If this year’s spring music festival season was impressive, wait until you see who’s coming during the summer. First and foremost are headliners like Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, The Creator and Benson Boone. Of course, there are many more artists, including Luke Bryan, Hozier, Tiësto, Nelly, Green Day and Metallica. On the other hand, it’s still just early spring, which means that not all lineups for summer are currently available. Nevertheless, whether you crave indie vibes, country , EDM or hip-hop, there’s a festival calling your name. So, get ready to pack your bags, grab your crew, and head out to some of America’s best summer music festivals for 2025.
Best 2025 Summer Music Festivals in America
Beyond Wonderland at the Gorge
The Gorge Amphitheatre
754 Silica Road
Quincy, WA 98848
https://pnw.beyondwonderland.com/
Dates: June 21-22, 2025
The producers of Beyond Wonderland are hosting three stateside events this year, including this weekend’s event in Southern California. Then there is another in early June in Chicago. However, the one true summer music event will be held at the famous Gorge in Grant County, Washington. That’s not to mention the event’s Mad Tea Party theme, along with over 60 electric music artists who will appear. Among the biggest names are Illenium, DJ Snake, Sara Landry and Subtronics. Single day GA, 2-day GA and VIP tickets just went on sale.
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
Great Stage Park
1560 New Bushy Branch Road
Manchester, TN 37355
www.bonnaroo.com
Dates: June 12-15, 2025
Held since 2002, Bonnaroo is one of America’s biggest and most popular summer music festivals. With a reputation for an eclectic lineup, you’ll hear everything from rock to hip hop and electronic music. And this year is no different, with headliners like Luke Combs, Tyler, The Creator, Oliva Rodrigo and Hozier. That’s not to mention other high profile acts like Avril Lavigne, Nelly and Queens of the Stone Age. As you wander the 700-acre farm, you’ll encounter stages spread across lush fields and large camping areas where the community feels incredibly tight-knit. And with 4-day camping available, you’ll immerse yourself fully in this unforgettable experience.
Related: America’s Best 2024 Summer Music Festivals
Country Jam Colorado
1065 Old US Hwy 6 & 50
Loma, CO 81524
www.countryjam.com
At the Country Jam, you can enjoy some of the biggest names in country music. For instance, Luke Bryan, Bailey Zimmerman, and Cody Johnson are headlining the festival. However, there are many others that are scheduled to appear, such as Rodney Atkins, Hannah McFarland and Ashley Cook. The festival takes place in Loma, just outside Grand Junction, offering a scenic backdrop for the event. You can choose from various passes, including General Admission, Reserved Seating, VIP, and ULTRA VIP, each providing unique perks.. Get ready for three days of non-stop music, camping, and unforgettable memories.
Dates: June 26-28, 2025
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Electric Forest Festival
Double JJ Ranch
7100 S. Water Road
Rothbury, MI 49437
https://www.electricforestfestival.com/
Dates: June 19-22, 2025
If you love EDM, then make sure the Electric Forest Festival is on your radar. After all, some big names in electronic music are coming to Western Michigan. To start off, Justice, Tiësto, Zeds Dead and Fisher are among the headliners. What’s more, the entire lineup features over 60 artists, who will appear across seven stages. This includes other big names like Sara Landry, Disclosure and Louis the Child. Plenty of tickets are still available and this year, you won’t have to pay for any ticket fees! In addition are camping options, including for RVs, GA camping and two-person pre-set tents.
ESSENCE Festival of Culture
Caesars Superdome
1500 Sugar Bowl Drive
New Orleans, LA 70112
www.essence.com/efoc-2025-splash
Dates: July 3-7, 2025
For more than 30 years, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture has been the premiere event to attend in New Orleans over the 4th of July weekend. Clearly one of the largest summer music festivals, the ESSENCE Festival draws a half million attendees to celebrate Black culture. While the lineup of music artists is not yet available, some of the biggest names in hip-hop, R&B, soul, gospel and funk have come to NOLA. Among past notables are Aretha Franklin, Earth, Wind and Fire, Gladys Knight, Missy Elliott, Prince and Beyonce. Despite not having a 2025 lineup available, tickets are available for the primary venue, Caesars Superdome, through Ticketmaster.
