Best Techno Festivals 2024 in Europe | Electronic Music
The new year is here, and in case your resolution for 2024 is to have more memorable experiences, festivals are a great way to achieve that! However, to avoid being disappointed by some mediocre adventure, I present you with a small selection of great festivals you should seriously consider attending if you are into electronic music and in Europe.
Please keep in mind I can’t mention every existing event — this is just a selection. Also, you won’t find any mega festivals here. Listing Tomorrowland, Nature One, or Sonar isn’t anything new, and I am always an advocate of looking outside the box. Here I’ll mostly focus on smaller, independent, and special festivals. In my opinion, those are the most interesting ones as they aren’t exclusively about partying but often bring variety, like Art exhibitions, lectures, or yoga sessions
Nachtiville [19.01.2024–22.01.2024 | Germany]
Nachtiville is held at the German coast of the Baltic Sea, organized by the team behind Nachtdigital. The festival offers a versatile and diverse music program, featuring both established favorites and new artists. It takes place at Weissenhäuser Strand, a holiday park on the Baltic coast, and promises an inspiring and re-energizing experience for attendees, offering a unique and immersive musical experience.
Recommended Acts: Roi Perez, Ogazon
Bad Gastein [25.01.2024–28.01.2024 | Austria]
The Lighthouse Festival in Bad Gastein is a three-day electronic music event set in the picturesque mountain valley of Bad Gastein, often referred to as the “Monaco of the Alps.” The festival features performances at various locations within the city center and up in the mountains, offering a unique blend of music, art, and nature. The festival’s hub is the renowned GRAND EUROPE hotel, and it promises to be an immersive experience, combining electronic music with the stunning alpine surroundings and top-tier wellness facilities.
Elevate [28.02.2024–03.03.2024 | Austria]
The Elevate Festival is an annual interdisciplinary event held in Graz, Austria, with a strong focus on cultural and socio-political topics. The festival takes place around the Schloßberg and aims to foster a better understanding of important contemporary issues through innovative projects, civil society initiatives, and dedicated activism. It combines contemporary music, art, and political discourse, offering a unique space for critical dialogue and artistic expression. The festival features a diverse lineup of performers who present an eclectic array of styles, going beyond conventions and the mainstream. In addition to performances, concerts, and DJ sets, the festival’s interdisciplinary program includes workshops, film screenings, lectures, and discussions. This year will mark the festival’s 20th anniversary making it extra special — don’t miss this!
Horst [09.05.2024–11.05.2024 | Belgium]
The Horst Arts and Music Festival is an immersive three-day event that seamlessly integrates arts, architecture, and music. The festival, known for its unique blend of electronic music and artistic experiences, offers a vibrant platform for creative expression. The event’s focus on homegrown talent and its commitment to creating a dynamic and inclusive environment have contributed to its growing popularity.
Recommended Acts: Aurora Halal B2B DJ Nobu, Octo Octa’s DnB set
Lighthouse [29.05.2024–02.06.2024 | Croatia]
The Lighthouse Festival in Croatia is an internationally acclaimed event that has grown into a prominent meeting place for artists and music enthusiasts. Since 2013, the festival has been held at a cozy seaside location, offering a dedicated boutique approach and a familiar atmosphere. Described as “electronic music on vacation,” the festival provides an exploratory outlet for diverse audiences, showcasing original artists and fostering a love for music. One major benefit is that there are no restrictions on bringing your own food and drinks to the festival grounds.
AVA [31.05.2022–01.06.2022 | Ireland]
The AVA (Audio Visual Arts) Festival in Belfast is a leading dance music event that takes place at the Titanic Slipways. The festival, now in its tenth year, features established international musicians alongside emerging local talent. It is a two-day multi-stage event that incorporates a wide range of music genres, including rap, techno, grime, and house. The festival also includes a music conference and offers a unique blend of sounds, making it an annual union for music enthusiasts in Ireland and beyond.
Waking Life [19.06.2024–24.06.2024 | Portugal]
Waking Life is a week-long midsummer festival celebrated in Crato, Portugal, that embraces artistic experimentation, spirited self-expression, and the collective “imagineering” of a free society. The festival offers a unique and immersive experience, featuring a diverse lineup of artists, interactive artworks, performances, and AV installations. It is known for its vibrant and inclusive atmosphere, making it a must-visit for those seeking a psychedelic gathering set in a living garden.
Recommended Acts: Ben Ufo, Fiedel
Paradise City [28.06.2024–30.06.2024 | Belgium]
The Paradise City Festival in Belgium is a captivating event set in a beautiful lush green location in a castle garden surrounded by water. It features enchanting music from the world’s best electronic artists and a strong community of like-minded dancers.
Audra [29.06.2024–03.07.2022 | Lithuania]
The Audra Festival is a vibrant five-day urban music and art festival held in Kaunas, Lithuania. The event features a diverse lineup of performers from various countries showcasing modern electronic music and art, with performances across multiple music scenes. It promises to immerse attendees in a dynamic fusion of music and art, flooding the city with concerts and creative experiences.
