Top European festival organisers came together at ILMC 37 to discuss the changing tastes of festival fans and how their events are vying to stand out in an increasingly competitive live music market.

Moderator Alex Bruford, ATC Live (UK), was joined by Jim King, AEG Presents (UK), Virag Csiszar, Sziget (HU), Jana Posth, Rock am Ring (DE) and Ben Ray, Slam Dunk (UK) for Festival Focus: Survive & Thrive.

The session kicked off with a health check on the festival market at large, with panellists agreeing that the sector is in flux and still facing some challenges. While rising costs and artist fees are ongoing concerns among organisers, a newer hurdle is the “festivalisation” of concerts and the competition that poses to traditional festivals.

Rock am Ring’s Posth used Adele’s blockbuster residency in Munich as an example: “It wasn’t just a concert – you could spend the whole day there like you would with a festival. People obviously really like this in-between of festival and concert.”

In addition to a pop-up stadium, the Munich site featured Adele World: an area the size of a small festival, with a recreation of lost Kilburn (London) venue The Good Ship, a fairground, and live performances including a Spice Girls tribute group, for pre-event and after-hours fun.

“Younger people are not really interested in the whole [six-day] package anymore”

Discussing whether younger music fans prefer a one-day event to a multi-day festival, Sziget’s Csiszar noted a change in ticket-buying behaviour for the Budapest-based event. “Younger people are not really interested in the whole [six-day] package anymore,” she said. “We try to convince them to not only come for specific artists but to enjoy the whole experience and to provide exciting stuff.”

However, King – who promotes festivals such as All Points East, BST Hyde Park and Lido – argued that both single-day and multi-day festivals have their place for Gen-Z but that a strong identity is key.

“They’re two different things and they’re both relevant but they should be marketed differently,” he said. “You’re trying to create a different environment, and I think it’s important to achieve that.”

Ray, who promotes the one-day pop-punk, emo, metal and ska-themed festival Slam Dunk, said that attracting new audiences isn’t much of an issue due to the event’s brand and format.

“Luckily, we get a lot of repeat business,” he told delegates. “Being a specialist festival, people that are really into that music attend year after year. They will go to Slam Dunk a lot older than they would do a camping festival.”

“Expectations for camping are a lot higher now, it has to be more than a tent and some grass”

Indeed, greenfield festivals have been stepping up their camping offering to attract the newer generation of festivalgoers. Last month, Reading & Leeds announced details of a ‘historic overhaul’ to its camping offering, unveiling five new campsites featuring a range of improvements, experiences and complimentary add-ons.

Rock am Ring has also updated its camping site, with Posth adding: “Expectations for camping are a lot higher now, it has to be more than a tent and some grass.”

Expectations of food and beverage at festivals have also changed, according to Posth: “It’s true, the younger ones don’t drink as much – I can see this. And they’re also more focused on healthy food, which influences that aspect of the festival. In Germany, you cannot just offer fries and sausages and pizza.”

Though bar-spend may be less among Gen-Z customers, King said there are plenty of other revenue opportunities associated with that generation. “I think you’ve got to understand what your business model is and be flexible with it, especially if you’re going to nine headliners across a festival like BST,” he said. “Our sponsorship numbers are the best we’ve ever seen for every single show that we do and they extend even further when we get into the Gen-Z audience.”

The panel also said that the availability of A-list artists is still an issue for their festivals, though some are looking to the next generation of headliners to fill the gap.

“Our sponsorship numbers are the best we’ve ever seen for every single show that we do”

“It’s always been really hard to find the right six headliners in August – especially because we set expectations high after having Prince and Rihanna,” said Csiszar. “It’s been tough but we managed to secure a really strong lineup of young artists this year [including Chappell Roan and Charli XCX] and I’m really happy to see them reaching this level already.”

King responded: “We’ve got our youngest-ever BST lineup this year and I struggle to think of a time that there were so many young headliners – Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan. We have made a conscious decision to contemporise our lineups.”

However, the discrepancy in artist fees for touring and festivals is the single biggest issue for festivals according to the AEG Presents veteran.

“You go back five, maybe seven, years ago and there was a marked difference between a major outdoor show where you have concessions – and therefore other forms of revenue – and a concert,” King told delegates.

“Now parties can make much more from headline shows and that’s become a major challenge to the festival industry, which is trying to secure that level of artists so you can’t compete against that.”

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As the end of January approaches, a selection of Europe’s top festivals have unveiled beefed-up bills for the summer.

Hungary’s Sziget (6-11 August) has confirmed headliners A$AP Rocky, Post Malone and Shawn Mendes, joining the previously announced Anyma, Chappell Roan and Charli XCX. Other additions include horsegiirL, Helado Negro, Hermanos Gutiérrez, Caribou, Ahadadream and Hedex b2b Bou.

