We have gathered the 10 biggest and brightest music festivals in the United States whether for your out of town trip with friends or for locals wanting to get a taste of art, film and music.
Let us know in the comments below which one is your favorite!
1. Electric Zoo
Where: Randall’s Island, New York
Inaugurated on: September 5, 2009
Past headliners: Diplo, Kaskade, Zedd, Afrojack, Tiesto, Martin Garrix, Armin Van Buuren, Cash Cash and more…
Annually held on Labor Day weekend, the festival covers all genres of electronic music, bringing top international DJs and live acts from multiple countries. They welcomed 107,000 fans in 2019 making it one of the biggest events in the US.
2. Joshua Tree Music Festival
Where: Joshua Tree, CA
Inaugurated on: April 11-13, 2003
Past headliners: North Mississippi All Stars, The California Honeydrops, Yak Attack, The HU, Russ Liquid Test, Earth Arrow, Elektric Voodoo, and many more..
https://joshuatreemusicfestival.com
The amazing factor about this festival is that acts are not chosen by genre, rather based on the goosebump-inducing, powerful, potent, compelling performances they deliver. A family-friendly festival with a designated family camp packed with activities.
The festival is powered by more than two hundred volunteers and three dozen team leaders with the motto “The Desert is Freedom, Music is Power and Community is Crucial” bringing in thousands of fans in all shapes and sizes, to enjoy the diversity of new and classic acts.
3. Outside Lands
Where: San Francisco, California
Inaugurated on: August 22, 2008
Past headliners: Childish Gambino, Twenty One Pilots, The Lumineers, Flume, and Blink-182, Kygo, The Neighbourhood, Leon Bridges and more!
https://www.sfoutsidelands.com/
Held annually in Golden Gate park, the venue itself has various park attractions and activities open for all ages making this not just a music festival with top rated artists but also a great getaway for friends and family. They also have vendors selling a variety of food, whether that be vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free food choices. The beautiful thing about this festival is that they really emphasize sustainability, environmental impact and support charitable funds that invest in the cultural vitality of the Bay Area.
4. Governors Ball
Where: Randall’s Island, New York
Inaugurated: June 18, 2011
Past headliners: The Strokes, Florence + The Machine, Tyler, The Creator, NAS, SZA, Major Lazer, The 1975, MØ, Jorja Smith, Kacey Musgraves, Zhu and more!
http://governorsballmusicfestival.com/
Perfect for those who have a diverse range in musical taste – Governors Ball is filled with three days of music from a wide range of genres, art, food and activities which garnered 150,000 fans in 2019 alone.
5. Ultra Music Festival
Where: Miami, Florida
Founded on: 1999
Past headliners: BonnieXClyde, Borgeous, Fedde LeGrande, Camelphat, Cash Cash, Cheat Codes, Bro Safari and and many more!
https://ultramusicfestival.com/
Held alongside Winter Music Conference and Miami Music Week, due to its success, Ultra has spawned a larger series of international franchises under the blanket branding Ultra Worldwide, which have included locations such as South Africa, South Korea, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and others. The festival runs for 3 days with performances and acts from top electronic artists and have garnered 170,000 fans from all over the world.
6. Electric Daisy Carnival
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
Founded on: 1991
Past headliners: Armin van Buuren, Calvin Harris, Diplo, Alesso, Dillon Francis, Martin Garrix, Zedd, Afrojack, Seven Lions, NGHTMRE, Tiësto and many more!
https://lasvegas.electricdaisycarnival.com
Also known as EDC, it is thw largest electronic dance music festival in North America garnering over 450,000 fans within 3-days in 2019. Held annually in Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Orlando, from dusk til dawn, individuals experience three-dimensional superstructures, colorful glow-in-the-dark environments, and LED-infused flora and fauna. Interactive art installations are also scattered all throughout the venue as well as camps and fun activities.
7. SXSW
Where: Austin, Texas
Founded on: 1987
Past headliners: DC “sugar trap” act Rico Nasty, Otoboke Beaver, KOKOKO!, German robot maestro Moritz Simon Geist, and sunny electro pop duo Reyna Tropical.
https://www.sxsw.com/festivals/music/
South by Southwest is an annual conglomeration of music, parallel film, interactive media and conferences that spans for 8-10 days. It is unique to its kind, their performers range from legendary performers to new rising talent coming together to celebrate live music.
8. Lollapalooza
Where: Grant Park, Chicago
Founded on: July 18, 1991
Past headliners: The Strokes, Chainsmokers, Rufus du Sol, HJozier, H.E.R., Childish Gambino, Twenty One Pilots, J Balvin, Ariana Grande, Flume…
Imagine having all the award-winning, trendsetting, top artists all in one place… that’s what Lolla is all about. Packed with a variety of genres raging from Pop to Heavy Metal, this 3 day event is open to all ages with dozens of fun activities to choose from.
9. Burning Man
Where: Black Rock Desert, Nevada
Originated on: June 22, 1986
Held in Black Rock – a community built city in the desert that only exists for nine days.. Burning Man, is a festival that encourages radical self expression, collective effort, inclusion and leaving no trace behind. The venue is laced with marvelous art installations, communal living experiences, outlandish activities and experimental performances bringing out the most creative versions of its “Burners”. A lot of people would say it is an out of this world experience, and we cannot blame them!
10. Coachella
Where: Indio, California
Founded on: 1999
Past headliners: Childish Gambino, Beyonce, The 1975, Dj Snake, Diplo, Rufus Du Soul, Frank Ocean, Billie Eilish, Tame Impala, Eminem, Kid Cudi and more!
Coachella showcases popular and established musical artists as well as emerging artists and reunited groups. It is one of the largest and most famous music festivals in the United States and the world. It did not only establish itself in the art and music scene but also in fashion. Food Trucks, retail experiences, games, activities and camping are also available all throughout the festival.
