Best international music festivals in 2025

Festival season is so back. The circuit is set to slay this year with the holy trinity – AKA Charli xcx, Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter – popping up here, there and everywhere. So, if you didn’t get Glasto tix, all is not lost… Why pay for a UK festi anyway when you could combine one with a trip abroad for a similar price? If you don’t fancy standing in a muddy field, here are this year’s best international music festivals.  

Coachella 

California, 11-13th and 18-20th April 

Cowboy boots and crochet fits at the ready. Coachella gets all the hype, and honestly, it makes sense. The music festival might be a celeb-spotter and social climber’s dream, but it’s earned every bit of clout as a bucket-list festi. The dreamy Palm Springs postcode delivers sunshine and clear skies every year, and you can always back the line-up to be Big names like Lady Gaga, Green Day and Post Malone have already been announced as headliners, with Charli xcx, Megan Thee Stallion and Tyla also making the list. We love to see all the Brits getting some love, too, like Sam Fender, Maribou State and Sammy Virji.  

The other major win is that it’s a two-weekend situation, so you can either pick one or commit to both – it’s the same line-up either way, which means you have plenty of opps to catch all your fave artists. Then, there’s five days of midweek events you can add on, from pool parties and evening sets to wellness sessions and golf tournaments. You’ll get the best of both worlds if you’re staying in LA, too – tick off all your Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Malibu sightseeing, then catch the shuttle buses out to the desert on the festival days.  

Check out Coachella’s full line-up.  

Primavera Sound  

Barcelona, 4-8th June 

Primavera Sound the promised land of music festivals. It’s basically impossible to have a bad time here – you can’t camp, so you’ll be getting a good night’s sleep and a hot shower in a hotel, and it’s literally steps away from the beach. Hungover? Just go for a swim and snooze it off on the sand. The line-up is always as strong as the location, too, with a broad range of artists and genres making it a super inclusive moment for all types of music lovers. There’s everything from pop royalty like Charli, Chappell and Sabrina to alternative acts like Deftones, Idles and Fontaines D.C.  

It’s not limited to just the Parc del Forum stages, either. Things actually get started in the city first, with venues putting on sets and gigs every night from the 2nd – and it’s all included in your ticket. The other bonus of being right in Barcelona’s centre is that it’s easy to switch up festi scenes with touristy sights. Soak up Gaudi’s greatest hits like La Sagrada Familia or Parc Guell, then hit the tapas bars for sangria and small plates. This is probably the only festival where you can go home feeling more refreshed than when you got there…  

Check out Primavera Sound’s full line-up.  

NOS Alive 

Lisbon, 10-12th July 

If you liked Boardmasters, you’ll love NOS Alive. It’s a similar story to the Cornish pick – the category is surfer vibes and good times, with a beaut coastal campsite and the main festival area right by the beach. There’s even a swimming pool for cooling off and a whole Surf Xperience for getting up close and personal with some of the best waves in Portugal. The organisers are big on social responsibility and sustainability, so you’ll notice a focus on things like zero waste and wellbeing spaces.  

In terms of the line-up, the festival’s notorious for booking serious headliners, from Olivia Rodrigo to Kings of Leon. Overall, the genre deffo skews towards indie to stay on brand with the beach bum aesthetic. So, other special guests this year include Glass Animals, Foster the People and St Vincent. It’s not just music, too, with an entire stage just for comedy acts and areas to hang out by the sea.  

The festival’s only three days long, so you could easily make it a city break moment and allow extra time to check out Lisbon. Getting in is a breeze with a free shuttle and great public transport links. The tram is actually one of the smartest ways to see the sights, like the number 28 line, which’ll take you right through the most historic parts of the city.  

Check out NOS Alive’s full line-up.  

Sziget Festival  

Budapest, 6-11th August 

A six-day festival might make you feel a certain type of way, but Sziget is about so much more than just the music. The main stages are set to feature major acts like A$AP Rocky, Nelly Furtado, Hot Since 82, Papa Roach, and Charli and Chappell, though. It’s become one of Europe’s biggest events and brings in 350,000+ people every summer, so they’re obvs doing something right. For a start, this isn’t your average, dusty festival site – it’s held on a lush island on the River Danube, so there are lots of shady trees, green spaces and even a beach where you can go for a dip.  

As well as the serene settings, the festival schedule is all about big zen energy. The Think for Tomorrow area is dedicated for talks and workshops raising awareness of social issues, then there’s a space by the river for yoga, tai chi and meditation. If you’re an artsy type, you’ll love the theatre and dance stage where you can catch live performances, plus there are exhibitions and parades that showcase work by local artists. With this much going on, staying onsite is a great shout – there’s a lovely campsite and even glamping if you’re feeling boujie. Want to see more of Budapest? The island might feel like a world away from the city, but it’s only a quick train ride away from the centre, so you can easily stay in a hotel. Spend the day at the festi, then head back for some urban exploring and ruin bar drinks.   

Check out Sziget Festival’s full line-up.  

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Author: Daisy (she/her)
Last updated: 18/03/2025