Editor’s Note: This article will be updated as new lineups are announced.
We may only be in the middle of March, but the busy festival season is already well underway. Tempe’s Innings Festival got the ball rolling in late February with a stellar lineup that included Beck, The Black Keys, and Gary Clark Jr. And Lauryn Hill, Toni Braxton, and recent GRAMMY winner Doechii are just a few of the names who graced the 18th annual Jazz in the Gardens at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium last weekend.
Famed for launching the careers of John Mayer, James Blunt and The Polyphonic Spree, the exhaustive array of conferences, workshops and showcases known as SXSW just concluded in Austin, Texas. And the neighboring Sips and Sounds Music Festival and San Antonio’s Sunset: The Festival at the Epsee have been and gone, too.
Of course, as the days get longer, brighter and warmer, the festival circuit really kicks into gear. Although Pitchfork Music Festival, Faster Horses Festival and GoldenSky Country Music Fest are taking a break in 2025, there are still far too many musical celebrations to mention taking place across America and beyond over the next nine months.
From hip-hop parties to heavy metal feasts, here’s a look at 33 of the best and biggest festivals happening in 2025.
Rolling Loud
Having just celebrated its 10th year in birthplace Miami, the ever-expanding Rolling Loud will once again hit Inglewood’s Hollywood Park for another star-studded bash of beats and rhymes. A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, YG, and Ken Carson will all showcase their lyrical flow at the two-day event. But perhaps the most intriguing name on the bill is Mexico’s Peso Pluma, the corridos tumbados scene’s leading figure and the first non-hip-hop artist ever to headline any iteration of the fest.
Rolling Loud is also expected to return to Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium later this year. And following last year’s debut in Austria and second visit to Thailand, Rolling Loud will no doubt continue making noise internationally, too.
Ultra Music Festival
Miami, Florida (Mar. 28-30)
Ultra Music Festival’s organizers will be hoping that this year’s celebration of all things dance will run smoother than last year’s. The 2024 event had to suspend all its late-night Saturday shows after a torrential downpour that nearly ruined superstar DJ Tiësto‘s set. The potentially adverse weather conditions hasn’t deterred the cream of the EDM world from descending upon downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park, though, with everyone from Afrojack to Zed’s Dead taking to the decks for the event’s 25th anniversary.
Breakaway Music Festival
Various cities (April 4/5-Oct. 24/25)
Ultra may be dance music’s largest festival, but Breakaway boasts the title of the largest national touring festival. Stopping through 12 cities from April to October, each two-day lineup features a varying array of electronic music stars, including Afrojack, Illenium, John Summit, Marshmello, REZZ, Sofi Tukker, Two Friends, and Zedd.
Tortuga
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Apr. 4-6)
Hailed as the Festival of the Year by the Academy of Country Music, Tortuga will return to Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Beach Park for its 12th annual celebration of country, rock and roots — and raising both awareness and support for ocean conservation.
Jelly Roll, Luke Combs and Keith Urban are confirmed to headline the event, which annually features some fun throwback acts, too; this year’s dash of nostalgia will come courtesy of Ludacris, Gavin DeGraw and Ezra Ray Hart, the supergroup of Better Than Ezra’s Kevin Griffin, Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath and Tonic‘s Emerson Hart. But those looking for the new big thing should head for a mainstay of the event since 2019, the Next From Nashville stage, which proudly showcases the best rising talent from the titular city.
Dreamville
Raleigh, North Carolina (Apr. 5-6)
“What a ride it’s been,” Dreamville co-founder J. Cole recently remarked amid the news that this year’s festival would be its last. That’s a fair assessment considering Hurricane Florence canceled its planned 2018 debut and then COVID-19 shuttered its 2020 sophomore year, before the 2022 feast of hip-hop and R&B became one of North Carolina’s most attended musical events ever. And for its final year, Dreamville will certainly go out with a bang.
Saturday will see be headlined by Lil Wayne, with an appearance from Hot Boys and a special reunion with Big Tymers; 21 Savage, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Ari Lennox, and Chief Keef are among the other day-one performers. Erykah Badu, Tems, GloRilla, and Coco Jones will help close things out on Sunday, but naturally, J. Cole will be the one to bid Dreamville farewell.