Denmark institution Roskilde (28 June to 5 July) has unveiled 28 new names for its 2025 lineup, led by Doechii, Schoolboy Q, Beabadoobee, Shaboozey, Lola Young and Nine Inch Nails.

Wet Leg, Lucy Dacus, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, This Is Lorelei, Alabaster DePlume, Yeule, Fabiana Palladino, Akriila and D1MA will also perform as part of the festival.

“Roskilde Festival is not only about showcasing today’s best music; it is also about offering our participants a glimpse into the future,” says Roskilde head of music Thomas Sønderby Jepsen. “Artists like Doechii, Shaboozey, and Lola Young represent the next wave of global stars, and we are proud to be part of their journey as they shape the future of music.”

Nine Inch Nails will also star at the 17th edition of Portugal’s NOS Alive (10-12 July) as co-headliner alongside Kings of Leon. Justice have also been confirmed.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic’s Colours of Ostrava (16-19 July) has announced an Asian focus as part of this year’s edition, with nine fresh names from Korea, Taiwan, China and Japan.

The festival will include a special performance by Korean composer Jung Jaeil, who is behind the music for Squid Game, Parasite and upcoming sci-fi film Mickey 17, accompanied by the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava. Previously confirmed performers include Sting, The Chainsmokers, Iggy Pop, Justice and Snow Patrol.

“We want to introduce our audience to fresh, exotic, and innovative sounds rooted in diverse cultures,” says artistic director Zlata Holušová. “In recent years, we’ve been particularly captivated by Asian culture, a global phenomenon shaping music, film, and storytelling today.”

The Netherlands’ Awakenings (11-13 July) will star the likes of Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox, Charlotte de Witte, Indira Paganotto, FJAAK, Marco Carola, Sara Landry, Joseph Capriati b2b Jamie Jones, DJ Gigola, VTSS and 6EJOU.

Celebrating its 15th anniversary, the UK’s Parklife (14-15 June) has added 50 Cent as headliner alongside Charli XCX and Jorja Smith. Other acts at the Manchester event will include Peggy Gou, PAWSA, Overmono, BICEP, Lola Young, Confidence Man, Chris Stussy, Steve Angello, Hybrid Minds, Andy C, Hedex & Bou and Rudimental.

London Grammar are the third headliner announced for the inaugural LIDO Festival in London’s Victoria Park. Celeste, Roisin Murphy, Pip Millett, The Blessed Madonna, Wasia Project, Maverick Sabre, Neil Frances present Club NF, Dan Whitlam, Holly Walker and Clementine Douglas also feature on the 15 June bill.

DJ and producer Fisher will deliver an exclusive London performance at Labyrinth on the Thames, the new open-air music series at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, on 9 August. The news follows the previous announcements of Black Coffee (1 August) and Anjunadeep (10 August).

“Fisher is a one of a kind talent, who deserves a one of a kind venue to play in,” says Labyrinth founder Nick Castleman. “His energy is infectious and it’s going to be a real experience to see him perform in this space. Having looked at this site with his team for a few years now, we’re so stoked to announce him as our Saturday headliner.”

Elsewhere, in the US, Simple Plan, Bowling For Soup, Pennywise, Miss May I, Dance Hall Crashers and Chandler Leighton are the first names revealed for the Vans Warped Tour, which is returning after six years. The tour will visit RFK Campus in Washington DC (14–15 June), the Shoreline Waterfront in Long Beach, California (26–27 July) and Camping World Stadium Campus in Orlando, Florida (15–16 November).

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After a barren few years for new headliners, the festival business suddenly finds itself with an embarrassment of riches to choose from.

The industry struggled to produce fresh superstar talent over a decade of discontent – a drought that was exacerbated by the global touring boom, as A-list acts increasingly skipped the festival circuit in favour of their own headline shows.

Yet accusations of an over-reliance on heritage acts – ironically enough – are becoming a thing of the past. According to ROSTR, which analysed the 2024 lineups of 50 top European festivals, the artist with the most headline slots this year was Fred Again.. with seven, followed by Måneskin (6) and Dua Lipa, The Chainsmokers, Lana Del Rey, SZA, Sam Smith, Bring Me The Horizon and Pulp (5).

With the exception of Pulp, all of the above broke through in the 2010s or later, while the likes of Billie Eilish, Sam Fender, Lewis Capaldi, Dave, Halsey and Hozier have also ascended to the top table in recent years.

Next year’s lineups have seen a continuation of the trend, with the likes of Charli XCX, Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter ascending to headline status. Most startlingly of all, however, is the world’s fastest-rising artist Chappell Roan, who will top the bill at multiple major European festivals despite having just one album under her belt.

So what makes a festival headliner in this day and age? Primavera Sound’s head of bookings Fra Soler argues the criteria has not radically altered.

