Our 14 All-Time Favourite Winter Festivals To Check Off Your List (updated 2025)

Winter isn’t for hibernating and if you are dreaming of snowflakes, twinkling lights or dancing in your thermals. We’ve found the best festivals around the world that are tuned into the magic. From Santa Claus, Viking Raves and Ice Palaces, you’ll be ready to book your next wonderland escape. 

1. Rovaniemi Christmas Festival

Where: Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

When: December (Peak time is Christmas!)

Have you ever dreamt of visiting the North Pole? Here you can literally step into Santa's winter wonderland. Underneath the Northern lights, this enchanted festival ensures the Christmas magic of your dreams filled with twinkling lights, reindeer sleigh rides, market stalls and you can even write a letter to Santa. Keep this one for a holiday season to remember forever. 

Five days of mud and mayhem on a farm that's hosted everyone from Bowie to Beyoncé. With stages hidden in fields, art popping up in forests, and sunrise sets that feel like dreams and will have you hugging and holding hands with your besties, wishing for the moment to never end. It's the modern-day Woodstock, and it should be on everybody's bucket list. 

Festival Heaven For: Glastonbury is where nostalgia lives; it's perfect for music lovers, a modern-day Woodstock. All you'll need are muddy boots and a lot of love. 

Headliners: David Bowie, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, Neil Young, Charli XCX and a British hall of fame. 

Bet you didn't know…Glastonbury also has areas dedicated to circus acts, theatre, cabaret, healing, permaculture, activism and poetry. Even if you didn't see a single band, you would still be soul-fuelled and artistically overwhelmed. 

The Best Way to Experience: Go all out, camp in the fields, embrace the mud, and let your phone die in peace. Even better if you're on a UK Working Holiday or Au Pair gig, Glasto will be just a train ride and boot stomp away. 

2. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

Where: Indio, California, USA

When: Annually over two glitter-speckled weekends in April. 

Music Genre: A full buffet of Spotify's top playlists and artists. 

Coachella is where music, fashion, fame, and magic all come together at once. Held in Indio, California, every April, this iconic spectacle brings together the biggest names in music while enjoying the incredible backdrop of palm trees, desert, and golden skies. Whether you go to get the pic for the gram, show off your new fits or sing to your favourite artists, Coachella will be one for the history books. 

Festival Heaven For: Coachella brings the celebs and is a dream for the fashion crowd. It is a desert runway with all your favourite artists. 

Headliners: Lady Gaga, Eminem, The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar and all the biggest names in music.

Bet you didn't know… Coachella is as much a fashion festival as a music festival! It invented the 'festival look' and nowadays the biggest brands will even debut their newest collections there. 

The Best Way to Experience: Camp on-site for a full immersion, including yoga at sunrise, late-night taco trucks, and a high chance of making festival besties for life (or at least until next April). One weekend is cute. Two is a commitment.

3. Tomorrowland 

Where: Boom, Belgium

When: Over two big weekends every mid-July! 

Music Genre: All things EDM, techno, hardstyle, house. All the beats that vibrate through your body and soul. 

Held in Boom, Belgium (yes, that's the name), it's a boom fantasy land packed with fireworks, castles, lasers, and the best DJs on the planet. It is your own personal Alice in Wonderland journey with sick bass and an option to sleep covered in glitter. 

Festival Heaven For: This one is for the dancefloor devotees, the rave romantics, and anyone ready to throw their hands in the air for hours straight under laser skies.

Headliners: David Guetta, Fisher, Solomun, Swedish House Mafia, and every A-list DJ who's ever made a crowd scream with a beat drop. 

Bet you didn't know… There's a Michelin-starred restaurant hidden inside the mainstage. You can go from fist-pumping to fine-dining with world-renowned chefs, and all profits go to charity. Think of it like boujee beats for a good cause.

The Best Way to Experience: If you're living that Euro gap year or Au Pair life, Tomorrowland is a rite of passage. Camp with your rave fam, decorate your tent, and prepare for the most magical bass-fuelled days of your life.

4. Primavera Sound 

Where: Barcelona, Spain

When: Early June to kick off Summer with a high!

Music Genre: Indie, Alt-Pop, Rock and a little bit of everything in-between.

Festival Heaven For: The cool kids who still read the lyrics and the ones who cried to Lana in high school. Cult icons, buzzy newcomers, and dreamy sets that hit different when the Mediterranean is your backdrop.

Headliners: Dua Lipa, LCD Soundsystem, Lana Del Rey, and also known for showcasing your favourite artists before you know who they are yet.

Bet you didn't know… Primavera is the first festival to commit itself to a complete 50/50 gender- balanced lineup and stick to it, a huge moment for music history and equality in the arts. 

The Best Way to Experience: If you're teaching English, au pairing, or living the Euro expat life, it's the ultimate weekend escape.

