Summer 2025 promises an extraordinary festival season, with global attendance projected to reach 85 million—a 23% increase since 2023. Boutique festivals are experiencing even stronger growth with ticket sales up 31%, reflecting post-pandemic priorities shifting toward memorable experiences. This aligns with 2018 Eventbrite data showing 78% of millennials and Gen Z preferring experiences over material possessions.
Festival organizers have responded with increasingly diverse programming that extends beyond music to include art installations, wellness activities, culinary experiences, and interactive workshops.
Our curated list features 20 must-visit festivals (+1 BONUS TIP) across the Netherlands, Europe, and beyond, ranging from massive electronic music events to intimate cultural gatherings. Whether you prefer the energy of 200,000 fellow attendees or the charm of recognizing familiar faces throughout a boutique weekend, this guide will help you plan your perfect festival summer.
Join us as we explore the standout festivals of Summer 2025, from established titans to hidden gems worth discovering.
1. Westwood Festival – The Hague, Scheveningen
Dates: Saturday 28 June 2025 | 13:30 – 23:00
Location: Scheveningen Beach, The Hague, Netherlands
Size: Medium (approx. 15,000 attendees)
If you’re looking for a festival experience that balances musical discovery with seaside relaxation, Westwood should be high on your list. Nestled along the stunning Scheveningen coastline, Westwood Festival has quickly become one of the Netherlands’ most exciting beachside events. The 2025 edition promises to deliver an eclectic experience across three distinctively themed stages, each offering its own unique atmosphere and musical journey.
What sets Westwood apart is its commitment to musical diversity. Rather than focusing on a single genre, the festival curates a lineup that spans from nostalgic 70’s disco rock to 90’s R&B, classic techno, and even what they playfully describe as “slanted après ski” vibes. For more info click here.
Want to get a feeling about the vibe? Click here for the 2025 teaser and click here for the aftermovie of last year, shot through the eyes of the visitors.
Get your tickets for Westwood Festival 2025 here
2. Defqon.1 – Biddinghuizen, Netherlands
Dates: June 26-29, 2025
Location: Biddinghuizen, Netherlands
Size: Large (80,000+ attendees)
Defqon.1 stands as the undisputed global epicenter for hardstyle enthusiasts. The 2025 edition promises four days of relentless energy from June 26 to 29, transforming the festival grounds into a hardstyle paradise. This legendary event has built its reputation on jaw-dropping stage designs, pyrotechnics that can be seen for miles, and a community of passionate fans who return year after year.
What began as a hardstyle-focused event has evolved to include a broader range of harder electronic genres, including hardcore, rawstyle, frenchcore, and more experimental sounds. The festival’s multiple stages create distinct environments, from the massive RED main stage to more intimate settings showcasing emerging talents and specific subgenres.
Beyond the music, Defqon.1 creates an immersive world with its annual themes, elaborate ceremonies, and the famous “endshow” that serves as a spectacular festival finale. The camping experience adds another dimension, fostering a strong sense of community among attendees who often form friendships that last long after the festival ends.
Get your Defqon One tickets here
3. Hello Festival – Emmen, Netherlands
Dates: June 14, 2025
Location: Grote Rietplas, Emmen, Netherlands
Size: Small-Medium (approximately 20,000 attendees)
True to its name, Hello Festival prides itself on being the “friendliest festival in the Netherlands,” and the warm atmosphere is immediately apparent from the moment you arrive. Set for Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the picturesque Grote Rietplas in Emmen, this one-day event has carved out a special place in the hearts of festivalgoers in the northern Netherlands.
Unlike many festivals that chase trends, Hello Festival embraces a refreshingly unpretentious approach. The event describes itself as “Drents pride” (referring to the province where it takes place), emphasizing community connection and simple pleasures. The no-nonsense gathering focuses on what really matters: good music, friendly people, and creating genuine moments of joy.
While specifics about the 2025 lineup remain forthcoming, previous editions have featured an appealing mix of Dutch favorites and international acts spanning rock, pop, alternative, and more laid-back electronic music. The festival typically operates multiple stages to ensure musical variety throughout the day. For more info click here.
