The Ultimate Festival Guide to 2025
Plan a summer of live music with our hand-picked selection of the top festivals across the UK and Europe.
Photo: The Mountain Stage by Patrick Gunning
With the sun finally showing its face for more than five minutes in the UK, festival season is just around the corner, and it’s already set to be one to remember.
The festival roster is absolutely stacked this year, whether you’re looking to party at a Portuguese beach, an Icelandic church, or just a random British field – there’s truly something for everyone in 2025.
From iconic stars like Pete Doherty and Charli XCX to fresh new talent like Chloe Slater and Getdown Services, this season’s line-up is bigger and better than ever, so check out our full guide below to find out about all the events you definitely won’t want to miss.
The Great Escape
Synonymous with new music discovery and acting as a springboard for rising artists, The Great Escape will host over 450 up-and-coming artists across 35+ walkable Brighton venues this May.
When is it? 14th – 17th May
Where is it? Various venues, Brighton
Who’s playing? The lineup includes a beach takeover and album launch with The Libertines’ Pete Doherty, as well as performances from English Teacher, Luvcat, Keo, Chloe Slater, Brògeal, and many more.
As an independent family festival, Bearded Theory’s Spring Gathering is set to see some of the best indie talent take to their Catton Park stages alongside some massive throwbacks you won’t want to miss.
When is it? 21st – 25th May
Where is it? Catton Park, Derbyshire
Who’s playing? Some of the big hitters include Iggy Pop, Sisters of Mercy and Manic Street Preachers, while acts like CMAT, Yard Act, Divorce and Nova Twins will be bringing their modern indie touch to the festival.
The self-proclaimed “festival for fans looking for something different”, Wide Awake features emerging and established artists from a variety of genres, including hip-hop, pop, indie rock and psychedelic rock.
When is it? 23rd May
Where is it? Brockwell Park, London
Who’s playing? True to their word, Wide Awake have Belfast rap trio KNEECAP at the top of their 2025 bill, alongside the likes of Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Mannequin Pussy, Getdown Services, Gurriers, jasmine.4.t and Nadine Shah.
What’s next in music? Field Day has the answer. Bringing together underground music, cutting-edge artists and diverse audiences, the London festival is a celebration of the future of music.
When is it? 24th May
Where is it? Brockwell Park, London
Who’s playing? This year’s Field Day will feature Peggy Gou, Skream & Benga, Folamour, Mall Grab, Fatima Yamaha, Jayda G, as well as a DJ set from Jungle.
We Love Green
Known for eclectic lineups that blur genres, We Love Green has not only become a celebrated name on the European festival circuit but has also established itself as a key international event thanks to its totally eco-designed and 100% vegetarian set up.
When is it? 6th – 8th June
Where is it? Bois de Vincennes, Paris
Who’s playing? The lineup includes some French festival exclusives in the form of Charli XCX and LCD Soundsystem, and also features Laylow, Tiakola, SDM, FKA Twigs, Ezra Collective and Beach House.
LIDO Festival
As if London wasn’t busy enough, LIDO festival is set to make its debut this June. As a fan-first festival, LIDO celebrates globally loved artists who take the lead on curating the event alongside emerging talent, local communities and creatives.
When is it? 6th – 7th & 13th – 15th June
Where is it? Victoria Park, London
Who’s playing? Covering every genre from electronic to post hardcore, LIDO will see headliners Massive Attack, Jamie xx, Charlie XCX and London Grammar invite the likes of Air, Sampha, The Dare and Celeste to join them on their respective festival dates.
In honour of its 30th anniversary, 2025 will see the Czech festival take place for an unprecedented five days, with an extra ‘Birthday Day’ on Sunday, June 15th. Having welcomed over 40,000 visitors with its standard four-day line-up in 2024, this year’s festival is set to be bigger and better than ever.
When is it? 11th – 15th June
Where is it? Park 360, Hradec Králové
Who’s playing? Filled to the brim with rock powerhouses, Rock For People will bring Avenged Sevenfold, Slipknot, Linkin Park, Wunderhorse, IDLES, Poppy and Sex Pistols to its stages for our annual dose of rock therapy.
