Whether you want to headbang to heavy metal, sway to reggae or enjoy folk music with your family, here is our rundown of the world’s top 10 music festivals
Best for value
Exit
Novi Sad, Serbia
12-15 July 2018
Occupying the grounds of an ancient citadel on the banks of the blue Danube, Exit enjoys one of the most engaging settings in Europe. Originally conceived as a tonic to the bleak Milošević years, its celebratory atmosphere reflects young Serbs’ new-found optimism and determination to have a good time.
Acts playing this year include David Guetta, Fever Ray and Ziggy Marley. Early bird tickets cost £89 – very reasonable for a four-day international festival of this calibre.
Best for families
Cambridge Folk Festival
Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire, UK
2-5 August 2018
A favourite on the British circuit, the Cambridge Folk Festival is known for its gentle vibe and eclectic line-up that stretches the bearded boundaries of folk to embrace reggae, world music and rock. This year’s guests include Patti Smith, First Aid Kit, John Prine and Janis Ian.
Families with young children will appreciate the atmosphere of good-natured intimacy that pervades the verdant grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall. There’s a crèche and musical activities for older kids.
Best for dance music
Sónar
Barcelona, Spain
14-16 June 2018
Slicker than the sun-baked bodies on Barcelona’s beaches, Sónar is the most important showcase of digital music in Europe. Divided into the multimedia art-fest of Sonar by Day and the frenzied raving of Sonar by Night, it’s not for those lacking stamina.
This year’s line-up includes Thom Yorke, Modeselektor, Cornelius, GoldLink, Amp Fiddler & Tony Allen and many more.
Sonar festivalShutterstock
Best for making a difference
Roskilde
Denmark
30 June-7 July 2018
Scandinavia’s answer to Glastonbury, Roskilde’s a whopper. Just 35km (22 miles) from Copenhagen, it’s run by an independent, non-profit making organisation and all proceeds go directly to humanitarian causes. This year’s massive line-up includes Eminem, Bruno Mars, Gorillaz and Nine Inch Nails.
Roskilde FestivalShutterstock
Best for delicate festival fans
Fuji Rock
Naeba Ski Resort, Japan
27-29 July 2018
Silvery streams, pine-scented forests and polite, well-behaved punters set Fuji Rock apart from many of its Western counterparts. The heavenly mountain setting, in a ski resort 75 minutes by bullet train from Tokyo, lends a spiritual air to proceedings that’s entirely Japanese.
One stage is only accessible by cable car and the campsite sits on the manicured fairways of the resort’s golf course. Clean loos, teams of recyclers and orderly queues contribute to a thoroughly refined but magical festival. There are even spa baths to alleviate dance-induced muscle problems.
This year’s line-up includes Kendrick Lamar, N.E.R.D, Vampire Weekend and Skrillex.
Best for dressing up
Bestival
Lulworth Estate, Dorset, UK
2-5 September 2018
Much-loved ’boutique’ festival curated by BBC Radio 1 DJ, Rob Da Bank. A quirky alternative to behemoths like Glastonbury and more corporate events, Bestival is chic, kitsch and playful.
A good-humoured crowd, many in fancy dress, will enjoy acts from London Grammar, Silk City, M.I.A, Grace Jones, Plan B and Chaka Khan.
People dressed up at Bestival Shutterstock
Best for seamless organisation
Coachella
Indio, California, USA
13-15 and 20-22 April 2018
There’s nobody like the Americans to make a festival nice and civilised. There’s a noise curfew at the campsite and no amplifiers or large speakers are allowed. If this sounds a bit far from the spirit of free love, concentrate on the killer line-up.
Acts include The Weeknd, Beyoncé, Eminem, Jamiroquai, St. Vincent, Haim, Tyler, the Creator, Fleet Foxes and Cardi B. Festival guests can choose between two identical festival weekends with the same line-up.
Best for reggae
Rototom Sunsplash
Benicassim, Spain
16-22 August 2018
Rototom Sunsplash has become reggae’s spiritual European home. Join Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Alborosie & Shengen Clan, Fat Freddy’s Drop and Jimmy Cliff for skanking reggae and an exploration of Rastafarian and African culture. Dance lessons, debates and creative workshops round off a cultural celebration of Jamaica’s most sweet-sounding export.
Best for metal
Graspop Metal Meeting
Dessel, Belgium
21-24 June 2018
Graspop presents the finest in axe-wielding guitar heroes including UK metal veterans Iron Maiden as well as Guns ‘N Roses, Ozzy Osbourne and Volbeat. Leather-trousered, long-haired rockers descend on Dessel for three days of power chords and face-melting guitar solos.
Best for EDM
Awakenings
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
30 June-1 July 2018
The world’s largest outdoor techno festival, Awakenings, keeps growing. This year’s line-up features over 100 DJs including debutants such as Honey Dijon and Peggy Gou as well as techno pioneers Carl Cox, Adam Beyer, Nina Kraviz, Loco Dice, Ben Klock and Len Faki. You can’t buy tickets at the door, so make sure you buy your festival pass in advance.
