The Ultimate Europe Festivalseason 2020 Overview

Europe Festivalseason 2020 Overview

Its nearly time again. 

The best season of the year is only three months away, the line ups are slowly filling up and tickets are fading fast! 

This year marks a new chapter on here, we will cover all major festivals all over Europe and take you on a journey into a world fairly unknown to many outside of the continent. Most of us only get a glimpse, by one or two every season, so we want to help you decide which ones fit your needs best, what festival competes best in regards of enviromental effort and sustainability and show you the beautiful word of music and art in a way you've never seen it before. 

So here it is, our little festival overview with the biggest events of the season all listed with dates, overall information and location. They are in chronological order, it starts with May and ends with August!

You`re missing your favourite festival? Hit me up and I make sure to add it!

Slam Dunk Festival 

When?

23rd of May North

24th of May South

30th of May France

Where? 

South - Hatfield, London UK

North - Leeds UK

France - Paris

Genre? 

Pop Punk, Emo and Metalcore at its best!

Tickets?

Day ticket for north/south - 75.90£

Weekend ticket for both - 128.80£

A Day To Remember - 35.75£

France - 38.50£

What makes it special? 

Are you a 2000s kid and grew up with all the pop punk icons like Sum 41, Blink 182, Fall Out Boy and Zebrahead? Then this is your place to be. The line up is packed with classics and newcomers alike from everything between pop punk and metal, promising some heavy mosh pits and emotional breakdowns along the way. Its a day festival, so each location has the same line up and there is no camping, but this year they got a special gig going on with A Day To Remember playing a solo show on the same location the following day, so 24th for north and 23rd for south. For the first time ever, they have a smaller variation of the original festival in Paris, France. 

All Points East 

When?

First weekend: 22nd - 24th of May
Second Weekend: 29th to 31st of May

Where?

Victoria Park, London

Genre?

All over! Mostly alternative, but there are bands and artists from all genres playing during the six days of the main event so it is something for everyone.

Tickets?

Different for each day, but between 40 and 65 £ for a day ticket. 

                                                             What makes it special?

Unlike other festivals, this one is held in the middle of London and is expanded over two weekends with different line ups on each day. There is no camping provided and tickets are sold per day. Everyday is different, which makes it a great opportunity for a escape of the city life at the beginning of summer!

Rock am Ring / Rock im Park



When?

5th to 7th of June

Where?

Rock am Ring - Nürburgring, Germany

Rock im Park - Zeppelinfeld Nürnberg, Germany

Genre?

Rock, Metalcore, Alternative

Tickets?

259 Euros

What makes it special?

Rock am Ring and Rock im Park are twin festivals, same line up, same weekend but one takes place in the north west of Germany, the other one in the south east. The line up is a diverse mix of all kind of rock, spiked with some more alternative and rap artists. What makes both of them extraordinary is the location, while RaR is held on the grounds of the legendary Nürburgring race track ( all motorsport will know! ), RiP is based in the middle of Nürnberg at the historical Zeppelinfeld which used to be the center of Nazi Germany during WII. Its definitely worth planning some extra days and the vibe is a very special one, if you ever wanted to learn all the German drinking games - this is your place to be!

Novarock 




When?

10th to 13th of June

Where?

Nickelsdorf, Austria near Vienna

Genre?

Rock, Metal and everything in between

Tickets?

189.90 Euros

What makes it special?

This is the weekend of all the big, heavy music festivals in Europe and Nova Rock is one of the biggest on the list! Taking place in a beautiful environment near to Vienna in eastern Austria, this one goes on for full four days while most European festivals have a three day layout so you can rock on from Wednesday to Saturday. Every year the line up shines with the very best artists in the scene and mixes it up with local talents, which makes it the perfect place to explore.

Download Festival

When?

12th to 14th of June

Where? 

Donington Park in Leicestershire, UK

Genre?

Rock, Hardrock & Metal

Tickets? 

250£ 

What makes it special?

