More about: Roskilde FestivalEXIT FestivalPrimavera Sound FestivalBilbao BBK LiveOya FestivalMelt FestivalMad Cool FestivalMontreux Jazz FestivalNorth Sea Jazz FestivalEuropean Festivalfestival guideopen'ermeo kalorama
The best line-ups of 2023
We've said it before and we'll say it again, Europe is home to some of the greatest festivals on Earth. Free from the shackles of the one-lineup-fits-all approach the UK seems trapped in, worlds away from the laddy bands and bucket hats, the Euro festival circuit boasts some of the most ecclectic, diverse and endlessly exciting line-ups around.
Encouraging you to book that annual leave and plan a holiday, here's our bumper European festival guide...
Primavera
Dates: 29th May - 4th June, 5-11th June, 7th-10th June
Location: Barcelona, Madrid, Porto
What even is there to say about Primavera? One of the biggest festivals on the European circuit, and now touring 3 different locations around Barcelona, Madrid and Porto - 2023 is set to be their biggest year yet. Adopting the mantra “I’ll be your mirror”, this year’s line-up is even more dedicated to a equal gender split as well as a split of genres, sounds and styles. With one of the best line-ups we’ve maybe ever seen, you can catch Pet Shop Boys, Blur, Rosalia, Kendrick Lamar, Caroline Polachek, Turnstile, La Tigre etc etc etc. The list goes on and on with no end of must-see acts.
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Melt festival
Dates: 8-11th June
Location: Ferropolis, Germany
Melt is a truly fascinating festival experience. Building their own city-like set up, they’ve totally ripped up and rewritten the festival rule book. Deeply focussed on maintaining the fun while dedicating themselves to creating a greener, more sustainable festival - the curfews are late and the vibes are high. This year’s line-up includes Beabadoobee, Slow Thai, FKA Twigs, NIA Archives, Bicep and more for a real mixed bag all coming from the alt side of things.
Roskilde Festival
Dates: 24th June - 1st July
Location: The Netherlands
Roskilde Festival might be one that slipped through your radar, so allow us to introduce! Described as 8 days of activism, Roskilde is part music festival, part art gathering with a fascinating line-up of events. This year the music side is better than ever with Kendrick Lamar, Lil Nas X, Rina Sawayama, Blur, Christine and the Queens, Japanese Breakfast, Rosalina and more all joining the line-up. As a 100% non-profit festival, you can have a good time while doing good.
Montreux Jazz Festival
Dates: 30th June - 15th July
Location: Switzerland
A truly historic staple of the European festival circuit, Montreux Jazz Festival has housed some of the most iconic names in music and art history. With past posters designed by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and David Bowie, and performances from Prince, Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Leonard Cohen and more - it’s another one that explodes any misconceptions you have about jazz. Set on the stunning Lake Geneva in Switzerland, spend your days swimming or browsing the library, and then take to the lakefront in the evening for a full free line-up alongside this year’s paid performances, with concerts from Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Christine and the Queens, Lil Nas X, Lionel Richie and more.
Open’er
Dates: 28th June – 1st July
Location: Poland
Open’er is basically your Spotify wrapped come to life. SZA, Arctic Monkeys, Lizzo, Girl In Red, Kendrick Lamar, Los Bitchos, Machine Gun Kelly, Thundercat… the list goes on of the insane number of artists heading to Poland for this huge 3-day line-up.
Bilbao BBK live
Dates: 6-8th July
Location: Bilbao
When you think of festivals, you might not think of Spain. But the country hosts some of the most exciting festivals around with big cross-genre line-ups in stunning locations. Bilbao BBK is one of them and you should definitely be paying attention. With Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine, Pavement, Phoenix and The Chemical Brothers already announced as headliners for 2023, the line-up is the best of the best across indie, rock and alt from left-field picks like Dry Cleaning and Perfume Genius to arms-in-the-air festival crowd pleasers Idles and The Lathums.
Exit Festival
Dates: 6-9 July
Location: Serbia
The definition of an international party, I bet you never thought the epicentre of your big dance summer would be in a fortress in Serbia. Boasting a big line-up of The Prodigy, Skrillex, Wu Tang Clan, Camelphat, Chase + Status and more - all the biggest names in dance, electro, hip hop and beyond will be there.
Mad Cool
Dates: 6-8th July
Location: Madrid
One of the most popular festivals on the euro circuit, Mad Cool brings your fave artists to Madrid for a big weekend. This year featuring performances from Robbie Williams, Lizzo, Bombay Bicycle Club, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Prodigy, The 1975 and more – the lineup strays down a more mainstream path for ultimate crowd pleaser status. Guaranteed to deliver on gorgeous weather, letting you tan while listening to your fave tunes – head here for arms in the air true festival energy.
North Sea Jazz Festival
Dates: 7-9th July
Location: The Hague
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt about jazz festivals, they usually have line-ups that can rival any other festival on the circuit. Taking the definition of jazz at it’s broadest, including all it’s connecting genres and contrived sister sounds, the North Sea Jazz Festival is one to have on your radar if you’re bored of dull indie rock sounds. This year’s line-up includes names like Lizzo, Little Simz, Laufey, Loyle Carner, Van Morrison, Tom Jones, Yussef Dayes and the one and only Stormzy!
Taking place in The Hague, you already know it’s going to be cool…
Oya festival
Dates: 8-12th August
Location: Oslo
Oslo comes alive every summer, hosting some of the most exciting festivals around and Oya is one of them. Especially for 2023, they’ve got a killer line-up with names you’d struggle to see elsewhere. Featuring Lorde, Boygenius, Wiz Kid, ShyGirl, Jockstrap, Viagra Boys, Amyl and The Sniffers, Pusha T and one of Blur’s very, very few comeback performances; it’s a perfect mixed back of left field rock, indie, punk, rap, RnB, dance and beyond.
Meo Kalorama
Dates: 31st August - 12th September
Location: Lisboa
May we present one of the most incredible line-ups we’ve maybe ever seen. Where else are you going to see Aphex Twin, Florence + The Machine, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Siouxsie, Amyl & The Sniffers, Foals, Ethel Cain, Metronomy and more, all in one place? Oh and where is that place, you ask, the glorious sunny backdrop of Lisbon. Off the beaten track, away from the major tourism of festivals like Primavera, this is exactly our kind of holiday.
Grab your copy of the Gigwise print magazine here.
More about: Roskilde FestivalEXIT FestivalPrimavera Sound FestivalBilbao BBK LiveOya FestivalMelt FestivalMad Cool FestivalMontreux Jazz FestivalNorth Sea Jazz FestivalEuropean Festivalfestival guideopen'ermeo kalorama