Governor’s Ball
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Grand Central Parkway and Van Wyck Expressway
Queens, NY 11354
www.governorsballmusicfestival.com
The Governor’s Ball is returning to Flushing Meadows Corona Park this year with a very impressive lineup of music acts. In case you haven’t heard, Tyler, The Creator, Benson Boone, Olivia Rodrigo and Hozier are among the top acts. That’s not to mention even more top acts, like Tyla, Feid, Glass Animals and The Japanese House. On the other hand, tickets are selling fast, especially the 2-Day General Admission tickets. In other words, if you want to go to one of New York’s biggest events of the summer, there is not time to waste.
Dates: June 6-8, 2025
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HARD Summer 2025
Hollywood Park
1011 Stadium Dr.
Inglewood, CA 90305
www.hardsummer.com
Dates: August 2-3, 2025
Returning to Hollywood Park next to SoFi Stadium, HARD Summer has a great lineup this year. Unquestionably one of the biggest EDM festivals in LA, among this year’s headliners are Feid, Dom Dolla, Gesaffelstein and Kaytranada. In addition are impressive supporting acts, including Sean Paul, Sara Landry, Four Tet and Nico Moreno. While onsite parking may still be available, you might be better off taking public transportation. For instance, you can take LA Metro’s C line to the Hawthorne/Lennox Station. From there, you can then transfer to the free shuttles that will then transport you to Hollywood Park. Additional transportation information can be found via the HARD Summer website.
Lollapalooza Chicago
Grant Park
337 E. Randolph St.|
Chicago, IL 6060
www.lollapalooza.com
Dates: July 31-August 3, 2025
With the complete music lineup recently announced, you can be sure Lollapalooza will be one hot ticket. After all, this year’s lineup is arguably the best you can see this summer. To start off, you can see Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, The Creator, Sabrina Carpenter and Rüfüs Du Sol. Then there are even more top acts, like Luke Combs, A$AP Rocky, Korn, Gracie Adams, Doechii and Twice. That’s not to mention many others like Dom Dolla, Martin Garrix, Cage the Elephant and a whole lot more. In all, there will be over 170 music artists who will appear across eight stages. While tickets just went on sale, don’t waste time deciding whether or not to go. That’s because this could be the summer music event of the year.
Minnesota Yacht Club Festival
Harriet Island Regional Park
49 Harriet Island Road
St. Paul, MN 55107
www.minnesotayachtclubfestival.com
Dates: July 18-20, 2025
Returning for a second year, the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival has one of the best music lineups this summer. Held over three days along the Mississippi River, don’t be misled to think that you’re going to a music fest full of yacht music. Instead, you’ll get to see big contemporary acts like Hozier, Alabama Shakes, Fall Out Boy, Weezer, Green Day and Sublime. On top of that are even more big names, like Train, 311, Sheryl Crow and Garbage, featuring lead singer Shirely Manson. Last year’s inaugural music event drew approximately 35,000 each day. However, with a third day added, you can expect an even larger crowd this year.
Musikfest
101 Founders Way
Bethlehem, PA 18015
www.musikfest.org
Dates: August 1-6 and August 8-10, 2025
Held annually in the Lehigh Valey in eastern Pennsylvania, Musikfest is known to be the world’s largest free music festival. However, you will have to pay for tickets to see the biggest names of this widely popular event. On the other hands, prices are reasonable and the headliners are world-class, such as Chicago, Nelly, The Black Crowes and The Black Keys. But you can still enjoy some of the more than 400 artists for free at multiple venues, including Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza. That’s not to mention all of the other fun things to do, including enjoying gourmet food and drink and so much more. If you plan to go, make sure to visit the event’s website for more details that will follow.
Newport Folk Festival
Fort Adams
90 Fort Adams Dr.
Newport, RI 02649
www.newportfolk.org
Dates: July 25-27, 2025
Depending upon your musical tastes and preferences, you might not recognize artists in this year’s Newport Folk Festival. On the other hand, longtime fans of one of America’s oldest folk festivals will say it doesn’t matter who’s appearing. Yet even if you did, you will discover that tickets are already sold out, although spring has barely sprung. Be that as it may, you can join the waitlist for the event’s “fan-to-fan” ticket exchange. In case you’re interested, Jeff Tweedy, Jessica Pratt, Hannah Cohen and Mt. Joy will be appearing, along with others to be announced later. Held since 1959, the iconic Newport Folk Festival gained an even larger audience with the release of the Oscar-nominated 2024 movie about Bob Dylan, “A Complete Unknown”.
