Best Music Festivals Of 2022: 20 Unmissable Events This Year

19: Pinkpop Festival

When: 17-19 June
Where: Landgraaf, Netherlands

If you fancy taking a ferry across Europe this summer, we recommend heading over to Pinkpop Festival, in the Landgraaf region of the Netherlands. Not only will the red-hot Brightonian rock duo Royal Blood be headlining the IBA Parkstad Stage on 18 June, but disco maestros Nile Rodgers And Chic will be gracing the South Stage on Sunday evening.

All eyes will be on the event’s main headliners – Metallica on Friday, Pearl Jam on Saturday and Imagine Dragons on Sunday – but with other great acts such as Twenty One Pilots, Nothing But Thieves, Deftones and Greta Van Fleet rocking Megaland, it’s bound to be a weekend to remember among the best music festivals of 2022.

18: TRNSMT Festival

When: 8-10 July
Where: Glasgow Green, Scotland

Scottish music fans are in for a treat this summer, if the line-up of TRNSMT Festival is anything to go by. The Paisley-born songwriter Paolo Nutini’s headline slot on Friday is easily one of the event’s biggest draws, largely due to the fact that the quintuple-platinum-selling singer has been on something of a hiatus since his 2014 album, Caustic Love.

That’s not to take anything away from Geordie man of the moment Sam Fender, Good Times boogiemeisters Nile Rodgers And Chic – yep, them again – and Bedford singer-songwriter Tom Grennan, who will be playing the opening Friday. On Saturday, there’s an even bigger reason to be excited, as The Strokes will be headlining, with support provided by a stellar indie line-up including Foals, The Snuts and Fontaines D.C. With Paolo Nutini’s countryman Lewis Capaldi headlining Sunday, there’s a lot of fun to be had north of the border.

17: CAMP BESTIVAL

When: 28-31 July (Dorset) | 18-21 August (Shropshire)
Where: Lulworth Castle, Dorset | Weston Park, Shropshire

Billed as a family-friendly event jam-packed with plenty for kids to do, Camp Bestival will be entertaining us across two weekends in Lulworth Castle, Dorset (28-31 July), and Weston Park, Shropshire (18-21 August). Don’t be hoodwinked by the headliner Rag’n’Bone Man, as there’s a decidedly disco vibe going down in Dorset. On a bill curated by husband-and-wife duo Josie and Rob Da Bank, Rudimental, Sister Sledge, Kool And The Gang and Earth, Wind And Fire will be breaking out the glow sticks, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be bringing her kitchen disco out of quarantine and onto the main stage.

The August weekend in Weston Park, Shropshire, is a more dance-driven affair, headlined by Fatboy Slim, with Calvin Harris’ Giant collaborator, Rag’n’Bone Man, providing support, along with Gecko (Overdrive) queen Becky Hill and hip-house everyman Example. Across both weekends, young children can expect to be entertained by Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors live on stage and Mr Tumble (aka Justin Fletcher) himself, while trance-infatuated adults can be transported back to the 90s with DJ sets from Faithless.

16: Tramlines Festival

When: 22-24 July
Where: Hillsborough Park, Sheffield

Unsurprisingly, Tramlines, in Hillsborough Park, Sheffield, has now reportedly sold out, but keep checking their website for resale news. Running from 22-24 July, Friday will see Sam Fender, James, Declan McKenna, Jade Bird and special guests Shed Seven rip up Sarah Nulty’s Main Stage, while Saturday will no doubt inspire a similarly riotous reaction when Kasabian, The Vaccines, Little Man Tate and Inhaler pick up their guitars.

Sunday will be just as special, with Madness headlining a bill that includes The Wombats, Reverend And The Makers, Sports Team and special guest The Coral. With another stage featuring comedy performances from Seann Walsh, Russell Kane and Jason Manford, by all means enjoy yourselves, but be careful not to split your sides!

15: Victorious Festival

When: 26-28 August
Where: Southsea, near Portsmouth

With tickets from just £50 a day, Victorious Festival, in Southsea, near Portsmouth, is a bona fide bargain. Screamadelica legends Primal Scream will be kicking things off on Friday afternoon, with the likes of Anna Calvi, James and Bombay Bicycle Club building anticipation for the night’s main headliners: Welsh rock icons Stereophonics.