Coachella
Indio, California (Apr. 11-13/18-20)
Founded at the turn of the century, Coachella is still the hottest, and arguably most Instagram-friendly, festival on the Stateside calendar. More than 200,000 music lovers will be aiming to top up both their tans and their social media followers to the sounds of headliners Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone, and Travis Scott. Missy Elliott, Charli XCX, and Megan Thee Stallion are just a few of the impressive names also appearing further down the Empire Polo Club bill — and, of course, festgoers can anticipate some exciting surprise guests.
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
New Orleans, Louisiana (Apr. 24-May 4)
Staged across eight days at the Fair Grounds Race Course, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has expanded its remit to include everything from rock and roots to R&B. Indeed, while its inaugural 1970 event was populated by the likes of Fats Domino, Duke Ellington and Mahalia Jackson, this year’s incarnation is welcoming acts as diverse as Pearl Jam, Harry Connick Jr., and Burna Boy. The festival will also witness a live debut for unlikely supergroup Lil Wayne and The Roots alongside a special Mexican showcase featuring Santana and Lila Downs.
Stagecoach
Indio, California (Apr. 25-27)
Just a week after the Coachella crowds have packed up, Indio’s Empire Polo Club will host another musical smorgasbord, this time focusing on the worlds of country, folk and bluegrass. Luke Combs, Zach Bryan and Jelly Roll are headlining, while Brothers Osborne, Shaboozey and Ashley McBryde will also take to the stage alongside less obvious names including Backstreet Boys, T-Pain and Nelly — the latter celebrating the 25th anniversary of his GRAMMY-nominated debut, Country Grammar. The most appetizing part of the lineup, however, is undoubtedly Guy Fieri’s Smokehouse.
Sonic Temple
Columbus, Ohio (May 8-11)
A replacement for the equally head-banging Rock On The Range, Sonic Temple has fast become one of the most popular events on the metal calendar since debuting in 2019. This year’s four-day event welcomes three bona fide giants to its stages, the rejuvenated Linkin Park, nu-metal heroes Korn, and thrash pioneers Metallica, with the latter performing no-repeat sets on Friday and Sunday. Shock rocker Alice Cooper, reunited sludge metalers Acid Bath, and alt-rock favorites Incubus will also help ramp up the decibel levels at Columbus’ Historic Crew Stadium this spring.
Just Like Heaven
Pasadena, California (May 10)
If you prefer your home comforts to camping out under the stars, then there are plenty of one-day festivals which will allow you to be tucked up in bed by midnight. Just Like Heaven is undeniably one of the coolest, particularly if you’re an indie kid of the mid-’00s.
Vampire Weekend, Bloc Party, Empire of the Sun, and TV on the Radio will all bring the MySpace vibes to the Pasadena Rose Bowl. Yet the biggest draw for many will be the comeback performance from cult favorites Rilo Kiley.
Outlaw Music Festival
Various cities (May 13-Sep. 19)
Commemorating its 10th anniversary, this year’s Outlaw Music Festival is its biggest, and most would argue best, to date. Alongside co-founder Willie Nelson and his Friends, the 34-city tour is also welcoming Sheryl Crow, Wilco, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, and the one and only Bob Dylan. The whole shebang kicks off at Phoenix’s Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre on May 13 and wraps up at East Troy’s Alpine Valley Music Theatre on Sep. 19.
Sand In My Boots
Gulf Shores, Alabama (May 16-18)
Not content with just headlining festivals, country superstar Morgan Wallen is now organizing them. Yes, hot on the heels of crafting the new Field & Stream Music Fest with Eric Church, the country singer is now adding to his portfolio with Sand In My Boots.
Taking over for Hangout Festival — which is celebrating its 15th anniversary by having Wallen curate — the three-day event will welcome Brooks & Dunn, HARDY and Wallen’s recent duet partner Post Malone when it debuts on the beaches of Alabama’s Gulf Shores this May. Wallen’s lineup also taps into his hip-hop sensibilities, with Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz, Three 6 Mafia, Moneybagg Yo, BigXthaPlug, and T-Pain on the bill, too. And of course, the moustachioed man himself will close out the epic weekend with a headlining set on Sunday.
Electric Daisy Carnival
Las Vegas, Nevada (May 16-18)
Still North America’s largest dance music festival, the Electric Daisy Carnival will host more than 250 acts across three days of high-energy, glow-in-the-dark fun at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Alesso, Kaskade, Dom Dolla, Paul Oakenfold, DJ Snake, and Martin Garrix are just a handful of the superstar DJs who’ll be delivering epic drops amid more lasers than a Star Wars fight scene; the 2025 event will also debut Ubuntu, a brand-new stage showcasing the best of the Afro house scene.
