Biggest Music Festivals on the Planet

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For those who don't mind braving massive crowds, music festivals provide an experience like no other. Held in major cities and small towns across the world, these events pull together A-list acts, local food vendors, ample booze and even pyrotechnics to put on a show attendees never forget.

The United States plays host to some of the world's most headline-grabbing festivals, but the biggest event, welcoming 3 million revelers each year, actually takes place in Europe. (Coachella doesn't even crack the top 10!)

We've crunched the numbers to determine the biggest music festivals on Earth. Read on (and rock on) to discover if your favorite event made the list.



41. Shambhala Music Festival, Canada
Held at the massive Salmo River Ranch, Canada’s biggest electronic music event is a party like no other. This year’s four-day festival features Silk City (Diplo and Mark Ronson) in addition to a few hundred other artists.

Number of attendees: 17,000
Where: Nelson, British Columbia
When: August 9-12, 2019
Fun fact: In 2018, Shambhala commissioned ANKORS, a non-profit, to test attendees' drugs so they could know “what is in them and they are as they’re supposed to be.”



40. Green Man Festival, United Kingdom
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Despite a relatively modest capacity, Green Man is a festival that manages to combine music with a host of other features, including art, poetry, literature and film. With all-night bonfires and secret gigs, it has taken the indie music festival scene to a whole new level.
Music-wise, the 2019 festival features Four Tet, Father John Misty, Idles and Sharon Van Etten. Alas, it is already sold out.
Number of attendees: 25,000
Where: Brecon Beacons
When: August 15-18
Fun fact: The festival has grown very quickly in popularity; its first year, in 2003, it welcomed just 300 attendees.

 

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39. Let It Roll, Czech Republic
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With more than 300 DJs and producers performing across 9 stages, Let It Roll is beat heaven — and the biggest drum and bass festival in the world. The festival’sopening show is a much-loved tradition, topping itself year after year with amazing displays of light, pyrotechnics and sound design.
Number of attendees: 30,000
Where: Milovice
When: August 1-3, 2019
Fun fact: Last year, the festival added a “Beats Evolution Conference” to provide an intellectual element to the four-day event.


38. Splendour in the Grass, Australia
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The coastal town of Byron Bay is known for many things, including its temperate weather, stellar culinary scene and the fact that Chris Hemsworth has a house there. But perhaps its biggest claim to fame is its hosting of this iconic festival, which expertly mixes big-name acts with local up-and-comers.
Number of attendees: 35,000
Where: Byron Bay
Next event: July 19-21, 2019
Fun fact: The name of the event stems from the Wordsworth poem, “Ode: Imitations of Immorality,” not the 1961 film starring Natalie Wood.

 

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37. NOS Alive, Portugal
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The fact that this festival is set just outside of Lisbon is one of many things it has going for it. It also offers free shuttle service to and from concert venues, extensive camping grounds and a swimming pool, among many other perks.
Plus, the headliners are always spectacular: This year’s lineup included The Cure, The Smashing Pumpkins, Chemical Brothers, Bon Iver and Vampire Weekend.
Number of attendees: 55,000
Where: Oeiras
When: July 11-13, 2019; 2020 dates TBA
Fun fact: The festival is the first in the world to offer pregnant women safe viewing spaces, featuring comfortable seating and on-call nurses nearby.


36. Harare International Festival of the Arts, Zimbabwe
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Since launching in 1999, Harare has become the biggest arts festival in Africa, combining music, art, literature and more to celebrate the continent’s dynamic culture. Afro-pop singer Salif Keita from Mali and Zimbabwean star Hope Masike are just a couple prominent names associated with the festival.
Number of attendees: 60,000
Where: Harare
When: April 28-May 3, 2020
Fun fact: The 2019 festival was cancelled due to socio-economic issues, marking the second time the event has been canceled in its 20-year history (the first being in 2015). But 2020 looks to be a go.

 

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35. Boomtown Fair, United Kingdom
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Boomtown Fair was summarized best by “TimeOut,” when the publication pointed out that it isn’t just a music festival, “it is a whole alternate reality.” Each annual edition of the festival is dubbed a “chapter” and comes with a different theme. Last year’s was “Chapter 10 - The Machine Cannot Be Stopped.”
There is some form of escapism, however bizarre, for everyone — from secret hotels to hide-and-seek trails, the event makes it hard to distinguish reality from fantasy.
Number of attendees: 66,000
Where: Winchester
When: August 7-11, 2019
Fun fact: The 2019 event’s theme will be “Chapter 11 - A Radical City.” You’ll have to attend to find out what that means!


