Quick Answer
The best music festivals include Glastonbury in England, Fuji Rock in Japan, Roskilde in Denmark, Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Sziget in Budapest and Tomorrowland in Belgium. Most sell out months ahead and several require advance registration or a ballot.
Festivals are one of the few travel experiences where booking the flight first is a mistake — tickets are the constraint, and several of these sell out in minutes or run a lottery.
10 Festivals Worth Travelling For
1. Glastonbury, England
The largest greenfield festival in the world, and a genuine cultural institution. Tickets sell out within minutes and require prior registration with a photo.
2. Fuji Rock, Japan
Best months: Sep–Nov · 14–22°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)
Held at a ski resort in Naeba, famously well-organised and clean, with a mountain gondola running through the site.
3. Roskilde, Denmark
Best months: Jun–Aug · 15–20°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)
Non-profit, with all proceeds going to charity, and one of the oldest large festivals in Europe.
4. Primávera Sound, Barcelona
Best months: Jun–Aug · 22–29°C days · some rain (ERA5 climate data)
Coastal setting, late-running schedule that fits Spanish hours, and consistently one of the strongest line-ups in Europe.
5. Montreux Jazz, Switzerland
Best months: Jul–Sep · 15–24°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)
Far broader than jazz now, on the shore of Lake Geneva, with a long history of legendary recorded sets.
6. Rock in Rio, Brazil
Best months: May–Jul · 19–25°C days · some rain (ERA5 climate data)
One of the largest music events on earth, alternating between Rio and other host cities.
7. Sziget, Budapest
Best months: Aug–Oct · 13–23°C days · some rain (ERA5 climate data)
A week-long festival on a Danube island, known for its international crowd and ‘Island of Freedom’ atmosphere.
8. Coachella, California
Two identical weekends in the desert, as much a fashion and industry event as a music one. Book accommodation absurdly early.
9. Tomorrowland, Belgium
Electronic music with production values closer to theatre than a festival stage, and a global lottery for tickets.
10. Festival au Désert lineage, Mali and the Sahara
The original desert festival has moved and paused for security reasons over the years — check current status carefully before planning around any Sahel event.
Getting in, and surviving it
Tickets first, everything else after. Glastonbury requires registration with a photo before sale day and sells out in minutes; Tomorrowland runs a global lottery. Put the registration and sale dates in your calendar the year before, and have several people trying simultaneously.
Book accommodation the moment you have a ticket. Prices near festival sites multiply, and the cheap options go first. Check whether camping is included, whether you can bring your own alcohol, and what the re-entry policy is — these vary enormously and shape the whole experience.
Practically: ear protection (hearing damage is permanent and festivals are loud), a power bank, cash for vendors without card readers, sunscreen and far more water than you expect. Agree a meeting point with your group for when phones die, because they will. And check the festival’s own safety and welfare provision — the good ones publish it clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest music festival in the world?
Glastonbury is the largest greenfield festival; Rock in Rio and Donauinselfest draw larger total attendances.
How far ahead do festival tickets sell out?
Glastonbury sells out in minutes and needs prior registration. Most major festivals sell out months ahead.
Which is best for a first international festival?
Primávera Sound or Sziget — both are city-based, so you can stay in a hotel rather than camp.