England is known for its big and dirty festivals, and Download is the definition of it. Heavy music, probably bad weather, mosh pits and loads of fun are guaranteed! As the UKs biggest rock festival to date, it attracts visitors from all over the world and offers a mix of old school bands with metalcore newcomers, which makes it perfect for every generation. If you ever wanted to experience the English festival mentality, this is the way to go.

Greenfield Festival



When?

11th to 13th of June

Where?

Interlaken, Switzerland

Genre?

Rock & Metal

Tickets?

218 CHF

What makes it special?

Heavy music in between the alps, where tourists from all over the world come for holidays, rocking through your favourite band and sipping a beer along the way - what more could you wish for? While the Line Up is a bit smaller than its contestants, Greenfield is all about the combination of its setting with the passion heavy music. Why not combine a trip to the mountains with a visit, this festival is basically the perfect invitation to do exactly that.

Southside / Hurricane Festival



When?

19th to 21st of June

Where? 

Hurricane - Scheesel, Germany

Southside - Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany

Genre?

Pop, Alternative and a bit of everything

Tickets?

219 Euros

What makes it special?

Hurricane and Southside are twin festivals, same line up but one takes place in the very north of Germany, the other in the south. Bands and artists from all genres are playing, there is something for everyone and no matter what you feel like, you will find it somewhere on the site. What makes these two festivals so incredibly special, is the vibe that lingers around all weekend! A place to be happy, have fun and make new friends while listening to great music, there isn't much to make it any better.

Hellfest



When?

19th to 21st of June

Where?

Clisson, France

Genre?

Rock, Metal, Metalcore, Deathcore and every subgenre that falls into this category

Tickets?

Start at 199 Euros

What makes ti special?

With a big and heavy line up, this is Frances answer to Download, all the German rock festivals and Nova Rock. What makes it extra attractive? The fact that it does not clash with any other major festivals in the scene, so you get the chance to visit multiple without missing out. It has been running for over 15 years and grew to be one of the biggest on the whole continent, with over 120`000 visitors each year!

Pinkpop



When?

19th to 21st of June

Where?

Landgraaf, Netherlands

Genre?

Alternative, Pop

Tickets?

230 Euros

What makes it special?

Pinkpop is the only festival in Europe that has been held without a break for 50 years! The line up is so diverse that everyone will find something, with around 60`000 visitors each year its one of Hollands biggest commercial events. It was inspired by Woodstock at aired for the first time in 1970 right after, if you want to get a bit of a taste its worth checking this one out.

Graspop Metal Meeting



When?

18th to 21st of June

Where?

Dessel, Belgium

Genre?

Metal, Hard Rock and all subgenres

Tickets?

249 Euro

What makes it special?

Graspop started as a pop festival 25 years ago, but then switched over to Metal and now is called Graspop Metal Meeting. With a heavy line up, over 200`000 visitors each year and a strong community this is a must for every enthusiast for heavy music!

Glastonbury


When?

24th to 28th of June

Where?

Glastonbury, UK

Genre?

Pop, Alternative and all kind of music!

Tickets?

265£ 

 What makes it special?

Probably one of the most legendary festivals to date! Englands Woodstock, a celebration of art, love and music, a must for absolutely every festival goer. Glastonbury isn't only about music, even though every big name in the industry has played this festival at least once, but about celebrating life and art along the way. There are installations, parties, extraordinary food and a heavy focus on sustainability. Tickets are really hard to get, so if you're playing with the thought of going, you better register now to try your luck in the resale mid April.

Jera on Air


When?

25th to 27th of June

Where?

Ysselstein, Netherlands

Genre?

Punk, Hardcore & Metalcore

Tickets?

95 Euros

What makes it special?

A scene festival for fans of hardcore, metalcore and punk in Holland, with loads of international visitors from surrounding countries like Germany and Belgium.. Even though not the biggest, there is no need to hide with a prestine line up and very affordable price tag its definitely one to consider!

Full Force



When?

26th to 28th of June

Where?

Gräfenhainichen, Germany

Genre?