5. Roskilde Festival

Where: Roskilde, Denmark

When: Held over 8 days annually, end of June to July! 

Music Genre: Rock, Pop, Electronic, Metal - a little something for everyone!

Roskilde is Europe's original do-good and dance-in-the-dirt festival. Held just outside Copenhagen, it's eight days of genre-spanning music and radical community vibes all powered by a non-profit heart. Think mosh pits and kindness, Roskilde is where you come for the music, but appreciate a bigger call to support and meaning. 

Festival Heaven For: Those who love music with a purpose, this festival features 185 acts from all over the world and is a non-profit organisation with an exceptional community atmosphere. 

Headliners: Charli XCX, FKA Twigs, Jamie XX, Nine Inch Nails and countless others pushing sound and style into the future.

Bet you didn't know… Roskilde has been running since 1971 and is completely non-profit. That means your ticket helps fund humanitarian, cultural, and environmental causes, with over USD 66 million raised so far.

The Best Way to Experience: With 50,000+ campsites, you're meant to live the Roskilde way, that is, in the dirt, in community, in music.

6. Montreux Jazz Festival 

Where: Montreux, Switzerland

When: In July, over 16 beautiful days!

Music Genre: Jazz is the heart, with threads of funk, R&B, and all the soul-loving music. 

Montreux Jazz Festival is like stepping into a vintage movie but with sax solos, soul grooves, and sunsets over Lake Geneva. Held every July in beautiful Switzerland with floating stages, surprise gigs, and vinos for sure in hand. 

Festival Heaven For: The romantics and the ones who know music are best experienced with a glass of wine and a view of the Alps. If you crave legends and landscapes, this one's for you.

Headliners: Diana Ross, Leon Bridges, Santana and lineups that feel like a real vinyl collection passed down through the generations.

Bet you didn't know… You don't need a ticket to feel the magic. Free lakeside stages, surprise sets, and impromptu jam sessions mean you could stumble upon your new favourite artist just chilling in Geneva. 

The Best Way to Experience: If you take a working Holiday in France or Spain, you won't be far away from a little escape! Book your accommodation early, as this town fills up quickly.  

7. Fuji Rock Festival 

Where: Niigata Prefecture, Japan

When: Usually the last weekend of July every year, when summertime is at its peak! 

Music Genre: A flavorful mix of rock, reggae, electronic, and house.

A festival in the forest, at the base of Mt Fuji. Need we say more? Held every July in Japan's lush Niigata Prefecture, with sets from global icons and surprise moments tucked between the trees. Let's sign you up for groovy tunes, hot noodles at midnight, and the most respectful crowd you'll ever party with.

Festival Heaven For: The wanderers and the bass-lovers who want to two-step in the forest at the base of Mt. Fuji. It's a nature escape meets world-class lineup, think of crisp mountain air, and your fave band echoing through the trees.

Headliners: The Strokes, Tame Impala, Four Tet, Foo Fighters, plus more headliners that balance nostalgia and left-field legends like only Japan can.

Bet you didn't know… Fuji Rock is known as one of the cleanest and kindest festivals in the world. They do festival culture with a lot of love and care, so you'll love the mountains as much as they will love you. 

The Best Way to Experience: Book early and camp under the stars, or find a cozy lodge nearby. If you're travelling, on a Working Holiday or teaching English in Japan, this is your dream summer pilgrimage. 

8. Sziget Festival 

Where: Budapest, Hungary

When: Over three magic days in August. 

Music Genre: Pop, rock, indie, EDM, and everything in between. If it's vibey, it's here.

For seven magical days of music, art, circus, and freedom in the middle of an island called freedom. It's the place to unleash your spirit in paradise with sunsets over the Danube and spontaneous dancefloor soulmate weddings. This one is 100% unforgettable. 

Festival Heaven For: The bohemians, art lovers, and circus-hearted souls. Sziget is more than music, it's a wild, creative, love-soaked utopia. Think fire shows, pop-up art, drag, poetry, and enticing freedom.

Headliners: Charli XCX, Nelly Furtado, Chappell Roan, Empire of the Sun, and past performers like Kendrick Lamar, before he achieved icon status. 

Bet you didn't know… Fall in love at Sziget? There's a real-life Love Chapel where you can say "I do".... Imagine glow sticks, glitter and vows. Vegas energy but in Budapest. 

The Best Way to Experience: Camp on-site for pure island magic, or stay in the city and take the boat or tram over daily. Either way, Sziget feels like another planet, where freedom isn't just a theme —it's the whole point. 

9. Lollapalooza

Where:  Chicago, Illinois, USA

When: End of July/Early August each year

Music Genre: You can expect Pop, Rock, EDM and more!

