2024’s Best Music Festivals In Europe To Book Now

If you believe sunscreen should take priority over wellies when it comes to festival season, it might be wise to go European. Here, we round up the best music festivals in Europe for 2024, from a French wine and music festival in a chateau to a star-studded extravaganza on a Hungarian island.

Best Music Festivals In Europe 2024

Primavera Sound Barcelona

Primavera Sound is a staple music festival in Europe, since its first edition in 2001. It attracts some of the world’s hottest acts of the day, and in 2024 that includes Pulp, Vampire Weekend, Lana Del Rey, The National, Disclosure, Sza, FKA Twigs and Charli XCX – amongst many others. In fact, the festival is renowned for its eclectic mix of acts appealing to tastes across the board. In short, there’s something for everyone under the baking Spanish sun. Held in Barcelona’s Parc del Fòrum beside the backdrop of the Mediterranean sea, there’s also a sister festival in Porto, Portugal if Barcelona doesn’t take your fancy.

Details: Primavera Sound will take place from 29 May–2 June 2024 in Parc Del Forum, Barcelona, Spain. primaverasound.com

Rock In Rio Lisbon

A landmark 10th anniversary special of Rock in Rio will take over Lisbon’s Tejo Park over two June weekends in 2024, with a stacked line-up already confirmed. Think Doja Cat, Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran, Scorpions, Evanescence and Extreme – and plenty more to be announced.

Details: 15–16 & 22–23 June 2024 at Tejo Park (new for 2024), Lisbon, Portugal.

Balaton Sound Festival

Each year over 150,000 music lovers flock to Zamárdi in Hungary for Balaton Sound, an open-air dance music festival located on Lake Balaton. It’s known for hosting some of the greatest artists and DJs in the pop and electronic world, with the 2024 line-up (so far) featuring Ben Nicky, James Hype and John Newman. Relax on the beach during the day before partying into the night – the beach parties are particularly fun.

BOOK IT: Balaton Sound Festival will return on 3–6 July 2024 in Zamárdi, Hungary. balatonsound.com

Bilbao BBK Live

Enjoy international music surrounded by nature and Spain’s breathtaking landscapes at Bilbao BBK Live. The 2024 line up is stellar, including Arcade Fire, Jungle, Massive Attack, The Prodigy and Alvvays, among many more.

BOOK IT: Bilbao BBK Live will return from 11–13 July 2024 at Kobetamendi, Bilbao, Spain. bilbaobbklive.com

Sani Festival

The Greek Sani Festival started as a small jazz festival, but has transformed into one of the country’s foremost cultural institutions. Making the most of warm summer nights, Sani Festival was headlined in 2023 by Andrea Bocelli and incorporated rock and pop into the itinerary for the first time. Chucho Valdés, Paquito D’Rivera, Al Di Meola, Jack Savoretti and Bob Geldof all performed, as well as a plethora of Greek legends. The festival is as kind on the eyes as it is the ears: situated on Sani Hill, where the sea, sky and greenery all meet against the dramatic backdrop of the ruined Byzantine tower and the Aegean Sea. Stay tuned for 2024 details.

Details: Dates TBC, but it typically takes place across the summer at Sani Hill, Kassandra, Greece. sani-resort.com

Electric Castle

As music festivals in Europe go, the 15th-century Bánffy Castle in Transylvania is a pretty special one. It’s the setting for Electric Castle, an immersive festival which offers a unique day-to-night experience, with round the clock music and entertainment. There’s music to suit all tastes, with highlights this year including Massive Attack, Queens of the Stoneage, Bring Me The Horizon and Chase & Status, plus stand-up comedy, artistic performances and an eclectic array of food and drink vendors.

Details: Electric Castle will take place from 17–21 July 2024 at Banffy Castle, Transylvania, Romania. electriccastle.ro

Way Out West

One of Sweden’s most celebrated music festivals, Way Out West takes place in a secluded woodland setting in Gothenberg. Some of the world’s biggest artists have performed there since it began in 2007, from Kanye West to Stormzy and Florence + The Machine – and the 2024 line-up is looking pretty impressive too, with Thom Yorke, Fred Again, Loyle Carner and Pulp all on the agenda. Music spans a range of genres, from hip-hop to rock and indie, and, outside of the music, you can expect great vegetarian food – plus it’s big on sustainability, holding an ISO 20121 certification.

Details: Way Out West will take place from 8–10 August 2024 in Gothenburg, Sweden. wayoutwest.se

Sziget

You’ll need some stamina for Sziget, the six-day music festival extravaganza set on a Óbuda-Island in Budapest. A whopping 60 stages are spread across the site – nicknamed the ‘Island of Freedom’ – with endless music, art, theatre, installations and talks to explore. The 2024 line-up is still TBA, but we expect it’ll be a big one. It’s also surrounded by the Danube, which means you get the benefit of a beach, with boat parties taking place throughout the festival.

Details: Sziget will take place from 7–12 August 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. szigetfestival.com

Flow Festival

Founded in 2004 as a small jazz and soul event, Flow Festival has grown into a key player in the world of music festivals in Europe. Fred Again is headlining the 2024 festival, which marks the 20th anniversary, plus Pulp, The Smile, Jessie Ware and PJ Harvey. Flow has impressive eco-credits too, being one of the world’s first carbon-neutral festivals – which you can read more about here.

Details: Flow Festival will take place from 9–11 August 2024 in Helsinki, Finland. flowfestival.com

MEO Kalorama

Over in Lisbon, Bela Vista Park will be taken over by incredible music over the same end-of-summer weekend. Lisbon offers a stunning city break, and MEO Kalorama is all the more enjoyable as the weather cools off. Expect iconic names such as LCD Soundsystem, Massive Attack, Sam Smith, Jungle and Peggy Gou, with a mixture of 80s and modern electronic music sitting side-by-side.

Details: 29–31 August 2024 at Bela Vista Park, Lisbon, Portugal. meokalorama.pt

Iceland Airwaves

Whoever said music festivals in Europe have to take place in the summer? Breaking out of the proverbial mould, Iceland Airwaves – the world’s most northerly music festival – draws together world-class acts, which in 2023 included Bombay Bicycle Club, Squid and Daði Freyr. Stay tuned for the 2024 line up.

Details: 7–9 November 2024 across venues in downtown Reykjavík, Iceland. icelandairwaves.is

Featured image: Balaton Sound.