The 60+ Best Music Festivals in the UK This Summer [2020]

By Vito Valentinetti / February 16, 2020

This Brighton showcase extravaganza, founded in 2016, brings in 400+ artists to 30+ venues for a weekend of musical discovery. Spotlight shows, secret gigs, club nights and spontaneous collaborations are just a part of a packed weekend of new music.

This traveling UK festival features the best up and comers in the region with alumni including The xx, Ed Sheeran, Mumford and Sons, The 1975, Frank Turner, Caribou, Wolf Alice, Jake Bugg, SBTKRT, Florence + The Machine, Peace, and Courtney Barnett. The metropolitan festival moves each day over the weekend from Manchester to Bristol to Nottingham, utilizing the best venues across all three cities.

HowTheLightGetsIn, the world's largest philosophy and music festival, returns with thought-provoking debates, infectiously danceable music, comedy, and, of course, their legendary parties. Hay-on-Wye, a small market town in Wales also called The Town of Books, hosts the event through this incredible five-day journey.

For a single day in spring, the city of Camden goes off with a massive showcase festival. There's 200+ bands playing at over 20+ venues with one ticket providing access to everything. Camden Rocks is an ideal place to catch the latest emerging acts in the UK scene.

Open your festival heart to the next chapter of Gottwood. A well-kept secret with a real kick, the buzz heavy Gottwood Festival's annual celebration of the electronic underground makes an indelible impression. Located on the breathtaking Isle of Anglesey, this chill venue boasts lake and forest views along with some of prettiest sunsets in the UK festival scene.

One of the most popular fests in the northwest of the UK, Parklife delivers a massive party to Manchester. Teaming up with some of the top clubbing brands in the world, each stage has its own unique flavor. In total, there's 16 stages of music fronted by some of the biggest bands in the world.

It's loud. It’s crazy. Download isn't pretty and the metal fans that make the annual pilgrimage to the spiritual home of rock in Dongington Park wouldn't have it any other way. The largest rock and metal festival in the UK has featured genre legends like Faith No More, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slipknot, Motörhead, and System of a Down.

The UK's only camping jazz festival, Love Supreme combines a classic jazz lineup mixed with the spirit of the UK festival scene. Big names are on the bill each year mixed with engaging acts pushing the limits of jazz, along with artists from the world of blues, funk, fusion, and soul.

The Cornbury Festival describes itself as 'a one-of-a-kind festival: a lovingly crafted, top notch, very English open air party, tailor-made for the whole family set in the heart of the Cotswolds.' The festival prides itself as having something for everyone across its 4 stages and magical children's area. There's even a vintage mobile cinema, disco shed, and relaxing therapy and massage zone.

Discover the mysteries of El Dorado, a British boutique festival birthed from the creators of Cirque Du Soul. The varied forms of dance music all come together on the magical venue of Ledbury's Eastnor Castle. 'Leave your inhibitions at the gates for your summer days will be filled with fun and games and when the sun sets and the moon begins to shine the bizarre and wonderful will let loose on the city of gold.'

Held in London's Gunnersbury Park, Lovebox is a celebration of the best of British and international music, dance, and the arts. Founded by DJs Groove Armada, Lovebox pushes out a world-class lineup of electronic and dance music or as they call it - flamboyant mayhem.

It's action sports meets a rave when they hard-partying NASS Festival comes to the south-west of England. Dance down at the warehouse party, mosh at the main stage, or check out world class BMXers, inline skaters, and skateboarders.

Scotland's newest mega-festival moved into Glasgow to fill the void left by the legendary T in the Park. Now stretching over two weekends, TRNSMT has already made a name for itself by assembling a world-class roster of talent along with multiple UK exclusives.

Back in 2006, the Beat-Herder Festival saw 1200 festies. Since then it has grown to a colossal creation of 16 additional areas for music, 14 bars, fairgrounds, 40+ stalls, and thousands upon thousands of devoted fans. 'Built on unconditional love and the tireless efforts of many,' Beat-Herder prides itself on the magical atmosphere.

For two straight weekends, British Summer Time holds a series of concerts in London's Hyde Park. Some of the biggest names in the world like The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Blur, The Strokes, Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins, and Kings of Leon, have been on the lineup.

Offering an alternative to mainstream festival culture, the inclusive Noisily festival is a haven 'where underground music thrives and self expression flourishes.' Capping attendance at under 5000 attendees, Nosily keeps the vibes tight with three main stages, hidden venues, two satellite stages, and a policy that every attendee is a VIP.

The pioneering Latitude festival is of the UK's favorite mega-festivals. The world class lineup is mixed with comedy, literature, poetry, and theater -- all set in the fairytale setting of Henham Park in the Suffolk countryside. One of the highlights of the festival season, Latitude is sure to have something for everyone.