Get your tickets for Hello Festival here
4. Lowlands Festival – Biddinghuizen, Netherlands
Dates: August 15-17, 2025
Location: Event grounds Walibi Holland, Biddinghuizen
Size: Large (60,000+ attendees)
For over a quarter-century, Lowlands (officially “A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise”) has reigned as one of the Netherlands’ most beloved cultural institutions. The 2025 edition, scheduled for August 15-17, continues this storied tradition at the expansive Walibi Holland event grounds in Biddinghuizen.
What distinguishes Lowlands from other major festivals is its commitment to creating a temporary society where music is just one element of a much broader cultural experience. While the lineup consistently features an impressive array of international headliners alongside emerging talents across genres, Lowlands’ extensive “fringe program” is equally vital to its identity. Festival-goers can engage with comedy performances, film screenings, scientific lectures, theatrical productions, literary discussions, and interactive workshops – all within the same festival grounds where they’ll dance to their favorite bands.
The festival’s infrastructure is notably sophisticated, with most stages housed in large tents (providing welcome shelter from the Netherlands’ unpredictable summer weather). This creates intimate atmospheres even for major performances and facilitates seamless transitions between acts. The campsite becomes its own community, complete with supermarkets, food vendors, and impromptu gatherings that embody the festival’s spirit of exploration and connection. For more info click here.
This event is very popular and therefore always sold-out in seconds. For more information on ticket resell click here.
5. Tomorrowland – Boom, Belgium
Dates: July 18-20 & 25-27, 2025
Location: De Schorre, Boom, Belgium
Size: Massive (400,000+ attendees across two weekends)
Tomorrowland needs little introduction. This behemoth of the festival world has transformed from a single-day event in 2005 to the defining electronic music festival globally. The 2025 edition continues the tradition of spanning two weekends (July 18-20 and 25-27) in the otherwise quiet town of Boom, Belgium.
The scale of Tomorrowland is difficult to comprehend without experiencing it firsthand: 14 stages spread across 75 hectares, over 800 artists performing, and approximately 400,000 visitors from nearly 200 countries. The festival’s extraordinary production values have set a standard that few can match, with elaborately themed stages that constitute architectural marvels in themselves.
While electronic music remains the focus, Tomorrowland’s programming spans numerous subgenres including EDM, house, techno, trance, hardstyle, and more experimental sounds. Superstars like Martin Garrix, Armin van Buuren, and Hardwell regularly grace its stages, but the festival also showcases underground talent across its more specialized stages.
For many attendees, the Dreamville camping experience is as integral to Tomorrowland as the festival itself. This temporary city offers various accommodation options, from basic camping to luxury lodging, along with shops, restaurants, and pre-parties that create a continuous festive atmosphere. For more info click here.
The tickets for Tomorrowland are sold-out.
6. Mysteryland – Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands
Dates: August 22-24, 2025
Location: Floriadeterrein, Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands
Size: Large (125,000+ attendees)
As the Netherlands’ longest-running electronic music festival (established in 1993), Mysteryland has maintained its relevance by continually evolving while honoring its pioneering spirit. The 2025 edition, scheduled for August 22-24 near Haarlemmermeer, promises to continue this legacy with three days of diverse programming across sixteen uniquely themed stages.
What distinguishes Mysteryland in the crowded electronic festival landscape is its commitment to creating distinct environments that go beyond typical stage setups. Each area is meticulously designed with its own aesthetic identity and musical focus, allowing festival-goers to explore different worlds within the same event. From massive main stage spectacles to intimate woodland dance floors, Mysteryland offers remarkably varied experiences.
With over 300 artists performing each year, the musical programming spans the electronic spectrum from commercial crowd-pleasers to underground innovators. While the 2025 lineup hasn’t been announced yet, previous years have featured everyone from techno pioneers to contemporary EDM stars, ensuring something for every taste. For more info click here.
