With the 2020 and 2021 music festival seasons cut short by the pandemic, 2022 is making up for lost time. All of the world’s stellar music festivals are returning, and most of them are scheduled for the summer. And although almost all tickets on official websites have already been sold out, there is still a chance to catch luck in lotteries or from resellers. Find your guide to the largest musical events that will make the hot season unforgettable.
Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland is the largest and most iconic electronic music festival in the world. It is traditionally held in Belgium, in the Boom commune. In 2020, the event held virtually, and in 2021 it was completely canceled. But this time Tomorrowland will definitely take place and, on top of it, in an expanded format. In 2022, the festival will take place three weekends in a row: on July 15–17, July 22–24, and July 29–31. Confirmed headliners include Martin Garrix, Armin van Buuren, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Marshmello, Amelie Lens, Adam Beyer, Eric Prydz and NERVO. You can get on the waiting list here. Starting price for tickets is €114.50.
Glastonbury
The Glastonbury Festival has been held in the UK since the 1970s. From the first years of its existence, the event has gained a reputation as “British Woodstock” and is traditionally considered one of the main events of the musical year. Glastonbury is famous primarily for its rock concerts, but it also hosts numerous performances by dance, folklore, theater and circus groups, as well as art expositions. In 2022 it will be held June 22–26. The lineup includes Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney, Kendrick Lamar, Diana Ross, Burna Boy, Herbie Hancock, Pet Shop Boys and Lorde. Ticket info here. Starting price is £280.
Mad Cool Festival
Mad Cool Festival in Madrid has been held only since 2016, but has already received the title of one of the most popular and star festivals in Europe. By the way, it is one of the few that took place even in the pandemic summer of 2020. It mainly features pop, rock and indie artists. This year, the dates of the festival are July 6–9. Among the performers will appear Metallica, The Killers, Muse, Kings of Leon, twenty-one pilots, Imagine Dragons, Faith No More, Pixies and Placebo. Buy tickets here. Starting price is €65.
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is a festival from Chicago that features alternative, heavy metal, hip hop and punk rock bands, dance and comedy shows, and craftsmanship. The festival always creates historic moments in the careers of many musicians, firmly anchoring them in the world’s festivals hall of fame. It will take place from 28 to 31 July at Grant Park. This year the event will be headlined by Dua Lipa, Machine Gun Kelly, Kygo, Green Day, Doja Cat and more. Check tickets here. Starting price is $125.
The Governors Ball Music Festival
The Governors Ball is a mixture of rock, hip-hop, electronica and pop music, which this year will be held in New York for the 11th time. Last year, the festival moved from Randalls Island to City Field in Queens, and in 2022 it’s back to its beloved venue. The dates are June 10–12. Festival participants: Kid Cudi, Halsey, J. Cole and others. Shop tickets here. Starting price is $129.
@alessandraambrosio, @burningman
Burning Man
Burning Man needs no introduction. The festival has been held in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert since 1986 and has since become a cultural phenomenon. Its main idea is the return of freedom to our increasingly controlled life. The event starts on the last Monday of August (this year it is the 28th) and will last 8 days until September 5th. Burning Man does not have a line-up. Instead, the festival features music, arts and cultural programs that are hosted by its members. This year’s theme is Waking Dreams, which means there’s a lot of surrealism, abstraction, and allusion ahead of us. Ticket info here. Starting price is $1500.
