Summer 2025: The Best Music Festivals in the World

Summer is the season for music festivals, and for 2025, the stage is set for some of the finest music festivals we’ve seen in recent years. Imagine it now, seeing your favorite acts, performing on the world’s biggest stages, dancing alongside your friends… Bliss, right?

First things first, you need to decide which festival is for you. To that end, today at Civitatis, we’ve compiled a list of the best music festivals in the world. So, strap in, get your festival fits ready, and plan your next adventure!

1. Bonnaroo (USA)

When: June 12-15
Where: Manchester, Tennessee
Vibe: Pop, electronic, rock, hip-hop

A mainstay of American music festivals is the famous Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. This year, Bonnaroo is set to those a fantastic lineup of artists from various genres. See Luke Combs, Tyler, the Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, and Hozier on the main stages, and such talents as Vampire Weekend, Glass Animals, and Avril Lavigne. Along with fantastic music, the Bonnaroo festival creates a unique sense of community among attendees, or ‘Bonnaroovians’, and has the added bonus of artistic events to check out.

• Check out more tours & experiences in Tennessee with Civitatis.

2. Rock in Rio (Brazil)

When: October 31-November 02 and November 07-09
Where: Rio de Janeiro
Vibe: Rock, pop, metal, electronic

Rock in Rio is much more than just a festival: it’s a veritable musical institution that transforms Rio de Janeiro into the world capital of rock and pop. Each year, over a million festival-goers from all over the world come to enjoy memorable performances. In 2025, get ready to thrill to legendary headliners who will set the stage alight with spectacular shows. While the headliners have yet to be announced for this year, last year’s lineup, which featured Travis Scott, Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, and Shawn Mendes, suggests that 2025 is going to be another big year for Rock in Rio.

Another advantage of this festival is that you’ll also be able to explore Rio de Janeiro, a city that should be part of anyone’s travel bucket list. See Christ the Redeemer, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Enjoy a guided tour of Rio’s historical center, or visit a different side of the city at the Dona Marta Favela.

• Check out more tours & experiences in Rio de Janeiro with Civitatis.

3. Tomorrowland (Belgium)

When: July 18-20 and July 25-27
Where: Boom, Belgium
Vibe: Electronic dance, house, techno

Tomorrowland is much more than just a festival—it’s a singular visual, musical, and cultural experience that takes place in Boom, Belgium. Since this festival was established in 2005, it has become a household name, bringing together world-class electronic dance lineups, backed by incredible stage designs. This year, the lineup will be headed by David Guetta, Fisher, and Maddix, with more headliners still to be announced.

Boom is just a 30-minute train ride from Antwerp, which is a brilliant and certainly underrated city to explore, with fantastic architecture, fascinating history, and all of the Belgian chocolate you could possibly eat.

• Check out more tours & experiences in Antwerp with Civitatis.

4. Glastonbury Festival (UK)

When: June 27-29
Where: Worthy Farm, Somerset, England
Vibe: Rock, pop, folk, electronic

The Glastonbury Festival is the United Kingdom’s most celebrated musical institution, an event as mythical as the artists it hosts. Every year, Worthy Farm in Somerset, England hosts this incredible festival, which has been host to such greats as David Bowie, Radiohead, Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, the Rolling Stones, and countless others.

This year, Worthy Farm’s hallowed grounds will be graced by Olivia Rodrigo, Charlie XCX, Neil Young, Noah Kahn, the 1975, and many more fantastic artists. However, beyond the musical acts, Glastonbury creates an environment that celebrates culture in all of its forms and brings people together in an incredible way.

• Check out more tours & experiences in England with Civitatis.

5. Sziget Festival (Hungary)

When: August 06-11
Where: Óbuda Island, Budapest
Vibe: Rock, electronic, pop, hip-hop

If you’re looking for a festival that combines a festive atmosphere with great musical diversity, the Sziget Festival in Budapest is for you! Every year, Óbuda Island is transformed into a gigantic playground for music lovers, and this year, the stage will be graced by Post Malone, A$AP Rocky, Chapell Roan, Charlie XCX, and many more.

The festival is a veritable melting pot of cultures, music, and arts, where you can see your favorite artists and, of course, discover new sounds. But why leave new experiences there? Take some time to explore the beautiful city of Budapest. Going on an evening cruise along the Danube River, and exploring the famous Buda Castle are two absolute musts when visiting the city.

