Just because Glastonbury isn't happening this year, that doesn't mean you can't set up camp and spend a weekend (or even a whole week) watching some of your favourite artists perform. If anything, it's the perfect opportunity to look further afield.
The Independent's culture team has singled out some of our favourite European music festivals, whether you're seeking a sun-soaked getaway in Sicily or a forest rave in the Netherlands. So grab your passport, your sunscreen and your shades: here are the 10 best music festivals in Europe for summer 2026.
Primavera Sound Barcelona
Where: Barcelona, Spain
When: 3 – 7 June
Barcelona-based festival Primavera Sound consistently assembles some of the best line-ups in Europe, and this year is no different – Doja Cat, The Cure, and Gorillaz are among the headliners, but it's the muscular undercard that's really going to draw people in. Gen-Z rock sensation Geese are playing, with frontman Cameron Winter also performing solo; indie rockers Rilo Kiley appear for what is currently their only European festival date of the summer. In terms of indie music, I'm not sure there's a stronger ticket this year – the indomitable Big Thief are there, alongside heavy-hitters like Father John Misty and Ethel Cain.
But if you're after something more uptempo to move around to there's no shortage of choice either, from Skrillex to rowdy Irish iconoclasts Kneecap, fresh off the back of their third no-holds-barred album, Fenian. Add to that the setting – northern Spain at the cresting of summer – and you've got a truly special time on your hands. The sun is almost certain to be blazing though, so brace for that; bear in mind too that it requires something of a nocturnal mindset, with the festivities extending beyond the wee hours and into the slightly larger ones (primetime is 7pm til 7am). But that's all part of the experience. To paraphrase the FC Barcelona motto: this is més que un festival. Louis Chilton
We Love Green
Where: Paris, France
When: 5 to 7 June
Paris isn't exactly the first city you think of when you think of festivals, but We Love Green greatly benefits from its unassuming standing. Its low-profile belies a superb weekend of all-star acts and good vibes that compete with its bigger, better known siblings – without the crushing crowds and mind-numbingly long drink queues. A night-focused festival with the main stages running until 1.00am, the days are yours to do what you wish with – the museums, shopping and bouillons of Paris await. Or you can, of course, while away the hours in a plush hotel bed because (another bonus for anyone like me) We Love Green is not a camping festival. As for the music, you won't be disappointed no matter your tastes; it really is a bit of everything for everyone. For the pop girlies, the Noughties-era stylings of Addison Rae will no doubt appeal. She co-headlines with French-Congolese genre-blending artist Theodora. Elsewhere on the stacked line-up, Gorillaz are joined by indie-electro icons the xx, who make their French return after eight years, as well as British rapper Little Simz and pop-punk guitar hero Hayley Williams. The glitchy hyperpop beats of Australian DJ Ninajirachi will be a surefire pick-me-up in the dead of the night. And for revellers who like to do some good in their partying, you can pat yourself on the back knowing that We Love Green is a sustainable affair. Carnivores be warned, though, the food is strictly vegetarian. But delicious. Annabel Nugent
Rock in Rio Lisboa
Where: Lisbon, Portugal
When: 20 – 21 and 27 – 28 June
To prevent any airport mishaps, a reminder that this is Rock in Rio Lisboa, the long-running off-shoot from the Brazilian one – where mountain ranges are traded for ocean views, but the song largely remains the same. This year is led across two weekends by an enormously diverse line-up of people your grandparents adore, and people your grandparents probably have never heard of. Katy Perry caps an, um, interesting year of space travel and dating the former Canadian PM by headlining the first Saturday, alongside Taylor Swift's most underrated artist Charlie Puth. The first Sunday is led by Linkin Park and Cypress Hill (alongside Noughties iPod staples The Pretty Reckless, Kaiser Chiefs and Hoobastank), while a week later we're met by a frankly outstanding roll call of Cyndi Lauper, Shaggy and Rod Stewart (Lulu probably not included) on the Saturday. The (likely fantastical) idea of those three coming out for a mash-up is, frankly, too exciting to miss. Younger folks may gravitate towards the second Sunday, though, with 21 Savage and Central Cee leading proceedings. Hospitality packages for the fest are also available – and actually decently affordable – with many offering perks including boat trips and local tours, because what kind of monster only goes to gloriously sunny Lisbon for the music? Adam White
Roskilde
Where: Roskilde, Denmark
When: 27 June – 3 July
Pretty much every country in Europe purports to have its own “answer to Glastonbury”, but few can make the claim with as much conviction as Denmark, where the not-for-profit Roskilde Festival endures as one of the continent's biggest music events. The 2026 edition features some giant acts – Talking Heads legend David Byrne is sure to be a highlight, likewise Lily Allen, performing last year's talk-of-the-town divorce album West End Girl in full. The Cure, Gorillaz, Zara Larsson and Addison Rae are also among the big names set to play, as well as a host of hotly tipped up-and-comers. A few to watch out for: Digicore artist Jane Remover, fresh off the back of a buzzy, moshy Coachella set; distinctive Canadian folk musician Cat Clyde; and Esdeekid, the masked British rapper who last year was at the centre of a bizarre (and disproven) conspiracy theory proposing that he was in fact an alter-ego of Timothée Chalamet. As well as the music, Roskilde is also renowned for its progressive, inclusive vibe; it's a festival with an ethos, something that's pretty impressive given its huge scale. (More than 130,000 people will be there, temporarily making the festival Denmark's fourth-largest “city”.) The end-of-June weather may be the biggest question mark – but if you're British, you'll surely be used to that. LC
