tomorrowland main stage

Best EDM (Electronic Dance Music) Festivals in Europe

Growing bored of doing your rounds at the same few music festivals and want a change of scenery? Give these EDM festivals in Europe a go. Check these destinations off your rave and travel bucket lists at the same time; now that’s what I call a win-win situation!

Tomorrowland  (Boom, Belgium) – July

Yes, there’s more than just delicious chocolate to seduce you over to Belgium! Held in Belgium’s Boom, and crowned ‘The World’s #1 Festival’ back in 2015, Tomorrowland is arguably the continent’s most well-known and well-loved EDM festival. With hundreds of artists from around the world vying for a coveted spot on its fancy, futuristic floating stages, Tomorrowland promises to rather ironically have you wishing that the day never ends and tomorrow never comes so you can just keep dancing your heart out whilst basking in this high-quality music. From The Chainsmokers to Martin Garrix, you’ll be sure to spot your favorite EDM idols here. I mean David Guetta’s been performing here every year and if he doesn’t grow tired of it, I’m sure you won’t either.

Barcelona Beach Festival  (Barcelona, Spain) – July 

Not that you needed another reason to add Barcelona to your travel bucket list, but Barcelona Beach Festival has earned its name as one of the wildest dance music festivals in Spain. Polish up your Espanyol because the likes of EDM powerhouses like Don Diablo, Armin van Buuren and Alan Walker are about to set the Mediterranean coast on fire and it’d be a crime to miss it. So round up your BFFs, and head over to BBF this July for a summer to remember!

Mysteryland (Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands) – August

Netherland’s oldest and largest dance music festival, Mysteryland has been around since ’93 and leveled up each year to earn the title of the longest running dance festival in the whole world. Watch out for the star-studded line-up which boasts big names like Swedish House Mafia, Yellow Claw and Afrojack! Its elaborate sets, creative lighting and stellar camping facilities are sure to win you over as soon as you set foot on its grounds in Haarlemmermeer. And with attendees from over 100 different countries, it’s no mystery that Mysteryland is a true fan-favorite amongst EDM lovers!

Airbeat One (Neustadt-Glewe, Germany) – July

Looking to party the German way? Well luckily you don’t have to go much further than the airport (at Neustadt-Glewe)! Sporting an enticing line-up of some of the biggest EDM who’s who such as Salvatore Ganacci, Charlotte De Witte and NERVO, this dance festival will leave you with some major withdrawal symptoms once the four days of non-stop insanity are up. If dazzling visuals and ornate sets are what you crave, then head over to Airbeat One this July! And yes, the abundance of German craft beer doesn’t hurt either.

Ultra Europe (Split, Croatia) – July

Unfolding in the beautiful city of Split in the heart of Croatia, this multi-venue music festival promises to take your breath away with elaborate firework displays and the best beach parties to cool off in between performances. Set aside a week to soak in the festivities and make the most of your time here because Ultra Europe is guaranteed to be the largest international dance party you’ll ever find yourself invited to. Dance it out to sick tunes courtesy of Marshmello, Steve Aoki, Alesso, and every other household name in EDM because Ultra Europe is undeniably ultra cool.

Balaton Sound (Zamardi, Hungary) – July

Hung(a)ry for a rave experience you’ll never forget? Then head over to Zamardi, Hungary because Balaton Sound will certainly deliver! Although slightly smaller than some of the other names on this list, Balaton Sound earns its name as one of the best EDM music festivals in Europe for offering up breath-taking views and truly diverse line-up. Plus, Hungary’s a lot gentler on the wallet too, so don’t miss out on making a whole trip of it.Build up a luscious summer tan in this beachy wonderland sitting pretty on Europe’s largest lake whilst listening to the likes of DJ Snake, Moksi and Jonas Blue.

Creamfields (Cheshire, UK) – August

I bet you don’t think of Britain when you think of EDM, but Creamfields is about to change your mind. Held in Daresbury, Cheshire, Creamfields has effortlessly tripled in size since its birth in 1998 and reminds us why it continues to be the UK’s most renowned EDM festival since with legends like Avicii and Tiesto gracing its stage yearly. Savour every moment of this musical bonanza from the belly of the Steel Yard – one of the largest superstructures in the world, crafted solely to enhance the experience of festival attendees – and party to your heart’s content. The annual DJ Awards named Creamfields the ‘Best International Dance Music Festival’ back in 2014 because even a spell of the notoriously unpredictable English showers won’t be able to dampen your spirits here.