Now in its 22nd year, the annual rock festival will return yet again to smash the worlds of metal, rock, and punk together with three first-time headliners, some serious throwbacks and mosh pits everywhere.
When is it? 13th – 15th June
Where is it? Donington Park, Derby
Who’s playing? Green Day, Sleep Token and Korn headline this year’s Apex Stage for the first time, with the likes of Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Palaye Royale and Bullet For My Valentine also playing across the weekend.
Outbreak Festival
For the first time, the hardcore punk and alternative music festival will open with a one-day event in London’s Victoria Park, as part of LIDO festival, before returning to its Manchester home for yet another year of great music.
When is it? 13th – 15th June
Where is it? Victoria Park, London (13th)/B.E.C Arena, Manchester (14th & 15th)
Who’s playing? English rock group Slowdive, American hardcore punk band Knocked Loose and indie rock musician Alex G lead the Outbreak line-up this year, with Glassjaw, Danny Brown, and Model/Actriz also set to take to the stage.
To celebrate its 15th birthday, the UK’s largest metropolitan music festival is hosting a mega lineup that features some of the very best in dance, electronic, pop and hip-hop music.
When is it? 14th – 15th June
Where is it? Heaton Park, Manchester
Who’s playing? Some of the artists joining Charli XCX at Parklife’s birthday lineup include rap icon 50 Cent, R&B/pop trailblazer Jorja Smith, and internet sensation Lola Young. The festival will also see Peggy Gou, Confidence Man, Rudimental, Flo and Antony Szmierek take to the stage.
Isle of Wight Festival
Originally a counterculture event that was held between 1968 and 1970, the festival was revived in 2002 and has since returned annually (apart from 2020 for obvious reasons), with 2025 marking its 25th birthday.
When is it? 19th – 22nd June
Where is it? Seaclose Park, Newport
Who’s playing? Always catering for the whole family, the lineup features Sting, Stereophonics, Justin Timberlake and James, as well as Yard Act, Pale Waves, Arthur Hill, Nieve Ella and Matilda Mann.
Created by singer-songwriter Yungblud and launched in 2024, Bludfest is back for its second year and is more than ready to break boundaries while creating a safe space for alternative music lovers.
When is it? 21st June
Where is it? National Bowl, Milton Keynes
Who’s playing? It wouldn’t be Bludfest without Yungblud, but Chase Atlantic, Blackbear, Denzel Curry, Rachel Chinouriri and Master Peace will also be playing this genre-defying festival.
BST Hyde Park
Featuring mega headliners and a diverse line-up across multiple weekends, you can expect to see both music legends and rising stars at BST Hyde Park.
When is it? 27th June – 13th July
Where is it? Hyde Park, London
Who’s playing? If pop princesses Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo don’t tickle your fancy, you can also expect some country from Zach Bryan, folk-pop from Noah Kahan and soul from Stevie Wonder.
Grown from the colourful seed of a one-night-only community concert, this blossoming five-day music event now attracts over 100,000 people to the banks of Lancashire’s stunning Ribble Estuary.
When is it? 2nd – 6th July
Where is it? Lytham Green, Lancashire
Who’s playing? Lytham Festival’s stacked lineup includes Kings of Leon, Manic Street Preachers and Jake Bugg, as well as music icons Stevie Wonder, Alanis Morissette, Justin Timberlake and Simple Minds.
Love Supreme
Need a jazz festival in your life? Love Supreme is Europe’s largest outdoor jazz festival and showcases an expansive roster of jazz, soul, funk, and more.
When is it? 4th – 6th July
Where is it? Glynde Place, East Sussex
Who’s playing? On top of Grammy-award winner Jacob Collier and the iconic Nile Rodgers and CHIC, you can also expect to see The Roots, Thee Sacred Souls and En Vogue, plus neo-soul singer and producer Maxwell’s only UK performance of the year.
As one of the most popular music events in Europe, Spain’s annual four-day festival features some of the biggest names in the industry, and 2025 is set to be no different.
