Amazing Summer Festivals Worth Traveling To See, Both In The U.S. And Abroad

best summer music festivals

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It may be too late to catch Beyonce headlining Coachella and the U.K.’s big sell Glastonbury is taking a year off, but summer festival season 2018 is packed with opportunity to find your musical bliss. From Chicago to Budapest, these summer festivals are totally worth traveling for.

Bonnaroo — Manchester, Tennessee, U.S.

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Dates: June 7 to 10

Headliners: Eminem, Muse and The Killers

Bonnaroo is a little bit more laid back than Coachella. You’re probably going in clothes you already own instead of buying a flower crown, but there are still four days of music ranging across genres. It’s held on a farm outside Nashville with lots of wide-open spaces filled with revelers for the concerts.

Sziget Festival — Budapest, Hungary

Dates: August 8 to 15

Headliners: Arctic Monkeys, Dua Lipa, Gorillaz, Kendrick Lamar and Lana Del Ray

Sziget is actually not held in either Buda or Pest, the two sides of the city divided by the Danube River, but on an island in the river. The entire island becomes a festival land during Sziget and, actually, much of Budapest feels like an extension of the fun with backpackers coming in for the concert series.

Lollapalooza — Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

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Dates: August 2 to 5

Headliners: The Weeknd, Bruno Mars, Jack White, Arctic Monkeys and Travis Scott

Lollapalooza takes over Grant Park in Chicago with not just music, but also comedy, dance and food. There are Lollapalooza festivals that happen in other cities around the world, but the Windy City location is the OG.

Secret Solstice — Reykjavik, Iceland

Dates: June 21 to 24

Headliners: Slayer, Stormzy and Gucci Mane

Secret Solstice is also known as the festival of the midnight sun because daylight never really fades during the 96 hours of the concerts. It’s the summer solstice in Iceland, which is when the sun doesn’t set. So rock on all never-ending day!

Essence Festival — New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

Dates: July 5 to 8

Headliners: Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, Mary J Blige and Janet Jackson

Essence Festival books full-on legends to celebrate the magazine of the same name. And the whole experience goes far beyond musical artists, with a convention center full of career, lifestyle and empowerment speakers. Get your “Girls Trip” on.

Outlook — Pula, Croatia

Dates: September 5 to 10

Headliners: Bonobo, Wiley and Stefflon Don

Outlook is a completely unique festival. There are concerts held in a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater and in a 150-year-old abandoned fort. And don’t even get us started on the boat parties on the Adriatic Sea…

Pitchfork Music Festival — Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Dates: July 20 to 22

Headliners: Tame Impala, Fleet Foxes and Ms. Lauren Hill

Pitchfork is another Chicago summer staple. Focusing on alternative rock and rap, the three days of music unfold in Union Park, where there’s also a record fair for those looking to bring home some of the musical spirit.

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