Untold Festival (Cluj-Napoca, Romania) – July

End July on a high note with a tonne of unspeakable fun – ya know, ’cause it’s untold? – in the heart of Romania. Yes, Untold Festival provides the perfect opportunity for you to explore the picturesque city of Cluj-Napoca as you indulge in a generous buffet of EDM perfection, ranging from Stormzy to David Guetta and every musical legend in between. Crowned ‘Best Major Festival’ thrice in a row at the esteemed European Festival Awards, Untold has established itself as a frontrunner in the scene.

Electric Love Festival (Salzburgring, Austria) – July

Follow the sound of music over to Austria’s Salzburgring, to be (von-)trap-ped by the enchanting combination of breathtakingly beautiful European countryside and groovy EDM music of every possible sub-genre over at Electric Love Festival. Annually unfolding in July, this gram-worthy EDM fest is known for putting Austria on the rave map with riveting performances from internationally-acclaimed artists like Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso and Timmy Trumpet.

Sonar Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain) – June

Sónar is the 3 days and 2 nights International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art that takes place at various venues in Barcelona (Spain) in the third week of June since 1994. It’s first class reputation as a leading reference for international festivals is by virtue of a carefully balanced cultural offering, combining a playful nature, the avant-garde, and experimentation with electronic dance music’s newest trends. Sónar activities are divided into two main locations: the recently premiered Sónar by Day, located from 2013 in Fira Montjuïc, with concerts and dj’s, showcases as well as the new Sónar+D, the professional activities areas; and the larger shows at Sónar by Night, in Fira Gran Via de L’Hospitalet, where the leading names in the current international music scene are staged.

Amsterdam Music Festival (Amsterdam, Netherlands) – October

Amsterdam is basically the Mecca of EDM, so it’s only fitting that Amsterdam Music Festival sees fans pouring in from every corner of the world. Taking place every October in Johan Crujiff Arena, the largest indoor stadium Netherlands has to offer, AMF boasts a legendary line-up featuring the likes of Coone, Lost Frequencies and  Jonas Blue. It also holds the honour of announcing the annual list of Top 100 DJs as ranked by DJ Mag, thereby setting the tone for the rest of the year and playing a pivotal role in catapulting EDM artists to fame. Basically, this festival is a must-attend for every avid raver, and it’s sure to have you saying Amster-dayumm.

11 magnificent destinations, 11 unforgettable music festivals, but only one stop to book your tickets!

Nightlife / Nightclub / Festival Reopening Plans By Country

Governments and health organizations, faced with pressure to reopen the worldwide economy, are beginning to lay out guidelines for the return of venues, nightclubs and music festivals after shutting everything down due to coronavirus.

With over four million cases worldwide, the reopening of the nightlife economy will be gradual. While scenes in China have seen nightlife cautiously return, South Korea’s initial club reopenings are linked to a recent spike of COVID-19 infections in the country, resulting in another nightlife shutdown. Given that, it feels unlikely live music, festivals and club nights will completely return in absence of a vaccine. Still, various governments, like Spain and Ireland, have outlined multi-stage plans to reopen clubs, music festivals and venues along with the rest of economy.

Worried about COVID-19 but itching to party? Check out our guide to safe partying when clubs reopen!

Here’s the latest on nightlife reopening plans around the world:

United States

The US began an uneven reopening effort, with certain localities, such as Austin, Texas, and Springfield, Kentucky, pushing to open bars and nightclubs imminently. With the world’s largest concentration of infections and deaths, reopening efforts in cities like New York and Los Angeles will be carried out in phases, with nightclubs and bars likely being among the last businesses to open.

Italy

Italy, which had one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe, has begun lifting its lockdown in stages. As of Monday, May 18th, bars and restaurants are allowed to reopen with restrictions around table spacing and masks required for patrons when not sat at tables, according to The Local IT.

By June 15th, live music events of up to 200 people indoors and 1,000 people outdoors can return, so long as there is assigned seating, with mask-wearing attendees sat one meter apart, DJ Mag Italia reports. Nightclubs were not acknowledged in the Council Of Ministers’ new decree, although Sicilian officials said clubs on the island can reopen on June 8th, pending government approval.

Germany

Germany has allowed for all shops to reopen with social-distancing measures, which has been good news for the country’s record stores.

Some Berlin clubs, including Sisyphos, have reopened as of Friday, May 15th, as afternoon beer gardens operating with a food license. There are strict no-dancing rules, with most of the bars to close around 10 PM. The state of Bavaria also reopened restaurants on May 18th, according to the BBC.

Germany currently holds a nationwide ban on clubs, theaters and cultural sites until July 31st. Events with 5,000 people or more are banned until October 24th.