When is it? 10th – 13th July
Where is it? Iberdrola Music, Madrid
Who’s playing? With Kings of Leon, Nine Inch Nails and Olivia Rodrigo topping the bill, Mad Cool will also see The Backseat Lovers, The Wombats, Royel Otis, Bloc Party and The Teskey Brothers play to their European fans.
Nos Alive
Set just outside Lisbon, Nos Alive is the perfect festival if you’re looking for a city break with golden beaches, Portuguese food and wine, and of course huge performances from massive headliners.
When is it? 10th – 12th July
Where is it? Passeio Marítimo de Algés, Oeiras
Who’s playing? Olivia Rodrigo will be taking over yet another festival stage alongside the likes of Noah Kahan, The Backseat Lovers, girl in red, FINNEAS, St Vincent, Amyl and The Sniffers and Foster The People.
TRNSMT
Filling the massive hole that the loss of T in the Park (R.I.P) left in Scotland’s live music landscape, TRNSMT has become a summer staple for music-lovers across the UK. Always bubbling with energy, the Glasgow festival brings the heat to Scotland’s live scene, so expect to see ‘taps aff’ no matter the weather.
When is it? 11th – 13th July
Where is it? Glasgow Green, Glasgow
Who’s playing? Headliners 50 Cent, Biffy Clyro and Snow Patrol will be accompanied by some of the very best rising talent including KNEECAP, The Royston Club, Good Neighbours, Lucia & The Best Boys, Nieve Ella and The Lathums. Plus, the likes of Twin Atlantic, Calum Bowie, Brooke Combe, Nina Nesbitt and Kerr Mercer will be representing the Scots on home turf.
Another classic on the festival calendar, Truck was founded in 1998 in response to feelings that mainstream festivals had become too commercial and predictable. Known for highlighting some of the best new and established artists, this four-day music celebration has shed its ‘small festival’ tag while still retaining its DIY ethos and unique community spirit.
When is it? 24th – 27th July
Where is it? Hill Farm, Oxfordshire
Who’s playing? Some of the big names include Nothing But Thieves, Kasabian, Courteeners and Blossoms, while the likes of Wunderhorse, Hard Life, Fat Dog, Sports Team, Courting and Esme Emerson will be there to prove why they’ve been some of the names on everybody’s lips.
Latitude Festival
Packed with world-class music, side-splitting comedy, and captivating performing arts, the acclaimed Latitude Festival will to take to the picturesque grounds of Henham Park this July.
When is it? 24th – 27th July
Where is it? Henham Park, Suffolk
Who’s playing? Armed with a lineup of big names from the worlds of comedy and music, this year’s Latitude festival features Sting, Fatboy Slim, Elbow, Maribou State, Clean Bandit, Leon Bridges, Kaiser Chiefs, Example, and many more.
Deer Shed Festival
Offering a main stage with a second acoustic stage in the Deer Shed itself, Deer Shed Festival is set to return for its 15th edition with a lineup for indie lovers everywhere.
When is it? 25th – 28th July
Where is it? Baldersby Park, North Yorkshire
Who’s playing? Headlined by indie ones-to-watch Wunderhorse and The Big Moon, the North Yorkshire festival lineup also features Moonchild Sanelly, Anthony Szmierek, Big Special, Divorce and Jacob Alon.
Y Not Festival
Derbyshire’s biggest party has a little something for everyone, featuring genres like rock, dance, electronic, reggae and folk. So why not go see what all the fuss is about?
When is it? 31st July – 3rd August
Where is it? Pikehall, Derbyshire
Who’s playing? Headliners include The Prodigy, Courteeners, Madness and The Wombats, with The Last Dinner Party, hard life, The Hunna, Seb Lowe and Red Rum Club also coming along for the ride.
Green Man Festival
Refusing sponsorship to provide opportunities for independent Welsh food & beverage producers, the award-winning music, arts, comedy and science festival comprises of ten unique areas within the breathtaking surroundings of the Brecon Beacons.