34. Pentaport Rock Festival, South Korea
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Pentaport Rock is one of Asia’s biggest and best festivals. The 2019 lineup has yet to be announced, but previous headliners have included Stereophonics, Dua Lipa and Scorpions.
Number of attendees: 76,000
Where: Incheon
When: August 10-12, 2019
Fun fact: The name “Pentaport” comes from the five (penta) main themes of the festival — music, passion, environment friendly, DIY and friendship.

 

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33. CMA Fest, USA
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Since its inception in 1972, when it was known as Fan Fair, CMA Fest has been considered a pillar of country music culture. In addition to hours of concerts, it touts meet-and-greet sessions with artists. This year’s lineup included everyone from Carrie Underwood to Billy Currington to Uncle Kracker. It’s no wonder“Billboard” named it “the gold standard” when it comes to country music festivals.
Number of attendees: 90,000
Where: Nashville, Tennessee
When: June 4-7, 2020
Fun fact: Each year, the festival donates half its proceeds to charity.


32. Way Out West, Sweden
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You know how, when the party’s over, you go to after-hours clubs? Well, at Way Out West, when the festival gigs for the day are over, you go to the after-hours gigs — what the festival organizers call “Stay Out West.”
So basically, you enjoy yourself by listening to music throughout the day and then, when that’s done, you do the same thing, but at a different venue. Not a bad deal, right? Especially when the lineup includes everyone from Cardi B to The Cure.
Number of attendees: 90,000
Where: Gothenburg
When: August 8-10, 2019
Fun fact: The festival is held in a sprawling 137-hectare park called Slottsskogen, which means “Castle Forest.”

 

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31. Queensland Music Festival, Australia
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A three-week festival, the Queensland Music Festival has been a biennial fixture of Australia’s cultural calendar since it started in 1999. Staged in several locations across Queensland, the festival aims to promote and introduce the community to music. To date, performers have come from a wide range of social and musical backgrounds and performed everywhere from gardens to hospitals.
The 2019 festival features Jessie Lloyd, Archie Roach, Ball Park Music, DZ Deathrays and Tia Gostelow.
Number of attendees: 100,000
Where: Brisbane, Queensland
When: July 5-28, 2019
Fun fact: At the 2019 festival, The Mount Isa Blast “theatrical spectacular” promises to be truly wild; in addition to featuring mass choirs and a full symphony, there will be motocross, livestock and, um, bobcats.


30. Fuji Rock, Japan
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This annual event held at a ski resort in the town of Yuzawa, just two hours away from Tokyo, has been going strong since 1997, when for logistical reasons it was actually held at the base of Mount Fuji (hence the festival's name).
Featuring a solid mix of both Japanese and international artists, headline acts who have performed here include Bob Dylan, Gorillaz and Bjork. The 2019 lineup includes Chemical Brothers, Jason Mraz and The Cure.
Number of attendees: 125,000
Where: Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture
When: July 26-28, 2019
Fun fact: The festival had quite the auspicious debut; in its first year, it was struck by a typhoon. Some concert-goers needed medical treatment for hypothermia, but the headlining Red Hot Chili Peppers, in true rock-god form, soldiered on through a 45-minute set as the storm raged.

 

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29. Sónar Festival, Spain
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Technically an arts, design and music festival — it is officially called The International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art — Sónar is a highbrow event that’s become synonymous with fresh electronic music in recent years. Big names at this year’s festival include A$AP Rocky and Vince Staples.
Number of attendees: 126,000
Where: Barcelona
Next event: July 18-19, 2019
Fun fact: Apart from the flagship festival in Barcelona, satellite events have popped up in Bogota, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Reykjavik and Istanbul.


28. Vive Latino, Mexico
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One of the biggest festivals celebrating Latin American and Spanish music from around the world, this genre-spanning bash showcases an eclectic mix of rock, pop, ska and reggae.
Number of attendees: 135,000
Where: Mexico City
When: March 14-15, 2020
Fun fact: In 2019, Vive Latino celebrated its 20th anniversary, cementing its status as a Latin American institution.

