The best music festivals in the US
These are the best music festivals in America for 2025, from city festivals to huge parties in the desert
Music festivals are held across the entirety of the US, from San Francisco to New York City and Chicago to Austin, ranging from enormous multi-weekend extravaganzas in the desert to city festivals and smaller genre-specific events, spanning electronic pop, hip-hop and country rock. On the festival circuit this year are Vampire Weekend, Hozier, Luke Combs and Lana Del Ray, to name a few, while Pitchfork Music Festival will not return in 2025. We have picked out the best festivals for 2025 based on each event’s lineup, atmosphere, and food and drink offerings. Dust off your bucket hat, it’s festival season.
Coachella
When: 11-13 & 18-20 April, 2025
Location: Indio, California
Price: Weekend pass from 549 USD
Who’s playing? Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone, FKA twigs, Kraftwerk, Charli XCX
Music history is made every year at the Empire Polo Club ground in the Coachella Valley, just outside Palm Springs in California. Coachella is one of the most attended music festivals in the world, with 645,000 attendees across the six day period. Spread over two weekends of identical lineups, Coachella books some of the biggest artists in pop, indie, rock, electronic, and hip hop music. Since 1999, countless legendary performances and surprise reunions have happened over the years. Some of the best performances include Outkast’s first reunion gig as headliners there in 2014, with Andre 3000’s iconic political slogan jumpsuits; Jay-Z’s headline in 2010, becoming the first solo rapper to do so, and 2009’s two-and-a-half-hour set by The Cure, who played not one but three encores. There’s something to be discovered at every corner of the festival: the camping area becomes a festival area in its own right, with DJ sets held at The Dome, exclusive to camping pass festival goers. Headlining for 2025 are Lady Gaga, Green Day and Post Malone, while FKA twigs, Kraftwerk and Charli XCX all feature on the bill.
Stagecoach Festival
When: 25-27 April 2024
Location: Indio, California
Price: Weekend pass from 439 USD
Who’s playing? Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs, Lana Del Rey, Shaboozey
Dust off your cowboy boots and head off to the desert for a weekend of the best in country music in Indio, California. Held on the same grounds as Coachella, Stagecoach festival hosts the biggest names in country music on the main stage, including Zach Bryan, Luke Combs and Lana Del Rey for 2025. Stagecoach is also a place for new and innovative artists to showcase their talent: electronic artist Diplo, who takes a modernised approach to country, hosts his own Honky Tonk stage with guest DJ sets across the weekend. And it’s not only the music to get excited about: Guy Fieri’s Stagecoach Smokehouse serves bbq food all weekend, as well as hosting cooking demonstrations with artists performing at the festival. It’s not all entirely country: T-Pain and Backstreet Boys will also perform this year.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
When: 24 April – 4 May 2025
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Price: Weekend pass from 240 USD
Who’s playing? Pearl Jam, Haim, Lil Wayne, Burna Boy, Lenny Kravitz
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, also known as ‘Jazz Fest’, is a multi-week festival that brings together jazz, blues, rock and much more in celebration of New Orleans’ heritage. Parades are held every half hour through the city from different cultural groups, while performers take to 14 different stages. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival curates one of the most diverse lineups in the country, mixing new and noteworthy artists with iconic bands to cater to all listeners: the eclectic 2025 line-up includes Pearl Jam, Haim, Lil Wayne (backed by the Roots), Burna Boy, Luke Combs, Lenny Kravitz, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, to name a few. Despite Jazz Fest’s continued objectionable sponsorship from Shell, it remains a weekend of music to relish. If that’s a deal breaker for you, consider heading to one of the other great festivals listed, or instead, protest at the festival.
