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Summer in the UK is defined by three things: beer garden culture, holidays abroad, and music festivals.
In terms of the latter, Glastonbury is our crowning glory, welcoming over 200,000 people to its temporary city each year.
But for those of us who failed to secure tickets to June’s biggest event, don’t be disheartened. There are plenty of incredible festivals waiting to be explored if you’re willing to travel a little further.
At Metro, we’re all about going off the beaten track, both to promote sustainable tourism and broaden our horizons.
We’re always hunting for new and exciting ‘hidden gems’, so without further ado, here are the 5 coolest international music festivals you’ve probably never heard of.
KALA Festival – Dhermi, Albania
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Best for: Ibiza-lovers
Headliners: Ezra Collective, Kelly Lee Owens, Horse Meat Disco
Ticket prices: Ticket and 3* hotels start at £391 per person for a 7-day stay
Largely thanks to TikTok, Albania has exploded in popularity in recent years. The popular coastal resort of Sarandë in the southwest claimed the ‘world’s bluest waters’ title last year.
Located on Dhermi Beach, KALA Festival is perfect for people who love the Ibiza music scene.
The event takes place between June 4 and 11, with a lineup that fuses disco, house, soul and jazz against a backdrop of dazzling coastline.
Festival-goers will no doubt want to extend their stay to explore this stunning part of the world. After a wild weekend, relax on the white sands or stroll through the plethora of villages dotted along the coast.
The region offers plenty of hiking opportunities, including Llogara National Park, the Southern Coastal Trail, and the Karaburun Peninsula.
It’s worth doing your research, though. Metro’s Alice Murphy recently discovered that parts of the Albanian coastline are not quite the paradise they appear to be online.
She noted that an unprecedented tourism boom has ‘spawned a flurry of construction that threatens to overshadow the spectacular scenery this Balkan gem has to offer.’
Instead of Ksamil or Sarandë, Alice recommends heading for lesser-known spots such as Rana e Hedhun beach, a stunning stretch of sand in the north, or Lin, said to be Europe’s oldest inhabited village.
Other under-the-radar destinations include Gjirokastër: an old stone town from the Ottoman Empire that’s now been designated a UNESCO world heritage site, and the Cape of Rodon, a rocky peninsula just over an hour’s drive from Tirana, where you can gaze out to sea and take in Albania’s unspoiled nature.
Playtime – Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Best for: People who enjoy a diverse range of genres
Headliners: Alcest, Jambinai, Ellen Allien
Ticket prices: £75.71 for a 4-day general admission ticket
Mongolia boasts breathtaking landscapes, from vast steppes to rolling plateaus and towering mountains.
This landlocked country in East Asia is perfect for travellers who love authentic, unconventional getaways.
Its cities, including the capital Ulaanbaatar, blend modern development with traditional buildings, surrounded by nature. This is where Playtime Festival is held.
Complete with a diverse range of genres, from rock, indie, metal, electronic and jazz, there’s something for everyone.
The festival runs from July 3-6 and both local and international artists appear on the lineup.
Away from the music, Ulaanbaatar offers plenty of things to do, from the Natural History Museum to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, just outside the city.
For thrillseekers, there’s the Gobi Desert. Surrounded by otherworldly landscape, go camel riding or hike the sandstone cliffs of Tsagaan Suvraga.
To truly live like the locals, join a foodie tour in Ulaanbaatar which includes a visit to the market and dinner with a Mongolian family. There are also nomadic versions with rural communities in Middle Gobi. Homestays with yak herders in the Khangai Mountains are an option, too.
Mongolian cuisine is big on meat and dairy, reflecting the country’s migratory past and livestock reliance. Cooking techniques focus on boiling and roasting, as well as using hot stones to cook meat and veggies.
Fuji Rock Festival – Niigata, Japan
Best for: Sustainable travellers
Headliners: Fred Again, Vulfpeck, Vampire Weekend, Haim, Confidence Man, English Teacher, Barry Can’t Swim
Ticket prices: £306 for a 3-day general admission ticket
From 78p corner shop food in Osaka to the quaint seaside city of Kamakura, team Metro will sing Japan’s praises until the cows come home.
So, imagine how much we want to go to Fuji Rock Festival in Honshu Island’s city of Niigata, one of the largest outdoor music festivals in the country.