On Saturday, Paolo Nutini will be headlining a line-up that not only features Bastille, The Wombats, Declan McKenna, Ocean Colour Scene, Kula Shaker and White Lies, but also a poptastic afternoon special guest – Sugababes. Rounding off the weekend, The Libertines will be putting on a show in the afternoon, with Editors, Suede, Nothing But Thieves and Anne-Marie setting the stage for Sam Fender as the Sunday headliner. Rapidly becoming one of the best music festivals on the South Coast, Victorious Festival will no doubt emerge triumphant among the best music festivals of 2022.

14: Kendal Calling

When: 28-31 July
Where: Lowther Deer Park, The Lake District

There are fewer places in England more beautiful than the Lake District, so Kendal Calling will be a scenic as well as an auditory wonder among the best music festivals of 2022. Taking place in Lowther Deer Park, headliners include Britpop comeback kings Supergrass on Friday, iconic alt-rockers Stereophonics on Saturday and indie-pop favourites Bastille on Sunday.

Across the weekend, you can expect to see appearances from Craig David’s TS5, Tom Grennan, The Vaccines, The Cribs, The Wombats, The Kooks, Sea Girls, and The Snuts, among many others. Not only that, but you can also venture down “a rabbit hole of wonders” at the event’s forest-based attraction, Lost Eden, and test out a few German beers at their Oktoberfest bar. Fantastisch!

13: Boardmasters Festival

When: 10-14 August
Where: Cornwall

Returning for another Cornwall-based weekend, from 10-14 August, Boardmasters will be helping to soundtrack the summer thanks to Friday headliner George Ezra, with reggae vibes provided by Jamaican sensation Damian “Jr Gong” Marley. On Saturday, DJ duo Disclosure will be topping a bill that also features Bastille, Bombay Bicycle Club, Declan McKenna and one of our musicians to look out for in 2022, Thomas Headon.

As the Cornish sun sets and the weekend comes to a close, garage-rock revivalists Kings Of Leon will be taking us through to the red morning light on Sunday, with a line-up that also features Tom Grennan and The Wombats (these guys really get around…). Since the event is run in support of Surfers Against Sewage, Boardmasters is all for a good cause, so 2022 is the perfect year to take the plunge.

12: Rock In Rio 2022

When: 2-11 September
Where: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Planning to travel further afield to get your summer festival fix? Hop on a plane in the first week of September and fly to Brazil, where Rock In Rio 2022 will be hotting up. With headliners including Iron Maiden and Post Malone (3 September), Justin Bieber (4 September), Guns N’ Roses (8 September), Green Day (9 September), Coldplay (10 September) and Dua Lipa (11 September), the music will no doubt be as scorching as the heat.

Elsewhere on the Palco Sunset stage, you can expect to catch a tan while seeing acts such as Bullet for My Valentine and Avril Lavigne, each of whom will be gracing the South American beaches with ultra-violet rays of metal-tinged and emo-pop nostalgia. Just imagine flying back to the UK with an experience like that in your memory banks…

11: Creamfields

When: 3-4 June (South) | 25-28 August (North)
Where: Hylands Park, Chelmsford (South) | Daresbury, Cheshire (North)

It’s been a tough couple of years for dance-music fans – COVID-19 lockdowns caused cancellations galore and shut down nightclubs across the globe. With this in mind, Creamfields 2022 will see Chelmsford and Cheshire become meccas, particularly if you take a look at the roster of superstar DJs they’ve lined up…

Across the Jubilee bank holiday weekend (3-4 June), Creamfields South, in Hylands Park, will see the likes of David Guetta, Fatboy Slim, Eric Prydz and Camelphat crank out the beats on Friday, with Saturday’s headliners Calvin Harris, Carl Cox and Deadmau5 almost making us forget the pandemic ever happened. Later, from 25-28 August, Creamfields North, in Daresbury, Cheshire, will also see David Guetta and Carl Cox man the decks once again, along with Armin Van Buuren, Tiësto and Martin Garrix. Welcome back, Creamfields. We’ve missed you.