However, after a few days of dancing to your heart’s delight, we recommend engaging in some self-care, and what better way is there to engage in self-care than at one of Hungary’s famous spas. Grab a ticket to Gellért Spa or a ticket to Széchenyi Spa, and leave Hungary as good as new!

• Check out more tours & experiences in Budapest with Civitatis.

6. Primavera Sound (Spain)

When: June 04-08
Where: Barcelona
Vibe: Indie, pop, rock, electronic

Next up on our list is a festival that takes place in the eccentric city of Barcelona, where Primavera Sound, a fixture on the European music scene. This unique festival mixes the best-known artists with emerging talent in a relaxed, creative atmosphere. This year’s festival will attract music fans with artists such as Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Charli XCX. Other exciting acts set to feature include Fontaines D.C., LCD Soundsystem, Black Country, New Road, Central Cee, and many other established and up-and-coming artists on the agenda.

Attending Primavera Sound is the perfect excuse to soak up Catalan culture, in the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona. Wander through the Gothic Quarter, stroll along the waterfront at Port Vell, visit Gaudís incredible Sagrada Familia, take a stroll along La Rambla or through Park Güell to get a feel for the city.

• Check out more tours & experiences in Barcelona with Civitatis.

7. Lollapalooza (USA)

When: July 31-August 03
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Vibe: Rock, electronic, hip-hop, pop

Lollapalooza Chicago returns to Grant Park for its 21st edition, promising four days of genre-spanning performances beneath the city’s iconic skyline. The 2025 lineup is headlined by Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, the Creator, Sabrina Carpenter, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Luke Combs, TWICE, A$AP Rocky, and Korn.

If you get some time to explore Chicago before or after the festival, definitely make the most of it! Go on a free Chicago walking tour to discover Chicago’s urban art scene, the Theater District, Millennium Park, and much more!

• Check out more tours & experiences in Chicago with Civitatis.

8. Burning Man (USA)

When: August 24-September 01
Where: Black Rock Desert, Nevada
Vibe: Electronic, experimental

Burning Man is far more than a music festival—it’s a nine-day experiment in radical self-expression and community in the remote Nevada desert, focused around the creation of a makeship city. While music is an important element of Burning Man, it’s far from the central focus. And yet, we couldn’t resist including this iconic event on our list.

The 2025 theme, ‘Tomorrow Today,’ invites participants to imagine a vision of the future, in a type of 21st-century world fair. Festival-goers build a temporary city—Black Rock City—complete with art cars, theme camps, and immersive sound camps, where electronic music and avant-garde performance art merge under the night sky. While there is no lineup for Burning Man, great DJs invariably attend the festival and perform, including Diplo and Carl Cox, among others.

• Check out more tours & experiences in Nevada with Civitatis.

9. All Together Now (Ireland)

When: July 31-August 03
Where: Curraghmore Estate, Co. Waterford
Vibe: Rock, electronic

All Together Now is a boutique festival set in the lush Irish countryside, blending music, art, food, and wellness across 18 stages for a true weekend of discovery. The 2025 edition is to be headlined by Fontaines D.C., Nelly Furtado, Bicep (CHROMA AV DJ), and London Grammar, with a supporting cast that includes CMAT, Wet Leg, Michael Kiwanuka, Bonobo (DJ), Ben Böhmer, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, and more. From spoken-word (seanchoíche) tents to wellness workshops and artisan markets, it’s a festival that celebrates creativity in every form.

Continue your dive into Irish culture by exploring Dublin on a free walking tour, or even embarking on the Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, Burren & Galway day trip.

• Check out more tours & experiences in Ireland with Civitatis.

10. Donauinselfest (Austria)

When: June 20-22
Where: Danube Island, Vienna
Vibe: Rock, pop, electronic, folk

Who said that a major festival had to be expensive? Vienna’s Donauinselfest proves that a free event can be about as cool as a paid one. Every year, this festival brings together over 3 million people for three days of concerts on the Danube island. Expect performances ranging from mainstream pop to underground electronic music, all in an idyllic setting with spectacular views over the city of Vienna.

Visiting Vienna for Donauinselfest? Take advantage of your time in the Austrian capital and explore this historical city. Go on a free walking tour of Vienna, and check out the famous Josefplats, the Memorial against War and Fascism, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and much more.

• Check out more tours & experiences in Vienna with Civitatis.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of the best music festivals in the world! Now, it’s time to pack your bags, book your tickets, and get ready for adventure: discover new horizons, explore fascinating cities and create unforgettable memories on the world’s greatest stages. No matter what festival you end up visiting, check out tours & activities with Civitatis nearby to make the most of your trip!