11 MUST-VISIT FESTIVALS FOR 2016

It’s May and that means one thing…festival season has arrived! The European scene is already buzzing in hotspots like Croatia, Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium and all across Eastern Europe. New festival destinations like Morocco are also starting to make their mark as more and more festivalgoers are looking overseas for the festival adventures. With so much on offer there’s a wealth of great options to choose from.

No matter what genre of music you’re into, there’s a festival that fits the bill, with chart-topping headliners, breakthrough bands, hip hop and grime acts, Mercury, Brit and GRAMMY-winning artists, EDM stars and the cream of the underground electronic music scene all taking to the stage this summer. For big name headliners look to Bilbao BBK Live (Arcade Fire, Pixies, Foals,), Sziget (Rihanna, Sia, Muse) and Exit (The Prodigy, Bastille, Ellie Goulding). Positivus and OFF Festival offer an exciting mix of emerging bands and alternative acts. And when it comes to electronic music, Mysteryland and ADE have got the entire spectrum of genres covered, whilst Oasis, Electric Elephant, WECANDANCE and WOODED offer an impeccable underground line-up.

Aside from the music, festivals like Sziget and Mysteryland have an extensive arts and cultural offering, with theatre and performance artists, art and light installations, live street art, on-site creative talks and movies. And when it comes to gastronomy, the bar has been raised by WECANDANCE, with pop-up restaurants staffed by michelin-starred chefs, expert mixologists and even beach roaming sommeliers! You can also enjoy an exquisite dinner at one of Mysteryland’s pop-up restaurant experiences, explore the Basque region’s much-lauded Pintxos at Bilbao BBK Live or indulge in a spicy North African Tagine at Morocco’s Oasis Festival. An incredible range of street food from all corners of the world is just a few steps away at this summer’s best festivals.

Those in need of a few creature comforts with their festival experience should check out some of the great glamping options, such as shikar tents and airstream RVs at Electric Elephant, deluxe bungalows at Mysteryland, luxury cabins at WECANDANCE, or VIP Wooden Huts at Sziget and Positivus. If the thought of camping is just too much to bear, there’s also luxury hotel packages at Oasis and airbnb is just a few clicks away for city festivals like Bilbao BBK Live, EXIT and ADE.

Here’s 11 must-visit festivals for 2016…

BILBAO BBK LIVE | SPAIN
Set atop the Kobetamendi Hill with breathtaking views across culture-rich Bilbao, the 2016 edition of Bilbao BBK Live will showcase acts including Arcade Fire, Pixies, Foals, New Order, Underworld, Tame Impala, Four Tet, Erol Alkan, Ame, Red Axes, M83, Years & Years, Hot Chip, Wolf Alice, Courtney Barnett, Soulwax & more. A stone’s throw from the beach and the famous Guggenheim Museum, it’s the perfect festival to combine with a city break. Be sure to explore Bilbao’s vibrant bar & restaurant scene and sample the Basque region’s famous Pintxos and local Rioja!

Bilbao BBK Live takes place from 7-9 July 2016. 3-day tickets from £93 available at bilbaobbklive.com.

ELECTRIC ELEPHANT | CROATIA
With guaranteed sunshine, shimmering sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, Croatia continues to be one of the most popular festival destinations. At Electric Elephant, days are spent relaxing by the beach, soaking up some rays, or heading onto the Adriatic for a disco-fuelled boat party, whilst nights are spent dancing beneath the stars to acts including Âme, Andrew Weatherall, Bicep, Boo Williams, Craig Charles, Greg Wilson, Kerri Chandler, Laura Jones, Jacques Renault, Psychemagik, Steffi and Todd Terry. There’s no experience quite like watching the sun rise above open air club Barbarellas, whilst dancing side-by-side with friends and like-minded people!

Electric Elephant takes place from 7-11 July 2016. 5-day tickets from £110 available at electricelephant.co.uk.

WOODED | POLAND
WOODED, the festival founded by Polish DJ duo Catz ‘N Dogz, takes place on 4 June 2016 at the stunning imperial castle CK Zamek in Wrocław, during the city’s residency as a European Capital of Culture 2016. The second edition of the event, features DJ sets and live performances from many of the leading acts on the Polish and international electronic music scene, including Radio Slave, San Soda, Midland, La Fleur, Catz ’n Dogz, Jay Shepheard and Heartthrob plus residents from some of Berlin’s leading clubs, including Sisyphos and Wilde Renate.

Wooded takes place on 4 June 2016. Tickets, from £24 available at wooded.pl.

EXIT FESTIVAL | SERBIA
Just a short ride away from the Serbian capital Belgrade, the beautiful Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad provides the perfect setting for EXIT Festival. A host of different stages connected by cobbled streets, ramparts and tunnels, will showcase the likes of hip hop hero Wiz Khalifa, pop superstar Ellie Goulding, indie rockers Bastille, grime act Stormzy and many of the biggest names in electronic music, including Richie Hawtin, Dave Clarke, Jackmaster, Marco Carola, Nina Kraviz, Wilkinson, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Solomun and Sigma.

Exit Festival takes place from 7-10 July 2016. 4-day tickets from £79 available at exitfest.org.

