America's BEST Music Festivals Throughout The Year

Music for the masses

For music fans, there’s no better way to enjoy old favorites and discover new artists than attending a full-scale, multi-day music festival. America is a big country with lots of different climates, which means the outdoor festival season goes almost all year and features every genre, from rock to country to electronic dance music (EDM).

Click through the gallery for the best American music festivals held in each month of the year...

January: Steamboat MusicFest, Steamboat Springs, Colorado

The Steamboat MusicFest draws in thousands of ski-lovin’, music-lovin’ folk to the snow-swept peaks of Colorado each January to enjoy the very best in Texas and Americana music. Spread out over six days, the festival features concerts, acoustic shows, and singer-songwriter performances in venues that include a barn, a dance hall tent, and an old saloon. Or catch one of the outdoor shows – a truly unique festival experience.

If you missed out on this year's event, be sure to keep an eye out for news on the 2026 edition. Stay in the loop with the help of the official website. Tickets go fast.

February: Wintergrass Festival, Bellevue, Washington

Held in the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue in Washington State, Wintergrass is a four-day, family-friendly bluegrass and acoustic music festival offering knee-slapping concerts and dances across four different stages. The festival is also focused on preserving bluegrass for future generations, so expect lots of fun workshops and impromptu jams for adults and kids alike.

Head to the Hyatt between February 20-23 in 2025 to get the blood circulating during the cold Washington winter.

March: SXSW, Austin, Texas

For more than 30 years, Austin’s SXSW has evolved from a small music showcase and industry conference into a broader gathering for creative professionals, with separate film, comedy, and music festivals, plus an 'interactive' conference that draws top tech and media professionals. Music is still at the heart of SXSW, with a multi-venue, week-long festival featuring both up-and-coming and heritage artists playing the city’s dozens of legendary music clubs, as well as a bigger outdoor stage.

The dates for the 2025 edition are March 7-15. Get to this one if you can. There really is something for everyone.

March: Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival, Okeechobee, Florida

An eclectic festival that brings together big names from several genres of music, Okeechobee is just as likely to highlight EDM artists as mainstream folk rockers like Mumford & Sons. The four-day festival takes place on a gorgeous 800-acre property called Sunshine Grove near Lake Okeechobee, complete with a campground and beach.

Okeechobee isn't taking place in 2025, despite claims that it would after a year off in 2024. Organizers say they're working hard to create an even better experience for attendees of the next one (whenever that is).

March: Ultra Music Festival, Miami, Florida

A wildly popular electronic music festival, Ultra has been a Miami mainstay since it first launched in 1999. Held outdoors in Bayfield Park, this year’s weekend-long fest features famous acts including Four Tet, Mau P, Eli Brown, Subtronics, Zedd, and Nero.

Since EDM is a worldwide phenomenon, Ultra has spread its presence globally, with sister festivals having popped up all over the world in recent years. Head to Miami on March 28, 29, and 30 to experience one of Florida's biggest music events. Some tickets are still available. 

March: Big Ears Festival, Knoxville, Tennessee

With a mandate to create 'joyful, meaningful and transcendent cultural experiences,' Big Ears is almost the complete opposite of America’s enormous outdoor rock and hip-hop festivals. Performances are held in historic theaters, refurbished warehouses, cafés, quiet churches, and other elegant venues throughout Knoxville.

The musical programming is designed to be nuanced and challenging, with a mixture of jazz, experimental, folk, and Neoclassical artists. The dates for the 2025 event are March 27-30, and tickets are still available.

April: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Indio, California

This three-day festival, which takes place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, just east of the city of Palm Springs, has grown from an alternative music festival into one of the world’s most well-known multi-stage pop music extravaganzas. A favorite of celebrity and social media influencers, Coachella has become so popular that it now stretches over the course of two weekends (with the same line-up both weeks) to accommodate more fans.

In 2025, the festival is happening on April 11-13 and April 18-20. There are some tickets still available, but they won't be available for long. Grab them while you can.

April: Stagecoach Festival, Indio, California

Often referred to as 'the country Coachella,' Stagecoach takes place at the same Empire Polo Club venue as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, only a week later and with a completely different line-up. The festival launched in 2007 and showcases some of country music’s biggest stars, as well as folk, bluegrass, Americana, and roots artists.

The 2022 festival, back after a two-year pandemic interruption, featured Carrie Underwood, Thomas Rhett, and Luke Combs. This year, headliners include Zach Bryan and Jelly Roll, as well as Luke Combs again. Taking place across the last weekend of April, some ticket packages are still available.

April to October: Country Thunder, various states

A rare multi-city touring festival, Country Thunder makes stops in Arizona, Florida, Wisconsin, and Canada over the course of the festival season. As the name suggests, this fest is all about modern mainstream country music. Previous headliners include Georgia Line, Chris Young, Jason Aldean, and Morgan Wallen.

Each stop along the tour is slightly different, but most of the shows are held on large rural properties with lots of room for camping. Check the Country Thunder website to stay in the loop. 

