Best Music Festivals in Germany

Believe it or not, Germany is so much more than beer and sausage. There are so many defining features and qualities, such as stunning landscapes, beautiful brick gothic architecture, beaches, an unreal music scene (particularly in Berlin, as many ravers will know) and, of course, some of the best music festivals around the world.

As the country’s capital has such a rich, crucial electronic music scene, there are plenty of fests for keen ravers. But you can also find pop, rock, metal, indie and more in Germany’s eclectic range of music festivals. 

As there are so many to choose from, we thought we’d make a list of the best, so you have the best starting point. Here are a few of the best German music festivals…

 

 

Rock Am Ring

Image: Rock Am Ring / Facebook.com

2024 Lineup: Queens Of The Stone Age, Green Day, Royal Blood, Avenged Sevenfold, Enter Shikari, Neck Deep, While She Sleeps, Parkway Drive and many more 

When: Friday 7th - Sunday 9th June 2024 

Where: Nurburgring, Nuremberg

Well respected in the heavier scene, this Germanic rock festival has welcomed many legendary acts including Slipknot, Paramore, Tool, Slayer, Sonic Youth, Rage Against The Machine, Alice in Chains, Halestorm, The White Stripes, and so many more. This year’s lineup is looking as hard as ever, and with a crowd that’s known for giving it their all, this mammoth festival is worth considering if you're looking towards Germany for your festival this year.

 

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Melt Festival

Image: Melt Festival / Facebook.com

2024 Lineup: Bonobo, Overmono, James Blake, Honey Dijon, DJ Koze, Chase & Status, Romy and many more

When: Thursday 11th - Saturday 13th June 2024

Where: Ferropolis, Gräfenhainichen

Melt Festival merges multiple genres including various electronic genres, pop, hip hop and more. This year’s lineup speaks for itself with plenty of incredible artists from top to bottom. Those who often find themselves frustrated as the party ended before it could peak will likely enjoy the “Sleepless Floor”, the party that doesn’t stop, taking ravers from Thursday all the way through to Monday. And when you’re feeling like death after going for god knows how long, relaxing by Lake Gremmin might be a good idea.

 

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Airbeat One Festival

Image: Airbeat One Festival / Facebook.com

2024 Lineup: Armin Van Buuren, Charlotte De Witte, Deborah De Luca, Oliver Heldens, Tiesto, Korolova and many more 

When: Wednesday 10th - Sunday 14th July 2024

Where: Neustadt-Glewe Airport, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

An unusual setup for a festival, Airbeat One sees an airport transformed into another world every year for this mad dance, techno, house and hardstyle music festival. Airbeat is one of the most popular festivals of its kind in Europe, and with such a cracking lineup and unreal production, we don’t think that’ll change any time soon. If you’re looking for a massive one, consider checking out this monster of a fest.

 

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MS Dockville Festival 

Image: MS DOCKVILLE Festival / Facebook.com

2024 Lineup: The Vaccines, Obongjayar, Lime Cordiale, Rachel Chinouriri, Art School Girlfriend, Pretty Girl and many more 

When: Friday 16th - Sunday 18th August 2024

Where: Wilhelmsburg, Hamburg

Ran by a non-profit organisation that runs art camps to provide children with a space to unleash their creative sides, MS Dockville is a cute, nature-surrounded festival that around 25,000 people attend each year. Artists on the bill are diverse with acts creating hip-hop, pop, indie, electronic, dance, RnB and soul tunes. And such an artsy paradise would be incomplete without art installations and other visual arts.

 

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Wacken Open Air

Image: Wacken Open Air / Facebook.com

2024 Lineup: Amon Amarth, Bury Tomorrow, Cradle Of Filth, Dragonforce, Flogging Molly, Motionless in White and many more 

When: Friday 1st - Sunday 3rd October 2024 

Where: Wacken Open Air, Wacken

Throw your horns in the sky and open up the pit because Wacken Open Air has delivered another unreal heavy metal and hard rock lineup to knock all the rest out of the park. With so many metal legends on the lineup, WOA is a no-brainer. Going strong since 1990, the festival has gained a spectacular reputation among the metal community as it champions the biggest names in the game while still shining a light on the rising stars of the scene.

