Sure, you can’t be a classic British festival moment but they can get a bit tiring when the weather forecasts three long days of blustery showers and little else. Swap it all this summer and catch your favourite artists at one of these European festivals instead. 

As festival line-ups start to trickle in, we thought it was about time we turned our attention to festival planning. If you’re on the hunt for a summer festival experience abroad, read our edit of the best European festivals to book this year.

1. Primavera Sound

If you’ve always had your eyes set on Primavera Sound, make this the year you take the leap and buy yourself a ticket to the legendary Spanish-Portuguese festival. 

Famed for its Barcelona iteration, the festival actually has another location in Porto, Portugal as well. 2026’s line-up is looking mega, featuring names such as Addison Rae, The Cure, Doja Cat, Gorillaz and many more.

Sun, sea and singing, what more could you possibly want from a European festival?

when & where: 03.06.2026 – 07.06.2026 – Barcelona, Spain
11.06.2026 – 14.06.2026 – porto, portugal
website: www.primaverasound.com

2. Bilbao BBK Live

Swap rainy Reading for Kobetamendi this summer and book in for Bilbao BBK Live 2026. Set against a backdrop of idyllic mountains, this natural park makes for the perfect festival location. Keeping the environment safe is a huge priority for the festival organisers, with €3 from every ticket sold donated to the reforestation of the area in Balmaseda. 

This year’s line-up is packed with huge artists including Lily Allen, Robbie Williams and Alabama Shakes.

There are plenty of accommodation options too, from camping to glamping and hotels for those who don’t fancy pitching up in a tent for the weekend.

when: 09.07.2026 – 11.09.2026
where: Bilbao, Spain 
websitE: www.bilbaobbklive.com

3. Dimensions

A festival with a view, Dimensions takes place in two locations but the crowd-favourite is always the Garden Resort in Tisno, home to crystal clear waters and sun loungers on the sandy shoreline in Croatia. 

The festival attracts electronic music fans, hailing artists from across the globe to this sandy paradise. This year’s line-up has been announced, featuring Sonja Moonear, Helena Hauff, Zip, DJ Storm, and Ricardo Villalobos.

Expect boat parties to be packed with hit international musicians, as well as afterparties at the festival’s other location, Barbarellas Discotheque.

when: 27.08.2026 – 31.08.2026
where: Tisno, Croatia 
website: www.dimensionsfestival.com

4. UNUM Festival

Set on the golden banks of Rana e Hedhun in Albania, UNUM Festival is the ultimate beach party guaranteed to kickstart your summer of sound in style. Famed for bringing the best of house and techno to the ocean, the main stage for the festival keeps in line with the oceanic theme and is a replicant of an old-school pirate ship. 

For six nights, you’ll be able to listen to over 70 international musicians and live DJs pumping out the tunes across three stages. 

when: 04.06.2026 – 08.06.2026
Where: Shëngjin, Albania 
website: www.unumfestival.com

5. Rosendal Garden Party

David Byrne, Sienna Spiro and Slowdive have all been announced as the headline acts for this year’s Rosendal Garden Party. The festival takes place in Stockholm, Sweden and provides three days of non-stop entertainment, tasty Swedish food and arts and activities for all to get involved in. 

Every year, the festival organisers invite artists from across Sweden and beyond to create inspiring and unique pieces of work to float around the festival. Every corner is lined with something original, almost like you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole to Wonderland. 

when: 12.06.2026 – 14.06.2026
Where: Stockholm, Sweden 
website: www.rosendal.com

6. NOS Alive

This European festival is well on its way to selling out but the line-up is too mega not to include. Catch a flight to Lisbon this July to catch the likes of Florence and the Machine, Foo Fighters, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and more performing their hits to the masses. 

This Portuguese festival quickly earned its place on the summer events calendar providing a space for leading and rising names to come together to perform, and this will be its 16th edition. It’s handily located just eight minutes from Downtown Lisbon and 15 minutes from the beaches.

when: 09.06.2026 – 11.06.2026
where: Lisbon, Portugal 
website: www.nosalive.com

7. Tomorrowland

Belgium’s Tomorrowland festival is renowned worldwide for its over-the-top stage designs and has firmly established its place at the top of the house and techno music scene, with over 600,000 guests flocking here every year. 

The line-up hasn’t even been announced yet, and it’s already sold out, but you can sign up to the waitlist, where you might be able to nab a place for this summer’s hottest ticket.

WHEN: 17.07.2026 – 19.07.2026 / 24.07.2026
Where: boom, Belgium 
website: www.tomorrowland.com

8. SZIGET

From wild boat parties across Budapest to theatre performances, SZIGET has it all. There is always something interesting to discover in every area of the arena, whether you’re looking to be wowed by circus acts or want to be up close to the headliners.

The first lot of acts headlining SZIGET 2024 have dropped. Expect six days singing along to the likes of Biffy Clyro, Dijon, Loyle Carner, Nia Archives and more.

WHEN: 11.08.2026 – 15.08.2026
Where: Budapest, Hungary 
WEBSITE: www.szigetfestival.com

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Culture, Music & Theatre

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