10: Green Man Festival

When: 18-21 August
Where: Brecon Beacons, South Wales

Held in the rolling Brecon Beacons, in South Wales, Green Man Festival 2022 will see German EDM originators Kraftwerk headline an extremely eclectic line-up of artists. From Michael Kiwanuka to Kae Tempest, there’s something for everyone, whether you like acoustic-folk or hyper-lyrical rap.

Those who love the kind of indie art-rock can hear on BBC Radio 6 Music will be happy to see Metronomy, Parquet Courts, Low, Cate Le Bon, Ezra Furman and Black Country, New Road, and you’ll also find comedy, literature, film, visual arts and science-based activities, too. Easily one of the best music festivals of 2022, Green Man is one for the intellectuals among us. Long may it continue.

9: BST HYDE PARK

When: 24 June-10 July
Where: Hyde Park, London

Across a series of dates this summer, BST Hyde Park will be running one of the most exciting batches of festival events in memory, coaxing headline-grabbing appearances out of some of the biggest names in music. Not only will Elton John be playing on 24 June, as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour – perhaps the last time fans will ever see him perform at Hyde Park – but, the following day, rock’n’roll icons The Rolling Stones play the first two of three summer performances to mark their 60th anniversary.

If that weren’t enough, Eagles will be playing on Sunday, 26 June, with support provided by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, and pop superstar Adele will be playing two ballad-packed nights in a row (1-2 July). Next up, fans of 90s alt-rock will be left happy when Pearl Jam headline two nights, with support from bands such as Pixies and Stereophonics (8-9 July), and lovers of 80s pop will be in high heaven when Duran Duran and Nile Rodgers And Chic take to the stage on Sunday 10 July. Without a doubt, with such big names in the diary, BST Hyde Park is likely to be one of the best music festivals of 2022.

8: Lollapalooza

When: 28-31 July
Where: Grant Park, Chicago, US

One of the biggest music-festival highlights of the year is always Lollapalooza in Chicago. Held in late July, the weekend’s event will see an array of acts rocking Grant Park, with metal overlords Metallica kicking things off on Thursday, 28 July. Stick around for the next day, however, as British pop superstar Dua Lipa will be topping a Friday line-up that includes Machine Gun Kelly, Glass Animals and Royal Blood.

As the weekend unfolds, East Coast rapper J Cole will be repping Lollapalooza’s hip-hop contingent before the event concludes on Sunday with pop-punk legends Green Day making us wake up long before September has even started. The final day of Lollapalooza will also see Doja Cat and Charli XCX make appearances, rounding out a wide-ranging line-up that caters for all tastes.

7: All Points East

When: 19-28 August
Where: Victoria Park, London

This year’s All Points East has an outstanding line-up across a range of events, with Blur frontman Damon Albarn’s world-conquering outfit Gorillaz headlining on Friday, 19 August, atop a bill that includes Bristol punk band Idles and iconic US rapper Pusha T. Alternatively, fans of EDM can plug themselves into Saturday night with two very special joint headliners on 20 August: big-beat legends The Chemical Brothers and electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk.

The following week, on Thursday, 25 August, Australian indie darlings Tame Impala will be headlining. Meanwhile, alternative-loving hipster types will be flocking to see The National on Friday, 26 August, among a more cerebral line-up comprising of Fleet Foxes, King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard and Kurt Vile And The Violators. Lastly, with Disclosure and James Blake performing on Saturday, 27 August, it’s clear All Points East is easily going to be one of the best music festivals of 2022.

6: Reading And Leeds Festival

When: 26-28 August
Where: Richfield Avenue, Reading | Bramham Park, Leeds

With thousands of people descending upon Richfield Avenue and Bramham Park once again, 2022’s Reading And Leeds Festival will be their most genre-mashing experience yet. The BRIT Award-winning grime MC Dave will be one of the headliners, accompanied by rappers Polo G and Little Simz. In what many see as pre-empting the release of their impending sixth album, Arctic Monkeys will headline the Main Stage East, joined by critically acclaimed Mercury Prize nominees Wolf Alice and Fontaines D.C.

Keen to prove they won’t do what you tell them, rap-rockers Rage Against The Machine also headline, as do Halsey, Meghan Thee Stallion and Bring Me the Horizon. Other acts appearing will be Run The Jewels, Bastille, DMA’s, abcdefu hitmaker Gayle, Circa Waves, Griff and The Lathums. Last but not least, fans of UK hip-hop will relish seeing Arrdee, Pa Salieu and Krept And Konan on the BBC 1Xtra Stage. Whatever you’re into, Reading And Leeds Festival delivers the goods.