Sand In My Boots
When: 16-18 May 2025
Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama
Price: Weekend pass from 339 USD
Who’s playing? Post Malone, Brooks & Dunn, HARDY, Morgan Wallen
Sand In My Boots has taken over the location of Hangout Music Fest in Gulf Shores on the Alabama border with Florida. The all-new beachside festival is curated by American singer Morgan Wallen and features a mix of his favourite bands and genres. The debut line-up includes Post Malone, Brooks & Dunn, HARDY and Wallen himself, as well as hip hop luminaries T-Pain, Wiz Khalifa and 2 Chainz. In between sets, festival goers take part in sand volleyball, beach club parties, roller disco, and art exhibits. Unlike many festivals, re-entry is allowed, meaning you’re free to head out for a midday dip in the sea. Hangout offers beach vacation packages with local Gulf Shore hotel and condo options, which include a four-night stay, passes to the festival, and shuttle services for easy transportation.
Boston Calling
When: 23-25 May 2025
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Price: Weekend pass from 350 USD
Who’s playing? Fall Out Boy, Dave Matthews Band, Luke Combs, Vampire Weekend, Public Enemy
For 2025, Boston Calling has introduced new stage configuration, in response to backlash for overcrowding at last year’s event. There will be one single rotating stage this year to improve crowd flow, as well as a additional water stations. Taking place over Memorial Day weekend at City Hall Plaza, headliners include Fall Out Boy, Luke Combs, Vampire Weekend, Public Enemy, as well as Avril Lavigne, T-Pain and Sheryl Crow. The festival offers four different ticket tiers, from general admission to platinum. For a more luxurious festival experience, consider buying the latter, which includes access to the platinum area, where a private viewing deck and a restaurant hosted by celebrity chefs can be enjoyed.
Bottlerock Festival
When: 23-25 May 2025
Location: Napa Valley, California
Price: Weekend pass 456 USD
Who’s playing: Green Day, Justin Timberlake, Benson Boone, Noah Kahan
Another festival held over Memorial Day Weekend is Bottlerock – a music, food, wine and beer festival in the heart of wine country in the hills of Northern California. Big names attract 120,000 festival goers across the weekend each year. Green Day, Justin Timberlake and Noah Kahan are among names set to perform in 2025. Bottlerock values sustainability by restricting single use plastics and placing water refill stations across the grounds. This festival is as much about the food and wine as the music: the gourmet lineup features a variety of vendors from local Bay Area establishments, and the William Sonoma culinary stage combines TV celebrity chefs such as Guy Fieri and Martha Stewart with performing artists at the festival, with a live cooking show in the middle of the food vendor lawn.
Governors Ball
When: 6-8 June 2025
Location: New York City, New York
Price: Weekend pass from 339 USD
Who’s playing? Tyler, The Creator, Benson Boone, Olivia Rodrigo, Hozier
New York’s Governors Ball, held on the second weekend of June, will take place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park for the third time this year. Situated in Queens, the park is easily accessible to city dwellers and out of towners. The festival has electronic, hip hop, pop, and more from American and international artists, and this year’s lineup is no different, featuring Tyler, The Creator, Benson Boone and Hozier, among others. An excellent food and drink offering complements the music too: a host of New York City restaurants hold food stands at the festival, meaning you can sample the best of an NYC city break without leaving the party.
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
When: 12-15 June 2025
Location: Manchester, Tennessee
Price: Weekend pass from 695 USD
Who’s playing? Tyler, The Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, Vampire Weekend, Queens of the Stone Age, Justice
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival sits 60 miles from Nashville in Manchester, Tennessee. The 700 acre farm holds more than 150 acts over four days, and boasts a vintage market, art fair, 5K running race, and one of the largest brewery fests in the country. Bonnaroo proves Tennessee isn’t just about country music: 2025 will see Tyler, The Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, Vampire Weekend, Queens of the Stone Age and Justice all perform. The campground village at Bonnaroo, called Outeroo, has yoga classes, disco dance floors, an intimate music tent, and its own saloon across nine plazas. VIP ticket holders receive even more benefits in the VIP Centeroo Lounge with misting fans and live feed TVs.
