The 2017 edition of the popular two-weekend music festival Coachella, headlined by Radiohead, Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga, was one for the record books.

Billboard reports that Coachella earned more than $114 million in profits in 2017, the first reoccurring festival to break the $100 million mark in a single year.

While it's still a pace off the highest-grossing festival of all time — 2016's two-weekend Desert Trip, which earned more than $160 million — Coachella has again claimed the top spot among profitable reoccurring festivals, a distinction it has earned each year since 2011.

As the festival's popularity has grown, so has its profit — seven-fold since 2007. In 2007 Coachella earned $16 million when it was still a one-weekend deal. After moving the celebration to two weekends in 2012, the festival earned $47.3 million.

​Grand Ole Opry Schedules $12 Million In Renovations

"Homegrown’s alright with me / Homegrown is the way it should be/ Homegrown is a good thing/ Plant that bell and let it ring." So sings Farm Aid co-founder Neil Young in "Homegrown," a song written in the early 1970s that has unofficially become the anthem of the annual fundraising concert.

Farm Aid was born in 1985 after the 12-time GRAMMY winner Willie Nelson heard Bob Dylan lament, during his Live Aid set, that something should be done to help American farmers. During the 1980s farm crisis, a confluence of factors — including drought, failed policy, mounting debt, and severe inflation — led to plummeting land values and foreclosures of hundreds of thousands of family-owned farms across rural America. A "Concert for America," as the first Farm Aid festival was dubbed, was organized in just six weeks.

Farm Aid I took place Sept. 22, 1985 in Champaign, Illinois. Eighty thousand people attended the one-day event, which raised more than $7 million. Besides Nelson, Young and co-founder John Mellencamp, other legendary artists who performed at the inaugural concert included: Dylan, the Beach Boys, Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt, Roy Orbison and Billy Joel.

Four decades on, Nelson, Young, and Mellencamp still lead this annual gathering of artists and activists — raising a ruckus and raising awareness about the plight of America’s family farmers. Dave Matthews joined the Farm Aid board in 2001 and, in 2021, Margo Price became the first female artist board member. Beyond the annual concert, the non-profit keeps the conversation about the good-food movement going year-round through education campaigns and partnerships with grassroots farm advocacy groups. 

"For 40 years, Farm Aid has stood with farmers, supporting them to stay on their land even when corporate power, bad policies and broken promises make it harder to keep going," Farm Aid President Nelson said in a statement. "Family farmers aren't backing down, and neither are we." 

The 92-year-old Nelson is not backing down either. The songwriter and humanitarian still leads — and inspires — the artists, advocates, audience and farmers who attend his annual, daylong event. Nelson officially opens every concert introducing the first act and closes the day with a full set that traditionally ends with a singalong by most of the artists on the bill. Over 40 years, more than 500 artists have donated their time to Farm Aid — from Don Was's all-star band that included Ringo Starr on drums, Pete Seeger making one of his final public appearances in 2013, to a surprise appearance from Bob Dylan. 

"Willie's idea, from the very beginning, was to raise a lot of money and raise a lot of awareness, and that's still the through line," says Michael Foley, Farm Aid's Cultural Impact Director. "In spite of the strength of the opposition, all these artists show up every year and donate their time and talent, and they're raising money and raising awareness." 

Since its inception, Farm Aid has raised more than $85 million and pushed for government policies that support family farmers and promote sustainable agriculture. The non-profit has evolved beyond its original mission to focus on education and advocacy. 

With the current trade wars and their effect on the agricultural industry, Farm Aid is as important — and relevant — as ever. Farm Aid 40 takes place on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota's main campus in Minneapolis. In addition to regulars Nelson, Young, Mellencamp, Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds) and Margo Price, this anniversary edition features a stacked lineup including: Billy Strings, Steve Earle, Kenny Chesney, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Wynonna Judd, Waxahatchee, Trampled by Turtles, Eric Burton of Black Pumas and rising star Jesse Welles. 

This marks the first time Farm Aid has held its daylong fundraising concert in the land of the 10,000 lakes where farming is integral to the economy. According to data from the 2024 USDA Census of Agriculture, the state boasts 65,351 farms and 25.4 million acres of farmland.  

Before this year's concert, a few artists who have stood on Farm Aid's stage at least once share some of their favorite musical moments and backstage stories from America's longest-running benefit concert series. Farm Aid will livestream the full festival beginning at 11:30 a.m. CT with the Farm Aid press event at farmaid.org and on its YouTube channel. 

Jeff Hanna, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

We've been in Willie's orbit since the 1970s and we were proud and grateful to be part of the first Farm Aid back in 1985. It was an incredible experience for all of us. We backed up our friend John Denver, who was a neighbour of ours in Aspen, Colorado and who we had played with often at clubs and bigger and bigger stages over the years. We also did a short Nitty Gritty Dirt Band set. 