“There are two types of headliners: those with long careers… and those who have just exploded and are very hot at the moment”

“Festivals seek headliners who are successful, relevant and sell tickets,” he tells IQ. “It’s the same for 2024/25. At Primavera, since we are a tastemaking festival, we always like to present acts at the early stages of their careers and bet on potential headliners of the future. It has occurred several times that an act we booked in September has become a headliner by the time Primavera happens in June.”

Primavera Sound Barcelona has booked an all-female headline slate for 2025, featuring Roan, Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter.

“We have a very deep lineup, with more than 100 acts, and our idea has always been to tell different stories through our line-up,” says Soler. “In a way, our curation is also one of our headliners. That said, we also look for quality, relevance, success and freshness in a headliner.”

Moreover, Soler does not consider 26-year-old Roan’s meteoric rise to be indicative of a new phenomenon.

“There are two types of headliners: those with long careers who have achieved a status and maintained it, and those who have just exploded and are very hot at the moment,” he asserts. “For the latter, we hope they maintain their profile over the years and remain headliners for many years to come.

“It is true that we’ve been through some sort of headliner drought in recent years, so it’s great to have fresh and new headliners emerging.”

“When we see how fast acts like these can grow and deliver headliner-worthy shows, it gives us bright hope for the future”

Roan and Charli XCX will also star at Norway’s 22,000-cap Øya Festival alongside Queens of the Stone Age and Girl in Red.

“We have been lucky getting our first choices confirmed this year, all with very different criteria,” says the Oslo event’s founder, owner and booker Claes Olsen. “QOTSA had to cancel last year due to illness, so we’re very happy that Josh [Homme, frontman] is healthy again and ready to be back on the road next summer, while Girl in Red is our local headliner and we are proud of giving the Saturday headline slot to a domestic act.”

Olsen discloses: “On both Chappell Roan and Charli XCX, we made the offers early for slots lower down the bill, then they both grew and grew and the offer got bigger. When we got the confirmed and announced they were definitely solid main stage headliners for us.

“When we as an industry debates the lack of headliners, I must say that when we see how fast acts like these can grow and deliver headliner-worthy shows, it gives us bright hope for the future.”

Olsen concurs with Soler’s view that there have always been exceptions to the rule, with the size of the festival also playing a part.

“At Øya we kind of have to be creative and find a way to lift up new headliners,” he offers. “When we moved Kendrick Lamar up to headline level in 2013 that was also due to the artist growing quickly, and the same with Robyn in 2010; it all happened after we confirmed her and had to move her up.”

“While these names may seem like exceptions, they increasingly represent a trend that any festival must take into account”

Conversely, Virág Csiszár, head of international booking at Hungary’s Sziget, believes the quickfire ascents of Eilish, Roan and Fred Again.. are reflective of “significant changes” in the music industry.

Sziget 2025 will be headed by Roan, Charli XCX and Anyma, and Csiszár points to the emergence of TikTok and streaming platforms for enabling artists to quickly build large fanbases.

“While these names may seem like exceptions, they increasingly represent a trend that any festival must take into account,” she contends.

Moreover, Csiszár insists the public holds a significant say in determining Sziget’s lineup, with the distinct makeup of the festival’s audience also factored in.

“We heavily rely on visitor feedback, conducting various surveys and online questionnaires to monitor which artists generate the most interest each year and who our audience wants to see in the closing slot of the main stage,” says Csiszár. “We do not solely consider Hungarian market demands but also place significant emphasis on the favourites of international visitors when selecting performers.”

“It’s no longer about how long an artist has been in the game, it’s about how they connect with an audience”

Nicholas Greco, co-founder and managing partner of Australia’s Unitled Group, promoter of festivals such as Beyond The Valley, agrees the headliner model has shifted.

“With the speed at which social media propels artists into global stardom, audiences expect festivals to be forward-thinking and at the forefront of cultural trends,” he observes. “Festivals have become breeding grounds for the next wave of talent, which means we have to stay ahead of emerging global trends and new artists before they fully break.”

Greco continues: “It’s no longer about how long an artist has been in the game, it’s about how they connect with an audience. If an artist can create a genuine connection and the crowd can already see their superstar potential, they’ll follow. This is why acts like Chappell Roan, Billie Eilish, and Fred Again.. headlined festivals early in their careers – they’ve managed to capture a moment in time and build a significant, engaged fanbase rapidly.”

Elsewhere in Belgium, Sam Fender is among the headliners for the next edition of Belgium’s Rock Werchter, which prompts organiser Herman Schueremans to share a point of personal pride.

“A lot of our headliners for either Rock Werchter, TW Classic or Werchter Boutique first played when they were an upcoming act and come back later as a headliner,” beams the Live Nation Belgium CEO. “They say it is like coming home for them. We keep building acts and the criteria stays the same – quality!”

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Ticket price increases for European festivals are cooling off ahead of next summer, according to analysis by IQ.