For more than 25 years, Larmer Tree has been celebrating the independent UK festival scene like few others. 5000 fans a day fill the grounds of Larmer Tree Gardens each day, taking in music acts across six stages, along with comedy and activities for children of all ages.

Set in the picturesque Lake District and featuring a giant lineup including huge headliners, Kendal Calling is a true fan favorite of the UK summertime. Move quick, this amazing weekend of music, art, comedy, food, and drink sells out every year.

It's summer camp for both kids and adults when the legendary Bestival delivers their unique spin on the family-friendly festival. The multi-award winning Camp Bestival combines an all-encompassing family festival experience with an action packed camping holiday; something that they like to call a Festi-Holiday. Set on the majestic grounds of Lulworth Castle on Dorset’s dramatic Jurassic coastline, Camp Bestival is jam-packed with entertainment.

Each summer, Standon Calling tells a new story, bringing their garden party to life with a themed world that has included monsters, the circus, and legends of the lost sees. Across four fun-filled days you’ll hear music from the acts you love and the very best in emerging talent. Savor incredible food, dance until the early hours, enjoy an abundance of family activities, lounge by the pool, luxuriate in a hot tub, or relax with a massage.

Head to the Scottish Highlands for a weekend of music and fun at the Tartan Heart Festival. This three day camping festival features a wild range of music from national acts on the main stage to an amazing array of traditional talent on the Grassroots stage. There’s so much to do here besides the music like comedy, wrestling, poetry readings, movie sing-a-longs, art presentations, and whisky tastings.

51st State Festival celebrate their 5th birthday edition in 2019 with their biggest edition to date and once again promises to be an all encompassing celebration of every style of house music that joins the dots between Chicago, New York, London and beyond. This year the party takes place on Saturday 3rd August at the beautiful and sprawling Trent Country Park.

Undoubtedly one of the largest day festivals in the UK, Eastern Electrics serves up a hearty mix of underground house and techno. Born out of London's warehouse party culture, this festival celebrates artists from the cutting edge to emerging acts.

Dive into the Neverworld with this amazing festival just outside of London. Formerly started as a backyard bash called LeeFest, this British boutique fest has evolved into a themed wonderland of pirates, mermaids, and lost boys. Journey into the Neverworld for an unforgettable weekend.

The inspired Wilderness Festival welcomes festies to a British boutique experience in a stunning nature reserve. Everyone is invited to be part of a community and a celebration with a 'vast and unique program that celebrates each art with equal significance.' A truly unique summer festival in Oxfordshire.

'Boomtown rose up from the underground to become one of the UK’s wildest and most inspiring independent festivals. A sprawling metropolis and home to every species of creative miscreant, its thousands of citizens embark a journey of discovery, dancing through its labyrinthine streets and plazas on a non stop weekend joyride to a soundtrack of ska, folk, gypsy, reggae, world, punk, pirate, disco, electro-swing, jazz, blue-grass, breaks, bass, jungle, techno and all in a spirit of unity and freedom!'

It's a magical combination when competitive surfing joins up with a music festival on the beaches of Cornwall, the surfing mecca of the UK. Boardmasters mixes professional surfers with 50,000 festies a day along with an electronic and rock lineup.

Victorious, the UK’s biggest metropolitan festival, takes place over August Bank Holiday Weekend. Featuring the best of British indie-rock, Victorious is an amazing family friendly experience with the best live acts, an enormous free kids arena, bustling markets, real ale, real food and an atmosphere not to be missed.

The Southwest Four Festival, nicknamed SW4, is an annual EDM festival that takes place in Clapham Commons, London, over the August Bank Holiday Weekend.

Deep in an abandoned woodland village, this intimate festival reveals a world-class lineup, tasty food, gut-busting comedy, creative workshops, and lakeside chilling. The immersive festival experience draws festies in with an event-wide narrative that features structured around an interactive theater performance.

An adventure in utopia, the Shambala Festival has been delivering creativity for over a decade. According to Shambala this festival is 'a space to play, to reinvent, revitalize, and return to the world fueled-up on the beauty of being alive.'

The perfect way to close the busy summer festival season with one last party in the sun, Sundown Festival hosts only the biggest and best in pop, dance and urban acts across a weekend of music and mayhem.

The new Cool Britannia Festival debuts at the end of summer in Knebworth. The festival will also see the premiere of Britpop Classical, which will feature a full orchestra with guest soloists such as The Farm’s Peter Hooton, Republica’s Saffron and Heaven 17’s Glenn Gregory performing Britpop favorites.