When is it? 14th – 17th August
Where is it? Bannau Brycheiniog, Wales
Who’s playing? Boasting a diverse indie lineup, Green Man Festival will see the likes of
Kneecap, Wet Leg, Underworld, TV On The Radio, Beth Gibbons, MJ Lenderman & The Wind, CMAT and Yard Act take to the stage.
All Points East
Run across two weekends, London’s biggest inner-city festival returns to Victoria Park this August with a lineup that jumps everywhere from bass-heavy club sets to nostalgic indie rock.
When is it? 16th – 24th August
Where is it? Victoria Park, London
Who’s playing? With Chase & Status, Barry Can’t Swim, RAYE, Tyla, Doechii, JADE, The Maccabees and Bombay Bicycle Club all hitting the stage, you can expect to see a little bit of everything at this year’s festival.
Reading & Leeds Festival
A big name on the UK festival calendar, Reading and Leeds Festival is not only a pivotal platform for shaping the careers of countless artists but also manages to deliver some pretty iconic music moments.
When is it? 21st – 24th August
Where is it? Richfield Avenue, Reading/Bramham Park, Leeds
Who’s playing? Lineup highlights include Chappell Roan, Travis Scott, Bring Me The Horizon, Hozier, Limp Bizkit, Enter Shikari, Conan Gray, Wunderhorse, Amyl and the Sniffers, and Bakar.
End of the Road Festival
Focused on spotlighting independent rock and folk music, End Of The Road perfectly balances new talent with indie royalty and so has unsurprisingly received glowing reviews in recent years.
When is it? 28th – 31st August
Where is it? Lamer Tree Gardens, Dorset
Who’s playing? Former Black Midi frontman Geordie Greep, The National frontman Matt Berninger, Man/Woman/Chainsaw and Katy J Pearson are just some of the recently announced names who will be joining previously announced headliners Father John Misty, Caribou, Self Esteem and Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory.
Glastonbury Festival
The combination of its sheer scale (with over 100 stages) and its abundance of music magic makes sure that Glastonbury is a festival like no other. It needs no introduction, really.
When is it? 25th – 29th June
Where is it? Worthy Farm, Somerset
Who’s playing? With some of the biggest artists in the world dreaming of playing here, this year’s Glastonbury festival includes The 1975, Olivia Rodrigo, Doechii, Charli XCX, Orla Gartland, Beabadoobee and Loyle Carner – not to mention Neill Young’s debut at Worthy Farm.
Rock en Seine
Attracting bigger crowds year on year, the French festival continues to keep the fire alive 21 years after its inception thanks to a superb variety of musical styles and artists from around the world.
When is it? 20th – 24th August
Where is it? Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, Paris
Who’s playing? Chappell Roan, London Grammar, Suki Waterhouse and Luvcat will kick off the festival before the likes of Queens of The Stone Age, A$AP Rocky, Wallows, Stereophonics and Aurora take to the Parisian stage.
Manchester, Edinburgh & Brighton Psych Fest
The multi-venue Manchester festival will bring its mind-bending sounds and trippy visuals to celebrate all things psychedelic alongside its sister festivals in Edinburgh and Brighton this August.
When is it? 29th August (Brighton) / 30th August (Manchester) / 31st August (Edinburgh)
Where is it? Various venues across Brighton, Manchester & Edinburgh
Who’s playing? The busy multi-city lineup includes Nadine Shah, DEADLETTER, Honeyglaze, Do Nothing, Opus Kink, Anna Erhard, Getdown Services and Goat.
Iceland Airwaves
As the world’s most northerly music showcase and industry festival, Iceland Airwaves brings together the country’s brightest emerging musical talent and forward-thinking international acts, with performances hosted everywhere from tiny record stores and art museums to stately churches, nightclubs and large-scale venues.
When is it? 6th – 8th November
Where is it? Various venues, Downtown Reykjavik
Who’s playing? The exciting lineup features Kenya Grace, Fat Dog, Anthony Szmierek, jasmine.4.t, ratbag, DEADLETTER, Ian, Elín Hall, lúpína, Sunna Margrét, Babymorocco, and more.