Prices for full festival tickets increased by an average of 5% between 2024 and 2025, compared to almost 7% from 2023 to 2024, according to analysis of a cross-section of 20 European festivals.

The increase in festival ticket prices between 2023 and 2024 is perhaps best explained by the ballooning rise in costs caused by issues including post-Covid inflation and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“The cost of infrastructure has increased so much with the combination of Covid and the cost of Brexit”

German promoter DreamHaus (Rock am Ring/Rock im Park) said production costs increased in the region of 25-30% for the 2023 festival season.

On top of this, organisers had to make up the shortfall from a 2022 edition priced in 2019, as well as two cancelled editions due to the pandemic.

“The fact that we didn’t make any money with a sold-out Hurricane in 2022, but actually lost it, was also due to the fact that we had basically sold the tickets three years earlier,” FKP Scorpio CEO Stephan Thanscheidt said at the time.

“Keeping ticket prices under control while maintaining profit margins at the same time is proving extremely difficult right now,” he added.

But costs are still an ongoing concern for the sector in 2024 – as evidenced by the slate of festival cancellations referencing “financial challenges” and steadily increasing ticket prices.

“I still think festivals are incredible value for money when you compare them to other forms of entertainment”

“The cost of infrastructure has increased so much with the combination of Covid and the cost of Brexit,” John Giddings, Isle of Wight boss, tells IQ. “Plus the cost of artists is more because their productions are bigger.”

Tamás Kádár, CEO of Sziget, adds: “It is indeed a general trend that ticket prices for European festivals are rising to some extent. Unfortunately, we see rising supplier costs and the effects of global (and especially local) inflation. It is something we have to deal with when calculating ticket prices.”

However, raising the ticket price is no small decision for organisers, who are concerned about pricing out swathes of their audiences.

Primavera Sound’s Marta Pallarès recently told IFF delegates: “Thirty percent of our crowd is from Spain. If we [significantly increase our ticket price] we will lose that national crowd, which is important to our identity as a festival.

“Plus, after 24 years, our crowd is younger and they can’t afford a ticket that’s more than €250 so we are keeping the prices for them, to be honest.”

“It’s a constant struggle to keep tickets affordable”

Though organisers are wary of reaching a “red line” with ticket prices, many are keen to point out that festivals are generally good value for money.

“As far as I can see, at a West End theatre the average ticket price is £75-80 for a two-hour show and we’re £300 for a four-day show,” says Giddings. “Or you go to a Formula 1 race and the price is phenomenal. I still think festivals are incredible value for money when you compare them to other forms of entertainment.”

Lowlands director Eric van Eerdenburg testifies: “I think we have one of the highest ticket prices in Holland but if you compare it to a weekend in London, Paris or Berlin, it’s cheap.”

The Dutch festival raised its ticket price to €325 for 2024, up from €300 in 2023 and €255 in 2022.

“It’s a constant struggle to keep tickets affordable,” he says. “But attendees are offered so much entertainment for just €115 per day. People tell me every year that they’ve had the best weekend of their lives.”

With the price of energy, production and acts rapidly increasing, a hike in the ticket price was necessary to “make a reasonable margin” adds Eerdenburg.

“I think the [cooling off] on ticket price increases means that [the sector] is trying to provide value for money”

Sziget’s Kádár echoes these thoughts, adding that the Hungarian festival “is one of the best value-for-money festivals in Europe”. “We have structured the price of our six-day pass so that when divided by day, it becomes even more attractive,” he continues. Elsewhere, Primavera Sound’s €250 ticket price boils down to just €1 per band, according to Pallares.

Giddings adds: “I think the [cooling off] on ticket price increases means that [the sector] is trying to provide value for money.”

At the same time, festivals are doing what they can to keep festival prices down and ensure that events remain accessible to people from all walks of life.

“We offer tiered pricing throughout the year, rewarding our most loyal fans with (Super) Early Bird tickets at nearly last year’s prices,” says Kádár. “We also offer various products, as well as travel and accommodation packages to provide favourable deals for visitors. Additionally, we provide special Under 21 ticket pricing to ensure the festival remains accessible for younger attendees.

“In terms of catering, we have also introduced “budget-friendly” food options for the second consecutive year. Overall, while the economic impacts on festivals are not favourable, we believe that Sziget still can be a festival for everyone.”

Giddings concludes: “It’s not a cheap hobby to put on a festival – it’s a huge financial gamble – but we want to keep it within the realms of possibility for people to afford a four-day camping event.”

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Sziget CEO Tamás Kádár has told IQ he is bidding to take the festival to “the next level” after celebrating its 30th edition this summer.

The Hungarian event was held across 50 stages between 7-12 August, pulling in an average of 65,000 fans per day to the Óbuda island in Budapest.