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April/May: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, New Orleans, Louisiana

Referred to simply as Jazz Fest by locals, this 10-day festival has been part of New Orleans’ cultural landscape since 1970. It’s not just about jazz – the many tents and stages at the Fair Grounds Race Course have hosted a huge diversity of artists, including 2024 guests like The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, and the Foo Fighters, as well as more traditional jazz and blues artists.

Since this is New Orleans, there’s also plenty of culture to take in too. Book now for April 24 to May 4, 2025.

May: Electric Daisy Carnival, Las Vegas, Nevada

Billed as the largest electronic dance music festival in North America, the Electric Daisy Carnival (or EDC) is a feast for the senses, with bright lights, elaborate stages, carnival rides, dancers and circus performers, art installations, and, of course, performances from dozens of artists.

Rather than promoting big names, the festival takes a 'you are the headliner' approach, suggesting that the EDC community is the true draw of the festival. This year's event will be held on May 16-18, but most ticket options have sold out. The dates for 2026's edition have yet to be set.

May: Sand In My Boots, Gulf Shores, Alabama

Gulf Shores is a beach community on the Gulf of Mexico, just west of the Florida panhandle. This new three-day festival, which replaces Hangout Music Fest in 2025, will take advantage of the area's unbelievable white sands (hence the name of the event). There will be not one but two stages on the beach itself.  

Launched by country star Morgan Wallen, with a line-up curated by the man himself, acts playing this year include Post Malone, Diplo, Wiz Khalifa, The War on Drugs, and Future Islands. The festival takes place May 16-18. Tickets have already sold out for this year's edition, so you might have to join this particular party in 2026 instead.

May: Boston Calling Music Festival, Boston, Massachusetts

Co-curated by The National’s Aaron Dessner, Boston Calling started out as a twice-a-year festival, treating the people of Boston to a critically acclaimed array of artists. Now taking place just once a year, the three-day festival brings plenty of food and fun to the Harvard Athletic Complex, as well as impressive musical artists, mostly falling into the alternative rock category.

The 2025 festival, to be held on May 23-25, offers a nice mix of newer and nostalgic artists. Acts set to feature include Dave Matthews Band, Luke Combs, and Fall Out Boy.

May: Lightning in a Bottle, Buena Vista Lake, California

This destination festival in central California invites music fans to come and stay for a full experience that goes beyond simply listening to music. The musical acts – all curated for dancing – are important, but the festival also features a component called The Compass, involving lifestyle workshops and discussions with various experts and thought leaders.

Art installations, performances, and sculptures are also part of the experience, along with yoga and wellness elements. It's being held this year on May 21-25.

May: BottleRock, Napa, California

Winery touring season kicks off with a bang with this three-day festival (May 23-25) in the heart of California wine country. The 2025 line-up has yet to be announced but if the 2024 headliners – Pearl Jam, Stevie Nicks, and Ed Sheeran – are anything to go by, this year's event promises to be another good one. 

This festival really sets itself apart with some truly high-level food from prestigious Napa Valley chefs, as well as local wines and craft beers. There's even a culinary stage featuring appearances and cooking demonstrations from celebrity chefs. Attendees can also indulge in spa and beauty treatments.

June: Governors Ball, New York City, New York

This NYC festival takes place in Corona Park in Flushing Meadows with room for four stages. The music falls into the realm of popular artists, with 2024 highlights including Post Malone, SZA, and 21 Savage.

Because New Yorkers have high standards, the onsite food and beverage is on point, as is the site, which is spruced up with a cool NYC street aesthetic and artificial grass to cover hot asphalt. Information for the 2025 edition is currently low on the ground but, if we were you, we'd block out 6-8 June in the diary and keep tabs on the official Gov Ball website.

June: Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Manchester, Tennessee

Featuring over 150 musical acts performing on 10 stages, Tennessee’s Bonnaroo is one of America’s most beloved music festivals. The fest’s name is Creole slang for 'good stuff' and it certainly delivers on that front, with a 2024 line-up that showcased the likes of Pretty Lights, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fred Again, and Megan Thee Stallion.

The four-day extravaganza (June 12-15) offers a 'world within a world' with its camping plazas, which feature parties, secret performances, chill-out zones, movie screenings, wedding chapels, and more.

June: Electric Forest, Rothbury, Michigan

Electronic music and jam band fans unite at this festival at the Double JJ Resort on the shores of Lake Michigan. A lot of the acts in the 2024 line-up weren’t exactly household names, but Electric Forest is another one of those festivals that is really about the community experience. Justice, Tiësto, Barry Can't Swim and Khruangbin are just some of the artists set to play June 19-22, 2025.

Camping is an essential part of the trip to Electric Forest – the extensive grounds feature a number of different options, with tent and RV camping as well as luxurious air-conditioned pre-set tents and cabins.

June/July: Summerfest, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Billing itself as the largest music festival in the US (and the world, for that matter), Summerfest is a massive three-weekend event that attracts hundreds of thousands of people. General admission shows are held on the Summerfest grounds in downtown Milwaukee, with additional ticketed concerts at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater.

With a total of 12 stages, there really is a lot of music to see here. Major names playing in 2025 include Def Leppard, Hozier, James Taylor, Jason Mraz, Megan Thee Stallion, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.