Get your tickets for Mysteryland 2025 here
7. Concert at Sea – Brouwersdam, Zeeland
Dates: June 26-28, 2025
Location: Brouwersdam, Zeeland, Netherlands
Size: Medium-Large (approx. 40,000 attendees)
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, Concert at Sea has established itself as one of the Netherlands’ most beloved music festivals. Taking place June 26-28 on the beautiful Brouwersdam in Zeeland, this festival combines excellent music programming with a stunning coastal setting that feels worlds away from typical festival grounds.
Founded by the Dutch band BLØF, Concert at Sea maintains a distinctly Dutch identity while appealing to international visitors. The musical focus tends toward pop, rock, and singer-songwriter genres, with a mix of established Dutch artists and international names. Beyond the music, the festival offers street theater, diverse food options, and relaxed terrace areas with views of the surrounding water.
The 20th anniversary edition promises to be particularly special, though specific lineup details remain forthcoming. Previous years have featured artists like Sting, Bastille, The Script, and numerous Dutch stars, suggesting a 2025 lineup that will likely balance crowd-pleasing favorites with fresh talent. For more info click here.
The festival is almost sold-out. Click here for more information on how to get tickets.
8. Zwarte Cross – Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands
Dates: 17-20 July 2025
Location: Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands
Size: Massive (220,000+ attendees)
Zwarte Cross defies easy categorization. As the largest paid festival in the Netherlands and the largest motocross event worldwide, it combines music, motorsports, theater, and stunts into a uniquely Dutch cultural phenomenon. The name literally means “Black Cross,” referring to unofficial motocross races from the 1960s, and this rebellious spirit still permeates the event.
The festival sprawls across several massive areas, each with distinct programming. The music lineup spans multiple genres including rock, pop, electronic, hip-hop, and traditional Dutch music across numerous stages. Meanwhile, the motocross component features professional races alongside spectacular stunts and daredevil showcases that draw thousands of motorsport enthusiasts.
What truly sets Zwarte Cross apart is its eccentric blend of entertainment forms. Theater performances, comedy acts, art installations, and carnival attractions create a surreal atmosphere that feels like a county fair designed by creative anarchists. The festival embraces its rural East Netherlands identity with a combination of pride and self-aware humor that’s infectious. For more information click here.
Get your tickets for Zwarte Cross here.
9. Live on the Beach – Scheveningen, Netherlands
Date: September 4-7, 2025
Location: Scheveningen Beach, The Hague, Netherlands
Size: Medium (approximately 25,000 per day)
Since 2015, Live on the Beach has transformed Scheveningen’s picturesque shoreline into an open-air concert venue for several days each September. The 2025 edition, scheduled for September 4-7, continues this tradition of bringing high-quality musical experiences to one of the Netherlands’ most beloved coastal destinations.
Unlike traditional festivals with multiple simultaneous performances, Live on the Beach typically features a single main stage with a focused lineup each day, often organized around themes or genres. The September 6th event is already announced as “The Largest Summer Festival in the Netherlands,” showcasing the country’s biggest Dutch-language artists in a celebratory beach party atmosphere.
What makes Live on the Beach special is the extraordinary setting. There’s something magical about standing barefoot in the sand with the North Sea as a backdrop while experiencing live music. The timing in early September often provides perfect weather – warm enough to enjoy the beach setting but past the peak tourist season. For more info click here.
Get your tickets for Live on the Beach Festival here.
10. Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Dates: Wed, Oct 22, 2025 – Sun, Oct 26, 2025
Location: Various venues throughout Amsterdam, Netherlands
Size: Massive (500,000+ attendees across all events)
While technically stretching the definition of “summer” festival, ADE’s significance to global electronic music culture makes it impossible to exclude from this list. This five-day electronic music conference and festival transforms Amsterdam into the world’s electronic music capital each October, with the 2025 edition expected to continue its tradition of innovation and excellence.
