PUBLISHED May 5th, 2023 06:00 am | UPDATED July 25th, 2024 03:54 pm
With summer just around the corner, turn up the heat and make some great memories at vibrant music festivals around the world. From indie rock to hip hop and electronic dance music, get ready to groove to good music and soak in immaculate vibes at these top 10 summer festivals in 2023.
Waking Life
Nestled deep within the olive plantations of Portugal is the not-for-profit festival, Waking Life. This counterculture festival was dreamt up as a space for artistic experimentation, spirited self-expression and collective imagining. Expect immersive performances, engaging installations, and cinematic projections that engage festival-goers in play and exploration. This year’s lineup includes live performances by 100Hz, Alabaster DePlume, and Aleksi Perälä. DJs like Deadbeat, Elli, and G76 take the stage with techno, electronic, and experimental music. The festival is cashless, so top-up your Kingelings (credits) beforehand.
Waking Life runs 7-12 June 2023 at Barragem das Nascentes, Crato, Portugal. Tickets from €250.
Primavera Sound Porto
The tenth edition of Primavera Sound Porto deserves a celebration, and there’s no better way to do that than to extend the fun. The festival will run for four days featuring a rich and diverse lineup, including Kendrick Lamar with transcendental hip-hop, Pet Shop Boys with their unique brand of synth-pop, and FKA Twigs with their soulful experimentations. The list goes on, bringing sounds from all over the world to present the most brilliant reflection of the musical spectrum. Get ready to party at one of the most referenced festivals in Europe.
Primavera Sound Porto runs 7-10 June 2023 at Parque Da Cidade, PT. Tickets from €170.
Gottwood Festival
Journey into the mystical Welsh woodlands where the electronic music festival, Gottwood Festival, has taken root. Tucked in the middle of the woods, the intimate setting of the festival lets festival-goers party to their heart’s content amidst the stunning natural backdrop. The critically acclaimed boutique party sees a balanced lineup with names like Magic Carpet, Waterworks, DBT, and more. With stages planted around four main areas, you will never miss a beat. Fuel up at the area’s bars and food stalls. General and boutique camps are available onsite.
Gottwood Festival runs 8-11 June 2023 at Carreglwyd Wood, Carreglwyd, Llanfaethlu, Holyhead, Wales, LL65 4NY, United Kingdom. Tickets from £190.
GOAT Community Intimate Festival
GOAT Community Intimate Festival unites all dreamers, explorers, creators, and spiritually minded people to connect through music, dance, nature, food, art, and wellness. From a fantastic lineup featuring international and local talents to healing and movement workshops, engage in communal experiences that elevate the mind, body, and soul. Take time to explore the mountains or enjoy immersive performances on festival grounds. And when the music breaks at 6am, reset in the comfort of your camping or glamping tents. Sleep in or recharge with spiritual programs starting at 8am.
GOAT Community Intimate Festival runs 22-25 June at Magic Mountains, Lugar da Fraguinha, 3660-043 São Pedro do Sul, Viseu, Portugal. Tickets from €550.
Fusion Festival
Known as the “European Burning Man”, Fusion Festival is now going on to its 24th year, bringing festival-goers together in an art and music event that embraces counterculture. Held at a former military airfield, let loose at this one-of-a-kind event and fully immerse in its electrifying atmosphere. Besides featuring a diverse music lineup, festival-goers are also welcome to dress up in costumes and bring their own instruments and art to showcase at the grounds. Ease those munchies with delectable vegetarian food and catch a film or two. Keep tabs on their socials for the music lineup released a week before the festival.
Fusion Festival runs 28 June-2 July 2023 at the Militärflugplatz Lärz, Germany. Tickets from €220.
Bilbao BBK Live
The annual rock and pop music festival, held on the slopes of Mount Cobetas, is one of the most important festivals in the country. Music lovers look forward to basking in the natural park, enjoying music in the open air. With a lineup featuring DJs like Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine, Pavement and Phoenix over three main stages, the best way to experience the festival fully is to camp onsite. Choose from camping or glamping tents, and take in the breathtaking mountain views of Bilbao. To support the lungs of Bizkaia, €3 from every ticket this year will go to the reforestation of Balmaseda, Enkarterri.
Bilbao BBK Live runs 6-8 July 2023 at Kobetamendi; Bilbao, Spain. Tickets from €190.
Love International Festival
With four stages spread over the event site, festival-goers can indulge in around-the-clock music with sets from Itchy Rich, Public Affairs DJs; and unique B2B sets from Dr Banana, Lukaswigiflex, Helena Star, and Louise Chen. Find themed parties on a boat, in Barbarella’s Discotheque’s open-air nightclub, and on a secret island that wraps up the week’s events. Plenty of accommodations are available onsite, from apartments to mobile homes and glamping tents, so you can easily recharge and party all at once.
Love International Festival runs 12-18 July 2023 at Ul. Petrića Glava 34, 22240, Tisno, Croatia. Tickets from €175.
Boom Festival
A festival for the people by the people, Boom Festival, draws free spirits from around the world to transcend with music, arts, and hands-on sustainability. This year’s theme – Radical Love – calls on compassion and solidarity to unite us in oneness. From music, dance and art installations to quiet spaces, conferences and bike circles, there’s something that speaks to every state of being. There’s even space and programs for young dragons. The camping music festival offers traditional accommodation in Tipis and Star tents, or snuggle up in an eco-friendly cardboard tent.
Boom Festival runs 20-27 July 2023 at Idanha-A-Nova Lake, Portugal. Tickets from €284.
Garbicz Festival
Step into a secluded forest in the Polish wilderness and spend your week at the Garbicz Festival, immersing in nature amidst music and dance. Bring your gear and set up base onsite, or opt for pre-installed tents at the Tent Hotel. If you’d like to drive your campervans, make sure to get a vehicle pass. This year, the festival levels up on sustainability by including buses to and from Berlin and a stainless steel water bottle in the ticket price. Festival goers will also receive €80 credits pre-loaded in their wristbands for festival feasting. Sticking to their tradition, the festival lineup will only be unveiled onsite.
Garbicz Festival runs 2-7 August 2023 at a forest near Garbicz Village in Poland, 66-235, Poland. Tickets from €480.
Houghton Festival
With 11 stages sprawled across the lavish mansion of Britain’s first Prime Minister, Houghton Festival takes over Houghton’s Hall in a four-day celebration of art and music. Hit the dance floor with live tunes from DJs like 5am, D-Bridge, Gigi Masin, and more. Then, take a choo choo train to tour Sculpture Gardens. Relish an alfresco dining experience on Houghton Lake. Need a break? Head to The Orchard for some movement, meditation, and massage. Accommodation runs the gamut from tents, yurts, luxury canvas tents, and caravans.
Houghton Festival runs 10-13 August 2023 at Houghton Hall, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 6UE, United Kingdom. Tickets from £250.
Top Image Garbicz Festival