United Kingdom

The UK Home Office shared the 60-page document Our Plan To Rebuild on May 11th. It includes a three-step plan for phasing out the UK lockdown, with the first in action from the 11th, the second tentatively starting no earlier than June 1st, and the third potentially beginning on July 4th. Pubs and restaurants, under the category of “food-service providers,” are planned to partially reopen in that third stage. However, it also states, “Some venues which are, by design, crowded and where it may prove difficult to enact distancing may still not be able to reopen safely at this point, or may be able to open safely only in part.”

Nightclubs are only mentioned once: “While reopening outdoor spaces and activities (subject to continued social distancing) comes earlier in the roadmap because the risk of transmission outdoors is significantly lower, it is likely that reopening indoor public spaces and leisure facilities (such as gyms and cinemas), premises whose core purpose is social interaction (such as nightclubs), venues that attract large crowds (like sports stadia), and personal care establishments where close contact is inherent (like beauty salons) may only be fully possible significantly later depending on the reduction in numbers of infections.”

Spain

Spain’s lockdown-easing plan allows some “cultural events” to take place starting this month. On May 11th, outdoor terraces of restaurants and bars will be allowed to open at 50 percent capacity and no more than 30 people will be permitted to attend indoor events, 200 for socially distanced, seated open-air events. For the final phase, planned for June 10th, the capacity for indoor events rises to 80 people, while outdoor functions can host up to 800 people in seats.

South Korea

After South Korea recently relaxed social-distancing measures, including allowing clubs to reopen the weekend of April 24th, there’s been a spike in COVID-19 infections, forcing another closure of clubs.

Australia

With under 10,000 reported cases, Australia is considering reopening its economy. Restrictions around gatherings have been lifted in some states, and Falls Festival has announced its New Year’s Eve edition will happen with an all-Australian lineup, Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports. Still, the country’s Chief Medical Officer stated social-distancing guidelines will likely remain in place until a vaccine, and Big Day Out cofounder Ken West said any 2020 events would face a battle to get clearance.

Denmark

Borders in Denmark remain closed to foreigners, but museums theaters and zoos will begin opening June 8th. Bars, nightclubs and small concert venues will need to wait until sometime in “early” August for reopening, The Local DK reports.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands Minister Of Public Health sent a letter to the House Of Representatives saying “mass events at national level” may only be allowed with the existence of a vaccine, AT5reports. Concert halls and theaters, however, will be allowed to take groups of 30, with previous reservations and social distancing, starting June 1st. Groups of 100 will be allowed to gather starting July 1st.

Portugal

The Portuguese government has banned music festivals until September 30th, and it’s also getting involved in refunds for ticket holders, according to ECO. “If shows, scheduled between February 28th and September 30th, are not performed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the government announced, “the consumers will be provided with ‘a voucher of equal value to the ticket price paid.'”

Ireland

The Irish government’s 23-page document Roadmap For Reopening Society & Business outlines five phases with tentative timeframes, with the final stage (estimated date August 10th) allowing for “festivals, events and other social mass gatherings… where social distancing can be complied with.”

China

Businesses have reopened their doors, but a return to normalcy remains far off. For nightclubs that have been closed since late January, reopening to the public has brought with it cautious optimism.

At OIL Club in Shenzhen, a city that borders Hong Kong, crowd turnout is on the low side because some people are still afraid to go out, cofounders Yangyang Song and Huiyuan Sun told RA. “Many people aren’t willing to stay late for parties now, so events also end earlier than before,” they said.

OIL opened to the public on March 27th, the same day as several other venues including TAG in Chengdu and Loopy in Hangzhou..

At TAG, “around 10 to 15 percent of our customers are still hesitant to come out,” according to club booker Aymen Hajlaoui. “I can’t say for sure that we can recoup our losses, but if it continues like this, the outlook doesn’t look bad.”

“I didn’t think we could reopen until the end of April, so to do it by the end of March, the time of our six-year anniversary, was really special,” Hajlaoui said. Before the epidemic, TAG’s birthday was initially planned as a three-day event, but with restrictions loosened in the week leading up to it, the club celebrated by collaborating with Chengdu Community Radio for a small party. The radio platform was launched last year by Hajlaoui and Kristen Ng.

Other clubs in Chengdu, such as Cue and AXIS, are also back at it, but many venues have been asked to remain closed by authorities due to their location or capacity, according to Ng. “Live venues haven’t been given the green light yet, which means band gigs are still on hold,” she said.

Venues in Shanghai were among the nation’s first to open, with hotspots 44KW and Elevator welcoming ravers on March 12th and 20th, respectively. The city was one of the lesser-affected regions by the pandemic, though residents remain careful. Daily Vinyl, an appointment-only record store-cum-guesthouse, isn’t seeing as many walk-ins as before, but cofounder Endy Chen believes that will change as people take time to adjust. Chen, who also runs the labels Eating Music and Groove Bunny Records, is set to play at Elevator’s fourth anniversary on May 1st and anticipates a solid turnout.