“We wanted to conclude our first 30 editions with a spectacular, vibrant and colourful festival, to everyone’s satisfaction, and based on the feedback, it seems we have succeeded,” says Kádár. “Regarding ticket sales, we have noticed an increasing interest in full festival passes, and our goal for the future is to support six-day pass sales by developing services and programming to ensure that those who spend almost a week at the festival have a full scale experience.”

Despite the 2024 season being hindered by an apparent shortage of viable headliners, Sziget bucked the trend to construct a formidable bill. International artists to perform included Kylie Minogue, Stormzy, Sam Smith, Halsey, Fred Again.., Raye, Janelle Monáe, Skrillex, Overmono, Nia Archives, Tom Odell, Becky Hill and Fontaines D.C.

“Sziget Festival is characterised by its musical diversity, and our goal in inviting headliners was to ensure that every genre is represented,” notes Kádár. “Since Sziget is not a ‘genre festival’, we have a broader selection to choose from. Of course, we also sometimes depend on being lucky and a lot of hard work goes into it, but we also believe that Sziget’s reputation plays a role in assembling such a fantastic lineup every year.”

Having placed an emphasis last year on enhancing the festival experience, the 2024 event saw further improvements.

“In its first year, we had 43,000 visitors, mostly from Hungary, and now guests come from over 100 countries”

“Our services are exemplary among European festivals in terms of hygiene,” adds Kádár. “For example, mobile toilets have disappeared from the guest area and water-flushing container toilet blocks have been set up in several places, as well as several container shower blocks some with featuring joint singing under the shower.

“The visual world of Sziget has also become much more colourful, both in terms of the guest area and the programme venues. We have also made a lot of progress in sustainability, and in this area we are working further together with the international community of European festivals.”

Organisers also created “help zones” at the festival, whereby calm conditions and professional help was available for festivalgoers who asked for help due to panic, or any mental and psychological problems.

Another source of pride was the diversity of the audience, with fans attending from more than 100 countries.

“We are delighted that Sziget has become increasingly popular in the international market over the years,” notes Kádár. “In its first year, we had 43,000 visitors, mostly from Hungary, and now guests come from over 100 countries around the world, almost 10 times the number.”

First held in 1993, the community-built festival has hosted names such as Arctic Monkeys, David Bowie, Oasis, Dua Lipa, Post Malone, Florence + the Machine, Radiohead, Tove Lo, Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran and Kendrick Lamar.

“Our focus is on taking the festival to the next level, while staying true to the core values and unique spirit that define the Sziget experience”

“More than 30 years ago, we had a dream: a place where we could be together for a week, where everyone could experience their personal freedom, the atmosphere, and the ‘flow’ that a vibrant festival can provide, where different styles, programs, and cultures coexist,” says Kádár.

“Sziget has undergone significant changes over the past 30 years; while the first festival featured only 200 concerts, a few theatre performances, and a couple of films, this year there are 50 programme venues hosting 1,000 programs with over 600 performers, showcasing a much greater diversity of genres, which we have always strived for.

“Most importantly, Sziget has become a symbol over the years – a utopia where we can leave behind the worries of everyday life.”

Wrapping up, Kádár discusses his plans to take the festival forward from this point.

“I’m very optimistic about the future of Sziget,” he says. “This year’s festival marked our 30th edition, which is a significant milestone, and it reaffirms the enduring appeal of Sziget. Looking ahead, our focus is on taking the festival to the next level, while staying true to the core values and unique spirit that define the Sziget experience.

“We’re planning thoughtful changes that will keep us aligned with the evolving preferences of our audience. At the same time, we’re exploring new opportunities to enrich the festival in ways that remain authentic to what makes Sziget so special. Our commitment to creating a successful and continuously renewing event remains steadfast, with the enhancement of the guest experience as our main priority.”

He concludes: “The strong international interest in Sziget is a testament to its relevance as a global event, and our goal moving forward is to further strengthen that distinctive ‘Sziget vibe’ for both domestic and international visitors. We see immense potential for the future, and we’re excited about what lies ahead.”

Sziget’s return has been announced for 6-11 August next year. Revisit IQ‘s 2023 feature on 30 years of the festival here.

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Continuing our regular European festival previews, IQ gives readers a snapshot of what’s to come this weekend…

Norway’s Øya Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary between 6-10 August, with Jack White drafted in as a late replacement for Queens of the Stone Age. White joined PJ Harvey, Pulp, Janelle Monáe and Gabrielle in headlining the Oslo event, which will also feature The Kills, Vince Staples, The National, Slowdive, Big Thief, Arca, Sampha and Idles, among others.

In addition, White has stepped in for QOTSA at Sweden’s Way Out West and Denmark’s Syd for Solen (both 8-10 August).

