So…where will your festival adventure take you this 2018?
Whether it’s dancing at the poolside or on a beach, partying in a fortress, experiencing the surreal midnight sun, enjoying the sights of those budget-friendly European hotspots, or enjoying the amazing city festivals along with long weekends of culture, gastronomic delights and sightseeing, there’s something for everyone.
The question is, are you ready to experience the festival holiday of a lifetime in 2018? Because we have listed here 8 unforgettable festivals you should not miss this 2018!
Celebrating their fifth anniversary this year, 2018 promises to be Secret Solstice’s biggest edition yet! Taking place in Reykjavik from 21-24 June during the surreal summer solstice (meaning the sun never sets), the festival has firmly established itself on the bucket list for every true festival geek wanting to be a part of this truly unique experience. Secret Solstice is Iceland’s premiere music festival, each year welcoming an eclectic lineup to the naturally breathtaking country for main stage sets, glacier raves, midnight sun boat parties and secret lagoon blowouts. By combining a high caliber of music talent alongside side events that showcase the incredible Icelandic landscape, Secret Solstice have created a not-to-be-missed festival experience in one of the most breathtaking corners of the world.
Event Date: June 21-24. Tickets are available here.
Just a short ride away from the Serbian capital Belgrade, the magical Petrovaradin Fortress set high on the banks of the river Danube in Novi Sad provides the perfect setting for the EXIT Festival. Started as a student protest in 2000 fighting for political change and freedom, EXIT continues to spread positive vibes, promoting change and positive education, supporting many community and humanitarian missions, while throwing a “damn good” party. The award winning festival has something for music lovers of all genres with a diverse mix of artists performing on numerous stages connected by cobbled streets, ramparts and tunnels. Also renowned for it’s amazing atmosphere and energy the Dance Arena champions the who’s who in the electronic music world set in the awe inspiring moat of the fortress, it’s that special moment when the sun’s rays shine over the fortress walls and your favorite tune is belting through the soundsystem and into your soul. As its tagline says, it’s where hedonism meets activism.
Event Date: July 12-15. Tickets are available here.
Taking place in the picturesque coastal town of Salacgriva in Latvia,Positivus is the largest music and arts festival in the Baltic States, transporting chart-topping headliners, underground emerging talent and exciting art and dance stages to their unspoiled atmospheric coastal setting amidst stunning woodland. Festival goers can dip their toes in the Baltic sea or take in the atmosphere in a hammock beneath the trees while enjoying a rich diverse music courtesy of international chart toppers and emerging underground talents in this idyllic holiday location. Positivus also offers art and dance stages, giving festival goers a variety of activities and stalls selling locally made designer clothing and accessories. It was also recognized in the 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 European Festival Awards as a finalist in the “Best Medium Sized Festival” category and also for “Best Festival Line Up” in 2013.
Event Date: July 20 – 22. Tickets are available here.
A truly unique boutique music festival, OFF Festival takes place in ‘Three Lake Valley’, Katowice – a beautiful green oasis in the heart of industrial Silesia. OFF prides itself as a way of life, one that flies in the face of current trends and stays true to itself, and the ethos of its organizer Artur Rojek is firmly aimed at supporting art and music with the it bringing many acts to Poland for the first time. OFF Festival’s reputation is growing year on year driven by the festivals forward–thinking, eclectic music policy and it’s bold and eclectic lineups. Ranging from the greatest alternative music stars from around the world to the increasingly strong Polish scene, its lineup is a distilled musical inspiration in abundance in which both the organizers and crowd have a serious finger on the pulse when it comes to music. There is also the opportunity to discover the city of Katowice with plenty of art and culture to soak up and a huge choice of bars and restaurants to delve into.
Event Date: August 3-5. Tickets are available here.
Taking place next to the Walib Fairgrounds, Biddinghuizen, Lowlands features some of the biggest headliners, impressive installations including the new iconic armadillo food and drink area, plus unique covers for every stage so festival goers can enjoy all the music rain or shine. Just over an hours drive from Amsterdam, it is a festival trip and a city break in one As well as all the amazing artists, Lowlands has so many others things to do from enjoying a soak in the hot tubs, to taking part in science experiments. It has also been shortlisted for several awards in the European Festival Awards including “Best Major Festival” and “Best Line Up”
Event date: August 17 – 19 August 2018. Tickets are available here.
Festival Forte is Portugal’s hidden gem, a cutting-edge electronic music festival with groundbreaking visual arts inside the walls of the Castle of Montemor-o-Velho, a heritage site in Portuguese history. This year’s lineup promises to be huge and is touted as the festival’s best yet, a testament to the continuously growing techno scene in Portugal.
Event Date: August 30-September 2. Tickets are available here.
Amsterdam’s thriving club and nightlife scene is well documented and for 5 days a year the city becomes the centre of the electronic music world as over 395,000 visitors flock to the city for the Amsterdam Dance Event. The ultimate music festival for fans of electronic music features more than 2,500 international artists performing in more than 100 of Amsterdam’s most celebrated venues including Melkweg, Gashouder, Claire, Shelter, Paradiso, the NDSM Docklands and De School. In addition to the extensive line-up of the ADE Festival, the ADE Conference also offers music enthusiasts and artists a large and varied day program featuring a wealth of dance music-related seminars, artist Q&A’s exhibitions, films, documentaries, DJ showcases and gear master classes, taking place across Amsterdam’s five main districts, utilizing historical locations and unique venues across the city.
Event Date: October 17-21. Tickets are available here.
The award winning Sea Dance festival gathers party people from all over the world to dance together on the beautiful beach in Budva, Montenegro. Voted best European medium-sized festival, Sea Dance has been able to prove a lot within just three short years. With a stunning beach location and impressive line up of more than 100 hottest international music stars. Sea Dance is one of Europe’s hottest summer destinations. Also worth checking out is Montenegro’s towering mountains perfect for hiking and mountain biking as well as some of the world’s best unspoiled beaches on the Adriatic Sea.
Event date be announced soon. More info available here.