Mad Cool
Where: Madrid, Spain
When: 8 – 11 July
You only need to glance at Mad Cool's impressive lineup to recognise that there's something for everyone, here. Indeed, last year The Independent's Lydia Spencer-Elliott noted how it operates as a “cross-generational” festival, where you can see the latest viral sensation from TikTok play the same stage as a rock'n'roll veteran. This year, that includes Irish pop sensation CMAT, rock band Villanelle and Swedish star Zara Larsson, along with Florence and the Machine, Wolf Alice, Lorde, Nick Cave, Foo Fighters, David Byrne and Kings of Leon. Phew! This also happens to be one of Europe's most welcoming festivals. In spite of the frequently scorching weather, Mad Cool's crowd is, as the name suggests, delightfully chill – especially when blowing off some steam in one of the air-conditioned dance tents. Roisin O'Connor
Montreux Jazz Festival
Where: Montreux, Switzerland
When: 3 – 18 July
The crème de la crème of festivals, Montreux Jazz puts on a spectacular and diverse lineup for two weeks every summer that pays tribute to its jazz roots, while always keeping its finger on the pulse of contemporary music. As it's evolved over the years, it has maintained its identity as something of a musicians' playground, where a headline act could easily be spotted jamming on a small stage in the early hours of the morning, or in the audience cheering on a fellow artist. For music fans, too, it's a hedonistic escape with music at every turn. And if you need to cool off? Just plunge into the crystal-clear waters of Lake Geneva, surrounded by a spectacular mountain backdrop. Highlights this year include a third consecutive performance from RAYE, now curating her own stage, plus unmissable sets from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Roots, Tyla, Zara Larsson, Lewis Capaldi and rock legends Deep Purple, who wrote their most iconic song, “Smoke on the Water”, about the fire at Montreux Casino in 1971. If that wasn't enough, Montreux Jazz Festival also champions new and emerging talent with its free stages, so you're bound to return home with a few new favourites on your playlist. The Independent is once again partnered as the exclusive global news partner of MJF, so we'll see you on those beautiful shores in a few months. ROC
Dekmantel
Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands
When: 29 July – 2 August
One of Europe's premier dance festivals is the annual EDM extravaganze Dekmantel, thrown south of the city in the forest-covered parks of Amsterdamse Bos. Fans flock to see more than 200 artists play ingenious stage set-ups, dealing in everything from deep house and disco to EDM and hard techno. This year you'll get to see collaborations between Carl Craig, Saul Williams and Actress, the all-female DJ supergroup Sass, American DJ Jeff Mills debuting his new show Stargate, and Berlin-based modular synthesist Sibel Koçer, aka JakoJako. If you get bored of the music (unlikely), organisers have come up with a few extra ways to keep you entertained, from football tournaments to organ recitals. ROC
Ypsigrock
Where: Castelbuono, Sicily
When: 6 – 9 August
If fighting to get within 100 metres of the main stage sounds like your idea of hell, turn your attention to those smaller, more boutique festivals for something a little less stressful. Sure, you might not see as many of the big names, but you will get to see some fantastic artists up close and personal. The bonus? This one's located in a stunning little Sicilian town about an hour's drive from the bustling city of Palermo – and the main stage happens to be the courtyard of a medieval castle. The organisers at Ypsigrock take pride in the fact that they never book the same artist twice, meaning there will always be something to surprise and delight on the lineup – from thrilling new rock bands to soulful singers and adventurous electronic acts. Sicilians tend to start their evenings pretty late (compared to us Brits, anyway), so you can spend the day at the beach, hiking in the hills or soaking up the sun with some gelato in the town piazza. Then it'll be time for a siesta and a delicious meal in one of the town's many excellent restaurants, before a night of music begins. ROC
Øya Festival
Where: Tøyenparken, Oslo, Norway
When: 12 – 15 August 2026
Come to Øya for the breezy muso crowd, the organic food stalls and one of the lowest carbon footprints of any festival on earth. Stay for Nick Cave's feral grandeur, The Cure's goth monuments and Amyl & the Sniffers' snarling Australian punk. Found in Tøyenparken, a verdant park in the heart of Oslo, the festival is now in its 28th year and consistently delivers. You'll also struggle to find a cleaner festival. Elsewhere on the lineup this year, you can revel in Blood Orange's kaleidoscopic art-R&B, Geese's wired New York art-rock, Underworld's veteran electronic grandeur and CMAT's glorious country-pop chaos. Patrick Smith
Way Out West
Where: Gothenburg, Sweden
When: 13 – 15 August
Those looking to cut shapes in the land of IKEA and alt-pop legend Robyn should look no further than Way Out West – the multi-genre music festival found in Sweden's central Gothenburg. Perfect for city dwellers whose camping days are behind them, the three-day event will see Gorillaz, Lorde, Moby, Lily Allen, Zara Larsson and The Cure storm its five stages, while emerging stars Geese, Sombr, Alessi Rose and Fcuckers join the wide-ranging line-up. While the main Slottskogen area of the festival ends at 11pm, the night doesn't end there – with Honey Dijon and other late acts performing at various nightclubs into the early hours as part of the festival's Stay Out Late scheme. Lauren Morris