What distinguishes ADE from other festivals is its dual nature. During the day, the conference component (ADE Pro, ADE Tech, ADE University, etc.) brings together industry professionals for panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities. Meanwhile, the festival aspect takes over the city’s clubs, concert halls, and unique venues with over 1,000 events featuring 2,500+ artists across five days and nights.
The Amsterdam Music Festival (AMF) at Johan Cruyff Arena represents the largest single event within ADE, but the festival’s true magic lies in the sheer diversity of experiences available throughout the city. From intimate underground club nights to massive warehouse parties, historic concert halls to boat parties on the canals, ADE offers electronic music experiences at every scale imaginable. For more info click here.
Get your tickets for ADE here.
11. Sziget Festival – Budapest, Hungary
Dates: August 6-11, 2025
Location: Óbudai-sziget (Old Buda Island), Budapest, Hungary
Size: Massive (450,000+ attendees across the week)
Known affectionately as “The Island of Freedom,” Sziget has evolved from a modest student gathering in 1993 to one of Europe’s largest and most diverse cultural festivals. The 2025 edition, scheduled for August 6-11, will once again transform a leafy 108-hectare island on the Danube into a vibrant temporary city where over 1,000 performances unfold across six days.
What distinguishes Sziget from other major European festivals is its truly international character – with approximately half of all attendees traveling from outside Hungary, the festival has become a genuine melting pot of cultures. The musical programming spans virtually all genres imaginable, from mainstream pop headliners to world music, electronic, rock, hip-hop, and experimental sounds across numerous stages.
Beyond music, Sziget offers a dizzying array of cultural experiences including theater, circus, dance, art installations, and workshops. The festival’s commitment to creating a complete temporary society means you’ll find everything from morning yoga sessions to late-night cinema screenings, discussions on social issues to impromptu street performances. For more info click here.
Get your tickets for Sziget Festival here.
12. Glastonbury Festival – Somerset, England
Dates: June 25-29, 2025
Location: Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, England
Size: Massive (210,000+ attendees)
Glastonbury needs no introduction – as the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world, it has long since transcended being merely an event to become a cultural institution. The 2025 edition, scheduled for June 25-29, will once again transform Worthy Farm in Somerset into a temporary city devoted to music, arts, and alternative culture.
What separates Glastonbury from other major festivals is its unique spirit and extraordinary breadth. While headliners capture media attention, the festival encompasses over 100 stages offering everything from the latest electronic music to folk traditions, poetry readings to circus performances, political debates to healing fields. The sheer scale allows numerous microcosms to exist simultaneously – you could spend the entire festival in the dance-focused Shangri-La area or never leave the acoustic-oriented Green Fields and have entirely different but equally valid Glastonbury experiences.
The festival’s commitment to social and environmental causes has been integral to its identity since its inception, with substantial proceeds supporting charitable organizations and ongoing initiatives to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability. For more info click here.
Get your tickets for Glastonbury Festival here
13. Lollapalooza Berlin – Berlin, Germany
Dates: July 12-14, 2025
Location: Olympiastadion and Olympiapark Berlin, Germany
Size: Large (85,000+ daily attendees)
As the European outpost of the iconic American festival brand, Lollapalooza Berlin has established its own distinctive identity while maintaining the original’s spirit of musical diversity and cultural exploration. The 2025 edition, scheduled for July 12-13, marks the festival’s eighth appearance at the historic Olympiastadion and surrounding Olympiapark.
The programming typically blends mainstream pop and rock headliners with electronic music, hip-hop, and alternative acts across multiple stages. Beyond the music, Lollapalooza Berlin creates thematic areas like Fashionpalooza, focusing on sustainable fashion and design, and the environmentally-conscious Grüner Kiez (Green Neighborhood). Families are welcomed with Kidzapalooza, a dedicated area offering age-appropriate entertainment and creative activities.
Particularly noteworthy is Lollapalooza Berlin’s commitment to sustainability – it stands as the first festival in Germany to receive international certification for sustainable event management (DIN ISO 20121), with independent auditing by GUTcert validating its environmental practices. For more info click here.