Recommended Acts: Skin on Skin, Lover
Butik Festival [10.07.2024–14.07.2024 | Slovenia]
The Butik Electronic Festival is a fresh electronic music festival held in the picturesque Soča Valley, Slovenia. The festival aims to unite like-minded people, enthusiasts, and music lovers with a shared passion for electronic music. The event stretches over four days and nights, offering a camping experience at Park Narave Sovodenj. It is known for its beautiful natural setting and commitment to creating a welcoming and sustainable environment for all attendees.
Recommended Acts: Bashkka, Marie Montexier
Melt [11.07.2024–13.07.2024 | Germany]
MELT is one of the largest open-air electronic music festivals in Germany. The festival has been held since 1997 at the Ferropolis open-air museum near Gräfenhainichen. It is renowned for its diverse and impressive lineup, featuring renowned artists from the electronic music scene as well as some indie artists and bands. The festival offers a unique experience against the backdrop of dormant coal excavators, by the shores of a serene lake, and within lush forests, providing a rich tapestry of music and culture for attendees to enjoy. This year among others Teenage Dreams will take over, promising an energized stage fueled by new-school trance.
Recommended Acts: DJ Koze, Kalte Liebe
Stone Techno [12.07.2024–14.07.2024 | Germany]
The Stone Techno Festival is a multidisciplinary event with a musical, cultural, political, scientific, and social approach, dedicated to techno culture in its purest form. The festival takes place at the UNESCO World Heritage Zollverein in Essen, Germany, a breathtaking location with a rich industrial history that has undergone re-naturation and cultivation. Check out my review from last year — it was one of the best experiences I ever had. This year offers a more diverse line-up and after-parties at Mischanlage which is one of the collect industrial club settings you can experience. Super hyped for this one!
In case you’re unable to get tickets (check Ticketswap) their event at Henrichshütte offers a very similar experience (17.08–18.08).
Recommended Acts: Young Marco, ANNĒ
Monegros Festival [27.07.2024 | Spain]
The Monegros Desert Festival, held in the Monegros Desert in Aragón, northeastern Spain, is annually taking place in mid-July. The festival is known for its radical and extreme nature, featuring a diverse lineup of artists across multiple stages. The event offers a unique and intense desert experience, with 22 hours of music, art installations, and a radical audio-visual experience.
Whole [02.08.2024–05.08.2024 | Germany]
The WHOLE — United Queer Festival, is recognized as the largest queer electronic music festival in the world. The event offers a unique and inclusive experience, held at industrial grounds — the same as Melt Festival. It is known for its diverse lineup of artists and its commitment to creating a welcoming and respectful environment for all attendees.
Neopop [08.08.2024–10.08.2024 | Portugal]
Neopop Festival is a prominent electronic music event held in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. The festival is known for its diverse and impressive lineup, featuring renowned artists from the electronic music scene. contributing to Portugal’s reputation as a hub for electronic music
WAHA Festival [15.08.2024–20.08.2024 | Romania]
The WAHA Festival is an annual event held in the picturesque village of Batani, Romania. The festival is known for its unique setting, which includes a mysterious forest, smooth hillside, and captivating twilights. It has gained a reputation for offering a distinctive and immersive experience for attendees. The festival’s focus on creating a harmonious environment in nature has contributed to its popularity and unique appeal.
XRDS [17.08.2024–18.08.2024 | Belgium]
The XRDS Festival, also known as Crossroads, is a boutique music festival held in Brussels, Belgium. The festival offers a fresh take on a cozy gem, featuring over 40 artists across 3 stages during a 2-day program. The event is known for its diverse lineup and unique atmosphere curated by the crew behind the world-famous Fuse Club — arguably Belgium's most important entity within the electronic scene.
Draaimolen [06.09.2024–07.09.2024 | Netherlands]
Draaimolen is a 100% independent event organization based in Tilburg, Netherlands, focusing on the relationship between electronic music, art, and nature. The festival is known for its back-to-basics approach, aiming to evoke the feeling of an illegal rave in the forest. It prides itself on a “music-first” approach, with a strong emphasis on the music experience. Last year it turned heads by announcing a Blawan B2B Skrillex set, let’s see what they will surprise us with this year.
Unsound [01.10.2024–08.10.2024 | Poland]
Unsound is an annual music festival that takes place in Kraków, Poland, dealing with evolving and mutating forms of music, as well as related visual arts. The festival is known for its diverse and innovative lineup, featuring emerging, experimental, and leftfield music that doesn’t follow typical genre constraints. Unsound has gained a reputation for identifying innovative scenes and radical sounds, making it a significant platform for groundbreaking and unconventional music.
Honorable Mentions
- Hive: For hard techno lovers, the Hive festival is known for its dedication making it a notable event for enthusiasts of this subgenre
- Junction 2, Extrema Outdoor, Awakenings: These festivals are well-organized but are in my opinion too big and heavily commercialized, with a tendency to feature mostly the same acts every year
- Wildeburg and Fusion: These festivals are amazing but already sold out and very difficult to acquire tickets for at this point in time — unfortunately
- ADE: While difficult to call a true festival, ADE is more of an event gathering. It is known for being extremely pricey, especially for those who need accommodation in Amsterdam
- INOTA: The status of the festival is unclear, as it is not confirmed when or if it will be happening this year
- Lentekabinet and Dekmantel: Great festivals with an experienced crew behind them, just not something that specifically stood out to me this year