 

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27. Osheaga, Canada
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Just before colleges on the island of Montreal reopen their doors for the fall term, Osheaga offers a last hurrah at the tail-end of summer. Osheaga is an indie music festival that takes place annually in Parc Jean-Drapeau, and holds the distinction of being Canada’s biggest music festival. Headliners who have performed here in the past include Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, James Bay and Lorde.
The festival's popularity is soaring, so one can expect it to move further up this list in the coming years; Osheaga reached its maximum capacity of 45,000 people per day for each of its three days in 2018 and is expected to increase its limit to 65,000 people per day in the coming year.
The 2019 lineup includes Tame Impala, Childish Gambino and Chemical Brothers.
Number of attendees: 135,000
Where: Montreal, Quebec
When: August 2-5, 2019
Fun fact: In 2018, a university student filed a class-action lawsuit against the festival’s organizer because the headlining act, Travis Scott, was an hour late getting on stage. The student explained that she’d saved up money to go just so she could see Scott, and said she ended up leaving before he appeared because she assumed he’d never show up.


26. Nuit Sonores, France
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An annual music festival spread over four nights, Nuit Sonores is one of the most respected electronic music festivals in the world. This is largely due to the guest curators invited by the festival organizers to create the festival’s lineups; past participants have included Bonobo and Four Tet.
Number of attendees: 140,000
Where: Lyon
When: TBA (2019 dates were May 28-June 2)
Fun fact: Like Spain and Portugal’s Primavera Sound, found later on this list, Nuit Sonores has been pushing for gender equality with its musical acts, welcoming many women DJs to perform.

 

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25. The Governors Ball Music Festival, USA
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The Governors Ball is a multi-genre festival that draws revelers from throughout New York City and beyond. With the New York skyline as its backdrop, it’s easy to see the festival’s appeal. This year’s lineup included Florence + The Machine and Lil Wayne.
Number of attendees: 150,000
Where: Randall’s Island, New York
When: TBA (2019 dates were May 31-June 2)
Fun fact: The inaugural edition of the festival was held on Governors Island, which is where it got its name. While that island no longer hosts the bash, it still makes for an excellent off-the-beaten-path attraction, with easy ferry access and beautiful park space.


24. Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, Germany
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As sister festivals, the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park concerts often feature similar acts. So, in theory, you could go watch your favorite artist in Nürberg first and then watch them again at Nuremberg — an ideal scenario for superfans. This year’s lineup included Bastille and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Number of attendees: 150,000
Where: Nürberg and Nuremberg
Next event: TBA (2019 dates were June 7-9)
Fun fact: The festivals gained international popularity in the ‘90s, when MTV began broadcasting some of their headlining performances.

 

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23. The National Folk Festival, USA
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Dubbed a “national folk festival with local flavor,” the NC Folk Festival is essentially an annual three-day party, courtesy of the city of Greensboro. The festival has actually traveled to different cities over the decades, beginning in St. Louis in 1934.
Over 300 artists perform at this festival that aims to “present the arts of many nations, races and languages on equal footing.” Other activities for visitors include storytelling, music workshops and beer tasting.
The 2019 lineup includes contemporary Irish music band, Lúnasa.
Number of attendees: 150,000
Where: Greensboro, North Carolina
When: September 6-8, 2019
Fun fact: In 1938, Eleanor Roosevelt was instrumental in moving the festival to Washington, DC. Here, “Father of the Blues” W.C. Handy famously played his first performance on a desegregated stage.


22. South by Southwest, USA
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Though the jury is still out as to whether or not this pop-culture phenom is really a music festival, since it offers so much more (including basically being a massive film convention), South by Southwest hosts enough superb music acts every year to feel worthy of inclusion.
The festival’s film screenings and multimedia events can be considered icing on the cake.
Number of attendees: 161,000 (musical attendance only)
Where: Austin, Texas
When: March 13-22, 2020
Fun fact: The hit films “Furious 7,” “Bridesmaids,” “Cabin in the Woods” and “21 Jump Street” all premiered at the festival.

 

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21. Ultra Music Festival, USA
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Ultra Music Festival, named after a Depeche Mode album of the same name, has been a beloved electronic-music extravaganza since 1999. It's been increasing in size since it started and expanded to several international franchises over the years, from Ibiza to South Korea.
Famous figures who have performed here include Armin van Buuren, Avicii, Afrojack, David Guetta and Tiësto. The 2020 lineup has yet to be announced.
Number of attendees: 165,000
Where: South Florida
When: March 29-April 1, 2020
Fun fact: Maybe the festival is a little too fun; Miami terminated its contract to host the festival due to complaints of noise and too much partying. The festival is reportedly eyeing a move to somewhere else in South Florida come 2020.

