastonbury (UK, June 25–29)

Why it dominated the 2025 conversation:

• Acts: A star-studded, cross-generational bill. Neil Young returned, Charli XCX ruled the Pyramid Stage, Alanis Morissette brought major nostalgia, Four Tet dropped into the magic mix, and St. Vincent reminded us why she’s subversively brilliant.
• Performances: Saturday hit another level, with Doechii and Scissor Sisters lighting up the night. Reviewers called it “peak Glasto” energy.
• Value for money: At £378.50 for a full five-day ticket (plus fees), it remains a bargain compared to the experience.
• Uniqueness: It’s not just a festival—it’s a cultural institution. Secret sets, sprawling art installations, impromptu DJ sets in fields—Glastonbury is a living legend.

2. Primavera Sound Barcelona (Spain, June 5–7)

• Acts: Bold, female-forward headliners like Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter led a lineup that also included LCD Soundsystem, FKA Twigs, Jamie xx, and Fontaines D.C.
• Performances: Critics called the weekend “a perfect collision of connection, sun, and sound.”
• Online sentiment: Over on r/indieheads, festival-goers celebrated the “killer lineup… solid 1-2-3 punch.”
• Price: From €275 to €350, it’s strong value for three immersive days in a city that pulses with creativity.
• Uniqueness: It’s urban, seaside, and infused with citywide energy and club crossover events that you simply can’t replicate.

3. Horst Arts & Music Festival (Belgium, May 1–3)

• Acts & Curation: Smaller but masterfully curated. Four Tet, Helena Hauff, Josey Rebelle, DVS1, Eris Drew, Job Jobse—artists driven by energy over hype.
• Performances & Design: This was festival architecture come alive. Stages like The Ring, Moon Ra, and the Veshcell installation were immersive sculptures, not just DJ booths. Sounds systems served as structures in themselves.
• Online-lore: Attendees loved the crowd, curation, and secret surprises:
  “One of the best festivals in the Benelux right now … stage curation, aesthetics, crowd … very special.”
  “Production value, people and music is all top tier.”
• Uniqueness: A three-day fusion of arts, architecture, and music in a repurposed military space—not just a festival, but an experiential exhibition you dance through.

? Read the full review here: Fault Magazine’s glowing review of Horst Festival 2025

4. Lollapalooza Chicago (USA, July 31–August 3)

• Acts: Pop and rap’s finest—Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler the Creator, Sabrina Carpenter, TWICE, A$AP Rocky, and the irrepressible Doechii.
• Performances: Highlights included Olivia’s surprise set with Weezer, Doechii’s explosive stage presence, and hometown pride from Djo.
• Chatter: Press outlets and local reviews were buzzing with daily excitement.
• Cost: $630–$650 for GA four-day—steeper than Europe, but still effectively under $100/day at early tiers.
• Uniqueness: A sprawling urban festival with mass appeal, blockbuster moments, and deep indie undercard gems.

5. Roskilde (Denmark, June 28–July 5)

• Acts & Narrative: Bold programming including Charli XCX and Doechii, with politically charged moments (e.g., Fontaines D.C. spotlighting Palestine) giving it urgency.
• Performances: Signed off as “a riotous mix of culture and conviction.”
• Buzz: Often referred to as the European festival with sense of purpose and deep art integration.
• Price: ?2,550 DKK ?€340 for a week of music and camping—seriously good value per day.
• Uniqueness: Non-profit roots, massive communal camping, and art/activism at its core.