The Way Out West lineup already boasts artists including Fred Again.., Pulp, PJ Harvey, The National, Air, Skepta, Charlotte Day Wilson, Peggy Gou, Chase & Status, Andre 3000, Big Thief, Jessie Ware, Tems and J Hus, while Fred Again.. also tops the bill at Syd for Solen, which will also welcome the likes of Jorja Smith, Michael Kiwanuka, Sampha, Air, Big Thief, Kenya Grace, Andre 3000 and The Kills.

Also in Denmark, Smukfest, which runs from 4-11 August, has Deep Purple, Sam Smith, Diana Ross, Hardwell, Icona Pop, Example, Faithless, Joel Corry, Lukas Graham, The Prodigy, Zara Larsson and Kiefer Sutherland.

In Hungary, Budapest’s Sziget (7-12 August) presents an all-star cast starring Fred Again.., Halsey, Janelle Monae, Kylie Minogue, Liam Gallagher, Martin Garrix, Sam Smith, Skrillex and Stormzy. Acts will also include Bebe Rexha, Fisher, Louis Tomlinson, Raye, Four Tet, Fontaines DC, Tom Odell, Becky Hill, Aurora and Big Thief.

Meanwhile, Halsey, Fred Again.., PJ Harvey and Pulp head Finland’s Flow Festival in Helsinki (9-11 August). The bill also includes acts such as Raye, Jessie Ware, Idles, Janelle Monae, Vince Staples, Aurora, James Blake, L’Imperatrice, Kenya Grace and Gasellit.

The UK’s Boardmasters (7-11 August) in Newquay, Cornwall, will be headlined by Chase & Status, Sam Fender and Stormzy, backed by Courteeners, Becky Hill, The Streets, Leftfield, Tom Odell, Nia Archives, Declan McKenna, Maisie Peters, Cat Burns and Mahalia.

Other acts will include The Teskey Brothers, Kenya Grace, Soft Play, Elderbrook, Holly Humberstone, Ghetts, Katy B, Kate Nash, Royel Otis, Los Bitchos and Nick Mulvey.

Boomtown 2024 – Chapter 3: Revolution of Imagination (7-11 August) brings The Pharcyde, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Ezra Collective, Viagra Boys, Marc Rebillet, Earth Wind & Fire Experience by Al McKay, Soft Play and Hak Baker to Winchester’s Matterley Bow in Hampshire.

SBTRKT, Pendulum, Ibibio Sound Machine, Children Of Zeus, Ghetts, Fish 56 Octagon, Dream Wife, Priya Ragu and  Sherelle will also perform at the event.

MEO Sudoeste (7-10 August) in Portugal is headed by Martin Garrix, Anitta, Don Toliver, Da Weasel and Alok, with the supporting cast including Charlotte De Witte, Richie Campbell, Matue, Barbara Bandeira, Lil Yachty and Mizzy Miles.

Elsewhere, the likes of Rise Against, Alligatoah, Deichkind, Beatsteaks, Nina Chuba, Giant Rooks and Feine Sahne Fischfilet will grace Germany’s Taubertal-Festival (8-11 August).

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With the European festival season in full swing, IQ is previewing what the forthcoming weekend has in store…

Dutch festival Down The Rabbit Hole (5–7 July) will welcome a sold-out crowd for its 2024 edition, after selling all 45,000 tickets in less than 45 minutes of going on sale.

The Mojo-promoted event at De Groene Heuvels near Ewijk will feature performances from the likes of LCD Soundsystem, Michael Kiwanuka, The National, Jungle, Raye, Jessie Ware and Khruangbin.

Meanwhile, hip-hop festival franchise Rolling Loud will debut in Austria (5–7) as the only European edition in 2024.

The Live Nation Germany-promoted event, dubbed Rolling Loud Europe, will take over Racino in Ebreichsdorf, an open-air venue on the outskirts of Vienna.

Nicki Minaj, Playboi Carti and Travis Scott will headline the premiere, with support from acts including Ice Spice, Shirin David and Don Toliver.

In Belgium, Rock Werchter (4–7) is already underway at Festivalpark in Werchter. The Live Nation Belgium-promoted event is headlined by Foo Fighters, Dua Lipa, Lenny Kravitz and Måneskin. Day tickets have sold out for four of the five dates.

Bombay Bicycle Club, Snow Patrol, Yungblud and Sum 41, The Last Dinner Party, Nothing But Thieves, Avril Lavigne and Khruangbin, Michael Kiwanuka, Arlo Parks and Royal Blood will also perform at Belgium’s biggest festival over the coming days.

Hip-hop festival franchise Rolling Loud will debut in Austria this weekend

Dua Lipa and Foo Fighters are also headlining Open’er (3–6) on the north coast of Poland, in Gdynia, alongside Doja Cat.

Addition acts for the Alter Art-promoted event include Hozier, Charli XCX, Don Toliver, Måneskin, Disclosure, Ashnikko, 21 Savage, Ice Spice, Air, Loyle Carner, Michael Kiwanuka, Floating Points, Kim Gordon, Tom Morello, Sampha and Slowdive.