Summerfest
When: 20-22 June, 27-29 June, 4-6 July 2024
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Price: Three day pass from 62 USD
Who’s playing? Def Leppard, Jason Mraz, Gigi Perez, Lainey Wilson
The largest music festivals in the country, Summerfest has 12 stages of more than 600 artists held over three weekends in June and July, and is the perfect celebration of summer and music in the Midwest. Henry Maier Festival Park has continued to grow attendee numbers during its 50 year history, and now attracts 800,000 people each year for the wide variety of musical acts and carnival rides. Def Leppard, Jason Mraz, Gigi Perez, Lainey Wilson and James Taylor can be seen this year at the amphitheatre and on the festival stages. It is important to note that the main shows at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater are bought separate from general admission, and there is no camping available, meaning you need to find your own accommodation in Milwaukee.
Newport Folk Festival
When: 25-27 July 2025
Where: Newport, Rhode Island
Price: Weekend pass from 273 USD
On the coast of Rhode Island, The Newport Folk Festival has celebrated folk music since 1959. At first an extension of the Newport Jazz Festival, the now standalone folk festival has had legendary acts like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell grace the stage over the years. This year’s big names are yet to be announced, but you can expect a stellar line-up of folk names. There is no camping onsite but festival guests are encouraged to camp at nearby grounds to support Rhode Island State Parks. The Newport Folk Festival works with the Newport Festival Foundation to support music education and local artists.
Lollapalooza
When: 31 July – 3 August 2025
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Price: Weekend pass from 449 USD
Since 2005, Grant Park has hosted 400,000 people each year for Lollapalooza. The lakefront music experience is one to remember, with more than 170 artists performing across the four-day schedule. The 2025 line-up is yet to be announced, but you can expect an eclectic mix of big-name artists. Elevate your outfits at the many glamour tents with hair braiding stations, or relax with a drink in air conditioned beer tents. Chow Town holds numerous food stalls with cuisines from around the world provided by local vendors. Lollapalooza is one of the longest running American festivals, with tickets expected to go on sale around late March.
Outside Lands
When: 8-10 August 2025
Where: San Francisco, California
Price: To be announced
Outside Lands festival welcomes tens of thousands of festival goers each year to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, with the 2025 line-up yet to be announced. SOMA, Outside Lands’ dedicated stage for house and techno, runs alongside the main stage and blasts music all weekend from various DJs, while Dolores is an open-air dance club in the Polo Field that celebrates San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ communities. Sample the flavours of the city in the Taste of the Bay Area, which brings together chefs and culinary experiences, alongside local craft beers and Californian wines. Join people from all over the world to listen to music in the foggy city.
Life is Beautiful
When: September 2025 (exact dates TBC)
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
Price: Weekend pass from 462 USD
The Las Vegas strip turns into a music and arts block party every year for the Life Is Beautiful festival in September. The festival is yet to announce its 2025 lineup, but if last year is anything to go by, it’s sure to be a knock out: Justice, Peggy Gou and LCD Sound System all performed. Life Is Beautiful also boasts a range of theatre acts: festival attendees can see Cirque du Soleil performances and famous comedians. The neon electric SubOrbs block party, curated by art collective Meow Wolf, provides an immersive art experience. Check out the 18-block-long art gallery tailored by local artists featuring all kinds of mediums. There is no question why Life Is Beautiful won ‘Best Festival In The World’ by the BandLab NME awards in 2022.
Austin City Limits
When: 3-5 & 10-12 October 2025
Where: Austin, Texas
Price: Weekend pass from 328 USD
Texas: the home of barbeque, country music, and Austin City Limits. From Paul McCartney to Childish Gambino, ACL puts on performances of all kinds. A slew of food truck catering can be found in the ACL Eats Food Court all from surrounding Austin favourites.The Craft Beer Hall, organised by Texas’s very own Karbach Brewing Co., has flatscreens and cold beers to drink under the shaded tent. Austin Kiddie Limits holds its own stage for kids to enjoy music and activities in a specialised space. Zilker Park closes out the festival season in the Texas fall heat with 420,000 in attendance each year. The lineup has yet to be announced but is expected to be as abundant as ever.