Boston Calling
Boston, Massachusetts (May 23-25)
Co-curated by The National‘s Aaron Dessner, Boston Calling always boasts an impressive musical pedigree. And the 2025 event, which will introduce a new air-conditioned indoor arena and rotating stage setup, is no exception. Alongside headliners Luke Combs, Dave Matthews Band and Fall Out Boy, the three-day event is also welcoming Sheryl Crow, TLC, The Black Crowes, Public Enemy, and Cage the Elephant to Boston’s Harvard Athletic Complex.
BottleRock Napa Valley
Napa, California (May 23-25)
As you’d expect from a festival held deep in the heart of Napa Valley, BottleRock is just as appealing for wine connoisseurs as it is for music lovers. But headliners Green Day, Justin Timberlake, Noah Kahan, and Khruangbin — the latter surely the perfect act to soundtrack a late May evening with a glass of Cabernet — will no doubt help prise attendees away from the 40+ wineries also selling their wares just ahead of Memorial Day.
Sueños Music Festival
Chicago, Illinois (May 24-25)
Two months before Lollapalooza takes over Chicago’s Grant Park, some of Latin music’s biggest names and most promising rising stars will bring the heat at the fourth annual Sueños Music Festival. Shakira, Don Omar, Peso Pluma, and Grupo Frontera will headline the two-day fest, which will also feature performances from Arcángel, María Becerra, Jhayco, and several other reggaeton and Latin trap stars.
Pasadena, California (May 31-Jun.1)
Designed to champion the best in R&B, pop and hip-hop talents from within the Asian diaspora, Head in the Clouds heads back to Brookside at the Rose Bowl in the early summer. K-pop girl group 2NE1, Chinese rap outfit Higher Brothers, and Indonesian MC Rich Brian are just a few of the names scheduled to play the top of the bill, while attendees can also look forward to a DJ set from EDM favorite Porter Robinson.
Primavera Sound
Barcelona, Spain (Jun. 4-8)
Barcelona’s Primavera Sound began life as a showcase for Spanish noise bands in 2007 but has since evolved into a sun-soaked paradise for all kinds of genres. Fresh from their GRAMMYs success, Charli XCX, Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter will provide the big pop-girl energy, highlighting the festival’s attempts to achieve a 50/50 gender split in its lineups. Kneecap, Kim Deal and LCD Soundsystem will no doubt prove to be just as invigorating — a necessity considering the Parc del Forum’s schedule typically kicks off at 4 p.m. and doesn’t finish until 6 the following morning!
CMA Fest
Nashville, Tennessee (Jun. 5-8)
As its name suggests, CMA Fest will welcome country music’s biggest and brightest acts when it returns to the genre’s capital, Nashville. This year’s ticketed shows at Nissan Stadium will include performances by Kelsea Ballerini, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Shaboozey, Brooks & Dunn, and the recently reunited Rascal Flatts.
But you don’t even need to spend money to see some of the genre’s exciting new generation. Across five stages scattered around downtown Music City, you can catch free sets from Rodney Atkins, Gabby Barrett, Kashus Culpepper, Chapel Hart, Dasha, Randall King, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Reyna Roberts, Tucker Wetmore, and Angel White. And fans wanting a breather from the five daytime outdoor stages can also head to the Music City Center for Fan Fair X — named in honor of the fest’s early ’70s incarnation — for various meet-and-greets and celebrity Q&As.
World Pride Music Festival
Washington, D.C. (Jun. 6-7)
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Capital Pride, World Pride Music Festival is a haven for dance, drag and general LGBTQIA+ culture. Jennifer Lopez provides some A-list star power with a rare headline set, while the likes of Troye Sivan, Grimes and Galantis will undoubtedly keep the global party going. But for many of the 50,000 heading for the RFK Festival Grounds, the star attractions will be tabloid regulars Paris Hilton and Trisha Paytas — not to mention, a DJ set from queer icon RuPaul.
The Governors’ Ball
New York City, New York (Jun. 6-8)
Last year’s Governors’ Ball boasted a memorable set from Chappell Roan that helped continue her remarkable ascent from virtual unknown to GRAMMY-winning chart-topper. Those further down the bill at Flushing Meadows Corona Park’s 15th annual shindig, including Artemas, Yaya Bey and Isabel LaRosa, will therefore be hoping for a similar career boost. But headliners Tyler, the Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, Feid, Glass Animals, Hozier, and this year’s most acrobatic GRAMMY performer, Benson Boone, will also guarantee that the three-day event goes with a bang.
