Festival season is quickly approaching as the temperature begins to rise. Whether you prefer pop, rock, country, EDM or something else, there is a music festival for you. Be amazed by some of the star-studded lineups hitting the stage at festivals like Lollapalooza and the New Orleans Jazz Festival this year. Read on to check out our picks of the hottest music festivals of 2024.
Coachella
Dates: April 12-21 | Location: Indio, CA
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a staple of the festival season, welcoming more than 250,000 people into the desert to see the biggest names in music. This year, the headliner acts include Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator and Doja Cat, along with more than 100 other artists like Jhené Aiko and J Balvin.
Coachella is scheduled over consecutive three-day weekends with the same lineup appearing for both. In between sets, attendees can take part in activities at Coachella like stargazing, Q&A panels and workshops, art shows, games and so much more. Check out our Coachella guide for more details on this iconic festival.
Sick New World
Dates: April 27 | Location: Las Vegas, NV
Get ready for another year of rocking out at Sick New World. Similar to When We Were Young, the alternative music festival is tailored to music genres ranging from hard rock to nu-metal, particularly from the ‘90s and early 2000s. This year’s lineup includes groups like System of a Down, Slipknot, Alice in Chains, A Perfect Circle and more.
Sick New World also hosts sideshow events at locales across Vegas like the House of Blues and the Brooklyn Bowl. The Sick New World sideshows consist of smaller concerts by festival performers like Lamb of God, Chevelle and Bring Me The Horizon.
Stagecoach Festival
Dates: April 26-28 | Location: Indio, CA
One of the largest country music festivals in the world, the Stagecoach Festival is a sister event to Coachella. The country fest takes place the weekend following Coachella at the Empire Polo Club, drawing in crowds of over 75,000 people. The headliners at Stagecoach 2024 include Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Willie Nelson and Morgan Wallen along with other folk and country acts like Jelly Roll and Elle King.
Along with the usual food and art vendors, check out the Boot Bar to get new kicks or head to the dance hall to show off your moves. Another special event is the Stagecoach Invitational BBQ Championship, which crowns the California State champion.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Dates: April 26-May 5 | Location: New Orleans, LA
The New Orleans Jazz Fest draws massive crowds to the Big Easy across two weekends. Established in 1970 as a nonprofit, the festival acts to preserve and celebrate the diversity of Louisiana’s culture and redistributes funds back to the community.
This year’s eclectic mix of headliners includes The Rolling Stones, Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals, Fantasia, Earth, Wind & Fire and more from the jazz, blues, soul and rock genres. Take a break from the music to enjoy delicious treats like fry bread and crawfish po-boys or head to the marketplaces to browse the artwork and fashion by local and global craftspersons.
Big As Texas
Dates: May 10-12 | Location: Houston, TX
A new addition to the festival circuit, Big As Texas is a three-day country and Americana music festival held at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. For this inaugural event, the headliners include Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wade, Billy Strings, Dierks Bentley and other similar country and folk artists to entertain the crowds.
At Big As Texas, you can take in the sights from the top of the Ferris Wheel, check out the customer car shows and immersive art showcases and enjoy the cuisine made by vendors from the Lone Star State.
EDC Las Vegas
Dates: May 17-19 | Location: Las Vegas, NV
For those wanting to experience an EDM wonderland, the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) is a great festival to attend. Targeted towards electro-pop fans 18 years or older, this EDM festival doubles as an interactive art experience with giant 3D structures as well as glow-in-the-dark structures and colorful laser shows.
Get ready to rave to music by artists like Deadmau5, Kaskade, Alison Wonderland, Martin Garrix and others performing across the festival’s five stages. And if you can’t make it to EDC this summer, no worries. EDC Orlando takes place in November featuring a different lineup but the same amount of fun.
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
Dates: June 13-16 | Location: Manchester, TN
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival was held for the first time in 2002 and since then, the four-day music festival has become known as having one of the most diverse lineups, crossing genres from rock to hip-hop, jazz to country and more. The main acts performing at this year’s Bonnaroo are Post Malone, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pretty Lights and Fisher.
Don’t forget to make time to check out festival attractions like parades, yoga classes, Splash-A-Roo, complete with waterslides and fountains, and Roo Run, where participants dress up in fun costumes.
Summerfest
Dates: June 20-22, June 27-29, July 4-6 | Location: Milwaukee, MN
Summerfest takes place in downtown Milwaukee with the festival grounds situated right off the shore of Lake Michigan. Marked by the Guinness Book of World Records as the ‘World’s Largest Music Festival,’ the festival consists of three weekends with more than 600 artists performing across ten different stages.
Summerfest’s massive lineup features artists like Kane Brown, Illenium, Motley Crue, Lil Uzi Vert and others spanning the gamut of music. Attendees will be hard-pressed to not enjoy the festival’s many attractions like caricature drawings, tie-dye workshops, dance shows and more.
Lollapalooza
Dates: August 1-4 | Location: Chicago, IL
Every summer more than 400,000 people gather at Chicago’s Grant Park for Lollapalooza. The four-day music festival has become a staple attraction in the Windy City and due to its popularity has branched out with versions in South America, Europe and Asia. Get ready to let loose at any of the eight stages to see performances from talented artists like SZA, Hozier, The Killers, Future x Metro Boomin, Skrillex and more.
For festival-goers with children, make sure to check out Kidzapalooza, a festival experience curated for younger guests at Lolla with family-friendly performers, band camp sessions, photo booths, games and more.
Austin City Limits
Dates: Oct. 4-6 & Oct.11-13 | Location: Austin, TX
Austin City Limits (ACL) is a music festival that takes place over two consecutive three-day weekends in Austin, Texas. ACL is held in Zilker Park and has featured performers like Pink, Flume, George Strait, The Chicks and more in the past.
Attendees can enjoy ACL Eats, which features curated treats from regional and national vendors. Families can experience Austin Kiddie Limits with fun activities, games and more to keep younger guests entertained. Check our Austin City Limits Festival Guide for more details about this stellar Lone Star State staple.
Other Notable Music Festivals:
- Outside Lands
- Lovers & Friends Fest
- Kelce Jam
- Broccoli City
- Riot Fest
- Governors Ball
- Shaky Knees Festival
Get 2024 Music Festival Tickets
Kick off your spring in style when you get music festival tickets from TicketSmarter. If you plan on traveling for one of these star-studded fests, discover exclusive travel deals with HotelPlanner.
