Travel the world to the rhythm: 10 iconic international music festivals

▲10 iconic international music festivals—how many have you been to? (Photo / Source:flicker)

Reporter Xiao Wan-Ning / Comprehensive report

Music festivals are always something to look forward to—Taiwan’s Spring Scream and Gongliao Music Festival are great examples. Many bands got their start at these two events, and there are plenty of international festivals that attract travelers from far and wide, such as Iceland’s Iceland Airwaves, San Francisco’s Outside Lands, and Fuji Rock Festival. BuzzFeed has compiled a list of 10 world-renowned music festivals for everyone to enjoy together.

Iceland Airwaves — Iceland
Starting in the fall of 1999 and held annually, it’s known as Iceland’s most famous musical event. Every October, a week-long festival takes place, featuring not only great music and parties but also plenty of attractive people gathering together.

Outside Lands — United States
Held in August in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, the lineup is usually announced around April each year. This year’s performers include Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Kanye West, The Killers, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, British rock band Arctic Monkeys, and renowned Dutch DJ Tiësto— all hugely popular acts. It’s one of the major music events in the U.S.

Lake of Stars Festival — Malawi
Taking place at the end of September on Lake Malawi, this festival is primarily organized by countries in southern Africa. Lake of Stars is a glamorous music festival focusing on pop music and gaining international recognition in the region.

▲ These well-known music festivals each have their own unique features, but the biggest commonality is that they draw large crowds every year. (Photo / Source:flicker)

Fuji Rock Festival — Japan
Usually held in July, it’s Japan’s largest music festival and attracts many internationally renowned bands. If you have the chance, you definitely should check it out.

Montreux Jazz Festival — Switzerland
Ranked among the top ten jazz festivals in the world, the Montreux Jazz Festival is one of the oldest music festivals globally. Held every July, it draws nearly every famous pop musician to take part in this grand event.

Snowbombing — Austria
This snow-themed music festival is a famous event in Austria. It typically features big-name artists and singers, all coming together in April to enjoy the last of the snow season. Here, you can ski, rock out, and enjoy steak and noodles—it’s a festival worth visiting.

Rock the Boreal — Canada
One of the largest music festivals in North America, it’s held every July in Canada’s Northwest Territories. The festival takes place in a very remote part of Canada, which adds to its rustic, countryside vibe.

▲ Estonia’s traditional music festival also draws huge crowds every year. (Photo / Source:Wikipedia)
 

Estonian Song Festival (Laulupidu) — Estonia
This is Estonia’s traditional song festival, where an estimated 30,000 local singers skilled in folk music perform. It’s one of Estonia’s traditional celebrations.

BuktaFestivalen — Norway
Held in the Norwegian fjords, usually in July, it’s arguably the northernmost and most beautiful music festival on Earth. Here, you can rock out while experiencing the Arctic Circle.

Miami Music Week — United States
Miami Music Week is arguably the world’s premier music festival, attracting numerous renowned DJs, independent bands, and singers who go to great lengths to attend, with tickets often selling out instantly. Held annually since 1999, it has become a major benchmark for the party scene, typically taking place in May.