Festivals Abroad 2026

It’s common knowledge that the UK is home to some of the best and most sought-after festivals the world has to offer. Nevertheless, many of us still get the urge to flee and escape the British Isles, and the unpredictable climate, year after year, when festival season comes around. 

There’s just something so special and magical about heading abroad to get a dose of festival fun, something that our beloved UK festivals can’t contest with. And it’s not all down to the typically great weather; foreign festivals host some of the most elaborate, well run and globally renowned shindigs on the planet, attracting many of the music world’s biggest names.

Europe in particular boasts a large portion of international festival choices - from Spanish soirees on the edge of the Mediterranean, at the likes of Festival Internacional de Benicàssim and Ibiza’s International Music Summit (IMS), to hardcore German rock carnivals, the likes of Rock AM Ring(Europe’s biggest open-air festival), and sunny Croatia, one of the world’s hottest clubbing destinations, for the annual Hideout Festival. 

(We’ve rounded up some more of our favourites in our list of Best European Festivals, which you can find here). 

So, whether you’re after a spellbinding rave experience or a head banging, horn throwing adventure - heading off abroad is absolutely one of the best ways to experience live music with like-minded, music loving souls from across the globe.

Essential advice before heading abroad

Heading abroad is an activity littered with a handful of pitfalls, alongside the monumental highs, but avoiding (or at the least managing them) is easy enough with a bit of forward planning. 

From the basics such as checking your passport is in date to making sure your visas allow you into the country you’re travelling to. There’s plenty of ways to end up red faced abroad other than overexposure to the sun.

We’ve listed a few more examples and tips below, to assist in making your journey abroad as smooth and as uncomplicated, as humanly possible…

1. Make sure you get adequate travel insurance – heading to a festival in the snowy alps? Fancy a bit of skiing whilst your there? Then check that your insurance covers accidents caused whilst skiing or risk a hefty bill should the worst happen
 
2. Check your passport has a minimum of six months validity on the return date - no one wants to have to seek consulate assistance to return home after a wild few days partying
 Read the remainder of our 10 top tips for festivals abroad, helping you to avoid going all Karl Pilkington when you head to foreign climes.