Festivals. Blam! Out of nowhere. They’re back. You didn’t ask, but we made a top ten. From gigantic rap blowouts to one-dayers in a field (or warehouse, or circus tent), these are the events worth budgeting for. We’ve even chucked in Ibiza, despite it being very much not a festival. Prep yourself for sweaty crowds, sweet music, and the sound of someone saying “I blacked out to this in a Pret once.”
Boiler Room (Milan, May 9-10; Belfast, June 28; NYC, July 11-12, London, Aug 1-2)
Not content with one city takeover, the Boiler Roomers (BRoomers?) are hitting us with SEVEN Europe, UK and US one-dayers in 2025, and tickets are flying out fast.
Find out more here
C2C Festival (New York City, May 9)
C2C lands in NYC with their familiar Torinese sharp edges—part alien rave, part modern art panic attack. The visuals will haunt you, the programming’s smarter than you, and someone (possibly you) will be making ‘a piece’ with a camcorder.
Find out more here
Embassa’t 2025 (Barcelona, May 16-18)
On a slightly less manic tip, Embassa't is bringing the best pop, rock and electronic noises back to Parc Catalunya. See Hinds, Mujeres, Barry B while sitting next to a very pretty lake.
Find out more here
Madame Loyal (Paris, May 24)
A rave in a circus tent on the outskirts of Paris. How could it not work? Expect DJs, trapeze artists, and a clown car full of glitter.
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SXSW (London, June 2-7)
The Austin icon lands in East London, blending live music, film, tech and talks across the usual fistful of warehouses and pop-ups. Buzzy lineups. Clever people saying clever things. Yes, you should start a startup.
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Sónar and OFFSónar (Barcelona, June 13-17)
Still the blueprint. Days are spent in sunlit halls listening to generative AI talk to itself; nights spiral into colossal airport hangars full of strobes and Spanish kids dressed like they just fell off the Bottega Veneta runway.
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Summer Smash (Chicago, June 20-22)
It’s back. Oh my gosh, it’s so back. Don Toliver x Yeat, Future, and Young Thug head up this year’s three days of mayhem, with 120,000 fans coming through across the weekend. Whoever thought that hip-hop would take it this far?
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Kaleidoscope (London, July 12)
An actual good vibe, no asterisk. You get the skyline that makes you briefly consider moving to Crouch End, a lineup that runs from alt-pop to weirdo cabaret without breaking a sweat and everyone’s on blankets by 4pm.
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Elrow (New York City, July 19)
Like Berghain had a nervous breakdown at Burning Man. Elrow’s NYC edition is a maximalist rave with inflatable insanity and more confetti than sense. No phones, no thoughts, just pure sensory overload in a cross between Studio 54 and a Lidl.
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Newport Jazz Festival (Rhode Island, August 1-4)
Crate-digger heaven with legacy weight. Billie Holiday sang here, as did Kamasi, Esperanza, Domi & JD. You’ll leave googling woodwind instruments and looking up old Gil Scott-Heron interviews.
Find out more here
BONUS TRACK: Ibiza Opening Parties (April–May)
Don’t @ us. We know Ibiza isn’t a festival. But we’re including it anyway. Highlights this fine year include Club Chinois, Amnesia’s grand return, and LoveJuice at Ibiza Rocks. If you’re going, book now—30,000 people are expected over the first two weekends alone.
Find out more here