The indie music scene is thriving, and 2025 promises to be a stellar year for music festivals around the globe. Whether you’re a die-hard indie fan or simply love the vibe of a good festival, these events are must-visits.
From quaint beachside gatherings to massive urban celebrations, here are the 20 best indie music festivals to pencil into your calendar this year:
1. Primavera Sound (Barcelona, Spain)
One of the world’s most renowned festivals, Primavera Sound blends indie, rock, and electronic acts on the stunning Mediterranean coast. Featuring a diverse lineup with artists like Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Clairo, Brutalismus 3000, and Central Cee slated to perform, Primavera runs from the 4th to the 8th of June, with tickets standing at $363.
Tickets for Primavera Sound
2. End of the Road Festival (Dorset, UK)
Set in a picturesque woodland estate, this UK gem combines magical scenery with a lineup packed with indie legends and newcomers. With artists like Caribou, Father John Misty, Self Esteem and Sharon Van Etten (& The Attachment Theory) anchoring the lineup, indie lovers will definitely be in good hands with this festival. Running from the 28th to the 31st of August, tickets are currently $331.
3. Splendour Festival (Nottingham, UK)
Set in the beautiful and elegant surroundings of Wollaton Hall and its accompanying Deer Park, Splendour Festival offers festivalgoers a grassroots, carefully curated blend of indie veterans and newcomers alike.
Although the 2025 lineup hasn’t been announced yet, tickets look to be a steal at $128. With past headliners including icons like Becky Hill, The Kooks and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Splendour Festival looks to return with a bang on the 19th and 20th of July.
Tickets for Splendour Festival
4. Green Man Festival (Brecon Beacons, Wales)
A celebration of indie music and arts in the lush Welsh countryside, this festival is known for its laid-back, eco-conscious vibe. With past artists including Sampha, Mount Kimbie and Big Thief, Green Man Festival thrives with its unique vibe and sense of community. Running from the 14th to the 17th of August, tickets look to be about $518.
5. Iceland Airwaves (Reykjavík, Iceland)
Running from November 6th to November 8th, Iceland’s Iceland Airwaves Festival provides raw and intimate performances by indie artists in venues scattered across the charming streets of Reykjavík. This festival consistently provides charming, unique experiences that simply can’t be replicated with more prominent, more commercial festivals. Super early bird tickets are still available for $106.
6. Best Kept Secret (Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands)
Tucked away in a serene lakeside setting, this festival’s diverse lineup makes it a hidden treasure for indie lovers. Featuring artists with styles as diverse as Jazzy House to heavy metal mass, Best Kept Secret truly has a little something for everyone.
As part of the immersive experience, Best Kept Secret also doubles as a camping festival. Find the ticket link below; regular tickets with campsite reservations will run you about $355, while tickets without the campsite reservation will run you $336.
Tickets for Best Kept Secret
7. Laneway Festival (Perth, Australia)
Laneway travels through several cities, but its Perth edition looks to stand out with a stacked lineup and vibrant crowd. Artists like Charli XCX, Clairo, Bicep and Barry Can’t Swim look to provide a refreshing blend of indie-pop and electronic, with artists like Eyedress, Olivia Dean and Beabadoobee further heating things up. This particular edition runs on the 16th of February, with tickets looking to be about $229.
Tickets for Laneway Festival
8. Treefort Music Fest (Boise, USA)
Treefort Music Fest sees Boise transform into a buzzing indie haven, showcasing over 500 bands, films, and even a few comedians. This year’s edition includes heavyweights like Sofi Tukker, Remi Wolf and Yot Club, to name a few. Treefort runs from the 26th to the 30th of March, and looks to be a rousing good time as usual. Tickets are currently sitting at $366.
Tickets for Treefort Music Fest
9. Off Festival (Katowice, Poland)
Expect experimental indie acts and groundbreaking sounds in this quirky and vibrant Polish city. Running from August 1st to 3rd, breakout artists like Snow Strippers and Machine Girl will share the stage with more established names like James Blake, and even more underground mainstays like Ecco2k. Tickets look to be $158 for the 3-day pass.
Tickets for Off Festival
10. Noise Pop Festival (San Francisco, USA)
All across the vibrant, bustling city of San Francisco, a week-long indie celebration looks to continue from February 20th to March 2nd. With performances taking place in intimate venues all across the Bay Area, this fest is perfect for discovering emerging artists, but also includes more established names like Soccer Mommy, Danny Brown and DIIV. Passes for the entire week look to be $265.
