19 Top EDM festivals in Europe you don't want to miss out in 2023

From established events to new contenders

Tomorrowland, the biggest EDM Festival in the world

Tomorrowland's stage during a firework show

As in previous years, Tomorrowland festival will take place at De Schorre Provincial Recreation Park. It is a magical place. After more than a decade, the Belgian giant is still an unbeatable EDM event if you want to be an active member of the European electronic music festival scene. The event is famous for its impressive staging, stage design, lighting, visuals and all-encompassing mythology. Tomorrowland has become something of a pilgrimage for dance music fans around the world.

Ultra Europe in Split

Ultra festival's stage

Ultra's European satellite in Split, Croatia, is probably the best-known global brand in electronic dance music. Even if the event can't quite compete with its big brother in the States, the European Ultra impresses every year with its line-up and parties.

Creamfields, the largest dance music festival in the UK

Light show during the Creamfields festival

Photo by Mike Carter, licensed under @Flickr

Creamfields, located in Daresbury, Cheshire, between Liverpool and Manchester, is considered the largest dance music event of its kind in the UK. Creamfields is legendary. It was born on the Liverpool club scene in the 1990s. Phenomenal staging, innovative new features and impressive line-ups featuring the biggest names in EDM, house, techno and more make the event one of the best in the world.

Sziget EDM: The island of freedom

The stage of the Sziget festival in the early evening

Photo by Tukka, licensed under CC-BY-SA-4.0

Hungary is always a hot spot for EDM. Sziget offers a 7-day multi-genre line-up. Despite its reputation as a prominent rock festival, Sziget also has reggae, hip-hop, indie and electronic music. Sziget is a place to party. Here fans and artists can meet up and get close and personal.

Exit

Exit festival's Dance Arena

Photo by Miha Rekar, Unsplash

In addition to the impressive line-up, the unique setting speaks for a visit to the Exit. Here you move within the old walls of an 18th-century fortress to the sounds of electronic music. No wonder Exit's dance arena is one of the most famous stages in the world.

Mysteryland Music Event

Ort der VeranstaltungHaarlemmermeer

Amazing fireworks during the Mysteryland 2019 festival

Photo by Jorik Kleen, Unsplash

The Mysteryland Music Event presents itself cryptically, but there is no secret why Mysteryland is one of the top go-to festivals every year. The event offers everything a party person could wish for. The overall experience is incomparable to any other event. Mysteryland holds the crown for the longest-running EDM festival in the world. At Mysteryland, you lose track of time and get completely lost in the perfect, dazzling moment.

Parookaville

Ort der VeranstaltungWeeze

Bills Factory Parookaville 2019

Photo by Danny Muzira, licensed under CC-BY-SA-4.0

Parookaville is still a relatively young event, but is already celebrated as one of the best electronic music festivals in Germany. Parookaville attracts thousands of visitors, because this event has the greatest backdrops, amenities and experiences in the scene. Bill Parooka founded the event with his vision "to celebrate the joy of life". And you'll find this attitude around every corner at Parookaville.

Balaton Sound

Ort der VeranstaltungZamárdi

The lake Balaton from Zamárdi town where the festival is organized

The EDM event Balaton Sound is one of Europe's biggest open-air events with electronic music. It has been held on the southern shore of the famous Lake Balaton since 2007. Immerse yourself in the unique balance between beach holiday and dance music festival. The scene's strongest hitters take the stage in days filled with uncompromising parties. There is always room in the line-up here for underground electro DJs and superstars from rap and hip-hop.

Sónar

Sonar by night

Photo by Gian Pietro Dragoni, Unsplash

Sónar offers you experimental electronic music in an unprecedented range of genres and styles. For a whole day, Barcelona is under the spell of electronic music. In clubs, on roof terraces, in bars and swimming pools, the biggest stars come together with you, the music fan.

Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE)

Performance by Niklas Paschburg, ADE 2021

Photo by Enrique Meesters

The ADE has been the leading event for the entire spectrum of electronic subgenres for many years. The ADE is not just a classical music and dance festival. It combines the music festival with a conference on electronic dance music. At ADE you are on the go day and night. During the day, you can exchange ideas about the electronic music industry in conferences, workshops, lectures and more. But at night, you'll be out in clubs with famous DJs and musicians from home and abroad. At ADE, the most famous names in the scene play their tracks.

Awakenings

Ort der VeranstaltungSpaarnwoude

Awakenings festival

Photo by Mark Richter

The Awakenings is already an old icon in the European electronic dance music festival scene. Visitors can look forward to gigantic line-ups and spectacular effects. Spread over eight stages and two days, the Awakening presents the crème de la crème of techno.

Untold

Untold festival, the stage

Photo by BRADLEY, Unsplash

Untold is one of the most famous events in Europe. In Romania, it is the biggest event for EDM. Winner of Best Major Festival at the 2015 European Festival Awards, the Romanian dance giant already has some merit; the festival has hosted a host of world stars and welcomes around a quarter of a million fans every year.

Time Warp

Time warp festival

Photo by Fabian, @Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Probably all the EDM fans have heard about Time Warp. This is a must go on every avid techno party goer's wish list. It is famous for its incomparable sound and impressive design. Festival-goers are immersed in an audio-visual experience at Time Warp. Time Warp was born in 1994, when two guys were still dreaming of the magic of the first techno years.

Transmission

Ort der VeranstaltungPrag

Transmission festival

The Trance + Lasers Transmission offers easily one of the best laser shows in the world. Mingle with the thousands of trance music lovers. Transmission is a spectacular show that creates an unforgettable experience through a combination of electronic music, high-quality equipment, special effects, live acts and special scenography. Transmission always presents the exclusive themed storyline that takes visitors on a journey through the night. In addition, the breathtaking light and laser show provides a special highlight.

Hideout

Hideout Festival's beach with amazing light blue colours

Photo by Gary Brown, licensed under CC-BY-SA-4.0

The Hideout event in 2022 has pool parties, boat parties, special beach parties and five open-air locations in its programme. If you think that's too much to see, don't worry. The event lasts a week and you'll have plenty of time for great, unforgettable experiences. Shows are offered in five open-air venues with the most prestigious electronic artists in the world.

Melt Festival

Ort der VeranstaltungGräfenhainichen

Melt festival under purple colours

Photo by Yvette de Wit, Unsplash

Versatility is pretty large at the Melt Event 2022. If you're a rock, electronic or pop fan, you'll get your money's worth. Year after year, the organisers shine with a selected line-up and a surprising combination of genres from all areas. Between the cranes of Ferropolis, you can dance to electronic sounds until sunrise.