Staring out at that huge stadium and seeing the faces of all those people there for the cause of the family farmer was amazing. And, as a fan, I also witnessed great sets by Dylan, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Joan Baez … it was truly and incredibly inspiring day of music. It's a beautiful thing that Neil, Willie, and later Dave Matthews, have done with Farm Aid.

James McMurtry

My first Farm Aid performance was Farm Aid Four at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis in 1990. I've never seen so much spandex in one place before or since. I was trying to take it all in when Billy Joe Shaver came walking through the backstage sea of spandex, looking disgusted, but lending the event an air of authenticity. 

When we took the stage, a pretty blonde woman introduced me to the crowd as James McMurty — employing the most common mispronunciation of my surname. I was later told that she was Nina Blackwood, and was a big deal MTV personality. 

After my performance, I sat in with Nanci Griffith and totally blew the chords on one of the songs, drawing the unabashed ire of former Amazing Rhythm Aces keyboardist, James Hooker, who was backing Nanci. Fortunately, my friend, Ross Hogarth was in the truck mixing the broadcast and quickly muted my guitar channel, so only Hooker and the other 45,000 people in the Hoosier Dome knew how bad I sucked! 

Steve Earle 

The troubadour and country outlaw has performed at Farm Aid numerous times throughout its 40 year history and returns this year to perform a couple of two-song tweener sets. A longtime activist and passionate artist always eager to take up a plight that resonates, the singer/songwriter’s first time playing the festival was in 1986 in Austin, the same year his GRAMMY-nominated debut record Guitar Town, was released.  

I played a solo set at about 9:30 or 10 o 'clock in the morning; it was in Austin at a racetrack. I performed by myself with Larry Crane, John Mellencamp's guitar player at the time. They had been pounding my record on sound checks and were playing it before John came out for his set later that night. That was where I met [Mellencamp] for the first time … on his tour bus. After that Farm Aid, I wrote the song "The Rain Came Down" because I felt weird that I didn't have a song to sing about the issue. 

Micah Nelson 

One of my favorite Farm Aid memories was the first time I ever played with Neil [Young] back in 2014. He randomly asked me and my brother Lukas [Nelson] if we wanted to join him at the end of his solo acoustic set and do “Rockin in the Free World.” Of course we said yes! In true Neil fashion this was like 10 minutes before he was about to go on — no run-through, no soundcheck, no plan, so no time to overthink it. 

I just remember my brother and I on either side of Neil on stage trying to create a bedrock of supportive energy and the whole thing feeling incredibly natural and effortless. Big smiles all around! That was quite a plot point in the story of my life; the beginning of a long musical ride and a beautiful friendship. Here I am over a decade later typing out this memory from a hotel room, on tour with Neil. 

Another iconic Farm Aid moment for me was watching all the founders: my dad, Neil, John and Dave up onstage singing “This Land is Your Land” with Pete Seeger. I remember Pete was like 1,000 years old standing up there picking his banjo and full of spunk! He even added his own new verse that ended with “New York was made to be frack-free.” 

Valerie June

My favorite Farm Aid memory is from getting off the stage at Willie Nelson's Luck Ranch in Texas. Annie Nelson, his wife, was there as I put away my banjo and made space for the next performer. She loved my set and invited me to Farm Aid.  

While I love Willie, Neil, John, Dave, Margo — and every star on the main stage — it's really the folks behind the scenes that work hand in hand with the local farms who keep the longevity of Farm Aid thriving. When you're there, you witness a village that can only be built by having all of the stars align — both the known and the unknown working together to create positive changes and a loving community that ripples across the nation and uplifts the entire world. Shout to Annie and all of the ladies who have been working with Farm Aid for years behind the scenes.  It's a national treasure.

The atmosphere at the 2025 Newport Folk Festival was by all accounts eclectic, filled with unforgettable performances, enthusiastic audiences, and artists thrilled to join the festival's storied legacy.

"There is such an obvious magic happening here," SNACKTIME told GRAMMY.com backstage, summing up the feeling shared by many performers at Newport. Actor-musician John C. Reilly declared it "the best music festival in America," highlighting the festival's unique and intimate vibe.

Artists expressed excitement and humility over becoming part of Newport's long history. "I'm so excited we got to become a little tiny part of the history this year," Ken Pomeroy shared. Meanwhile, South African group BCUC said performing at Newport "feels like a dream."

Below, hear more of these heartfelt sentiments and check out some performance highlights by Mt. Joy and Ritchy Mitch & The Coalminers from the 2025 iteration of Newport Folk Festival.

Nathaniel Rateliff & Hannah Cohen

Iron & Wine and I'm With Her

Lucius and Mary Chapin Carpenter

Jessie Welles

Mt Joy

Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners

Pride is upon us! Celebrations of the LGBTQIA+ community will be taking place across the country all month long, with many major cities organizing star-studded inclusive music festivals headlined by superstars like Jennifer Lopez, Troye Sivan, Lizzo, and Kim Petras.

