The Hottest Music Festivals in Asia This Year

PUBLISHED January 28th, 2016 02:00 am | UPDATED June 22nd, 2020 07:55 pm

Hola, music junkies! If you’re planning holidays this year, there’s going to be a whole lot of awesome music festivals happening across Asia in 2016. Who needs Coachella, Lollapalooza, or Glastonbury when we’ve got some of the best events and biggest names right at our doorstep? From heart-thumping EDM raves, soulful indie gatherings, or just some pure groovy funk, we share with you our hit list of the hottest music festivals in Asia this year.

Singapore International Jazz Festival
4 – 6 March 2016 – Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Also known as Sing Jazz, the 3rd instalment of Singapore’s biggest jazz event will welcome a star-studded line-up of international stalwarts against the backdrop of the stunning Singapore skyline. Spanning three days, expect to everything from mainstream jazz to R&B, soul, funk, hip-hop, and even electronic music. This year sees more Singapore-based acts being showcased than ever, featuring talents such as Dru Chen, Weish, Tim De Cotta, breakout acts like Fauxe + Mediocre Haircut Crew, and crowd-favourite Charlie Lim. The latter will be performing on the first day alongside local music collective Darker Than Wax and Intriguant.

Scheduled line-up: Hiatus Kaiyote, Incognito, Joss Stone, Orquesta Buena Social Club, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, and more.

For tickets and more details, check out the SingJazz website here.

Spring Scream
2 – 4 April 2016 – Kenting National Park, Taiwan

Known for its “everyone come and play” mantra, the iconic Spring Scream hosts more underground bands and DJs than any other festival in Asia, with seven music stages and more than 200 music acts from the region performing over three days. Held in a grassy park right on the southern tip of Taiwan, audiences members can literally look out into the South China Sea as young bands from Singapore all the way to Japan (and even further) strut their stuff on stage.

Past line-ups: 88 Balaz, Skaraoke, Tizzy Bac, Li De-hui, Funky Brothers, and more.

For more details, check out the Spring Scream website here.

Neverland Manila
June 2016 (date TBC) – Manila

If you’re looking for a solid EDM party, Neverland Manila will not not disappoint. After all, the Neverland brand is known all over the world, bringing in some of the craziest names in commercial house music. Dates for Manila 2016 have not been announced but we hear it’s going to be huge so keep a look out for details!

Past line-ups: Shermanology, Ferry Corsten, Knife Party, Stadium X, Axwell & Ingrosso, and more.

For more details, check out the Neverland Manila website here. 

Ansan Valley Rock Festival
July 2016 (date TBC) – Ansan, South Korea

Previously called the Jisan Valley Rock Festival, the largest event of this music genre in Korea hosts a mixture of indie and major label acts from all over in its sprawling festival grounds—laden with grilled meat vendors, beer tents, and inflatable slides. Look forward to good ol’ hard rock from banging local talents and international headliners.

Past line-ups: Oasis, Radiohead, The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, Yoo Seung-woo and more.

For more details, check out the Ansan Valley Rock Festival website here.

Fuji Rock Festival 
22 – 24 July 2016 – Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata, Japan

The Fuji Rock Festival is one of those awesome events where the food is cheap, beer is aplenty, and the crowd is incredibly friendly. And have we mentioned all-night hot spring baths and a stunning mountain setting? Combine that with international megastars, some of the best Japanese indie bands (you know how inventive they can be), and a stay in beautiful Tokyo afterwards and we’ve got one hella trip to reminisce upon.

Past line-ups: Coldplay, The Pixies, Björk, Eminem, Scissor Sisters, and more.

For more details, check out the Fuji Rock Festival Website here.

Dreamfields Festival
August 2016 (date TBC) – Bali, Indonesia

Experience the mighty Garuda as Dreamfields Festival brings to you the biggest names in electronic dance music, together with promising local talents who will entertain you ‘dreamers’ into the starry night. Held in Bali’s picturesque GWK Cultural Park, you’ll be dancing among grand statues and huge limestone pillars in this extravagant music festival.

