Still uhming and ahhing about which festivals to head to this summer? Below, Wonderland gives you the rundown on some prospective party starters.
Green Man
When Is It: 14th – 17th August
Key Acts: Kneecap, Wet Leg, Underworld
Hidden Gems: Oreglo, Westside Cowboy, John Glacier
Why You Should Go: The biggest independent festival in the UK and the only female owned independent festival in Europe, Wales-based Green Man Festival comes with an ever-growing reputation and sprouting popularity, with this year’s 25,000 tickets all selling out within an hour. With a deftly-curated line up that boasts the very best in left-field music across genres, Green Man is quickly becoming one of Britain’s most acclaimed festivals.
Lost Village
When Is It: 21st-24th August
Key Acts: Barry Can’t Swim, Four Ten, Honey Dijon
Hidden Gems: Future Utopia, Ela Minus, ATRIP
Why You Should Go: A world of its own in the midst of the secluded Lincolnshire countryside, Lost Village offers some of the best stage designs around, world class food and workshop-driven activities, and an incredible array of electronic and avant garde artists. The kind of place that needs to be visited to be believed, it’s no wonder it’s one of the UK summer’s most coveted events.
FOOTSTEPS
When Is It: 19th – 23rd May
Key Acts: Honeyglaze, Lunar Vacation, Swim Deep
Hidden Gems: Soft Loft, Dream Nails, Wayside
Why You Should Go: As independent venues continue to struggle, a new multi-venue festival emerges to shine a light on their peerless brilliance. Footsteps will take place across iconic venues like Moth Club, Oslo Hackney, The Grace, The George Tavern and more, the new event series will spotlight the best new acts in the most intimate venues around the city.
Iceland Airwaves
When Is It: 6th – 8th November
Key Acts: Babymorocco, Kenya Grace, ian
Hidden Gems: jasmine.4.t, ratbag, Tófa
Why You Should Go: The world’s most northerly music discovery festival Iceland Airwaves has become known as one of the most idiosyncratic and eclectic showcases in Europe. Spread across the glorious Reykjavík, the festival brings together local and International artists for a potent and potential-filled line up.
Boiler Room
When Is It: 1st August
Key Acts: Mustard, Kenny Beats, Joy Orbison
Hidden Gems: Keyrah, Dar Disku, yuné pinku
Why You Should Go: The legendary Boiler Room are heading back to London this summer for an open-air special which plays out as a who’s who in the best of UK and US deck-spinners. Descending onto Burgess Park for a jam-packed day of killer DJs and producers, it’s yet another unmissable day festival in the heart of the big smoke.
Mad Cool
When Is It: 10th – 13th July
Key Acts: Gracie Abrams, Olivia Rodrigo, Justice
Hidden Gems: Geordie Greep, Blondshell, Deadletter
Why You Should Go: One of Europe’s biggest festivals is back with another diverse and daring line up. Mad Cool, a Madrid-based spectacle, contains a bit of something for everyone—from cross-genre mainstream trailblazers to rising DJs and an emphasis on world music, there’s plenty to rave about. A trip to the Spanish capital never goes amiss too.
The Great Escape
When Is It: 14th – 17th May
Key Acts: English Teacher, Luvcat, Chloe Slater
Hidden Gems: Betty, Cliffords, corto.alto
Why You Should Go: Renowned as the UK’s go-to music discovery festival, The Great Escape continues to lead the way in quality and responsibility in shining a light on the next generation of stars. With another stacked line-up and with plenty of new artists to uncover, TGE is a must-attend for aspiring artists, industry profressionals and music lovers alike.
Meltdown
When Is It: 12th – 22nd June
Key Acts: Little Simz, Lola Young, Ghetts
Hidden Gems: Sasha Keable, Yukimi
Why You Should Go: The UK’s largest arts centre, Southbank Centre, has shared news of the curator of their iconic festival, Meltdown, this year. It’s none other than mercurial rapper and artist Little Simz, who will be putting together an eleven day extravaganza of art, music, workshops and more. No further names have been announced as of the time of writing, but looks set to be one of the most nuanced and creative-driven outings of 2025. [UPDATE 24/3: first wave of acts is out, featuring The Streets, Ghetts, Lola Young, Sasha Keable and more]
Jazz Cafe
When Is It: 3rd August
Key Acts: Masego, Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher
Hidden Gems: Ledbyher, James Massiah, Zino Vinci
Why You Should Go: Returning for their second year, The Jazz Cafe’s Burgess Park-based festival looks set to be the best London festival for hip hop lovers. With Westside Gunn’s UK debut, soul star Masego headlining, and some of the best names in the British underground set to perform, the day-festival is sure to be a major vibe.
Yaga Gathering
When Is It: 10th – 14th July
Key Acts: Lyra Pramuk, Fantastic Twins, Temple Rat
Hidden Gems: Conna Haraway, Gemayel, Less Feeling
Why You Should Go: While the line up for Lithuania’s Yaga Gathering isn’t necessarily jam-packed with instantly recognisable names, what sets the festival apart is its ethos — the trance festival has no corporate sponsors and is entirely financed by the ticket sales of all the hippy types in attendance. That means that as well as DJ sets by the likes of Temple Rat and performances by multidisciplinary artists like Lyra Pramuk, there’s a bit of an art slant to the whole thing. There’s even talks on everything from the history of drug policy to psychedelics… Trippy.
FORWARDS
When Is It: 24th – 25th August
Key Acts: Doechii, Ezra Collective, Jorja Smith
Hidden Gems: Orbital, The Silhouettes Project, Moonchild Sannelly
Why You Should Go: Boasting one of the finest curations of talent across the UK festival circumference, Bristol-based favourite FORWARDS continues to up the ante with their end of summer blowout. With some of the biggest and best in UK and US music, the inner-city endeavour is well worth the trip to the West Country.
Brunch Electronik
When Is It: 7th – 10th August
Key Acts: Jungle, Eliza Rose, The Martinez Brothers
Hidden Gems: Pretty Girl, Verushka, Myd
Why You Should Go: Set against the dazzling backdrop of waterfront Barcelona, globally renowned electronic festival Brunch Electronik provides its most exciting and eclectic line up to date. A noteworthy addition to any summer calendar, the famed festival’s setting and musical entourage make it a sure-fire hit.
Polygon Live
When Is It: 2nd – 4th May
Key Acts: Max Cooper, Arooj Aftab, Kiasmos
Hidden Gems: nimino, Halina Rice, Gold Panda
Why You Should Go: Pitched as the most immersive 360º live music experience across the globe, Polygon is undoubtedly one of the most enigmatic and exciting events coming to London this summer. The UK’s largest outdoor spatial audio festival will be a visceral and unique experience, with forward-thinking approaches to sound and lighting, and a line-up that includes cross-generational savants of experimental music.
Home Again Club
When Is It: 28th May – 2nd June
Key Acts: Peggy Gou, Solomun, Helena Hauff
Hidden Gems: Octo Octa, I Hate Models, Bae Blade
Why You Should Go: A core component of Berlin’s progressing musical heartbeat, Home Again Club Festival is a sprawling celebration of electronic music. Returning for its third edition, across four days and five nights, there’s mainstream heavyweights, underground favourites and fast-rising newcomers. A utopia of hedonism and DJ decks.