Metal, Hardcore & Punk

Tickets?

125 Euros

What makes it special?

A wide mix between heavy metal, punk and all kinds of hardcore for everyone who is into heavier music. With an exclusive first show by The Ghost Inside after their tragic accident, this slightly smaller festival doesn't have to hide from its big counterparts in the north and south of Germany and is definitely worth a visit!


Openair St.Gallen


When?

25th to 28th of June

Where?

St.Gallen, Switzerland

Genre?

Pop, Alternative, Mainstream

Tickets?

239 CHF

What makes it special?

One of the oldest swiss festivals held in a small town in east Switzerland that is known for giving newcomers a stage along side the big names in mainstream pop. The venue is all in one, which means the camping ground isn't separated and gives you the unique possibility to go back to your tent in a few minutes. Best thing? As many visit to party, the chance that you end up in a very loose, empty crowd at usually big concerts is quite high.

Roskilde Festival



When?

27th of June - 4th of July

Where?

Roskilde, Denmark

Genre?

Pop, Alternative, Rock & Electronic

Tickets?

2225DKK for 8 days

What makes it so special?

Roskilde isn't just a music festival, its a celebration of art, freedom and activism. It is majorly run by volunteers, the money they make is donated to organisations like Doctors Without Borders, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Like Glastonbury, it was inspired by the legendary Woodstock Festival in the US and has kept this spirit alive until today with a huge focus on sustainability and community building. The Line up is extremely diverse and features artists from every genre.

Rock Werchter



When?

2nd to 5th of July

Where?

Werchter, Belgium

Genre?

Rock, Pop, Alternative

Tickets?

243 Euros

What makes it so special?

Alongside Glastonbury, Roskilde and Sziget, Rock Werchter is one of Europes biggest festivals covering all genres of rock and alternative music. It even has been awarded as best festival worldwide multiple times! A huge celebration of music just 30km from Brussels and if you're arriving from the UK, the Netherlands or Israel there are coach services taking you drivetly to the festival site.

Down the Rabbit Hole



When?

3rd to 5th of July

Where?

Ewjik, Netherlands

Genre?

Electronic, Pop, Hip Hop, Rock

Tickets?

178 Euros

What makes it so special?

With a slogan like "where you are who you are, when no one can see you" this festival is exactly what you think it is - a place to escape, to express yourself and dance all day or night. A diverse line up with performances for everyone, a beautifully designed venue and loads to explore this is a place you can go and bring all your friends.

Wireless Festival 


When?

London - 3rd to 5th of July

Where?

London, UK

Genre?

Hip Hop, Electronic, Pop

Tickets?

195 Pounds weekend pass

What makes it so special?

Held in the middle of London, this is a special event for all city gals or everyone who isn't really into camping and jumping into the mud. Big names of the hip hop and rap scene are what attracts visitors into Finsbury Park, so if you're looking for a weekend of dancing or even just for a day, there a day tickets available, make sure you're in London the first weekend of July!


2000 Trees



When?

9th to 11th of July

Where?

Cheltenham, UK

Genre?

Alternative, Rock, Electro

Tickets?

156 Pounds

What makes it so special?

Voted best medium sized festival and best UK festival multiple times, this is one to watch! Not as famous as its bigger counterparts yet, but rumours are that its all you've been missing and more. Over 120 acts, comedy, activism and a huge variety of food stalls will make you wanna stay forever, held on a farm with a forest stage and so much more to explore will enchant you the whole weekend.

Gefle Metal Festival



When?

9th to 11th of July

Where?

Gävle, Sweden

Genre?

Metal, Hardrock

Tickets?

1995 Kr

What makes it so special?

Many metal bands have their origin up north, and Gefle Metal Festival unites them all together for one epic weekend of wall of deaths, mosh pits and epic parties on the campground! A wide mix of scandinavian and local bands, perfect for a summer holiday in Sweden and a little, heavy, break in between.

Deichbrand



When?

16th to 19th of July

Where?

Cuxhaven, Germany

Genre?