 

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Sea You Festival

Image: Sea You Festival / Facebook.com

2024 Lineup: 999999999, Lilly Palmer, Fisher, Charlie Sparks, I Hate Models, Dom Dolla, Aka Aka and many more

When: Friday 19th - Sunday 21st July 2024 

Where: Tunisee, Freiburg

One of Germany’s most loved house and techno festivals will arrive again in July in one of the hottest parts of the country. Setting this fest apart from the rest on the list is better weather, a stunning lake for cooling off and wakeboarding in, and of course, the beach. The seven stages are all unique, creating their own atmosphere. For example, one stage has a mild resemblance to the Sydney Opera House, another resembles a greenhouse, one is on water, and one features an eagle with its wings spread. Plus, the festival is celebrating its tenth year anniversary, so you can bet it'll be a party to remember for sure. 

 

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Nature One Festival

Image: NATURE ONE / Facebook.com

2024 Lineup: Paul van Dyk, Ben Hemsley, Amelie Lens, Adam Beyer, Johannes Klein, Tom Wax and many more 

When: Thursday 1st - Sunday 4th August 2024 

Where: Pydna, Kastellaun

Ever raved on a former missile base? Here’s your chance! Nature One is the biggest, most reputable electronic music festival in Germany. Split into four head floors and nineteen club floors, there’s plenty to check out, and you’re certain to find something that suits your tastes. The music ranges from techno, drum and bass, house, trance, and more, so you can keep each member of your group happy. 

 

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Lollapalooza Berlin

Image: Lollapalooza Berlin / Facebook.com

2024 Lineup: Sam Smith, Martin Garrix, Burna Boy, The Chainsmokers, Niall Horan, Loyle Carner, Nothing But Thieves and many more

When: Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th September 2024

Where: Olympiastadion & Olympiapark, Berlin

After gaining worldwide respect and a dedicated fanbase, Lolla, which started in Chicago, branched out, making Germany the first European location for the festival. The massive multi-genre festival attracts thousands of music fans looking to enjoy the hottest names in music today, with lineups in the past including huge names like Swedish House Mafia, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, Liam Gallagher, Foo Fighters and more. 

For its 2024 edition Lolla in Berlin looks set to match such incredible artists, with the likes of Sam Smith and Martin Garrix headlining, and amazing acts like Burna Boy, Loyle Carner and Nothing But Thieves filling up some of the lineup. Basically, it's gonna be absolutely massive, and we can't wait to be down there with you..

 

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Hurricane Festival

Image: Hurricane Festival / Facebook.com

2024 Lineup: Ed Sheeran, The National, IDLES, Fontaines D.C., Avril Lavigne, The Hives, Jungle, Bring Me The Horizon and many more 

When: Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd June 2024

Where: Eichenring, Scheessel

Hurricane Festival will go off this June with some of the best live acts in rock, pop, indie, electronic, punk, and more, including Ed Sheeran, The National, IDLES, Fontaines D.C., Avril Lavigne, The Hives, Jungle and Bring Me The Horizon. Some list that. As such a highly desired festival, attracting around 70,000 people each year, it’s definitely one to keep an eye on for your Germanic escapades. And if, for whatever reason, you’d rather venture to southern Germany, you can check out Hurricane’s sister festival, Southside in Neuhausen ob Eck. 

 

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If you made it this far, congratulations! You made it! We know it was quite a lot, but that just proves how unreal German music festivals are. There are so many to choose from. Whether you want a day of the hardest, fastest electronic music or if you want to rock out in a field for three days, Germany has it. No matter which festival you choose, it’ll be top. And you know the beer will be excellent. It’s a win-win.  

 

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Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.

 

 

  

 

 

Header Image: NATURE ONE / Facebook.com