10 awesome and budget-friendly European festivals
The festival season is upon us! WAVE’s travelling Europe this summer with the Firestone Tour. The perfect time to take a look at the European festival scene. Belgium and the Netherlands have an abundance of festivals. In Flanders and Brussels alone, there are over 350! Not to brag, but we do have some of the greatest festivals in the world. That being said, there are plenty of smaller festivals that deserve a mention.
If you already crossed Rock Werchter, Dour, Tomorrowland, Pinkpop and Lowlands off your bucket list and are looking for a budget-friendly foreign adventure, look no further! Here are 10 awesome and budget-friendly European festivals for you to explore!
1. Secret Solstice Festival
“Secret Solstice is a multi-genre music festival just outside Reykjavik, Iceland. Showcasing some of the world’s biggest contemporary artists, beloved cult musicians as well as fresh local talent, the festivities continue throughout the night with a little help from the midnight sun which is almost ever-present throughout the summer equinox. With an eclectic array of artists and experiences on offer (DJ set in a glacier, anyone?), there’s a perfect blend of delirium and tranquility that makes Secret Solstice an event unto itself.”
Date: 21-22-23 June 2019
Location: Reykjavík (Iceland)
Artists: Black Eyed Peas, Robert Plant, Martin Garrix, Rita Ora, Patti Smith,…
Price: €117 (combi ticket)
Website: https://secretsolstice.is/
2. InMusic Festival
“The biggest open-air festival in Croatia. A must for rock and indie enthusiasts. And beyond the festival’s gates, Zagreb and the surrounding area is brimming with things to do, including kayaking down the Mreznica Canyon, biking on Bear Mountain, or even just exploring this elegant and charming city.”
Date: 24-25-26 June 2019
Location: Zagreb (Croatia)
Artists: The Cure, Suede, Foals, Garbage, LP, The Hives, Kurt Vile,…
Price: €70 (combi ticket)
Website: https://www.inmusicfestival.com/en
3. VOLT Festival
“Sziget’s sister festival is known in Hungary (and far beyond) as one of the biggest multi-genre festivals in Europe. Dance, rock, pop, jazz and urban each have their own stage. There’s an overwhelming range of theatre, art, movies and sporting events. Tip: you can combine the festival with a Vienna city trip. It’s only a one-hour drive away.”
Date: 26-27-28-29 June 2019
Location: Sopron (Hongary)
Artists: Slipknot, Black Eyed Peas, Slash, Martin Solveig, Parov Stelar, Cypress Hill,…
Price: €133 (combi ticket)
Website: https://volt.hu/en/
4. Pohoda Festival
“Pohoda, the Slovakian Pukkelpop. This family-friendly festival embraces a wide breadth of music genres with rock, pop, indie, hip-hop, classical, and jazz artists sprayed out across multiple stages, alongside film screenings, theatre performances, workshops, debates, poetry, and dance competitions to entertain a diverse demographic.”
Date: 11-12-13 July 2019
Location: Trencín (Slovakia)
Artists: Liam Gallagher, Lykke Li, Skepta, The Roots, The 1975, Mac DeMarco,…
Price: €99 (combi ticket)
Website: https://www.pohodafestival.sk/en
5. Colours of Ostrava
“Each year, Colours of Ostrava brings the biggest names in rock, pop, indie, and electronic artists to the heartland of Europe, breathing new life into the Ostrava’s national monument of industrial heritage. With a multitude of stages, workshops, theatrical performances, and film screenings, there is a wealth of entertainment to enjoy over the course of four days, and this is where Colours of Ostrava’s true colours really show.”
Date: 17-18-19-20 July 2019
Location: Ostrava (Czech Republic)
Artists: The Cure, Florence + The Machine, Mø, Mogwai, John Butler Trio,…
Price: €114 (combi ticket)
Website: https://www.colours.cz/
6. Positivus Festival
“Offering a lineup of some of the biggest acts from across a wide range of sounds, Positivus Festival is spoilt for choice, annually putting together a bill of creative trendsetters. Taking place is the scenic Zvejnieku Park, the festival site features everything from sandy beaches to open green spaces to mysterious woodlands.”
Date: 26-27 July 2019
Location: Salacgrīva (Latvia)
Artists: Disclosure, Royal Blood, Underworld, The 1975, Cut Copy,…
Price: €65 (combi ticket)
Website: https://positivusfestival.com/en/
7. Nirwana Tuinfeest
“A festival that became big by staying small! This festival combines live acts with cosiness where all generations feel at home.”
Date: 9-10-11 August 2019
Location: Lierop (Netherlands)
Artists: Pennywise, The Wombats, The Darkness, Heideroosjes, De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig,…
Price: €65 (combi ticket)
Website: https://nirwanatuinfeest.nl/
8. Paredes De Coura
“Paredes de Coura Festival is an alternative music festival in northern Portugal. Situated in the scenic riverside Praia do Taboão, the festival’s location is almost unrivalled in terms of natural beauty, with picturesque woodland and inviting waters open for exploration. The festival is one of the country’s most established, and across its rich history it has developed an enviable reputation not only for securing high profile performers from across the globe, but also for showcasing exciting new acts on their ascent to stardom.”
Date: 14-15-16-17 August 2019
Location: Parades De Coura (Portugal)
Artists: The National, Patti Smith, New Order, Suede, Father John Misty,…
Price: €99 (combi ticket)
Website: https://www.paredesdecoura.com/
9. Check In Party
“Ready for take-off? Held in Gueret in St Laurent in central France, the festival is a newbie on the scene, but has already turned heads with its bold billing of alternative acts like Patti Smith, Foals, Bodega, Balthazar and local heroes The Blaze and Jeanne Added filling its three stages across a sweltering three-day weekend. Expect indie and alternative legends celebrating the music of both France and beyond.”
Date: 22-23-24 August 2019
Location: Saint-Laurent (France)
Artists: Patti Smith, The Blaze, Foals, Balthazar, Gogol Bordello,…
Price: €68 (combi ticket)
Website: https://www.checkinparty.com/
10. Oasis Festival
“No, unfortunately no reunion of Oasis in Marrakech, but a unique electronic music festival. Embedded in the cool shade of the Atlas Mountains a short drive from the centre of Marrakech, Oasis will again be hosted in the luxury Fellah Hotel, where a philosophy of wellness & heritage provides a rejuvenating base to party poolside late into the night.”
Date: 13-14-15 September 2019
Location: Marrakech (Morocco)
Artists: Four Tet, Mind Against, Jayda G, Âme B2B Dixon,…
Price: €245 (combi ticket + hotel)
Website: http://theoasisfest.com/