July/August: Lollapalooza, Chicago, Illinois

This 1990s alt-rock touchstone was originally conceived as a touring festival, but Lollapalooza is now a standalone fest that takes place in downtown Chicago’s Grant Park. The single-show format makes for a mightier line-up: with eight stages and four days (July 31 to August 4), Lollapalooza is able to host more than 170 musical acts.

In 2024, the festival's line-up included Tyler the Creator, Hozier, Blink 182, and Skrillex. Despite plenty of exciting rumors flying around at the time of publication, the acts for 2025 have yet to be confirmed.

August: Watershed Music Festival, George, Washington

This three-day fest (1-3 August) is dedicated to big and brash country music, with dozens of cowboy hat-clad acts taking over the legendary Gorge Amphitheatre. Country and camping is the name of the game here. In 2024, country stars like Old Dominion, Luke Bryan, and Hardy all performed.

The landscape for this one is absolutely breathtaking. In addition to two-stepping to the music, fans here tend to form a bit of a community and refer to regular festival attendees as 'Shedders.' Keep an eye on the event's official website for 2025 ticket news and line-up information.

August: Outside Lands, San Francisco, California

Most people don’t need an excuse to hang out in San Francisco’s beautiful Golden Gate Park, but this three-day (August 8-10) outdoor rock festival is an especially good reason to visit one of America’s most famous green spaces. Outside Lands offers an excellent selection of food and beer, a separate DJ and EDM tent for those who want to get their dance on, as well as a long list of globally recognized artists.

September: Shaky Knees Music Festival, Atlanta, Georgia

Named after a song by Kentucky-based band My Morning Jacket (who headlined on Sunday of the 2022 event), this three-day festival was designed to bring top-tier alternative rock bands to Atlanta. In 2024, it had a line-up that featured Foo Fighters, Noah Kahan and Weezer as headliners.

Since rockin’ out can build up an appetite, food is also a big deal at Shaky Knees, with plenty of gourmet food trucks on site to keep fans nourished. Save the dates for 2025's offering – September 19 to 21 (it used to be in May).

September: Life is Beautiful Music and Art Festival, Las Vegas, Nevada

Advertised as 'a music festival and so much more,' Life is Beautiful is a huge multifaceted arts festival that takes place right in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. Music is a key draw, but the festival also includes comedy, drag performances, and a strong culinary component.

There are also 18 blocks of gallery space, giving audiences a glimpse of works from a wide range of interdisciplinary visual artists. Dates for 2025 are yet to be confirmed, but the rumor mill suggests you should be keeping the last weekend in September free.

September: Louder Than Life Festival, Louisville, Kentucky

Few American festivals live up to their name like Kentucky’s hard-hitting Louder Than Life. This four-day (September 18-21) fest brings together some of the biggest names in hard rock. Its 2024 roster included Slipknot, Slayer, and Korn.

The whole thing takes place at the Highland Festival Grounds at the KY Expo Center and despite being in the city, onsite camping is an optional part of the festival experience. Slayer and Acid Bath have been confirmed for 2025, with plenty more acts still to be announced.

October: Austin City Limits, Austin, Texas

Many music fans are familiar with the long-running PBS show Austin City Limits, which led to the creation of this festival in 2002. Held over two three-day portions in October (3-5 and 10-12), the annual outdoor festival features more than 100 performances scattered over eight stages in Zilker Park.

The acts tend to mimic the kinds of bands seen on the show, with a nice mix of roots, pop, country, and even hip-hop artists. It’s a family-friendly event, with activities for kids and lots of interesting food to try out.

October: III Points, Miami, Florida

Defining itself as an 'intersection of music, art, and technology,' III Points offers a unique and somewhat heady two-day (October 17-18) experience. Past line-ups have been designed to provoke thought, with Grimes mesmerizing the crowd in 2023.

The shows take place across more than 10 immersive stages at the Mana Wynwood creative campus, which is also adorned with art exhibits including large-scale murals and live graffiti demonstrations. It's not yet known what the line-up is for 2025 but, trust us when we say, you won't want to miss this.

November: DUSK Festival, Tucson, Arizona

Winter may be closing in, but in Arizona it is still warm enough to hold a music festival in Tucson’s Jacome Plaza. Held across two days in November (official dates for 2025 are still to be confirmed), the DUSK festival has been bringing the positive energy of EDM to the southwest since 2016.

In recent years, the festival has been incorporating elements of indie, rock, and hip-hop, but the feel-good vibes remain – all in the heart of downtown Tucson. Keep an eye on the event's official website to stay up to speed with things like ticket information and line-up news. 

December: Forever Midnight, Los Angeles

See out the year with a bang at Forever Midnight, a two-day New Year’s Eve weekend extravaganza that bills itself as an exhilarating mix of celebration and creativity embodying the spirit of an endless night. Held at the end of the calendar cycle, the event is a vibrant blend of fashion, dance, and culture. 

EDM legends like Eric Prydz, Jamie XX, Solomun, and Fisher have all played it. A sister event is held in Las Vegas on the same dates. Where will you be partying forever at midnight?

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