20. Primavera Sound, Spain and Portugal
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Dubbed the “kick off to the European festival season” by “TimeOut,” the fact that this festival is hosted in two countries makes it a one-of-a-kind Euro trip music party. What’s more, this year, the festival showcased an even split in genders in its musical lineup — a spokesperson for the festival told “The Guardian,” “We need to change the ‘pale, male and stale’ paradigm.” And they did.
Acts who graced the stage included FKA Twigs, Robyn, Charli XCX, Carly Rae Jepsen and Miley Cyrus.
Number of attendees: 175,000
Where: Barcelona and Porto
When: June 4-6, 2020
Fun fact: After its 2001 debut in Poble Espanyol, a museum of architecture, the festival moved to the seafront at Parc del Forum in 2005, where it is hosted today.

 

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19. Glastonbury, United Kingdom
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Glastonbury is a five-day event that’s regarded as one of the UK’s most important cultural events. The festival is not annual on account of “fallow years,” with the break varying depending on the condition of the farmland. The upside: This helps the ground and the town recover from the sudden influx of tourists. Artists who have taken to the stage include David Bowie, the Arctic Monkeys and Adele.
This year’s lineup includes The Cure, The Killers, Stormzy, Kylie Minogue and Janet Jackson.
Number of attendees: 175,000
Where: Pilton, Somerset, Great Britain
When: June 26-30, 2019
Fun fact: Festival organizer Michael Eavis has long sought to make political activism part of the festival. In the ‘80s, the event was organized in conjunction with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; more recently, in 2017, Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn was invited to take to the stage.


18. Nova Rock, Austria
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Held annually beneath towering wind turbines, Nova Rock is one of Europe’s biggest rock festivals, a rollicking gathering of punk, metal and hard rock icons. Previous headlines have included The Cure, Slipknot and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Number of attendees: 180,000
Where: Nickelsdorf
When: June 11-13, 2020
Fun fact: Eco-conscious attendees can enjoy “green camping,” pitching a tent in a campsite that’s completely self-regulating.

 

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17. Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, USA
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Held annually in Golden Gate Park, this San Francisco institution has been a wild success since it started in 2008. Since then, it has brought in some of the biggest names in music, including The Black Eyed Peas, Pearl Jam and Kings of Leon.
More than a music jam, the festival also serves up local artwork, a lecture series, and a fabulous assortment of local food and booze.
The 2019 lineup includes Paul Simon, Childish Gambino and The Lumineers.
Number of attendees: 200,000
Where: San Francisco
When: August 9-11, 2019
Fun fact: It should come as no surprise that this Bay Area festival is uber eco-friendly; performers even rock out on solar-powered stages. For the 2019 festival, Paul Simon announced he would donate all his fees to environmental nonprofits.

16. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, USA
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Coachella started in 1999, took a brief break in 2000, and has continued delighting audiences from 2001 to today. It's not only a music and art event, but a fashion movement too, with magazines, celebrities and influencers alike paying specific attention to the looks featured here to determine what’s next in fashion.
The 2020 lineup has yet to be announced, but the 2019 lineupincluded Tame Impala, Ariana Grande and Childish Gambino.
Number of attendees: 250,000
Where: Indio, California
When: TBA, but it has previously been held the second and third weekends of April.
Fun fact: This pop-culture phenom has its roots in a feud between Pearl Jam and Ticketmaster. In an effort to cut out the middleman and protest the ticket company’s exorbitant added fees, Pearl Jam hosted a concert at the Empire Polo Club in 1993 and charged its own price. The success of the event proved that the club could serve as a viable host to large-scale music events, opening the door to Coachella’s debut a few years later.

 

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15. Festival d’été de Québec
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Music-lovers of all stripes can find something to love at this rollicking festival that, in the past, has featured artists ranging from Mariah Carey and Blink-182 to Neil Young and Lynryd Skynyrd.
Number of attendees: 325,000
Where: Quebec City
When: 2020 dates TBD (but it usually takes place in July)
Fun fact: The "Pop-Up FEQ" series stages shows with surprise guests, using social media to provide clues and stoke curiosity.