Outside Lands
Golden Gate Park
1232 John F. Kennedy Drive
San Francisco, CA 94121
www.sfoutsidelands.com
Dates: August 8-10, 2025
Held in Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands is one of the largest summer music festivals, drawing 225,000 annually. While the 2025 lineup is not yet available, many contemporary performers have rocked the stages in recent years. This includes Post Malone, Green Day, Sabrina Carpenter, Radiohead and The Weeknd. That’s not to mention more A-listers like Paul McCartney, Elton John, Janet Jackson and even Paul Simon. The first round of Eager Beaver tickets sold out quickly. In other words, if you plan to go, make sure to get tickets on the next round, regardless if the lineup is available. Now in its 17th year, Outside Lands remains America’s largest, independently owned festival.
Update: 2025 Outside Lands Lineup
Shortly after publication of this story, the lineup for this year’s Outside Lands was announced. Among the headliners are Tyler, The Creator, Hozier, Doja Cat and Gracie Adams! That’s not to mention Ludacris, Finneas, Vampire Weekend, Glass Animals, Anderson Paak and John Summit!
Related: Transportation Options to Outside Lands
Shaky Knees Music Festival
Piedmont Park
1320 Monroe Dr.
Atlanta, GA 30306
www.shakykneesfestival.com
Dates: September 19-21, 2025
Tickets are selling fast and may soon sell out for the Shaky Knees Music Festival. In other words, if you want to attend this end-of-summer music festival, there is no time to waste. What’s more, you can take advantage of a layaway plan that starts at just $25. But what will really bring you to Atlanta are the headliners, like the Deftones, My Chemical Romance and Blink-182. That’s not to mention other world-class acts like Lenny Kravitz, Sublime, The Black Keys, Cage the Elephant and Alabama Shakes. With a lineup like that, what better way is there to celebrate the end of summer?
Summerfest
Henry Maier Festival Park
200 N. Harbor Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
www.summerfest.com
Dates: June 19-21, June 26-28, July 3-5, 2025
What better way to kick off the start of summer than Summerfest. Indeed, held in June and July, Summerfest is America’s largest summer music festival, drawing over 800,000 attendees. And this year will be no different, especially with the world-class acts that share top billing. For instance, on the first weekend, you can see Def Leppard, Hozier with Gigi Perez and James Taylor with Jason Mraz and Tiny Habits. Yet, don’t overlook other acts like Lindsey Stirling, Gary Clark Jr., George Thorogood and The Isley Brothers.
Second and Third Weekend at Summerfest
Top acts leading the second weekend include The Killers, Megan Thee Stallion and Lainey Wilson with Lukas Nelson. On top of that are other big names like The Psychedelic Furs, CAKE, Billy Corgan and DEVO. As for the final weekend, you’ll have Benson Boone and The Lumineers as your headliners. Of course, there are others not to miss, like Chicago, Social Distortion and The Warning, from Monterrey, Mexico.
Largest Summer Music Festival in America
Located along the shores of Lake Michigan, Summerfest is by far the largest and among the largest in the world. In fact, over 800 artists will be performing across 11 stages features a diverse collection of music genres. What’s more, you can enjoy food from local vendors, amusement rides and special events.
Vans Warped Tour Long Beach
Shoreline Waterfront
386 E. Shoreline Dr.
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.vanswarpedtourlongbeach.com
Dates: July 26-27, 2025
Now in its 30th year, the Vans Warped Tour is hosting three events this year. The first stop is in mid-June in Washington D.C., which has a great lineup, including Avril Lavigne, Fishbone and Sublime. However, the true summer stop is in Long Beach, with acts like 311, Dropkick Murphys, Less Than Jake and Pennywise. Unfortunately, GA and VIP tickets are sold out. However, you can join the event’s waitlist, in case more tickets become available. Incidentally, the third and final Vans event in Orland has tickets available. However, that’s not being held until November.
About The Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, and Radio.com. He earned a Media Fellowship from Stanford University and is a Bay Area Travel Writers (BATW) member.