Tickets for Noise Pop Festival
11. Hopscotch Music Festival (Raleigh, USA)
With over 150 bands across various genres, this North Carolina festival is a playground for indie enthusiasts. Although the 2025 headliners haven’t been announced yet, 2024 saw a diverse lineup with artists like JPEGMAFIA, BADBADNOTGOOD and St. Vincent electrify concertgoers. Tickets aren’t on sale yet, but keep an eye out, they go fast every time.
12. Vida Festival (Barcelona, Spain)
Blending art, nature, and music, Vida Festival offers a more relaxed alternative to the bustling Primavera Sound. Artists like Future Islands, Royel Otis, Benjamin Clementine look to provide a calming yet invigorating experience for festival goers. Running from July 3rd to 5th, it promises to be an unforgettable summer experience, with tickets looking to be $138.
Tickets for Vida Festival
13. The Great Escape (Brighton, UK)
Dubbed the UK’s answer to SXSW, this festival showcases the best rising stars in the indie scene. This vibrant fest sees the best indie acts from all over the globe converge in the bustling city of Brighton, with artists from the Faroe Islands to Switzerland in attendance. Festival dates run from the 14th to the 17th of May, with tickets looking to be around $132.
Tickets for The Great Escape
14. Calgary Folk Music Festival (Calgary, Canada)
Folk meets indie in this underrated gem of a Canadian gem, known for its friendly atmosphere and incredible lakeside views.
This intimate festival forgoes big-name headliners for a true, grassroots indie-folk experience, with the latest “block heater” running from the 14th to the 15th of February. Tickets look to be a steal too at $78. Valentine’s Day music date anyone?
Tickets for Calgary Folk Festival
15. Big Ears Festival (Knoxville, USA)
This avant-garde festival brings together experimental indie and classical acts for an unforgettable experience.
Similarly to Calgary’s Folk Music Festival, Big Ears Fest forgoes larger, industry names for vibrant, underground musicians who’ve been mastering their craft for ages. The festival runs from March 27th to 30th, with the full 4-day pass standing at around $400 for access to over 200 concerts and performances.
Tickets for Big Ears Festival
16. Doune the Rabbit Hole (Stirlingshire, Scotland)
A charming, family-friendly festival with an indie lineup in the Scottish countryside, Scotland’s Doune the Rabbit Hole Fest returns in 2025 as “Back Doune the Rabbit Hole.”
Running from the 1st to the 3rd of August, although the headliners have yet to be announced, Doune the Rabbit Hole’s stellar reputation across the years indicates that this year will be just as good as past ones. Tickets currently look to be around $150.
Tickets for The Rabbit Hole Fest
17. Bearded Theory Festival (Derbyshire, UK)
Bearded Theory Festival is a family-friendly, award-winning music festival held annually in the scenic countryside of Derbyshire, UK. Known for its diverse lineup spanning rock, indie, folk, and electronic music, the festival offers something for everyone, including kids' activities, workshops, and comedy acts.
Running from May 21st to 25th, this year’s iteration combines newer, up-and-coming acts with titans like Iggy Pop, Manic Street Preachers and Paul Heaton. Tickets are around $307.
Tickets for Bearded Theory
18. Fuji Rock (Yuzawa, Japan)
Fuji Rock Festival, held at the picturesque Naeba Ski Resort in Japan, is one of Asia's premier music festivals, blending stunning natural surroundings with a world-class lineup.
Featuring an eclectic mix of rock, indie, electronic, and global artists, the festival creates a vibrant cultural experience across multiple stages. Although the headliners aren’t announced yet, this one-of-a-kind festival is definitely not one to be missed, and will run from July 25th to 27th. Tickets go on sale in March.
19. Osheaga Music Festival (Montreal, Canada)
Held annually at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal, Osheaga Music and Arts Festival is arguably Canada’s premier celebration of music and creativity. Featuring an impressive lineup of global superstars, rising talents, and diverse genres, Osheaga draws music lovers from around the world.
Running from August 1st to 3rd, 2025’s lineup may not have been announced, but with last year’s edition attracting giant names like Noah Kahan, Hozier, Chappel Roan and SZA, we can’t wait to see what this year’s edition will bring.
20. Newport Folk Music Festival (Rhode Island, USA)
Newport Music Festival, set in the historic coastal town of Newport, Rhode Island, is a celebrated showcase of classical and contemporary chamber music. The festival blends rich history with artistic excellence, featuring world-class musicians performing in stunning venues like grand mansions and scenic outdoor spaces.
This year’s edition runs from the 1st to the 3rd of August, and although the lineup hasn’t been announced yet, festivalgoers can expect a friendly, warm atmosphere combined with exquisite music. Tickets are only available through the DICE mobile app.
No matter where you go, these festivals promise unforgettable experiences, jaw-dropping performances, and memories that will last a lifetime. Get your tickets, pack your festival essentials, and let the indie vibes guide your 2025 adventures.