However the festival is still relatively undiscovered outside Japan. Taking place every summer at the Naeba Ski Resort in Yuzawa, this year, the dates fall on July 25-27. The line-up is a solid mix of rock, electronic, pop and indie.
The festival is committed to being eco-friendly; several sustainable initiatives are in place, and attendees are actively encouraged to clean up after themselves.
Often referred to as one of the most scenic festivals in the world, Fuji Rock Festival plays out surrounded by forests, mountains and rivers.
Beyond the gigs, there’s plenty to do in the local area, from hiking Mount Naeba to rafting on the Tone River in nearby Minakami or relaxing in Naeba hot springs. Niigata is a destination made for adventure-seekers.
In 2023, Metro voted ‘immersing yourself in sake’ as one of the coolest things to do in Japan.
That requires a visit to Niigata, where the landscape of soft, clear water and abundance of rice paddies has transformed the area into Japan’s top sake-producing region.
Dimensions Festival – Tisno, Croatia
Best for: Travellers who love a laid-back atmosphere
Headliners: Georgia, Evan Baggs, Margaret Dygas
Ticket prices: Final release tickets, £235
From cobalt blue waters to charming old towns, Croatia is beauty personified.
North along the Adriatic Sea you’ll find Dimensions Festival, an intimate electronic musical smorgasbord, featuring house, techno, electro and bass.
Located at The Garden Resort, the event takes place between August 28 and September 1.
Expect small boat parties, beach sessions and immersive after-dark performances. Due to its idyllic location, festivalgoers can lounge and relax in the daytime before dancing the night away.
Before or after the festival, make sure to check out the beautiful Old Town of Tisno, or travel up the coast to the ancient city of Zadar.
Last year, Metro’s Lillie Rohan visited Dubrovnik, Croatia’s most iconic holiday destination, and discovered the city’s best-kept secret. Aka, the best bar she’s ever been to.
Lillie writes: ‘A 15-minute drive from the Unesco-protected Old Town, which served as the main film set for HBO’s Game Of Thrones, you’ll find Love Bar hidden in the hillside.
‘It is so well concealed that most only find it by accident; a sign on a nearby roof and an arrow on the roadside are the only indicators that something special awaits up a steep flight of stairs. The climb is tough, but your reward is a sweeping panorama that provides the perfect backdrop for an Instagrammable sunset.’
The Hangout Music Festival – Alabama, United States
Best for: Pool party vibes
Headliners: Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, Brooks & Dunn, Hardy
Ticket prices: £449 plus fees for a general admission ticket
If the words ‘beach festival’ give you butterflies, check out The Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Offering the perfect mix of music, chilled vibes and sunshine, the event is home to an array of pop, rock, hip-hop, indie and EDM genres.
Past headliners include major names, including Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Kendrick Lamar. The festival takes place from May 16-18.
Looking for something to do after the event? The coastal city of Gulf Shores provides plenty of entertainment for all types of travellers.
Adrenaline junkie? Try water sports in the 32 miles of sugar-white sand beaches, hiking and biking on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, or zip lining over the dunes.
After more of a relaxing affair? The city has plenty of spas to help you unwind.
Why should travellers swap large-scale music events for off the beaten track festivals in 2025?
Famous festivals such as Coachella in California and Tomorrowland in Belgium are falling victim to the effects of overtourism.
Clare Tobin, CEO at Wild Frontiers, the B Corp adventure travel experts, tells Metro: ‘Many of these large-scale festivals are said to now prioritise life through a lens, with some attendees reporting a loss of authenticity around the celebration of music and the destination’s culture.’
While nothing quite compares to the feeling of listening to live music on a hot summer’s day, Clare warns it can come at a cost.
‘Travelling overseas to experience live music can often mean that people fly in and out of a destination in a short period of time, meaning they don’t get to experience the true authenticity of the location, connect with the local community or contribute to the local economy,’ she says.
She says lesser-known events give music-lovers also seeking adventure to experience the best of both worlds.
Clare adds: ‘These events offer an opportunity to extend your stay and spend more time exploring the local area, which in turn allows you to gain a deeper cultural connection, discover local artists and enjoy more enriching experiences. It also means that your visit will have a more positive economic impact on the local community.’
Bengali (Bangladesh) · 
English (United States) ·