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The food for our soul and bliss for our mind, music has the power to heal and pull hearts together. Listing to music on your phone and pc is okay, but banging your head or putting your hands in the air at a music festival brings such joy that ain’t perceptible. Only a true music lover would know after all that push and pull with the heavy crowd, seeing your favorite artist perform live is incomparable. The music festivals are not just about music anymore it has so much more to offer with art, fashion, and creativity. Several music festivals happen every year all around the world serving millions of music connoisseur. Each year is bigger, better, and bolder than the previous year. So let’s take a look at the biggest music festivals in the world:
1. Glastonbury
Where: Pilton, Somerset, England
When: in June
Total Audience: 203,500 (2019)
Glastonbury is a five day festival of contemporary performing music; in addition to that, the festival also hosts dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret, etc. The most recent event was on 26th – 30th June 2019 and the next event will be from 23rd – 27th June 2021. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 event is canceled. The line up of the 2019 event included Stormzy, The Killers, and The Cure, with Miley Cyrus, Janet Jackson, Kylie Minogue, Wu-Tang Clan, The Chemical Brothers, and Fatboy Slim.
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2. Coachella
Where: Empire Polo Club (Indio, California)
When: in April
Total Audience: 198000
Coachella valley music and arts festival is an annual music festival held in the valleys of the Colorado Desert. The 2020 Coachella is not happening, obviously! After the 2019 event, it will be back again in 2021 in April. It is the biggest music and fashion exhibition in the world with people coming from different parts of the United States. The 2019 Coachella lineup headlined Childish Gambino, Tame Impala, Ariana Grande, Khalid, Zedd, Bad Bunny, Dillon Francis, CHVRCHES, Aphex Twin and Weezer, etc.
3. Primavera Sound
Where: Barcelona (since 2001), Porto (since 2012), Los Angeles (from 2021)
When: in June
Total Audience: 220000
Primavera sound music festival is a meeting point from artists and spectators from all generations since 2001. After the cancellation of the 2020 event, primavera will celebrate its first edition in Los Angeles in 2021 from 2 – 6 June, called primavera sound Los Angeles. The 2019 festival showcased a gender-balanced lineup including Miley Cyrus, Janelle Monáe, Rosalía, Solange, Nas, Interpol, Tame Impala, Suede, etc.
4. Donauinselfest
Where: Donauinsel – Vienna, Austria
When: in June
Total audience: 300000
Donauinselfest is the largest free-open air music festival held annually at Donauinsel in Vienna, Austria. First held in 1984, this music festival is Europe’s biggest festival with more than 3.3 million audiences over 3 days in 2015. According to Guinness world records, it was the largest audience attendance ever recorded at a music festival. The 2019 festival showcased a lineup including Billie Eilish, Lewis Capaldi, Taylor Swift, Stormzy, Travis Scott, Camilia Cabello, Marshmello, and Lana Del Rey.
5. Summerfest
Where: Wisconsin, US
When: late June – early July
Total Audience: 800000 – 900000
Summerfest won the title of “world’s largest music festival” in the year 1999. It happens annually at Henry Maier Festival Park adjacent to Lake Michigan. An 11 days festival with 12 stages and over 1000 performances includes local and worldwide known music talents. In its 50 years, journey Summerfest hosted some of the biggest superstars like Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Metallica, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Chesney, Aerosmith, Bruno Mars, Lady GaGa, and Dave Mathews Band.
6. Mawazine
Where: Rabat, morocco
When: end of June
Total Audience: 200000
Mawazine is one of the biggest diverse pop music festival held annually. With 7 stages and 90 acts mawazine has the highest ration of attendance per stage in the world. This festival is an act of promoting morocco as a tolerant country and rabat as a city open to the world. Nonetheless, some Moroccan politicians criticized the event as “encouraging immoral behavior”. The 2019 festival’s lineup included David Guetta, J Balvin, ROSALIA, Marshmello, Kery James, Etc.
7. Rock In Rio
Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Lisbon, Portugal; Madrid, Spain; Las Vegas, Nevada, us.
When: September 27-29, October 3-6 (2019)
Total Audience: 350000
Rock in Rio one of the largest music festivals happening annually at a different venue every year. The 2020 rock in Rio was to happen in Lisboa but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it will now take place in 2021. The 2019 festival took place in Rio de Janeiro, brazil hosting a lineup including Drake, Charlie Puth, Imagine Dragon, Muse, Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, etc.
8. Pol’and’Rock
Where: Poland
When: end of July – beginning of august
Total Audience: 400000
Pol’and’Rock or formerly known as Woodstock Poland music festival with a motto of “love, friendship, music”. It is one of the biggest free open-air music festivals in Europe happening for 25 years. The 2019 lineup’s headliner was Golol Borbello, Parkway Drive, Prophets of Rage, and Ziggy Marley.
9. Exit
Where: Petrovaradin, Novi sad, Serbia
When: July
Total Audience: 200000
The exit is a four days summer music festival with rock, techno, EDM, metal music genres. It won the best major festival awards twice at the awards of the European festival 2013 and 2017. The 2020 festival was virtually organized from 3-6 September. The 2019 lineup included the cure, Greta Van Fleet, The Chainsmokers, lllegals, Tom Walker, etc.
10. Tomorrowland
Where: boom, Antwerp, Belgium
When: end of July
Total Audience: 400000
Tomorrowland is the biggest EDM music festival that usually sells out in minutes. Held for a stretch over two weekends since 2005 in Belgium, Tomorrowland had their first-ever virtual event on 25th – 26th July 2020. The 2019 Tomorrowland music festival lineup headliners featured the Chainsmoker, Armin van Buuren, Carl Cox, Martin Garrix, DJ Snake, Solomun, and many more.