Get your tickets for Lollapalooza Berlin here
14. Rock Werchter – Werchter, Belgium
Dates: July 3-6, 2025
Location: Werchter, Belgium
Size: Large (88,000+ daily attendees)
2025 marks a momentous occasion for Rock Werchter as the festival celebrates its 50th anniversary – a remarkable milestone that places it among Europe’s longest-running and most respected music events. Scheduled for July 3-6, this golden jubilee edition promises to honor the festival’s storied history while looking forward to its future.
Despite its name, Rock Werchter has evolved far beyond purely rock programming to encompass a thoughtfully curated selection of established and emerging artists across genres. The festival’s reputation for exceptional curation has made it a favorite among serious music fans, who appreciate the consistently high-quality programming across all stages. While specific lineup details for the anniversary edition remain forthcoming, previous years have featured a balanced mix of legendary acts and contemporary innovators.
The festival’s layout facilitates easy movement between stages, and the organization has been refined over decades to create a smooth experience even with substantial crowds. Located just outside Brussels, Rock Werchter combines the infrastructure advantages of proximity to a major city with a more relaxed countryside setting. For more info click here.
Get your Rock Werchter tickets here
15. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival – California, USA
Dates: April 11-13 & 18-20, 2025
Location: Empire Polo Club, Indio, California, USA
Size: Large (125,000+ attendees per weekend)
Though technically occurring just before traditional summer festival season begins, Coachella’s cultural significance and influence on the global festival landscape make it impossible to exclude from this list. The 2025 edition, scheduled across two identical weekends (April 11-13 and 18-20), will once again transform the Empire Polo Club in California’s Coachella Valley into one of the world’s most photographed and discussed festival venues.
Coachella’s dual-weekend format, established in 2012, has become a model emulated by other major festivals seeking to balance enormous demand with a quality experience. While the musical programming spans numerous genres across multiple stages, Coachella has particularly excelled at identifying artists on the verge of mainstream breakthrough and booking significant reunion performances or rare appearances by established acts.
Beyond music, the festival has become equally renowned for its large-scale art installations that create the distinctive visual identity captured in countless social media posts. The desert setting provides a dramatic natural backdrop, with mountain vistas and spectacular sunsets complementing the curated environments within the festival grounds. For more info click here.
Get your Coachella passes here
16. Burning Man – Black Rock Desert, Nevada, USA
Dates: August 24 – September 1, 2025
Location: Black Rock Desert, Nevada, USA
Size: Large (80,000+ participants)
Burning Man occupies a unique position in global festival culture – it steadfastly rejects the very label “festival,” instead defining itself as a temporary city and participatory experiment in community, art, radical self-expression, and self-reliance. The 2025 gathering, themed “Tomorrow Today,” will once again see Black Rock City emerge from the Nevada desert from August 24 to September 1.
What fundamentally distinguishes Burning Man from conventional festivals is its principle that “there are no spectators, only participants.” Almost everything that happens is created by the attendees themselves, with no official entertainment or vendors (apart from ice and coffee). Instead, participants bring what they need to survive in the harsh desert environment plus gifts to share with others – whether that’s food, drinks, experiences, performances, or elaborate art installations.
The temporary metropolis is arranged in a distinctive semi-circular grid around the iconic “Man” sculpture that will be ceremonially burned near the event’s conclusion. Throughout Black Rock City, hundreds of theme camps and art projects create an ever-changing landscape of creativity that participants explore over the week-long gathering. For more info click here.
For information about tickets for Burning Man click here
17. The Crave Festival – The Hague, The Netherlands
Dates: Saturday 7 June 2025
Location: Zuiderpark, The Hague
Size: Small (approximately 10,000 attendees)
The Crave Festival is one of the leading electronic music festivals in the Netherlands. The multi-day festival organises several shows throughout the city, culminating in the outdoor festival in Zuiderpark. In the park, you will encounter various electronic music styles such as techno, disco, house and electro spread over several stages. The organisation aims for a challenging mix of strong headliners, young talent and local expression. Want to get a first impression on the vibe? Click here for the aftermovie of last year 2024, filmed through the eyes of the visitors. For more general info click here.