This year's docket of Pride events also includes the likes of Paris Hilton, Doechii, Cynthia Erivo, Reneé Rapp, and Remi Wolf alongside "RuPaul's Drag Race" stars like Alyssa Edwards, Onya Nurve and Sasha Colby. 

With the hard-won rights of queer and trans people being scrutinized more than ever in the current political climate, the importance of Pride feels especially pressing this year — particularly as Washington D.C. prepares to host WorldPride for the first time.

Below, check out a roundup of the major music festivals happening around the country during Pride Month, from West Hollywood to New York City. 

OUTLOUD Music Festival At WeHo Pride (Los Angeles)

West Hollywood Park — May 31 & June 1

The gay mecca of West Hollywood kicks off Pride Month on May 31 and June 1 with one of the biggest, most colorful celebrations in the country. This year, OUTLOUD Music Festival at WeHo Pride is expanding to include two days of headliners, DJ sets and all kinds of fun from 1 p.m. to midnight PT at West Hollywood Park.

Lizzo and Kim Petras are set to headline Saturday night, while Remi Wolf and Paris Hilton will take over Sunday's festivities. Other major moments to expect at the festival will include performances by Alyssa Edwards, newly crowned "RuPaul's Drag Race" winner Onya Nurve, Violet Chachki B2B Gottmik, DJ sets by Honey Dijon and "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star Meredith Marks, and more on top of Horse Meat Disco descending on WeHo Pride

For attendees who want to get the party started even earlier, the City of West Hollywood is also hosting WeHo Pride Friday Night on May 30 with Maren Morris, Qveen Herby, Jamie Fine and a "Lip Sync Battle Royale" officiated by Drag Race pit crew favorite Bruno. (The Friday event is free, but is currently at capacity; join the waitlist here.)

World Pride Music Festival (Washington, D.C.)

RFK Festival Grounds — June 6 & 7

For the landmark 50th anniversary of Pride in Washington D.C., WorldPride is headed to the nation's capital for a multi-day music festival headlined by Jennifer Lopez and Troye Sivan. The jam-packed roster will also include the likes of Galantis, MARINA, Paris Hilton, Rita Ora, Tinashe, Kim Petras, Purple Disco Machine, RAYE and a RuPaul DJ set, plus appearances by Betty Who, Trisha Paytas, Sasha Colby, Slayyyter and more.

The first night of the festival — Friday, June 6 — will be finished off with a special set from Zedd following J.Lo's headlining slot, while Reneé Rapp will also be making a special appearance to close out the second and final night on Saturday, June 7. 

One week before the World Pride Music Festival begins, Shakira will officially kick off the festivities by bringing her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour to Nationals Park for the official WorldPride 2025 Welcome Concert on May 31. 

Other marquee events happening during WorldPride 2025 include the International Choral Festival presented by the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington D.C. (May 24-June 8), the Capital Pride Honors gala (June 5), the WorldPride Human Rights Conference (June 4-6), and post-parade and closing concerts by Doechii (June 7) and Cynthia Erivo (June 8).

OUTLOUD Music Festival Boston

The Stage at Suffolk Downs — June 21

Three weeks after taking over West Hollywood, OUTLOUD launches a second iteration of its music festival across the country in Boston. 

The East Coast version of the fest is taking place Saturday, June 21 at The Stage at Suffolk Downs. The one-night-only event will be once again headlined by Kim Petras along with a DJ set by Trixie Mattell and performances by Flo Milli, Rebecca Black, G Flip and Frankie Grande. 

Chicago Pride Fest

Halsted St. from Addison to Grace St. — June 21 & 22

A week before the Chicago Pride Parade, the city's LGBTQIA+-friendly neighborhood of Northalsted will be the site of Chicago Pride Fest.

Featuring headliners like Jesse McCartney, Deborah Cox, The Aces, Aluna, Confidence Man,  and Drag Race alum The Vixen, the two-day music festival's lineup will also includes unique additions like Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute, Miss Foozie's Proud Pet Parade, Servin' Fysh Dance Company and the Gay Men's Chorus.

Planet Pride (New York City)

Brooklyn Mirage — June 27

Enter the cosmic portal for Planet Pride! Billed as New York City's biggest Pride event, the immersive festival combines six parties for the price of one ticket inside Avant Gardner and the all-new, completely redesigned Brooklyn Mirage.

While Planet Pride's 2025 surprise headliner has yet to be revealed as of press time, the mystery artist will join a roster filled with dance and electronic impresarios like Oliver Heldens, Cheat Codes, Frank Walker, ALTÉGO, Kartsen Sollars, and NYC nightlife king Ty Sunderland. 

