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Nothing quite says summertime like relaxing at a live music festival — or freaking out over seeing your hero on tour. 

While it might still feel far away, now is actually the perfect time to get excited about concerts you want to see this year. Summer festivals all around the world are starting to roll out their 2025 lineups, and some early-bird ticket sales are already open. 

Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. Here’s where to look to catch your favorite artist’s set this year. Don’t see one near you? Check out this database to find more opportunities. Individual artists’ schedules, such as Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter tour, are another good place to look. 

The big music festivals circuit

One of the largest festivals devoted to Black culture and music is the Essence Festival in New Orleans. Originally a one-time celebration of Essence Magazine’s 25th anniversary, the event gained momentum and passed its own 30th anniversary last year, featuring Tank and the Bangas, Janet Jackson, and The Roots. This year’s lineup is still TBD, but it’s sure to make waves when released. 

Speaking of The Roots, the group’s 17th annual Roots Picnic is looking stacked. For two packed days in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, a lineup that includes D’Angelo, Lenny Kravitz, Tems, Glorilla, and Kaytranada will grace the stage. 

Other huge crowds are found across the U.S, and Chicago’s Lollapalooza is no exception. The festival takes over Grant Park for four days of iconic performances. This year’s lineup was recently released and features Doechii, Olivia Rodrigo, and Tyler, the Creator.

For many, the image of a music festival is synonymous with Coachella — although the event’s passes are notoriously expensive. The festival is coming up, scheduled for the second and third weekends in April. Headliners this year include Megan Thee Stallion, Lady Gaga, and Missy Elliott. 

The mecca of hip-hop on this festival circuit is Rolling Loud, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2024. This year’s event in California just passed, featuring the likes of A$AP Rocky and Peso Pluma, but there’s a second Rolling Loud in Thailand on the books for this November. The lineup is not yet released.

Any grouping of big name festivals would not be complete without the United Kingdom’s Glastonbury. It’ll kick off on June 25 for five days, featuring a just-announced lineup that includes Doechii, Raye, Olivia Rodrigo, Loyle Carner, and Busta Rhymes.

Also check out: San Francisco’s Outside Lands, Tennessee’s Bonnaroo, Texas’ Austin City Limits, and New York’s Governors Ball

Just missed: Austin’s SXSW, March 7 – 15

The best of New York City’s free concerts

NYC boroughs have three of the 10 highest costs of living in the country — which makes the fact that they offer some of the world’s best free concerts even more surprising. 

But it’s true. You can see huge artists at SummerStage concerts in Central Park and Celebrate Brooklyn concerts in Prospect Park throughout the summer for literally no charge — save for a handful of ticketed “Benefit” concerts that both series run each season. Stay tuned for the full lineups. 

One concert that is not free but is well worth the ticket is the beloved AFROPUNK BLKTOPIA festival, which now moves around the world but originally began in Brooklyn. It returned home last year as part of the Celebrate Brooklyn lineup, hosted by Erykah Badu. The festival’s 20th anniversary is this year, but no details have been released yet, so stay tuned. 

Last but not least is the Bryant Park Picnic Performances, another free series that features collaborations with a variety of the city’s cultural institutions, from Carnegie Hall to the World Music Institute. Stay tuned for the 2025 lineup. 

Jazz, and more jazz music festivals

There’s something special about a festival that is solely devoted to honoring a single genre and exploring its many manifestations. Jazz festivals around the world take this commitment to heart and represent the best chances to see both legends of the tradition and the new vanguard up close and in action. 

Here’s a calendar of where to catch live jazz in 2025:

Also check out: Newport Folk Festival

Music festivals around the world

It’s no secret that some of the best live music is not in the U.S. Have any travel plans coming up? You might overlap with one of these well-known concerts. 

Just missed: Bahidorá in Mexico, February 14 – 16 and Vive Latino in Mexico City, March 15 – 16

Don’t forget local

While these star-studded music festivals are impressive, they only scratch the surface of live music enjoyed every single day of the year in smaller and less supported venues.

Wherever your listening takes you this year, remember that tons of performances happen at the local level, featuring rising artists and underrated legends alike. Tap into your community to find venues and support the music in your own backyard. Happy listening! 

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