Summer is in the starting blocks and with it the open-air season. Do you lack an overview? Don’t panic, our FACES festival guide shows you the best music festivals in Germany and Austria.
Germany
The twin sister: Southside Festival
Big, bigger, Southside. As one of the largest of its kind in Germany, the Southside Festival, which this year runs from 21. until 23. June in Neuhausen ob Eck, there is something for (almost) everyone: from rock to pop to indie, we are offered a cross-country journey through the musical landscape. Acts such as Bring Me The Horizon, Avril Lavigne, Kontra K and others provide a great atmosphere.
21.6 – 23.6.24
Neuhausen ob Eck
More information can be found here.
The twin brother: Hurricane Festival
As twin festivals, the Southside Festival and the Hurricane Festival are confusingly similar: both take place from 21. until 23. June and the acts are practically the same. But while the Southside Festival gets southern Germany shaking, the Hurricane Festival takes place in Scheeßel in northern Germany and features starlet Ed Sheeran as one of the acts.
21.6 – 23.6.24
Scheeßel
More information can be found here.
The big one: splash! Festival
Ferropolis – what sounds like a kingdom in a fantasy movie is actually the name of a peninsula in Lake Gremmin and home to Germany’s biggest hip-hop party once a year. Splash! Festival is the name of the fun and this time it takes place from 4. until 6. July will take place. With acts such as 21 Savage, Rin, Juju and many more, there is everything you need for a successful start to the festival season.
4.7 – 6.7.24
Ferropolis peninsula
More information can be found here.
The high-flyer: Parookaville
Tomorrowland? No, Parookaville. As one of the largest festivals in Europe, Parookaville takes place this year from 19. until the 21. July at Weeze Airport and can easily keep up with the Belgian giant with its elaborate design. The acts are also well worth a visit: this time, Armin van Buuren, Steve Aoki and others will make us take off with their sound.
19.7 – 21.7.24
Airport Weeze
More information can be found here.
The versatile one: MS Dockville
The MS Dockville is so colorful that we can easily forget the grey winter days. As a festival of music and art, this year’s event will take place from 16. until the age of 18. August on Hamburg’s Elbe Island with acts such as The Vaccines, Bilderbuch and others, the audience will be singing their hearts out. And if your vocal chords are tired, techno table tennis, poetry slam and other program highlights offer plenty of variety.
16.8 – 18.8.24
Elbe Island Hamburg
More information can be found here.
Austria
The all-rounder: Danube Island Festival
You can’t have everything at once? No way, thinks the Danube Island Festival, which this year runs from 21. until 23. In addition to acts such as Lumix, Provinz and many more, the festival also includes yoga, various workshops, beer pong and other pastimes. As Europe’s largest free open-air festival, the festival is also budget-friendly.
21.6 – 23.6.24
Danube Island Festival
More information can be found here.
The Chameleon: Poolbar Festival
It is difficult to describe the Poolbar Festival in a few words. Music festival alone is not enough: From 4. July until 11. In August, Feldkirch offers jazz breakfasts and open-air cinema, literature and design, quiz nights and cabaret. And in the meantime, acts such as Tones and I, Kaffkiez and others ensure that the music is not neglected in the midst of this colorful program.
4.7 – 11.8.24
Feldkirch Vorarlberg
More information can be found here.
The giant: Rolling Loud Europe
Big stages and even bigger names – that’s Rolling Loud. As the world’s biggest hip-hop festival, Rolling Loud brings together the stars of the hip-hop scene at various locations around the globe. This year’s European edition of the festival will take place from 5. until 7. The festival is coming to Austria for the first time in July, turning Ebreichsdorf into the center of the hip-hop world for three days thanks to acts such as Travis Scott, Ice Spice and others.
5.7 – 7.7.24
Ebreichsdorf
More information can be found here.
The Idyllic: Frequency Festival
As one of the biggest festivals in the land of Sachertorte and Co. the Frequency Festival takes place this time from 14. until the age of 18. August in St. Pölten. This year, Raf Camora, Calum Scott, Cro and others will ensure an unforgettable experience. And if you need to cool down after dancing and singing along in the summer sun, we have good news for you: The River Traisen flows right through the festival site – how convenient!
14.8 – 17.8.24
St. Pölten
More information can be found here.
The brain food: Waves Vienna
There’s a lot worth listening to at Waves Vienna, this time from 5. until 7. September in Vienna. And we’re not just talking about the music, which is available à gogo thanks to acts such as Unflirt, Comfort and others. The Waves Vienna Conference is also part of the festival, which is why there are lectures, workshops and various master classes to attend in addition to great sound – so you can not only do something good for your hearing, but also for your brain.
5.9 – 7.9.24
Vienna
More information can be found here.
To complete the DACH region, here is the FACES guide to the best Swiss music festivals.
Not ready for the campsite yet? You can equip yourself with the necessary accessories here.
Lead photo: © © Alexander Müller