Bonnaroo
Manchester, Tennessee (Jun. 12-15)
Taking place at Tennessee’s Manchester Great Stage Park, Bonnaroo can always be relied upon to offer something outside the norm. Alongside regular slots from Queens of the Stone Age, Vampire Weekend and Avril Lavigne, the music and arts festival will see Remi Wolf host a superjam dubbed “Insanely Fire ’70s Pool Party” and psych-rock favorites King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard stage a “Roo Residency” with three different sets across three days. The four-day fest will also feature the all-new Infinity Stage, which marks the world’s largest 360° spatial audience experience.
Vans Warped Tour
Washington, D.C. (Jun.14-15), Long Beach, California (Jul. 26-27), Orlando, Florida (Nov. 15-16)
After a six-year break, the ultimate celebration of punk, pop-punk and any other genre that considers Vans as part of its uniform is returning to commemorate Warped Tour’s 30th anniversary. Avril Lavigne, All Time Low, Asking Alexandria, and dozens of other Warped veterans are confirmed to hit the road for stops at Washington, D.C.’s Festival Grounds at RFK Campus, Long Beach’s Shoreline Waterfront, and Orlando’s Camping World Stadium — and as teased on the fest’s official Instagram, there’s “more bands and surprises to come.”
Summerfest
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Jun. 19-21/ 26-28/ Jul. 3-5)
Staged across three consecutive weekends, 12 stages and 75 acres, Milwaukee’s Summerfest has continually grown in stature since its 1968 debut. In fact, it was once hailed as the largest music festival in the world. The Henry Maier Festival Park event may no longer hold this particular record, but it’s still welcoming more than 600 acts in 2025 including The Killers, Def Leppard, Lainey Wilson, The Lumineers, and James Taylor.
Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash
Bridgeview, Illinois (Jun. 20-22)
Reportedly the hip-hop world’s largest independent festival, Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash is expected to reel in another 120,000 attendees when it returns to Bridgeview’s SeatGeek Stadium this summer. Cactus Jack, Playboi Carti and Chief Keef served as headliners last year, so organizers will no doubt be pulling out all the stops to make 2025 just as impressive.
Glastonbury
Pilton, Somerset (Jun. 25-29)
As always, the Glastonbury rumor mill has been in overdrive for months, with Rihanna, Stevie Wonder, and Sam Fender all predicted to play the Pyramid Stage at the UK’s flagship music festival. But we now know that The 1975, Olivia Rodrigo, and — after much toing and froing — Neil Young will headline the iconic five-day event. Rock legend Rod Stewart is also playing the prestigious Sunday Legends slot, with the recently reformed Scissor Sisters, Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall, and big beat legend Fatboy Slim just a few of the intriguing names further down the bill.
Essence Fest
New Orleans, Louisiana (Jul. 3-6)
Still the largest African-American cultural festival in the United States, Essence Fest returns to New Orleans’ Caesar Superdrome for Fourth of July weekend. The 2025 lineup has yet to be announced, but just to prove how much it’s grown in stature since its 1995 debut, last year’s featured superstars Janet Jackson, Usher and Busta Rhymes. Of course, Essence has more to offer than just the music, with an array of speakers and workshops also on hand to empower and inspire.
Lollapalooza
The brainchild of Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, Lollapalooza started out as a traveling show before taking root at Chicago’s Grant Park. Since the early 2010s, however, it’s also spawned several international offshoots including Paris, Stockholm, and Berlin. Justin Timberlake, j-hope, Gracie Abrams, and Raye are all confirmed to play the latter when it returns to the Olympiastadion and Olympiapark this summer. Following successful 2024 legs, fans can likely expect Argentina, Chile and Brazil to fly the flag for South America in 2025, and Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Racecourse to host for a third consecutive year.
And when Lolla hits Grant Park for its biggest and longest-running iteration from July 31-Aug. 3, the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams, and TWICE will bring the girl power to the main stages, alongside fellow headliners A$AP Rocky, Tyler, the Creator, Luke Combs, Korn, and Rüfüs Du Sol. But that’s far from where the excitement ends: Dominic Fike, Bleachers, Djo, Young Miko, Amaarae, and Artemas are just a handful of the other acts that will take over Windy City.
Newport Folk Festival
Newport, Rhode Island (Jul. 25-27)
Enjoyed Timothée Chalamet‘s Oscar-nominated impersonation of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown? Well, why not visit the scene of its revolutionary denouement.