Past line-ups: DJ Yasmin, Jakarta Syndicate, WolfPack, Krewella, Andrew Rayel, and more.

For more details, check out the Dreamfields Bali website here.

Summer Sonic
20 – 21 August 2016 – Osaka & Chiba, Japan

How often do you get to enjoy a music festival at two vastly different locations? Summer Sonic Festival, which is held at the same time in Osaka and Chiba, is known for hosting a fantastic line-up of Japanese rock musicians from both major and indie record companies, with an impressive array of international acts as well. Summer Sonic also operates Sonicmania, an EDM focused event, during the same weekend.

Scheduled line-up: Radiohead, Fergie Weezer, Two Door Cinema Club, The 1975, Charlie Puth, and more.

For more details, check out the Summer Sonic website here.

Ultra Music Festival
10 – 11 September 2016 – Singapore

Following the record-breaking inaugural edition of Road to Ultra Singapore last year, a full-scale two-day festival has now been announced, making Singapore the latest in a long line of festivals that have grown from the Road series. Taking place across three stages—Main; Live; and Resistance, get ready for an all-encompassing outdoor event that will play host to some of the world’s best music acts in electronic music history.

Past line-ups: Skrillex, Alesso, Nicky Romero, OWSLA, RedMoon, and more.

For more details, check out the Ultra Singapore website here.

Quest Music Festival4 – 6 November 2016 – Ba Vi National Park, Vietnam

Held in the beautiful Son Tin campsite in Hanoi, Quest brings together some of Vietnam’s best artistes together with international DJs in a weekend of music, arts, and camping—think impromptu theatre, interactive art installations, fire performances, swimming dancing, pop-up cafes, and much more, all against the backdrop of the stunning country landscape.

Past line-ups: Mighty Mouse, DJ Instinct, MASARU, Pirate Copy, Duy Tuan & Slowz, and more.

For more details, check out the Quest Festival website here.

Wonderfruit FestivalDecember 2016 (date TBC) – Pattaya, Thailand

Live. Love. Wonder—that’s the motto of Wonderfruit Festival, a brilliant camping, music, and arts festival at the Pattaya Fields Country Club. With a little something for everyone, you’ll fall into a festival mood the moment you step into the camp grounds (some 15 kilometres away from the city), with the beautiful stages, thematic set-up, and plantation fields around you. More than just music, other Wonderfruit categories include Arts, Farm To Feasts, Health and Wellness, and Natural Adventures.

Past line-ups: Animal Machine, Horja Bius, Aaron James, Jacques Greene, The Sticky Rice Band, and more.

For more details, check out the Wonderfruit website here.

ZoukOutDecember 2016 (date TBC) – Philippines

Yes, you read that right. Singapore’s iconic beach party is expanding its horizons and moving abroad to sunny Philippines. Holding the title of South-East Asia’s most celebrated electronic music festival, ZoukOut (hosted by award-winning club Zouk), attracts more than 50,000 revellers each year with its A-list DJs and producers, stunning stage productions, and amazing atmosphere. Details are still scarce, but it looks like Filipino fans won’t need to head out this year to catch the action.

Past line-ups: Kaskade, Tiesto, Axwell Ingrosso, Jamie Jones, Cats On Crack, and more.

For more details, check out the ZoukOut website here.

Sunburn Festival
End-December 2016 (date TBC) – Vagator, Goa, India

Head over to the majestic Indian coastal city that is Goa and dance all day and all night in an electronic music festival that has attracted the likes of Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Hardwell, Afrojack, and Blasterjaxx. Need a break from dancing? Sunburn Festival also has bungee jumping, volleyball and zorbing stations for your pleasure. No lineup has been announced for 2016 yet, but start marking your calendar as you can be sure to expect a line-up befitting of the 10th anniversary of India’s greatest EDM party.

Past line-ups: Felix Jaeahn, David Guetta, Seth Troxler, Sidney Samson, Vini Vici, and more.

For more details, check out the Sunburn Festival website here.