The otherworldly party will also include the new 360 Stage hosted by Good Boy as well as the Big Apple debut of Circuit Festival Barcelona, with even more special guests expected to be announced soon.

Nashville Pride

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park — June 27

To kick off its 2025 festival, Nashville Pride is throwing a Friday Night Concert on June 27 at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park.

Hosted by The Princess, the special event will be headlined by Kim Petras and also feature performances over the course of the evening by Estelle, Empress Of and "RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars" season 6 winner Kylie Sonique Love.

Over the course of the weekend, Nashville Pride's festival will also include a kids and family area, a youth area, community art installations, and over 225 vendors ranging from local nonprofits and resources to Nashville-based artists and other businesses. 

San Francisco Pride

Civic Center Plaza — June 28 & 29

Marking its 55th annual Pride Celebration, San Francisco Pride will take over the city's Civic Center Plaza on June 28 and 29 for a weekend of resistance, education and live entertainment. 

Across the weekend, the event's main stage will include appearances by Michaela Jaé, Saucy Santana, Raquel Willis, Snow Wife, Holland, Canada's Drag Race superstar Priyanka, Ultra Naté, Ts Madison and more.

Editor's Note: This article will be updated as new lineups are announced.

We may only be in the middle of March, but the busy festival season is already well underway. Tempe's Innings Festival got the ball rolling in late February with a stellar lineup that included Beck, The Black Keys, and Gary Clark Jr. And Lauryn Hill, Toni Braxton, and recent GRAMMY winner Doechii are just a few of the names who graced the 18th annual Jazz in the Gardens at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium last weekend.

Famed for launching the careers of John Mayer, James Blunt and The Polyphonic Spree, the exhaustive array of conferences, workshops and showcases known as SXSW just concluded in Austin, Texas. And the neighboring Sips and Sounds Music Festival and San Antonio's Sunset: The Festival at the Epsee have been and gone, too. 

Of course, as the days get longer, brighter and warmer, the festival circuit really kicks into gear. Although Pitchfork Music Festival, Faster Horses Festival and GoldenSky Country Music Fest are taking a break in 2025, there are still far too many musical celebrations to mention taking place across America and beyond over the next nine months. 

From hip-hop parties to heavy metal feasts, here's a look at 33 of the best and biggest festivals happening in 2025. 

Rolling Loud

Inglewood, California (Mar. 15-16); more cities and dates TBD

Having just celebrated its 10th year in birthplace Miami, the ever-expanding Rolling Loud will once again hit Inglewood's Hollywood Park for another star-studded bash of beats and rhymes. A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, YG, and Ken Carson will all showcase their lyrical flow at the two-day event. But perhaps the most intriguing name on the bill is Mexico's Peso Pluma, the corridos tumbados scene's leading figure and the first non-hip-hop artist ever to headline any iteration of the fest.

Rolling Loud is also expected to return to Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium later this year. And following last year's debut in Austria and second visit to Thailand, Rolling Loud will no doubt continue making noise internationally, too. 

Ultra Music Festival

Miami, Florida (Mar. 28-30)

Ultra Music Festival's organizers will be hoping that this year's celebration of all things dance will run smoother than last year's. The 2024 event had to suspend all its late-night Saturday shows after a torrential downpour that nearly ruined superstar DJ Tiësto's set. The potentially adverse weather conditions hasn't deterred the cream of the EDM world from descending upon downtown Miami's Bayfront Park, though, with everyone from Afrojack to Zed's Dead taking to the decks for the event's 25th anniversary.

Breakaway Music Festival

Various cities (April 4/5-Oct. 24/25)

Ultra may be dance music's largest festival, but Breakaway boasts the title of the largest national touring festival. Stopping through 12 cities from April to October, each two-day lineup features a varying array of electronic music stars, including Afrojack, Illenium, John Summit, Marshmello, REZZ, Sofi Tukker, Two Friends, and Zedd.

Tortuga

Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Apr. 4-6)

Hailed as the Festival of the Year by the Academy of Country Music, Tortuga will return to Florida's Fort Lauderdale Beach Park for its 12th annual celebration of country, rock and roots — and raising both awareness and support for ocean conservation.

Jelly Roll, Luke Combs and Keith Urban are confirmed to headline the event, which annually features some fun throwback acts, too; this year's dash of nostalgia will come courtesy of Ludacris, Gavin DeGraw and Ezra Ray Hart, the supergroup of Better Than Ezra's Kevin Griffin, Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath and Tonic's Emerson Hart. But those looking for the new big thing should head for a mainstay of the event since 2019, the Next From Nashville stage, which proudly showcases the best rising talent from the titular city.

Dreamville

Raleigh, North Carolina (Apr. 5-6)

"What a ride it's been," Dreamville co-founder J. Cole recently remarked amid the news that this year's festival would be its last. That's a fair assessment considering Hurricane Florence canceled its planned 2018 debut and then COVID-19 shuttered its 2020 sophomore year, before the 2022 feast of hip-hop and R&B became one of North Carolina's most attended musical events ever. And for its final year, Dreamville will certainly go out with a bang.