Ruisrock (5–7), the second oldest rock festival in Europe, will once again take over the national park of Ruissalo in Turku, Finland this weekend.

The Chainsmokers, Hardwell, Disclosure, PMMP and Stormzy are top are top billing for the 2024 edition, which will host up to 35,000 people a day.

Elsewhere, electronic music festival Balaton Sound (3–6) is afoot on the beach in Zamárdi, Hungary.

Marshmello, Alison Wonderland, Adam Beyer, Amelie Lens and Timmy Trumpet are among the acts performing at the event, organised by the team behind Sziget in Budapest.

Other festivals taking place this weekend include Electric Love Festival (AU), Lovely Days Festival (AU), Lytham Festival (UK), Les Eurockéennes de Belfort (FR), Awakenings Summer Festival (NL), Love Supreme Jazz Festival (UK) and Comfort Festival (IT).

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Festivals around the world have been adding the finishing touches to their lineups as the 2024 season rapidly approaches.

Ireland’s Electric Picnic finally dropped its bill last Friday, featuring Noah Kahan, Calvin Harris and Kylie Minogue as headliners.

The sold-out festival will take place at Stradbally Hall in Stradbally, County Laois, between 16-18 August. Other artists will include Gerry Cinnamon, Kodaline, Raye, Faithless, J Hus, Kasabian, Nas, Peggy Gou, Teddy Swims and Tom Grennan.

Minogue has also been revealed as the opening night headliner at Hungary’s Sziget, set for Budapest from 7-12 August, with Fisher and Barry Can’t Swim also added to a lineup that boasts the likes of Stormzy, Fred Again.., Sam Smith and Martin Garrix.

Sziget has also confirmed the list of performers for its rap and hip-hop stage, the dropYard, with names including Kojaque, P Money, Rushy, Bladerunnaz DJs, D-LOW, Gray, Joe Unknown and Kybba.

In addition, the former Europe Stage will now be known as Ibis x ALL presents The Buzz, showcasing international bands that have achieved significant success in their home countries but are not yet widely known internationally. Acts will include Royel Otis, Jeremias, Dead Poet Society, Íñigo Quintero and Artemas.

Denmark’s Roskilde has completed the lineup for this year’s festival with the addition of 15 music acts including Action Bronson, Shygirl, Musa Keys, Scarlxrd, Evian Christ, Porij, Ana Lua Caiano, Muskila, Sega Bodega, Strictly Silk and Zzzahara.

They join an existing bill including 21 Savage, Doja Cat, Foo Fighters, Ice Spice, Khruangbin, Jungle, Kali Uchis, Kim Gordon, J Hus, Jungle, Nia Archives, PJ Harvey, PinkPantheress, Romy, Skrillex and Tyla, among others, from 29 June to 6 July.

“It is important for us to provide space for new talents and to offer a platform and reinforce the voices of those who can contribute to creating change”

The festival has also added new names to its art and activism programme, including Solidarity With Palestine, graffiti artist RAMS, and performance artist Andie Flores.

“Roskilde Festival is created to make a difference for others, even far from the festival’s experiences, art, and concerts,” says programme director Anders Wahrén. “It is important for us to provide space for new talents and to offer a platform and reinforce the voices of those who can contribute to creating change. We must be the amplifier that we have the opportunity to be. To inspire, and instil hope.”

Elsewhere, Slipknot will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their self-titled debut album with homecoming event Knotfest Iowa at Water Works Park in Des Moines on 21 September. The one-night-only event will mark the first time in four years the band have returned to their hometown, and will also star Till Lindeman, Knocked Loose, Hatebreed, Poison the Well and GWAR.

Moreover, Knotfest Iowa will include emerging acts such as Vended, Dying Wish, ZULU, Twin Temple, Holy Wars and Swollen Teeth.

In the UK, Loyle Carner’s 17 August headline set at All Points East in Victoria Park, London, will feature support from André 3000, Lianne La Havas, Flying Lotus, Cymande, Glass Beams, Berlioz, Nubya Garcia, Songer, Lola Young, MRCY, Dana and Alden and Bricknasty. They join previously announced special guests Nas, Ezra Collective, Sainté, Joe James, ENNY and Navy Blue.

Also in London, BST Hyde Park will welcome special guests Brandi Carlile, Anna Calvi and Paris Paloma as support to headliner Stevie Nicks on 12 July.

Elsewhere ULTRA Worldwide has unveiled Steve Angello, Afrojack, Alesso, Ben Nicky, RL Grime, NGHTMRE, SLANDER and Knock2 as headliners for the sixth edition of ULTRA Beach Bali. Scheduled for 6-7 June, ULTRA Beach Bali will take place at beachfront pool club Café Del Mar in the resort village of Canggu.

