10 European Destination Festivals to Add to Your Dance Music Bucket List
There’s no shortage of exciting destination festivals for house heads and techno tourists. And nothing beats the experience of exploring a new city as you take in the sensory bliss of a far-flung festival. From established powerhouses like Awakenings and Creamfields, to underrated gems like Street Parade, let us be your guide as we tour some of Europe's remarkable rave experiences.
Creamfields | Daresbury, United Kingdom | Aug 26-29, 2021
Creamfields is notorious for being the UK’s biggest music festival of the year. Located in the beautiful countryside in Daresbury, England, the four-day campout is a marathon. For those who prefer a race two-day tickets are available. Creamfields features sets from hundreds of world-renowned DJs and incredible live acts. The lineup for this year's sold-out event is absolutely stacked this year, with over 300 performances set to take place.
DGTL Barcelona | Barcelona, Spain | September 3-4, 2021
DGTL: four letters associated with unmistakable prestige. The DGTL Music Festival is global, with editions in Tel Aviv, Santiago, São Paulo, Bengaluru and Madrid. This sustainable house and techno festival is known for its impressive, raw industrial stages, mesmerizing light effects and visual treats. DGTL Barcelona will take place the first week of September this year at the Parc del Fòrum. A park with a fabulous coastal view and close proximity to divine local eateries and delightful attractions.
Ticket preregistration is now open.
Lobster Fest | North London, United Kingdom | Saturday, September 4, 2021
London-based label, Lobster Theremin, home of DJ Kush Boogie, Route 8, DJ Seinfeld, Hidden Spheres, and SONIKKU, will make their festival debut with a 50 artist lineup at The Cause in London this September. Lobster Fest is five years in the making, so the house and techno label is pulling out all the stops. The organizers vocalized their commitment to diversity and revealed that the artist lineup will consist of roughly 50% women and non-binary artists and 50% POC & Black artists. Though not released yet, the headliners will span five stages of live music all day from noon to 10 pm.
Caprices Festival | Crans-Montana, Switzerland | September 17-19, 2021 & September 24-26, 2021
Outdoor adventurers, rejoice! This Swiss festival takes place in one of the best ski resorts in the Swiss Alps, Crans-Montana. Not only are the snowy mountain top views incredible, so is the production, line up, and gorgeous glass tents. Don’t think twice about it, come make mountain memories at this stunning party above the clouds!
Elrow Town Amsterdam | Westpoortweg, Amsterdam | September 25, 2021
Elrow Town is a quirky, colorful whirlwind of a dance party that takes place during the best time of the year to visit Amsterdam. Expect to see plenty of glitter, inflatables, and whimsical characters as you make your way around the various stages in the venue. You’ll leave with confetti in your hair, a smile on your face, and a fortified love for tech house in your heart.
AVA Festival | Boucher Roads Fields, Belfast, Northern Ireland | September 24-25, 2021
Hailed as “one of Europe’s smartest young festivals,” by Resident Advisor, AVA is Ireland’s most innovative and inspiring festival yet. The outdoor multi-stage event pushes boundaries with prodigious music productions and remarkable art exhibitions and installations. Dance under oscillating lights and reverberating beats at this unforgettable avant-garde showcase of music and art in Belfast.
Time Warp | Maimarkt, Mannheim, Germany | April 2, 2022
Boasting six floors of techno and house, Time Warp is on every techno lover’s bucket list. Since 2000, there have been 53 editions, its played host to more than 300 artists, and made over 600,000 dancers sweat it out. It continues to stand out globally due to it’s phenomenal production and incredible headliners. Expect an immersive visual and sound experience from this 19 hour, techno fan-favorite festival.
Tickets will go on sale in late 2021
Awakenings | Spaarnwoude, Netherlands | June 2022
This European festival is on its 25th anniversary year, and for good reason — Awakenings is the largest outdoor techno festival in the world. Boasting 80,000 visitors in a single weekend, it is undoubtedly the best of all techno gatherings. The festival delivers the ultimate techno experience, with a series of non-stop parties and the best headliners in techno music today.
Street Parade | Lake Zurich, Switzerland | August 13, 2022
If you love the energy of block parties and the spontaneity of bar crawls, you need to experience Street Parade in Switzerland. Since 1992, this it continues to generate enthusiasm and excitement for techno and house music. Taking place around the culturally rich Lake Zurich, brightly decorated trucks packed with booming sound systems and DJs drive slowly through and around the Lake. In addition, nine stages are planted along the route, headlined by top DJs and other live acts. Watch the city of Zurich come alive, and vibrate to the sounds of house and techno on the lakefront.
Sonus Festival | Zrce Beach, Novalja, Croatia | August 21-25, 2022
From the legendary creators behind Time Warp comes Sonus Festival—a 5-day techno beach party at Zrce Beach in Croatia. The festival is spread out over Zrce’s three world-renowned open-air clubs: Aquarius, Kalypso and Papaya. Experience booming techno sets day and night while taking in the views of the sparkling Adriatic Sea. Have yourself a perfect rave vacation in Croatia next September.