Saturday will see be headlined by Lil Wayne, with an appearance from Hot Boys and a special reunion with Big Tymers; 21 Savage, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Ari Lennox, and Chief Keef are among the other day-one performers. Erykah Badu, Tems, GloRilla, and Coco Jones will help close things out on Sunday, but naturally, J. Cole will be the one to bid Dreamville farewell.

Coachella

Indio, California (Apr. 11-13/18-20)

Founded at the turn of the century, Coachella is still the hottest, and arguably most Instagram-friendly, festival on the Stateside calendar. More than 200,000 music lovers will be aiming to top up both their tans and their social media followers to the sounds of headliners Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone, and Travis Scott. Missy Elliott, Charli XCX, and Megan Thee Stallion are just a few of the impressive names also appearing further down the Empire Polo Club bill — and, of course, festgoers can anticipate some exciting surprise guests.

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

New Orleans, Louisiana (Apr. 24-May 4)

Staged across eight days at the Fair Grounds Race Course, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has expanded its remit to include everything from rock and roots to R&B. Indeed, while its inaugural 1970 event was populated by the likes of Fats Domino, Duke Ellington and Mahalia Jackson, this year's incarnation is welcoming acts as diverse as Pearl Jam, Harry Connick Jr., and Burna Boy. The festival will also witness a live debut for unlikely supergroup Lil Wayne and The Roots alongside a special Mexican showcase featuring Santana and Lila Downs. 

Stagecoach

Indio, California (Apr. 25-27)

Just a week after the Coachella crowds have packed up, Indio's Empire Polo Club will host another musical smorgasbord, this time focusing on the worlds of country, folk and bluegrass. Luke Combs, Zach Bryan and Jelly Roll are headlining, while Brothers Osborne, Shaboozey and Ashley McBryde will also take to the stage alongside less obvious names including Backstreet Boys, T-Pain and Nelly — the latter celebrating the 25th anniversary of his GRAMMY-nominated debut, Country Grammar. The most appetizing part of the lineup, however, is undoubtedly Guy Fieri's Smokehouse.

Sonic Temple

Columbus, Ohio (May 8-11)

A replacement for the equally head-banging Rock On The Range, Sonic Temple has fast become one of the most popular events on the metal calendar since debuting in 2019. This year's four-day event welcomes three bona fide giants to its stages, the rejuvenated Linkin Park, nu-metal heroes Korn, and thrash pioneers Metallica, with the latter performing no-repeat sets on Friday and Sunday. Shock rocker Alice Cooper, reunited sludge metalers Acid Bath, and alt-rock favorites Incubus will also help ramp up the decibel levels at Columbus' Historic Crew Stadium this spring. 

Just Like Heaven

Pasadena, California (May 10)

If you prefer your home comforts to camping out under the stars, then there are plenty of one-day festivals which will allow you to be tucked up in bed by midnight. Just Like Heaven is undeniably one of the coolest, particularly if you're an indie kid of the mid-'00s.

Vampire Weekend, Bloc Party, Empire of the Sun, and TV on the Radio will all bring the MySpace vibes to the Pasadena Rose Bowl. Yet the biggest draw for many will be the comeback performance from cult favorites Rilo Kiley.

Outlaw Music Festival

Various cities (May 13-Sep. 19)

Commemorating its 10th anniversary, this year's Outlaw Music Festival is its biggest, and most would argue best, to date. Alongside co-founder Willie Nelson and his Friends, the 34-city tour is also welcoming Sheryl Crow, Wilco, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, and the one and only Bob Dylan. The whole shebang kicks off at Phoenix's Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre on May 13 and wraps up at East Troy's Alpine Valley Music Theatre on Sep. 19.

Sand In My Boots

Gulf Shores, Alabama (May 16-18)

Not content with just headlining festivals, country superstar Morgan Wallen is now organizing them. Yes, hot on the heels of crafting the new Field & Stream Music Fest with Eric Church, the country singer is now adding to his portfolio with Sand In My Boots. 

Taking over for Hangout Festival — which is celebrating its 15th anniversary by having Wallen curate — the three-day event will welcome Brooks & Dunn, HARDY and Wallen's recent duet partner Post Malone when it debuts on the beaches of Alabama's Gulf Shores this May. Wallen's lineup also taps into his hip-hop sensibilities, with Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz, Three 6 Mafia, Moneybagg Yo, BigXthaPlug, and T-Pain on the bill, too. And of course, the moustachioed man himself will close out the epic weekend with a headlining set on Sunday.