14. Exit, Serbia
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Held in an 18th-century fortress called “Peterovaradin,” Exit is a multi-genre music festival that started in 2000. The European Festival Awards regularly names it the “Best Major Festival,” and it has garnered acclaim from BBC, CNN and The New York Times. Everyone from The Cure and Lily Allen, to Ellie Goulding and M.I.A., have performed here.
Apart from headlining acts held on the mainstage in the heart of the fortress, the Dance Arena hosts electronic artists who play from dusk, through the night, until dawn. The Dance Arena can accommodate over 25,000 people, making for a truly rollicking dance party.
The 2019 lineup includes The Cure, Carl Cox and The Chainsmokers.
Number of attendees: 350,000
Where: Novi Sad, Vojvodina
When: July 4-7, 2019
Fun fact: In true rock-and-roll form, Exit was born of rebellion; it has its roots in morale-boosting concerts held by student activists protesting Serbian president Slobodan Miloševic during the Yugoslav wars.

 

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13. Untold Festival, Romania
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Since debuting just a few short years ago, in 2015, Untold has evolved into one of the most coveted music festivals on earth, featuring multi-genre artists at the top of their game. Most recently, it finalized its 2019 lineup with A-listers including Robbie Williams, Busta Rhymes and David Guetta.
Number of attendees: 355,000
Where: Cluj Napoca
When: August 1-4, 2019
Fun fact: Untold came out of the gate hot; it was awarded the “Best Major Festival” title at the European Festival Awards its debut year.

12. Tomorrowland, Belgium
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Tomorrowland is a one-of-a-kind electronic dance music (EDM) festival. Tickets for it are exceptionally hard to come by and typically sell out within minutes of going on sale.
Over the final two weekends of July, 400,000 people gather in sunny Boom, a small Belgian town with a population of less than 18,000, to enjoy the music of everyone from Armin van Buuren and The Chainsmokers to David Guetta and Tiesto.
Satellite events have taken place in countries around the world, including Lebanon, Spain, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and Malta.
The 2019 lineup includes Tiesto, Eric Prydz, Steve Aoki and The Chainsmokers.
Number of attendees: 400,000
Where: Boom, Antwerp
When: July 19-21 and 26-28, 2019
Fun fact: In 2017, at a Tomorrowland spin-off event in Spain, 22,000 people had to be evacuated due to a fire. On social media, a concert-goer explained that the stage “just exploded.” (Festival organizers were more sanguine, calling it a “technical malfunction.”) Thankfully, it didn't lead to any deaths or serious injuries.

 

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11. Lollapalooza, USA
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Launched by Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell to host his band’s farewell tour, Lollapalooza has since become one of the most well-known music events in the world.
Between its debut year in 1991 and 1997, its headlining acts included Metallica, The Prodigy and The Orb. After a six-year break, the festival returned in 2003, and eventually found a permanent home in Chicago’s Grant Park.
Today, there are several international versions, too — from Chile and Brazil to Germany and France. 2019’s headliners include Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino, Twenty One Pilots and the Strokes.
Don’t have the money to fly to Chicago and drop hundreds on tickets? Watch the event on YouTube, which will be live-streaming the show in 2019 and 2020.
Number of attendees: 400,000
Where: Chicago
When: August 1-5, 2019
Fun fact: Farrell chose the festival’s name after hearing it in a Three Stooges film. The archaic word means (aptly) “extraordinarily impressive.”


10. Electric Daisy Carnival, USA
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Shortened to “EDC,” the Electric Daisy Carnival is an electronic dance music festival that has featured genre A-listers like Armin van Buuren, Calvin Harris, Afrojack and perpetual festival performer Tiesto.
Also on tap? Interactive art installations, 3D glow-in-the-dark superstructures and rides located throughout the venue. No wonder it was named “Festival of the Year” at the Electronic Music Awards in 2017.
Today, the festival has locations in Mexico City, Tokyo, Shanghai and Orlando in addition to the flagship event in Las Vegas.
Next year’s lineup has yet to be announced, but 2019’s headliners includedDavid Guetta, Deadmau5 and A$AP Rocky.
Number of attendees: 400,000
Where: Las Vegas
When: May 15-17, 2020
Fun fact: The festival’s Charitable Giving Initiative is as impressive as its music; since 2011, more than $2 million from ticket sales has been donated to worthy causes like Rock the Vote, Boys & Girls Club and the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation.