This one should include all your faves (and future faves) vibing it out in the middle of the grand city of Chicago. It's serious main character energy with all your favourite artists, crowd surfing and mosh pits. Grab your friends, get some earplugs and make some incredible memories at one of the biggest festivals in the world. 

Festival Heaven For: The playlist chameleons, you know, the ones who say "I listen to everything" and actually mean it. With 170+ acts spread across Chicago's Grant Park, Lolla is a music buffet in the heart of the city.

Headliners: Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, the Creator, Sabrina Carpenter, RÜFÜS DU SOL plus a rotating door of global icons, rising stars, and underground cult faves.

Bet you didn't know…Lollapalooza began in 1991 as a travelling music circus, created by Perry Farrell (of Jane's Addiction) as a farewell tour. It travelled across North America for years before planting roots in Chicago in 2005. 

The Best Way to Experience: It's massive, so find a place to stay downtown and book your accommodations early. If you're already in the US as an Au Pair, this one is not to be missed. 

10. Rock in Rio 

Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

When: Over two glorious weekends in late September and Early October.

Music Genre: A full spectrum mix! Pop, EDM, hip-hop, funk carioca, sertanejo, and more. 

Rock in Rio is two weekends of pure chaos, fireworks and iconic artists lighting up with every genre you can imagine from Queen to Brazilian funk. The crowd? Over 100,000 screaming legends come together - think of it like a stadium show and a carnival. History has been made many times here, and you shouldn't miss out. 

Festival Heaven For: Those who want it all in one big bite, it's genre chaos and a whole lot of heart. Rock in Rio is a mega-festival where music meets movement, and every beat feels like a celebration.

Headliners: Queen, AC/DC, Coldplay, Beyoncé, to name a few and a powerhouse of Brazilian legends that bring the local heat. This stage has produced moments that became part of music history.

Bet you didn't know…Freddie Mercury's performance at the first Rock in Rio is considered one of the greatest live moments of all time. He led 250,000 people in a sing-along of "Love of My Life", a moment that got etched into history. 

The Best Way to Experience: This festival is huge, and Rio moves quickly, so book your accommodation early and stay close to the venue if possible. If you are already here as a nomad, you'll find your way there. 

11. Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) 

Where: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

When: Three electric nights in mid-May each year

Music Genre: House, techno, trap, trance, dubstep, bass, if it drops, it's here.

EDC isn't just another music festival; it's like stepping into another dimension. You can dance until sunrise with 400,000+ other people with carnival rides and a neon wonderland. It is the world's best rave in the heart of Viva Las Vegas. 

Festival Heaven For: The high-energy souls and anyone ready to dance until the sun rises. EDC is an expression on steroids, featuring next-level production, euphoric crowds, and a DJ lineup that reads like a global who's who of dance music.

Headliners: Martin Garrix, DJ Snake, Tiësto, Alesso, and hundreds more across 16 incredible festival stages.

Bet you didn't know…EDC isn't just a festival, it's a psychedelic playground. Think: giant glowing Ferris wheel, 3D art tunnels, carnival rides, and fire-breathing structures. Every inch of the Speedway is an electric wonderland designed to blow your mind.

The Best Way to Experience: Camp EDC offers full immersion, exclusive pre-parties, wellness zones, and the best people-watching on the planet. But if you're craving actual sleep, a hotel in Vegas might give your eardrums (and sanity) a rest. Or not. This is EDC. What are you expecting?

12. Pitch Music and Arts

Where: Victoria, Australia

When: Over four dreamy days in March

Music Genre:  A lush blend of electronic, techno, house, ambient, and everything in between.

Festival Heaven For: The misfits, creatives, and bohemians. Pitch is a sensory playground in the bush filled with cutting-edge music, immersive art, wellness spaces, and an unspoken code of respect, presence, and play.

Pitch Music & Arts is like Berlin got dropped into the Aussie bush and added the lights and the best electronic lineup you've never heard of. Four days of dust, dancing, and deep chats under gum trees, it's where the cool kids, art freaks, and barefoot philosophers come to boogie. 

Headliners: Honey Dijon, Joy Orbison, 2manydjs, plus a curated lineup of next-gen electronic talent that'll have you dancing like you've just been reborn barefoot in the dust.

Bet you didn't know…Pitch Music & Arts honours how you are not just moving on the dancefloor but through the world. It is renowned for its commitment to sustainability and community values. Attendees are encouraged to take the "Pitch Pledge," promoting respect, positivity, and environmental consciousness.

The Best Way to Experience: This is a rite of passage if you're on a Working Holiday in Australia; grab your tent, your mates, and set up beneath the gum trees. 

Your list is sorted! Call your friends, create a group chat, and plan your next unforgettable adventure together. We've also got all the travel tips, ideas to add to your itinerary when you go for a wander and extra fun stuff. Just Click the Link.