Electric Daisy Carnival

Las Vegas, Nevada (May 16-18)

Still North America's largest dance music festival, the Electric Daisy Carnival will host more than 250 acts across three days of high-energy, glow-in-the-dark fun at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Alesso, Kaskade, Dom Dolla, Paul Oakenfold, DJ Snake, and Martin Garrix are just a handful of the superstar DJs who'll be delivering epic drops amid more lasers than a Star Wars fight scene; the 2025 event will also debut Ubuntu, a brand-new stage showcasing the best of the Afro house scene.

Boston Calling

Boston, Massachusetts (May 23-25)

Co-curated by The National's Aaron Dessner, Boston Calling always boasts an impressive musical pedigree. And the 2025 event, which will introduce a new air-conditioned indoor arena and rotating stage setup, is no exception. Alongside headliners Luke Combs, Dave Matthews Band and Fall Out Boy, the three-day event is also welcoming Sheryl Crow, TLC, The Black Crowes, Public Enemy, and Cage the Elephant to Boston's Harvard Athletic Complex. 

BottleRock Napa Valley

Napa, California (May 23-25)

As you'd expect from a festival held deep in the heart of Napa Valley, BottleRock is just as appealing for wine connoisseurs as it is for music lovers. But headliners Green Day, Justin Timberlake, Noah Kahan, and Khruangbin — the latter surely the perfect act to soundtrack a late May evening with a glass of Cabernet — will no doubt help prise attendees away from the 40+ wineries also selling their wares just ahead of Memorial Day.

Sueños Music Festival

Chicago, Illinois (May 24-25)

Two months before Lollapalooza takes over Chicago's Grant Park, some of Latin music's biggest names and most promising rising stars will bring the heat at the fourth annual Sueños Music Festival. Shakira, Don Omar, Peso Pluma, and Grupo Frontera will headline the two-day fest, which will also feature performances from Arcángel, María Becerra, Jhayco, and several other reggaeton and Latin trap stars.

Head in the Clouds

Pasadena, California (May 31-Jun.1)

Designed to champion the best in R&B, pop and hip-hop talents from within the Asian diaspora, Head in the Clouds heads back to Brookside at the Rose Bowl in the early summer. K-pop girl group 2NE1, Chinese rap outfit Higher Brothers, and Indonesian MC Rich Brian are just a few of the names scheduled to play the top of the bill, while attendees can also look forward to a DJ set from EDM favorite Porter Robinson.   

Primavera Sound

Barcelona, Spain (Jun. 4-8)

Barcelona's Primavera Sound began life as a showcase for Spanish noise bands in 2007 but has since evolved into a sun-soaked paradise for all kinds of genres. Fresh from their GRAMMYs success, Charli XCX, Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter will provide the big pop-girl energy, highlighting the festival's attempts to achieve a 50/50 gender split in its lineups. Kneecap, Kim Deal and LCD Soundsystem will no doubt prove to be just as invigorating — a necessity considering the Parc del Forum's schedule typically kicks off at 4 p.m. and doesn't finish until 6 the following morning!

CMA Fest

Nashville, Tennessee (Jun. 5-8)

As its name suggests, CMA Fest will welcome country music's biggest and brightest acts when it returns to the genre's capital, Nashville. This year's ticketed shows at Nissan Stadium will include performances by Kelsea Ballerini, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Shaboozey, Brooks & Dunn, and the recently reunited Rascal Flatts.

But you don't even need to spend money to see some of the genre's exciting new generation. Across five stages scattered around downtown Music City, you can catch free sets from Rodney Atkins, Gabby Barrett, Kashus Culpepper, Chapel Hart, Dasha, Randall King, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Reyna Roberts, Tucker Wetmore, and Angel White. And fans wanting a breather from the five daytime outdoor stages can also head to the Music City Center for Fan Fair X — named in honor of the fest's early '70s incarnation — for various meet-and-greets and celebrity Q&As.

World Pride Music Festival

Washington, D.C. (Jun. 6-7)

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Capital Pride, World Pride Music Festival is a haven for dance, drag and general LGBTQIA+ culture. Jennifer Lopez provides some A-list star power with a rare headline set, while the likes of Troye Sivan, Grimes and Galantis will undoubtedly keep the global party going. But for many of the 50,000 heading for the RFK Festival Grounds, the star attractions will be tabloid regulars Paris Hilton and Trisha Paytas — not to mention, a DJ set from queer icon RuPaul.

The Governors' Ball

New York City, New York (Jun. 6-8)

Last year's Governors' Ball boasted a memorable set from Chappell Roan that helped continue her remarkable ascent from virtual unknown to GRAMMY-winning chart-topper. Those further down the bill at Flushing Meadows Corona Park's 15th annual shindig, including Artemas, Yaya Bey and Isabel LaRosa, will therefore be hoping for a similar career boost. But headliners Tyler, the Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, Feid, Glass Animals, Hozier, and this year's most acrobatic GRAMMY performer, Benson Boone, will also guarantee that the three-day event goes with a bang.