 

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9. New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, USA
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An annual festival of music and art, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (aka Jazz Fest) is a celebration of “the indigenous music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana.” The music represents the melange of cultural influences that have shaped N’awlins; the roster includes blues, R&B, bluegrass, Cajun, zydeco, Afro-Caribbean beats and much more.
And yes, po’boys and crawfish are also found in abundance.
Number of attendees: 450,000
Where: New Orleans
When: April 23 - May 3, 2020
Fun fact: After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in August 2005, there were rumors that the April 2006 Jazz Fest would be canceled. But organizers pulled through, putting on an event that famously reunited and inspired locals during a dark time. Some 250,000 people attended that year.

 

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8. Essence Music Festival, USA
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Another festival in the cultural oyster that is New Orleans, Essence is described as "the party with a purpose." It was launched in 1994, on the 25th anniversary of “Essence,” a magazine for African-American women, and went on to become an annual affair.
Today, it is the biggest celebration of African-American culture and music in the U.S. Artists who have performed here include Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys.
The 2019 lineup features Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott and Nas.
Number of attendees: 470,000
Where: New Orleans
When: July 5-7, 2019
Fun fact: After Hurricane Katrina, Essence organizers couldn’t find a way to still host the event in New Orleans; 2006 was the only year it was held instead in Houston, Texas.

 

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7. Sziget, Hungary
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With more than 1,000 performances on offer each year, Sziget takes place on the island of Óbudai-sziget on the River Danube. Since its origin in 1993, the festival has grown considerably, from being a low-key student-aimed festival to a two-time winner of the “Best Major European Festival” title. Big names who have graced the stage here include Prince, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Blur and David Guetta.
2019’s lineup includes The Foo Fighters, Florence and the Machine, The 1975, Twenty One Pilots and Martin Garrix.
Number of attendees: 565,000
Where: Budapest
When: August 7-13, 2019
Fun fact: In 2007, the mayor of the 4th district of Budapest sued the festival’s organizers due to complaints of noise and disturbance. He was appeased when organizers agreed to shut down the main stage by 11 p.m. Another issue organizers have faced? People trying to crash the festival by swimming or paddling across the Danube.

6. Rock in Rio, Brazil
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The birthplace of bossa nova is an appropriate place to host Rock in Rio, Brazil’s biggest music festival. Arguably the most iconic band to grace the Rock in Rio stage was Queen, back in 1985, when the festival first began. Such was their influence that the first Rock in Rio was telecast from Brazil and watched by nearly 200 million people in over 60 countries, while a record 1.5 million people attended in person. Rock in Rio has been a standout festival ever since.
2019’s lineup includes Drake, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Imagine Dragons, Muse, Black Eyed Peas and The Foo Fighters.
Number of attendees: 700,000
Where: Rio de Janeiro
When: September 27-29; October 3-6, 2019
Fun fact: That first event in 1985 also featured the Go-Go’s, who famously broke up right after the festival. They reunited a few years later.

 

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5. Woodstock (Pol'and'Rock), Poland
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Inspired by the original Woodstock Festival and formerly known by that name, the rebranded Pol’and’Rockfestival is one of the biggest open-air festivals in Europe. Since its founding in 1995, the festival has also featured a collective mud bath, one of its most important (and, um, unique) traditions.
On the list for the 2019 lineup: Ziggy Marley, Skunk Anansie and Crystal Fighters.
Number of attendees: 750,000
Where: Kostrzyn and Odra
When: August 1-3, 2019
Fun fact: The first year the festival was held, alcohol was prohibited, a move that did not go over well with participants looking to party. The ban was lifted the following year, and the booze has been flowing ever since.


4. Summerfest, USA
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An annual, 11-day festival on the shores of Lake Michigan, Summerfesthas its roots in the ‘60s, when Mayor Henry W. Maier saw the need for a festival after his visit to Munich for Oktoberfest.
Since then, the festival has become a behemoth — it was even named the world’s largest music festival, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records, in 1999 (it has since been overtaken).
The 2019 lineup includes Willie Nelson, Bon Iver, Counting Crows, Jennifer Lopez, Lionel Richie, The Killers, Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg.
Number of attendees: 830,000
Where: Milwaukee
When: June 26-30; July 2-7, 2019
Fun fact: For a time in the late ‘80’s and into the ‘90s, organizers hosted a sister event, Winterfest. Not surprisingly considering Milwaukee’s brutal winters, it proved far less popular than its sunny counterpart, and was canceled after a few years. But Milwaukee does host a small-scale, one-day version of the event still, featuring hot cocoa, sledding and crafts.