Clubs are taking every safety precaution possible, including regular cleaning and disinfecting dance floors. Before entering spaces, people undergo mandatory temperature checks and scan a QR code on their phones that indicates their health status. Once inside, many keep their masks on.

Best EDM Clubs in Amsterdam

Amsterdam, home and capital of the Netherlands, has been one of the hottest spots to travel to this year, and most likely next year. When traveling this beautiful city, we sincercly recommend exploring the culture, museums, the signs and of course, the nightlife. Today, we have a list of some of the hottest venues playing EDM bangers all night long. So when you’re finished touring, eating, and partaking in activities you shouldn’t tell your parents about, going out at night should not be skipped. With that said, let’s get to it.

Looking for the hottest clubs in Amsterdam? See upcoming events sign up for guest list and book table service directly on the free Discotech Mobile App. Or reach out to our help line directly at 4157356716 – we can help you pick a spot for your next night out in Amsterdam!

De Marktkantine

De Marktkantine has a vibrant history in music, cinema and cuisine within Amsterdam. It was ressurected in 1950 as a theatre and operated as a club in the 90’s when the dance scene developed in The Netherlands. After a while of vacancy a group of Amsterdam neighborhood entrepreneurs re-started the venue in 2014.

Tthe building itself keeps its traditional character with an elegant flair. This is in an attempt to maintain the legacy of De Marktkantine as a productive blend of music, art, food and events. The 3000 square feet building grants an array of dance areas and stages. The big show room can fit approximately 1200 people, while the more petite room allows 300 visitors for a more private setting. Make sure to check out upcoming events at De Marktkantine so as not to miss out!

De School

De School began in January of 2016 on Doctor Jan van Breemenstraat in Amsterdam. The venue, which was a technical school, now is more than a nightclub: it’s also has a performance venue, a restaurant, a café, an exhibit space and a gym. It has a 24-hour permit and is open seven days a week. The nightclub has a size of 700 and is located in the school’s recent bicycle storage area. The club’s programming centers on local DJs, who are given the opportunity to play extended sets, but international guests also regularly stop by. To see who’s performing next, click upcoming events at De School to see if your favorite artists are performing!

JACK

With an open minded and unique mindset, JACK likes to work around with expectations, art and music. This method is highlighted by its uncommon modular interior design, think science laboratory mixes with an industrial loft overgrown by nature. The roof garden will be introduced in the summer where we process music connection to a micro festival vibe. Looking to see what’s going down at JACK this weekend? Click here to see upcoming events at JACK!

Paradiso

Built from an 18th-century church found in de Weteringschans located close to the Leidseplein and opened in 1968, Paradiso is one of Amsterdam’s most well-established concert venues, with a great stage topped by two balconies and a huge glass church windows. Despite its roots as a concert venue, Paradiso is well-adapted for DJ gigs, with the DJ located at the centre of the dance floor and the perimeter of the venue dotted with bars. The venue is split into the 1500-capacity main hall and the 250-capacity small hall. Hit this link to see upcoming events at Paradiso this weekend!

Thuishaven

Thuishavan is not a club, or an industrial warehouse. It’s a wild experience. Found on the Western outskirts of Amsterdam, the site is enclosed by heavy industry, massive oil tankers and scrap metal yards. Thuishaven has several stages, bars, surreal decoration pieces and curiosities. The club includes materials purchased or found at neighboring scrap yards, as the site radiates a raw and industrial atmosphere. Make sure to check out upcoming events at Thuishavan to see whos performing next!

During the wintertime set-up (October – April), all stages are set indoor, in heated tents and a newly made hangar. The summertime set-up (May – September) hosts a spectacular open air stage plus the option to move between both tent and hangar for a raveyer feel. With a resume of 120 festivals and counting, the site is ever-evolving. Every new visit illustrates new details and new surprises—making it one of Amsterdam’s most remarkable venues.

Warehouse Elementenstraat

Located in the industrial West of Amsterdam lies a dark and fabulous street, home to one of the most influential and prominent party locations of the Netherlands: The Warehouse Elementenstraat. The industrial halls already wrote music history in the early years of the ’90s, when many of the first bigger-scale house raves called ‘Multigroove’ broke through in the Dutch underground scene.

Roughly 20 years later, in 2012, the location was re-found by GZG, a collab of local Techno artists. Since then, the location has been opened many times and has come alive once again; to write the second chapter of music history. To get that inside scoop on what’s happening at Warehouse Elementenstraat!