Plus, FKP Scorpio is curating the cultural programme for Germany’s IFA Sommergarten – the centrepiece of leading technology and industry trade fair IFA Berlin. The event will include the 6PM Season Festival in collaboration with Dreamhaus on 6 September, while on 7 September, FKP will present concerts by Faithless, Kosheen. Stereo MCs and Incognito.

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The Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) conference programme kicked off this morning with an IQ panel exploring the shared challenges of festival organisers from around Europe and some of the ways in which they resolve those issues.

The Common Ground: Boutique and Major Festivals session, moderated by IQ editor Gordon Masson, saw guests Beke Trojan (MS Dockville), Codruta Vulcu (ARTmania), Eric van Eerdenburg (Lowlands) and Virág Csiszár (Sziget) tackle a variety of subjects including supply chain issues, ticket prices, timing of announcements, staffing, gender balance on line-ups, and artist booking.

“The problems we had in 22 and 23, I think are over,” said Van Eerdenburg about supply chain matters. “But the answer has been that we have to invest and pay much more for the stuff that’s coming in. And that translates to ticket prices that are rising faster than inflation, which is already high – that’s what is the most worrying issue for me.”

Noting that the price of a three-day ticket for ARTmania is just €90, Vulcu admitted that she and her team are contemplating taking the event to just two days because of other pressures on the audience. “The cost of hotels for the audience was maybe €100 per night, so for three nights practically, accommodation was ridiculous, which in the long term could kill the festival because it’s not sustainable.”

Trojan noted, “Our aim is to book a festival with a good mix of international national artists. But we are definitely struggling getting the international names because it’s January, and they’re only starting to make decisions now, which is very late for us, because rigorous planning and ticket sales really should be a lot earlier.

“We have a very young audience that buy the tickets very last minute, so we need to sell day tickets”

“Obviously we would want to sell three-day tickets, but we have a very young audience that buy the tickets very last minute, so we need to sell day tickets. But even with that, we can’t really announce like the day line-up yet, because we’re still struggling with international names. It’s a big problem, but I don’t really have a solution.”

Csiszár revealed that with Sziget’s massive audience involving more than 50% international visitors, local Hungarian acts are not really an option for the bill, even though some of them can sell out stadiums. “International people don’t really get it, so we can’t book them as headliners, but it’s the international stadium acts that we have to look at as our headliners, which is also difficult when there are so many stadium tours happening,” she said. “Stadium tours are definitely competitors for us during the summer.”

Both Csiszár and Van Eerdenburg said that they were using VIP offers such as glamping and sky boxes to help balance the books, rather than pushing general admission tickets too high in price, while with all the panellists working to improve gender balance on line-ups, the conversation moved to the timing of announcements and the various strategies employed by each festival.

The session concluded with panellists answering a question from an audience member regarding their expectations for the next generation of industry staff. Van Eerdenburg stated that when his colleagues work long hours at festivals, he compensates them with weeks off after the event. He added that when it comes to recruitment, “I always pick the [people] who are also working in a club, or running a stage, or volunteering at a festival, because they have the motivation to not only do it theory, but also in practice.”

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BST Hyde Park, Sziget and Primavera Sound are among the latest recipients of A Greener Future’s (AGF) certification for sustainability in 2023.

AGF Certification is the world’s first and most comprehensive standard for sustainability in the live events sector, for festivals and events reducing waste, emissions and enhancing equality and biodiversity.

We Love Green (FR), Boom (PT), Boomtown Fair (UK), Dockyard (NL), Northside (DK), OyaFestivalen (NO) and Tremor Festival (PT) also received the certification for 2023. See the full list here.

To be certified, events complete a detailed assessment based upon the AGF Framework, including self-assessment, site visits and post-event evidence and data to the AGF assessors for an independent auditors report. The AGF Framework includes 11 key themes including local ecosystems and community, travel, food and drinks, energy, waste, EDI and governance.

“The best events in the world can also be the most sustainable”

Jim King, CEO of European Festivals, AEG Presents said: “We’re committed to our green targets at all AEG Presents European Festivals. The best events in the world can also be the most sustainable. To again achieve the Greener Festival Certification at both BST Hyde Park and All Points East is a testament to the hard work of the festival teams to realising this ambition.”

Ceremonies will take place at the Green Events & Innovations (GEI16) conference, in partnership with the ILMC, on 27 February in London. GEI will host the International AGF Awards where certified events across a range of green categories will be crowned.

AGF CEO Claire O’Neill said: “The AGF Framework for sustainable events has become extremely comprehensive over the last 15 years. Hats off to all festivals and events that are achieving this certification, which is no small feat.

“We not only need to prevent further pollution, waste, emissions and biodiversity loss, but we now also need to adapt to the changes already happening around us, as a result of climate change. These festivals and events are ahead of the curve and give many people hope, showing how we can all do things differently whilst having a tonne of fun at the same time.”

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