5: Download Festival

When: 10-12 June
Where: Donington, Leicestershire

One for all the metalheads: Download Festival 2022 will see Kiss headline on Friday, 10 June, bringing their glammed-up brand of hard rock to Donington Park. On Saturday, Iron Maiden will be headlining as part of their Legacy Of The Beast tour, driving the Devil’s pitchfork through a bill that includes Deftones and Shinedown on the Main Stage, not to mention Megadeth and Mastodon on the Second Stage, and Funeral For A Friend on The Avalanche Stage.

Bringing Download to a suitably fiery conclusion, Korn will be warming up the stage before Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro act as the main Sunday headliner. With the likes of Steel Panther and The Darkness also making appearances, if you were the sort of music fan who tuned into Kerrang! TV and bought nu-metal CD compilations, get ready to headbang to your heart’s content.

4: Tomorrowland

When: 15 July-1 August
Where: Boom, Belgium

Hugely popular and attracting dance-music fans from across the globe, Tomorrowland, in Boom, Brussels, is like an adult playground with magical theatrical attractions. Lit up with fireworks and laser displays, and boasting mind-boggling sets across three weekends, the theme this year is “The Reflection Of Love” – an optimistic choice which will hopefully unite EDM-lovers in a spirit of post-pandemic solidarity.

As well as its famous Rave Cave and Diplo lighting up the Rose Garden, the Main Stage DJs this year includes Afrojack, Armin Van Buuren, Hardwell, Alesso, Joel Corry, Marshmello, Martin Garrix, Tiësto, Martin Solveig, Regard, Oliver Heldens, Major Lazer Soundsystem and Nicky Romero. Phew! It’s enough to leave you breathless. But let’s be honest, that’s what Tomorrowland does best.

3: Latitude Festival

When: 21-24 July
Where: Henham Park, Suffolk

With its mix of music, arty gatherings and comedy shows, Latitude is always a highlight of the summer for many festival-goers. Across 21-24 June, the likes of Lewis Capaldi, Foals and Snow Patrol will be gracing the main stage of the Obelisk Arena in Henham Park, Suffolk, with Russell Howard headlining the comedy stage.

There’s plenty for kids to do, too: a team from Aardman Animation will be hosting model-making, and OKIDO specialists will be running science-based activities for three-to-seven-year-olds. As always, Latitude is good for the brain as well as the ears – it’s the perfect place to expand your mind while moving your feet.

2: Glastonbury Festival

When: 22-26 June
Where: Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset

Arguably the daddy of all music festivals, Glastonbury needs no introduction. Bouncing back after successive COVID-19 cancellations, event organiser Emily Eavis is aiming for cross-generational appeal after securing Billie Eilish as the youngest-ever Glasto headliner on Friday, with Beatles legend Paul McCartney headlining Saturday as the oldest.

Sunday night will see Pulitzer prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar keep his West Coast lyrical rap skills at 100, while The Supremes’ icon Diana Ross will be sparking off a chain reaction at lunchtime. Needless to say, this year’s Glastonbury looks set to be one for the record books.

1: Isle Of Wight Festival

When: 16-19 June
Where: Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle Of Wight

Having hosted historic performances in 1970 from the likes of The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell and The Doors, there is little doubt that the Isle Of Wight Festival is a national institution. This year’s much-anticipated event will be held from 16-19 June and features a roster of artists spanning a wide range of genres.

From indie rock (The Vaccines) to pop (Sigrid), dance (Rudimental) to ska (Madness), and even encompassing disco (Nile Rodgers And Chic), soul (Mavis Staples), reggae (UB40) and folk-pop (The Proclaimers), headliners across the weekend include Scottish cheeky chappie Lewis Capaldi and indie rockers Kasabian, before concluding with the laser-guided theatrics of alt-rock giants Muse. There are countless reasons to get yourself to the Isle Of Wight, and that’s why it tops our list of the best music festivals of 2022.

Check out our best songs of 2022 and hear the festival bangers that will rule the stages.