The Biggest and Best Music Festivals in the World

Music festivals around the world host millions of visitors each year, and people come from all over the world to see some of the biggest names in the music industry. There are hundreds of music festivals that host big name artists each year, but here are just a few of the biggest and best music festivals in the world today on various continents.

1. Coachella
Where: Indio, California, U.S.A. When: April 14-16 and April 21-23, 2017
People gather deep in the Coachella Valley on the polo grounds in the desert. Coachella always sells out its 99,000 capacity per weekend,198,000 ticket total. In 2016, Coachella brought in hundreds of artists including Guns N’ Roses, LCD Soundsystem and Calvin Harris, who were the headliners, and also featured acts like Ice Cube, Zedd, A$AP Rocky, Sia, Major Lazer and more.

2. Tomorrowland
Where: Boom, Belgium When: July 22-24, 2016
It is famous for electronic dance music, which has been sweeping the globe in the last decade getting bigger and bigger. In 2016, Tomorrowland brought in names like Fedde le Grand, Ferry Corsten, Eric Prydz, Lost Frequencies, KSHMR, Marcel Dettman, Axwell, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and more.

3. Exit
Where: Novi Sad, Serbia When: July 7-10, 2016
It has electronic, rock, metal, hip hop/rap, reggae and punk music. Exit has been organised every year since 2000 and takes place at the Petrovaradin Fortress. In 2016, Exit brought in big artists like Wiz Khalifa, Ellie Goulding, David Guetta, Bastille, Nicky Romero and many more.

4. Splendour in the Grass
Where: Byron Bay, Australia When: July 22-24, 2016
It is a world famous summer music festival that has been held annually in Australia since 2001. The festival showcases indie rock, hip hop, electronic and alternative genres. In 2016, artists like The Strokes, Flume, James Blake, Santigold, What So Not, The 1975, Leon Bridges and more took the stage.

5. Fuji Rock
Where: Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan When: July 22-24, 2016
Fuji Rock is the biggest outdoor music event in Japan and one of the largest and most recognised music festivals in Asia and the world. Fuji Rock showcases rock and electronic music and hosted artists like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, James Blake, Sigur Ros, Beck, Wilco, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals and more.

6. Rock in Rio
Where: Alternates between Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Lisbon, Portugal; Madrid, Spain; Las Vegas, Nevada
When: Las Vegas, Nevada in 2017, date TBD
The Rock in Rio music festival originated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1985 and was held there in 1991, 2001, 2011, 2013 and 2015 as well. There have been six Rock in Rio Festivals in Lisbon, Portugal, most recently in 2014, three in Madrid, most recently in 2012 and in Las Vegas in 2015 and 2017 called “Rock in Rio USA.” In 2015, Las Vegas’ Rock in Rio held Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, No Doubt, Metallica, Linkin Park, Ed Sheeran, John Legend, Big Sean, Empire of the Sun and more.

7. Mawazine
Where: Rabat, Morocco, Africa When: May 2017, date TBD
Mawazine, also known as Rhythms of the World, is a world-renowned music festival and the largest that is held on the continent of Africa. In 2016, Mawazine hosted notable artists like Chris Brown, Iggy Azalea, Wyclef Jean, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera and many more from regions all over Africa, Europe and the Middle East.