Bonnaroo

Manchester, Tennessee (Jun. 12-15)

Taking place at Tennessee's Manchester Great Stage Park, Bonnaroo can always be relied upon to offer something outside the norm. Alongside regular slots from Queens of the Stone Age, Vampire Weekend and Avril Lavigne, the music and arts festival will see Remi Wolf host a superjam dubbed "Insanely Fire '70s Pool Party" and psych-rock favorites King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard stage a "Roo Residency" with three different sets across three days. The four-day fest will also feature the all-new Infinity Stage, which marks the world's largest 360° spatial audience experience.

Vans Warped Tour

Washington, D.C. (Jun.14-15), Long Beach, California (Jul. 26-27), Orlando, Florida (Nov. 15-16)

After a six-year break, the ultimate celebration of punk, pop-punk and any other genre that considers Vans as part of its uniform is returning to commemorate Warped Tour's 30th anniversary. Avril Lavigne, All Time Low, Asking Alexandria, and dozens of other Warped veterans are confirmed to hit the road for stops at Washington, D.C.'s Festival Grounds at RFK Campus, Long Beach's Shoreline Waterfront, and Orlando's Camping World Stadium — and as teased on the fest's official Instagram, there's "more bands and surprises to come." 

Summerfest

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Jun. 19-21/ 26-28/ Jul. 3-5)

Staged across three consecutive weekends, 12 stages and 75 acres, Milwaukee's Summerfest has continually grown in stature since its 1968 debut. In fact, it was once hailed as the largest music festival in the world. The Henry Maier Festival Park event may no longer hold this particular record, but it's still welcoming more than 600 acts in 2025 including The Killers, Def Leppard, Lainey Wilson, The Lumineers, and James Taylor.

Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash

Bridgeview, Illinois (Jun. 20-22)

Reportedly the hip-hop world's largest independent festival, Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash is expected to reel in another 120,000 attendees when it returns to Bridgeview's SeatGeek Stadium this summer. Headlined by Don Tolliver x Yeat, Future and Young Thug, the weekend will also see Trippie Redd, NLE Choppa, Sexyy Red, Famous Dex, Quavo, G Herbo, and several other rap stars take the stage. Perhaps the most anticipated set, though, is a special Sunday night performance from Chicago's own Chance the Rapper.

Glastonbury

Pilton, Somerset (Jun. 25-29)

As always, the Glastonbury rumor mill has been in overdrive for months, with Rihanna, Stevie Wonder, and Sam Fender all predicted to play the Pyramid Stage at the UK's flagship music festival. But we now know that The 1975, Olivia Rodrigo, and — after much toing and froing — Neil Young will headline the iconic five-day event. Rock legend Rod Stewart is also playing the prestigious Sunday Legends slot, with the recently reformed Scissor Sisters, Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall, and big beat legend Fatboy Slim just a few of the intriguing names further down the bill.

Essence Fest

New Orleans, Louisiana (Jul. 3-6)

Still the largest African-American cultural festival in the United States, Essence Fest returns to New Orleans' Caesar Superdrome for Fourth of July weekend. The 2025 lineup has yet to be announced, but just to prove how much it's grown in stature since its 1995 debut, last year's featured superstars Janet Jackson, Usher and Busta Rhymes. Of course, Essence has more to offer than just the music, with an array of speakers and workshops also on hand to empower and inspire. 

Lollapalooza

Berlin, Germany (Jul. 12-13); Chicago (July 31-Aug. 3); more cities and dates TBD

The brainchild of Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, Lollapalooza started out as a traveling show before taking root at Chicago's Grant Park. Since the early 2010s, however, it's also spawned several international offshoots including Paris, Stockholm, and Berlin. Justin Timberlake, j-hope, Gracie Abrams, and Raye are all confirmed to play the latter when it returns to the Olympiastadion and Olympiapark this summer. Following successful 2024 legs, fans can likely expect Argentina, Chile and Brazil to fly the flag for South America in 2025, and Mumbai's Mahalaxmi Racecourse to host for a third consecutive year.

And when Lolla hits Grant Park for its biggest and longest-running iteration from July 31-Aug. 3, the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams, and TWICE will bring the girl power to the main stages, alongside fellow headliners A$AP Rocky, Tyler, the Creator, Luke Combs, Korn, and Rüfüs Du Sol. But that's far from where the excitement ends: Dominic Fike, Bleachers, Djo, Young Miko, Amaarae, and Artemas are just a handful of the other acts that will take over Windy City.

Newport Folk Festival

Newport, Rhode Island (Jul. 25-27)

Enjoyed Timothée Chalamet's Oscar-nominated impersonation of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown? Well, why not visit the scene of its revolutionary denouement. 

Yes, Newport Folk Festival is having a moment again as the place where the Bard went electric. And while the three-day event, staged at Fort Adams State Park in Rhode Island, can't promise anything as groundbreaking in 2025, the likes of Waxahatchee, Jeff Tweedy and Michael Kiwanuka will at least guarantee a musical masterclass.