Line-up
ANZ, Eris Drew, Hadone (Live) Kettama, Malugi, Objekt, Oscar Mulero, Polygonia (Live) Woody92, Blawan, CCL, Dax J, Narciss, Pablo Bozzi, Young Marco, Feral (live) Garcon, Harald Uunk, Jelly & Andrew, Julia Maria, Lea Occhi, Lolsnake, Maara, Talismann, Upsammy, Bailey Ibbs, Capiche Collectiv, Daria Kolosova, Nelly, SHDW & Regal, Stef Mendesidis (Live) Suze Iljó, Tjade
Get your tickets for The Crave Festival here
18. Pohoda Festival – Trenčín, Slovakia
Date: July 10-12, 2025
Location: Trenčín Airport, Slovakia
Size: 30,000 visitors per day
Pohoda is Slovakia’s largest arts and music festival, running for over two decades yet still flying under the radar for many UK festivalgoers. With an affordable €99 price tag, this comprehensive cultural event offers exceptional value. The festival features an impressive lineup including The Chemical Brothers, St Vincent, Jamie Cullum, Ziggy Marley, Glass Animals, and Danny Brown. For more info click here.
Pohoda distinguishes itself with a laid-back atmosphere and well-organized facilities. Beyond music, visitors can enjoy visual art, film, literature, and theater performances across the festival grounds. The weekend ticket includes camping accommodations.
19. Primavera Sound Barcelona
Dates: June 5-7, 2025
Location: Parc del Forum, Barcelona, Spain
Size: Large-scale international festival
Over the past two decades, Primavera Sound Barcelona has established itself as one of Europe’s premier music festivals. The event is celebrated for its exceptionally diverse lineup that balances emerging artists with established legends. Headliners for 2025 include Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan. For more info click here.
Our take: What sets Primavera apart is its remarkable waterfront location at Parc del Forum, which offers the unique advantage of being both within Barcelona city limits and in a venue that seems custom-designed for a world-class music festival. The organizers maintain impeccable standards for logistics and operations. Music fans should also consider the Porto edition of Primavera Sound as an alternative option.
All festival tickets are sold out
20. Sónar Barcelona
Date: June 12 – 14, 2025
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Size: Large-scale international festival
Arguably the coolest festival in Barcelona’s summer calendar, Sónar celebrates the intersection of art, music and technology. It’s back for its 32rd year with an eclectic lineup of global artists that transcends sonic borders. Sónar Week runs for a full six days, from June 10-15, transforming the city into an international hub of electronic music and culture, through collaborations and co-productions with the city’s leading promoters and institutions. This includes partnerships with +RAIN Film Festival, OFFSónar and the main event, Sónar 2025. For more info click here.
Big names: Arca, BICEP present CHROMA AV/DJ set, Honey Dijon, Four Tet, MOCHAKK, Skrillex b2b Blawan, Overmono, Pa Salieu, Peggy Gou.
Get your tickets for Sónar Barcelona here
BONUS TIP – Parookaville Germany
Dates: July 18-20, 2025
Location: Airport Weeze, Germany
Size: Germany’s largest electronic music festival
Parookaville has established itself as Germany’s premier electronic dance music festival since its inception in 2015. Set against the unique backdrop of Weeze Airport, this three-day extravaganza transforms the venue into an elaborately designed “city” with its own distinct identity and atmosphere. Known affectionately by fans as “PV,” the festival delivers an immersive experience that goes far beyond typical music events, featuring meticulously crafted stages, themed districts, and interactive installations.
Each summer, tens of thousands of electronic music enthusiasts gather to experience performances from world-class DJs and producers in this temporary metropolis of sound and spectacle. Parookaville’s commitment to creating a comprehensive festival universe, complete with its own mythology and cityscape, has helped it build a dedicated following and establish itself as a cornerstone event in Europe’s electronic music calendar. For more info click here.
Get your tickets for Parookaville here.
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