Rock, Alternative, Hip Hop

Tickets?

159 Euros

What makes it so special?

Set in a unique location in the very north of Germany, next to the ocean with a strong, big and diverse  line up Deichbrand has been growing from hosting 10k to now having over 50k visitors every year! Whatever you feel like, you will find it here and an absolutely amazing weekend lies in front of you here.

Melt



When?

17th to 19th of July

Where?

Gräfenhainichen, Germany

Genre?

Electronic, Indie, Pop, Hip Hop

Tickets?

140 Euros

What makes it so special?

Held on the same grounds as Full Force, this festival is all about its location. An old cole mine ground with all iron structures still around, with stages in between and thousand of people dancing, this is a very special experience. Music wise it offers a line up full of electronic acts spiked with some pop and indie.

Parookaville



When?

17th to 19th of July

Where?

Airport Weeze, Germany

Genre?

EDM

Tickets?

209 Euros

What makes it so special?

This is obviously the weekend of electronic music with festivals all over Europe and one of the biggest in Germany is Parookaville with its very well thought through concept as an own little city. They offer shows, activities and loads to do between the musical acts so you will never get bored here!

Lollapalooza Paris



When?

20th to 21st of July

Where?

Paris, France

Genre?

Pop, Alternative, Hip Hop, Electronic

Tickets?

139 Euros

What makes it special?

What started in Chicago, turned into a series of festivals all over the world and for the third year in row has its very own version in Paris. With a strong line up featuring everyone you can hear on the radio mixed with big names of different genres, this is the perfect excuse for a summer getaway to the capital of France.

Tomorrowland



When?

17th to 19th of July / 24th to 26th of July

Where?

Boom, Belgium

Genre?

EDM

Tickets?

295 Euros

What makes it so special?

Everyone has heard of it, the biggest one of the big three in Europe alongside Sziget and Glastonbury - Tomorrowland. A celebration of electronic music with over 400k visitors every year on two following weekends on a beautifully decorated venue, for many a must at least once in there lifetime. Tickets are always quite hard to get, so if you want them, make sure to get your information and details on time!

Wacken Open Air



When?

30th of July to 1st of August

Where?

Wacken, Germany

Genre?

Metal and all subgenres.

Tickets?

240 Euros

What makes it special?

A legendary metal festival in the north of Germany and one of the biggest worldwide! The village is known as "world capital of heavy metal" and turns into a gathering of black dressed metalhead every year, an absolute must for every lover of heavy music. Tickets sold out in a few hours the past few years and usually have to be bought the moment they get online.



Sziget



When?

5th to 11th of August

Where?

Budapest, Hungary
Genre?

Pop, Rock, Alternative, Hip Hop

Tickets?

5 Day Ticket -
7 Day Ticket - 299 Euros

What makes it special?

Sziget is the last one of the big three, the biggest festivals in Europe. It is held on an island in the middle of buzzing Budapest, which transforms into an island of freedom once a year and offers everything you can wish for. A heavy focus lies on political, enviromental and social empowerment with the presence of NGOs, talks and art installations all over the island. As soon as you enter this place, you arrive in another world with artists of all genres playing on dozens of stages, its definitely a once in a lifetime experience!


Open Flair



When?

5th to 9th of August

Where?

Eschewege, Germany

Genre?

Rock, Alternative

Tickets?

164 Euros incl camping
124 Euros without camping

What makes it special?

Formerly held as a local event, they decided to make it bigger in 2005 and it has been constantly growing since with some top artists of rock performing. Due to its smaller size you will get the family feeling people love about these kinds of festivals, and as its in the middle of Germany, its easy to reach from multiple locations.

Taubertal Festival



When?

7th to 9th of August

Where?

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Genre?

Rock, Hip Hop

Tickets?

143 Euros

What makes it special?

Around the same size as Open Flair with a focus on rock and hip hop both festivals have a booking agreement and so a similar line up. Special is the location which is next to a river and is a favourite along locals as well!

Acatraz Metal



When?