Hinterland

St. Charles, Iowa (Aug. 1-3)

Held at the Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles, Iowa, Hinterland first debuted in 2015 and has fast become one of the coolest festivals on the block. Just look at this year's lineup, which features Clairo, The Marias and Royel Otis alongside headliners Kacey Musgraves, Lana Del Rey and Tyler, the Creator, for proof. Just as renowned for its sunshine as its Pitchfork-friendly acts, Hinterland has also promised a guaranteed refund should the forecasted temperatures soar beyond 90 degrees. 

Hard Summer

Los Angeles, California (Aug. 2-3)

Returning to Hollywood Park for a second year, Hard Summer once again brings a stacked lineup of hard-hitting stars and promising newcomers in the EDM scene. Featuring headline sets from Dom Dolla, Feid, Gesaffelstein, and Kaytranada, the two-day fest will also host Deorro, Four Tet, Sara Landry, The Blessed Madonna, and many more across its five stages.

Outside Lands

San Francisco, California (Aug. 8-10)

Hailed as a love letter to San Francisco, Outside Lands Festival always features a mix of buzzworthy artists, chart-toppers, and cooler-than-cool icons — and this year is no different. Along with headliners like Doechii, Doja Cat, Glass Animals, Hozier, Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals, and John Summit, the three-day fest will feature sets from Black Coffee, Rebecca Black, Blond:ish, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Neal Francis, Marina, Role Model, Thundercat, and Wallows.

Since debuting at Golden Gate Park in 2008, the three-day event has also established a strong culinary reputation thanks to areas dedicated to cheese, wine and even bubble tea.

North Coast Music Festival

Bridgeview, Illinois (Aug. 29-31)

Although the North Coast Music Festival started out as a celebration of all things hip-hop, folk and jam band, it's since switched its focus to floorfilling beats, anthemic synths and glowstick-friendly melodies. Zedd, Galantis and Kaskade, alongside a special drum and bass set from masked mastermind Deadmau5, are the big draws for its 15th anniversary edition, once again held at Bridgeview's SeatGeek Stadium. 

Bourbon & Beyond

Kentucky, Louisville (Sep. 11-14)

Self-described as the world's largest bourbon and music festival, Bourbon & Beyond will return to the Kentucky Expo Center's Highland Festival Grounds this September with the likes of Noah Kahan, Jack White, The Lumineers, Benson Boone, Sturgill Simpson, and the recently reunited Alabama Shakes in tow. Jam band legends Phish will also be making their only festival appearance of 2025 at the four-day event which, as you'd expect, also prides itself on its culinary workshops and tasting sessions. 

Aftershock

Sacramento, California (Oct. 2-5)

More than 160,000 metalheads are due to head to Sacramento's Discovery Park this October for one of the loudest and hardest rock festivals in America. While the four-day fest will feature a hint of pop-punk — including Taking Back Sunday, Good Charlotte, All Time Low, the All-American Rejects, Bowling For Soup, State Champs, and headliners blink-182 — the rest of Aftershock will be dedicated to the hard rockers. Deftones, Lamb of God, Turnstile, Korn, Three Days Grace, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, and Bring Me the Horizon are just a handful of the acts that will leave your ears happily ringing.

Austin City Limits

Austin, Texas (Oct. 3-5/10-12)

Inspired by the same-named PBS series, Austin City Limits typically attracts 450,000 people to Zilker Park each year with an abundance of indie, hip-hop, folk, electro, indie, and pop. For its 2025 iteration, ACL will host a wide range of headliners each night: Hozier, Luke Combs, Cage the Elephant, and Empire Of The Sun on Friday; Sabrina Carpenter, the Strokes, Doechii, and Djo on Saturday; and Doja Cat, John Summit, Feid, T-Pain, and Mk.gee on Sunday. But that hardly even covers the array of exciting acts, from Role Model to Marina to the Dare. This year's lineup is so good, in fact, that three-day passes for both weekends, as well as one-day passes for both Saturdays, are already sold out. (There's still one-day passes for Friday and Sunday, but it seems those will also be gone soon enough.)

When We Were Young

Las Vegas, Nevada (Oct. 18-19)

Since becoming a regular fixture in 2022, When We Were Young has established itself as the must-see festival for any self-respecting fan of classic emo, post-hardcore, and pop-punk. This year sees Panic! at the Disco come out of their brief retirement to perform debut A Fever You Can't Sweat Out in full for its 20th anniversary. Weezer, blink-182, Avril Lavigne, Taking Back Sunday, and The Offspring are also among the names that will send the Las Vegas Festival Grounds crowd moshing down memory lane. A second day was just added, so those who couldn't snag a ticket during the first day's on-sale can still revel in the nostalgia.