Yes, Newport Folk Festival is having a moment again as the place where the Bard went electric. And while the three-day event, staged at Fort Adams State Park in Rhode Island, can’t promise anything as groundbreaking in 2025, the likes of Waxahatchee, Jeff Tweedy and Michael Kiwanuka will at least guarantee a musical masterclass.
Hinterland
St. Charles, Iowa (Aug. 1-3)
Held at the Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles, Iowa, Hinterland first debuted in 2015 and has fast become one of the coolest festivals on the block. Just look at this year’s lineup, which features Clairo, The Marias and Royel Otis alongside headliners Kacey Musgraves, Lana Del Rey and Tyler, the Creator, for proof. Just as renowned for its sunshine as its Pitchfork-friendly acts, Hinterland has also promised a guaranteed refund should the forecasted temperatures soar beyond 90 degrees.
Hard Summer
Los Angeles, California (Aug. 2-3)
Returning to Hollywood Park for a second year, Hard Summer once again brings a stacked lineup of hard-hitting stars and promising newcomers in the EDM scene. Featuring headline sets from Dom Dolla, Feid, Gesaffelstein, and Kaytranada, the two-day fest will also host Deorro, Four Tet, Sara Landry, The Blessed Madonna, and many more across its five stages.
San Francisco, California (Aug. 8-10)
Hailed as a love letter to San Francisco, Outside Lands Festival always features a mix of buzzworthy artists, chart-toppers, and cooler-than-cool icons — and this year is no different. Along with headliners like Doechii, Doja Cat, Glass Animals, Hozier, Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals, and John Summit, the three-day fest will feature sets from Black Coffee, Rebecca Black, Blond:ish, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Neal Francis, Marina, Role Model, Thundercat, and Wallows.
Since debuting at Golden Gate Park in 2008, the three-day event has also established a strong culinary reputation thanks to areas dedicated to cheese, wine and even bubble tea.
North Coast Music Festival
Bridgeview, Illinois (Aug. 29-31)
Although the North Coast Music Festival started out as a celebration of all things hip-hop, folk and jam band, it’s since switched its focus to floorfilling beats, anthemic synths and glowstick-friendly melodies. Zedd, Galantis and Kaskade, alongside a special drum and bass set from masked mastermind Deadmau5, are the big draws for its 15th anniversary edition, once again held at Bridgeview’s SeatGeek Stadium.
Bourbon & Beyond
Kentucky, Louisville (Sep. 11-14)
Self-described as the world’s largest bourbon and music festival, Bourbon & Beyond will return to the Kentucky Expo Center’s Highland Festival Grounds this September with the likes of Noah Kahan, Jack White, The Lumineers, Benson Boone, Sturgill Simpson, and the recently reunited Alabama Shakes in tow. Jam band legends Phish will also be making their only festival appearance of 2025 at the four-day event which, as you’d expect, also prides itself on its culinary workshops and tasting sessions.
Aftershock
Sacramento, California (Oct. 2-5)
More than 160,000 metalheads are due to head to Sacramento’s Discovery Park this October for one of the loudest and hardest rock festivals in America. Last year boasted icons such as Iron Maiden, Slayer and Slipknot alongside a Stateside solo debut for Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann and Mastodon playing their seminal album Leviathan in full. Expect a similar blend of big names and exclusives when the lineup is announced.
Austin City Limits
Austin, Texas (Oct. 3-5/10-12)
Inspired by the same-named PBS series, Austin City Limits typically attracts 450,000 people to Zilker Park each year with an abundance of indie, hip-hop, folk, electro, indie, and pop. Dua Lipa, Chris Stapleton, Norah Jones, Foster the People, and Leon Bridges were just a few of the artists who graced its eight stages in 2024. So expect this year’s lineup, expected to be announced anytime soon, to be similarly star-studded.
When We Were Young
Las Vegas, Nevada (Oct. 18-19)
Since becoming a regular fixture in 2022, When We Were Young has established itself as the must-see festival for any self-respecting fan of classic emo, post-hardcore, and pop-punk. This year sees Panic! at the Disco come out of their brief retirement to perform debut A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out in full for its 20th anniversary. Weezer, blink-182, Avril Lavigne, Taking Back Sunday, and The Offspring are also among the names that will send the Las Vegas Festival Grounds crowd moshing down memory lane. A second day was just added, so those who couldn’t snag a ticket during the first day’s on-sale can still revel in the nostalgia.