7th to 9th of August

Where?

Kortrjik, Belgium

Genre?

Metal, Hardrock

Tickets?

150 Euros

What makes it special?

Alcatraz is a mid sized festival with a focus on all kinds of metal and hard rock. The line up gets bigger every year and so does the festival, its one of two metal festivals in Belgium and one of many in Northern Europe. If you're looking for some heavy stuff at the end of your festival summer, why not head west and check this one out?

Boomtown



When?

12th to 16th of August

Where?

Hampshire, UK

Genre?

Everything! From Trance to Metal to Hip Hop to Pop to any kind of electronic music

Tickets?

271 Pounds

What makes it special?

Boomtown offers an extremely diverse line up with stages for every genre you can think of and the whole festival site parted in different areas. There even is a children area! Every edition has its own storyline and concept, its all about the atmosphere, the "magic" and the vibe which makes it pretty unique in the sea of festivals who mainly focus on creating a music instead of a complete experience.

Summer Breeze



When?

12th to 15th of August

Where?

Dinkelsbühl, Germany

Genre?

Metal, Hardrock

Tickets?

139 Euros

What makes it special?

Summer Breeze with over 45k visitors, is another one of Germany biggest metal festival. Held close to Germanys `most beautiful town` and in between Munich and Nürnberg, its easy accessible even for people arriving from further away. Four stages and a strong support program for newcomers, a wide audience with a kids program but also some old school rockers and the chance to camp right next to your car are making Summer Breeze definitely one to visit!

Highfield



When?

14th to 16th of August

Where?

Leipzig, Germany

Genre?

Indie, Alternative, Rock

Tickets?

159 Euros

What makes it special?

The most unique thing about Highfield is the fact that they have their own beach where you can go swimming, play games, ride a banana boat or just chill out! Every big name that calls himself indie has played here once and every year around 35k people come to the lake in the east of Germany.

Pukkelpop


When?

20th to 23rd of August

Where?

Kiewit - Hasselt, Belgium

Genre?

Rock, Electronic, Pop, Hip Hop

Tickets?

Not available yet

What makes it special?

With over 130k visitors every year Pukkelpop is one of the major festivals in Central Europe, held in Belgium and has been going on for over 30 years. It is mostly run by volunteers, which gives it that family like feeling despite its size and can shine with a strong line up covering all genres every year.

Lowlands Festival



When?

21st to 23rd of August

Where?

Biddinghuizen, Netherlands

Genre?

Alternative, Pop, Rock, Hip Hop

Tickets?

220 Euros

What makes it special?

12 stage, over 200 artists, a cinema, theatre, spa area and hundreds of food stalls Lowlands, or a  Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise, is a magical village built in the middle of the country every year. Everything you wish for on a festival is what you'll find here, great music covering all genres, activities of all kinds, relaxation and dancing in between mouthwatering food. A must!

Leeds / Reading Festival



When?

28th to 30th of August

Where?

Reading, UK

Leeds, UK

Genre?

Rock, Alternative, Indie, Hip Hop, Pop

Tickets?

232 Pounds

What makes it special?

The UKs biggest twin festival with Leeds in the north and Reading in the south has been a big name for years. Its know for its crazy parties, mud fights and is the definition of British festival culture! The Line Up is mainly focussed on rock, it started of as a Jazz festival, but gets more diverse each year with artists for everyone.

Lollapalooza Berlin



When?

5th to 6th of September

Where?

Berlin, Germany

Gerne?

Pop, Hip Hop, Alternative

Tickets?

155 Euros

What makes it special?

The German Lollapalooza edition triumphs with its location in central Berlin and goes on for two days. Like its sisters overseas it presents itself with a mainstream pop line up spiked with several newcomers. There is no camping, but due to its location its the perfect way to end the festival summer in Germanys capital with a city trip!


Now you can start planning your festival summer 2020 with all the information you need to find the perfect one ( or ten!) for you. If there are any other festivals you missed here, please leave it in the comments and we will add it:

Enjoy!