POSITIVUS | LATVIA
Taking place in the picturesque coastal town of Salacgriva in Latvia, Positivus is gearing up to celebrate it’s 10th anniversary in 2016. Positivus transports chart-topping headliners, underground emerging talent and exciting art and dance stages to their unspoiled atmospheric coastal setting amid stunning woodland. Festivalgoers can dip their toes in the Baltic sea or take in the atmosphere in a hammock beneath the trees whilst enjoying artists such as Air, Ellie Goulding, Grimes, Haelos, Hot Chip, Iggy Pop, John Newman, Mark Ronson (DJ Set), M83, Richard Hawley, San Fermin, Seinabo Sey, Years & Years, Wolf Alice & more.

Positivus takes place from 15-17 July 2016. 3-day tickets from £70 available at positivusfestival.com.

OFF FESTIVAL | POLAND
OFF Festival returns with another bold and eclectic lineup, with everything from the vital hip hop of Flatbush Zombies and grindcore legends Napalm Death through to much lauded producer Machinedrum and Philadelphia punks Beach Slang, Also taking to the stage is Anohni, The Kills, Mudhoney, GZA, Lush, GusGus, Thundercat, Jaga Jazzist, SBB, Sleaford Mods, Lightning Bolt, Willis Earl Beal, Kaliber 44, DJ Koze, Show Me the Body, Fidlar and more! OFF is truly a festival for the discerning music fan and the place to discover the best alternative acts from around the world.

OFF Festival takes place from 5-7 August 2016. 3-day tickets from £70 available at off-festival.pl.

SZIGET | HUNGARY
Winner of ‘Best European Lineup’ (2016) and ‘Best European Festival’ (2015) at the European Festival Awards, it’s set to be another standout year for Sziget festival. Situated on the picturesque Óbuda Island in Budapest, this is the go-to cultural event for arts and music lovers. For their 24th edition Sziget are excited to welcome sensational pop superstar Rihanna, singer-songwriter Sia, British music icon Noel Gallagher, plus Muse, Bastille, Jake Bugg, Bloc Party, David Guetta, Chvrches, The Last Shadow Puppets, Years & Years, Jess Glynne, Travis Scott, Bullet For My Valentine, Bring Me The Horizon, MØ, Sum 41, Molotov, Crystal Castles, Wilkinson, Aurora, Oscar and the Wolf and many more.

Sziget takes place from 10-17 August 2016. 7-day tickets from £175 available at szigetfestival.com.

WECANDANCE | BELGIUM
Taking place on the sun-kissed golden sands of Zeebrugge Beach in Belgium, WECANDANCE fuses together the very best in music, food, art and style for a one-of-a-kind festival experience. An exceptional line-up of quality electronic music and hip hop, this year’s festival features acts including Dixon, DJ Tennis, Eduardo Castillo, Jamie Jones, Maribou State, Recondite, Roy Davis Jr, Pachanga Boys, Young Marco, Vaal and more. Food, Art and Fashion are also a big part of the #WCD16 experience, with an international range of signature dishes developed by premium restaurants and chefs, expert mixologists and roaming sommeliers, plus Belgium’s rising fashion stars and impressive art installations from some of Belgium’s most respected artists.

WECANDANCE takes place from 13-14 August 2016. 2-day tickets from £65 available at wecandance.be.

MYSTERYLAND | THE NETHERLANDS
Mysteryland takes visitors on a creative journey, combining the finest electronic music with an extensive arts and culture line-up. With over 350 acts, criss-crossing house, techno, disco, African beats, vinyl-only, hardstyle, hip hop and feel-good bands, this year’s line-up includes everything from big name acts like Diplo, Martin Garrix, Sam Feldt and Afrojack to underground acts such as Seth Troxler, Dave Clarke, Detroit Love (Carl Craig b2b Stacey Pullen), Green Velvet, Karenn, Tom Trago and Surgeon ft. Lady Starlight. Plus there’s theatre, movies, street performers, and art installations from revered artists such as Kate Raudenbush, best known for her work on Burning Man Festival and balloon artist Robert Bose, famed for his Balloon Chain at Coachella.

Mysteryland takes place from 27-28 August 2016. 2-day tickets from £95 available at www.mysteryland.nl.

OASIS | MOROCCO
Taking place at luxury hotel The Source, Oasis is soundtracked by the ultimate blend of house, techno, disco and electronica. The sizzling Moroccan sun ensures a laid-back festival vibe by day as guests cool off in the pool, unwind with daily yoga and massage, enjoy authentic local street food, and revel in the spectacular views of the nearby Atlas Mountains. As night falls, the dancefloor brings the heat, as the finest DJs and live acts perform under captivating star-lit skies. Acts for 2016 include Bicep, B.Traits, David August, Dixon, Derrick May, Dubfire, Eli & Fur, Helena Hauff, Hunee, Job Jobse, Tale Of Us, The Black Madonna and Virginia.

Oasis takes place from 16-18 September 2016. 3-day tickets from £120 available at theoasisfest.com.

AMSTERDAM DANCE EVENT | THE NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam’s thriving club and nightlife scene is well documented and for 5 days a year the city becomes the centre of the electronic music world as over 375,000 visitors flock to the city for the Amsterdam Dance Event – the ultimate music event for fans of electronic music. Taking place from 19-23 October, the festival features more than 2,200 international artists performing in more than 100 of Amsterdam’s most celebrated venues including Melkweg, Closure, Gashouder, the NDSM Docklands and De School. This year the festival opens with a special concert from Innervisions founder Henrik Schwarz and the Metropole Orkest.

ADE takes place from 19-23 October 2016. To book tickets visit www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl.

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