1. South by Southwest
Austin
This 10-day, multifaceted conference and festival began as a showcase for Austin’s local creative community and now celebrates the convergence of the interactive, film and music industries with a global audience. The 2020 edition of the event was canceled (just five days before it was to start) due to the emerging pandemic, proving to be an economic blow to the surrounding area. This year’s all-virtual festival, which took place in March, included a mix of keynotes, panels, music showcases, film screenings, networking opportunities and virtual brand activations. Organizers also introduced the Creative Services Exhibition, a digital expo highlighting creative organizations and small businesses, as well as SXSW Online XR, an immersive, 3D experience that recreated downtown Austin. Next: March 11-20, 2022
See more: SXSW 2021: Inside the Tech Strategy for the Massive Virtual Festival
This 10-day, multifaceted conference and festival began as a showcase for Austin’s local creative community and now celebrates the convergence of the interactive, film and music industries with a global audience. The 2020 edition of the event was canceled (just five days before it was to start) due to the emerging pandemic, proving to be an economic blow to the surrounding area. This year’s all-virtual festival, which took place in March, included a mix of keynotes, panels, music showcases, film screenings, networking opportunities and virtual brand activations. Organizers also introduced the Creative Services Exhibition, a digital expo highlighting creative organizations and small businesses, as well as SXSW Online XR, an immersive, 3D experience that recreated downtown Austin. Next: March 11-20, 2022
See more: SXSW 2021: Inside the Tech Strategy for the Massive Virtual Festival
Photo: Courtesy of SXSW
2. Lollapalooza
Chicago
Set in Chicago’s Grant Park, this annual festival typically draws 100,000 music fans per day to see the hottest artists, as well as sponsor activations and customizable experiences. In 2020, fans were forced to tune into YouTube instead for a four-night free virtual concert featuring 135 artists including Paul McCartney, Chance the Rapper, Metallica, Tove Lo and Ellie Goulding. In 2021, the city’s largest music festival returned live and in person, making it one of the first major outdoor music festivals since COVID-19 to come back. Headliner Miley Cyrus performed a mix of older classics like “Wrecking Ball” and “The Climb,” in addition to covers of songs such as Blondie’s “Heart of Glass.” Next: July 28-31, 2022
Set in Chicago’s Grant Park, this annual festival typically draws 100,000 music fans per day to see the hottest artists, as well as sponsor activations and customizable experiences. In 2020, fans were forced to tune into YouTube instead for a four-night free virtual concert featuring 135 artists including Paul McCartney, Chance the Rapper, Metallica, Tove Lo and Ellie Goulding. In 2021, the city’s largest music festival returned live and in person, making it one of the first major outdoor music festivals since COVID-19 to come back. Headliner Miley Cyrus performed a mix of older classics like “Wrecking Ball” and “The Climb,” in addition to covers of songs such as Blondie’s “Heart of Glass.” Next: July 28-31, 2022
Photo: Mickey Pierre-Louis for Lollapalooza
3. Summerfest
Milwaukee
Billed as the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest, presented by American Family Insurance, takes over Milwaukee’s Henry Maier Festival Park every year to host 800,000 attendees over 11 days. After canceling the event in 2020, organizers decided to move the 2021 event from its original June dates to September, in hopes of allowing more time for vaccination rates to increase. It was also held over three consecutive weekends, instead of the usual span of 11 days. Not surprisingly, attendance was down to 409,386—almost half of the usual number of festivalgoers. This year’s fest introduced three new major venues, including the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, the Northwestern Mutual Community Park and the Generac Power Stage. Organizers plan to continue using the three-day, three-weekend format next year. Next: June 23-25, June 30-July 2 and July 7-9, 2022
Billed as the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest, presented by American Family Insurance, takes over Milwaukee’s Henry Maier Festival Park every year to host 800,000 attendees over 11 days. After canceling the event in 2020, organizers decided to move the 2021 event from its original June dates to September, in hopes of allowing more time for vaccination rates to increase. It was also held over three consecutive weekends, instead of the usual span of 11 days. Not surprisingly, attendance was down to 409,386—almost half of the usual number of festivalgoers. This year’s fest introduced three new major venues, including the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, the Northwestern Mutual Community Park and the Generac Power Stage. Organizers plan to continue using the three-day, three-weekend format next year. Next: June 23-25, June 30-July 2 and July 7-9, 2022
Photo: Courtesy of American Family Insurance
4. Austin City Limits Music Festival
Austin
After hosting a completely free three-day virtual festival with new performances and archived shows in 2020, ACL made its return to an in-person event at Zilker Park, taking place over the course of two weekends this October. The lineup included artists such as Miley Cyrus, Greta Van Fleet, Doja Cat, country legend George Strait, Duran Duran and Tyler, the Creator. Organizers offered free one-day ACL tickets to the first 1,000 people to sign up for a local vaccination drive. Attendees were required to show proof of full vaccination or negative COVID-19 test results. Next: September 2022
After hosting a completely free three-day virtual festival with new performances and archived shows in 2020, ACL made its return to an in-person event at Zilker Park, taking place over the course of two weekends this October. The lineup included artists such as Miley Cyrus, Greta Van Fleet, Doja Cat, country legend George Strait, Duran Duran and Tyler, the Creator. Organizers offered free one-day ACL tickets to the first 1,000 people to sign up for a local vaccination drive. Attendees were required to show proof of full vaccination or negative COVID-19 test results. Next: September 2022
Photo: Roger Ho for ACL Fest 2021
5. Beaches International Jazz Festival
Toronto
When the city of Toronto canceled permits for large gatherings due to the pandemic in 2020, Beaches International Jazz Festival organizers pivoted and planned a free virtual version in support of the Michael Garron Hospital frontline workers. In addition to performances, the nine-day event in July 2020 featured free virtual workshops, masterclasses and interactive sessions with artists and industry leaders. This year, the festival included a series of drive-in concerts. Next: July 2-24, 2022
When the city of Toronto canceled permits for large gatherings due to the pandemic in 2020, Beaches International Jazz Festival organizers pivoted and planned a free virtual version in support of the Michael Garron Hospital frontline workers. In addition to performances, the nine-day event in July 2020 featured free virtual workshops, masterclasses and interactive sessions with artists and industry leaders. This year, the festival included a series of drive-in concerts. Next: July 2-24, 2022
Photo: Courtesy of beachesjazz/Instagram
6. Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
Montreal
Unlike previous years, the 41st edition of the festival, which took place in September (instead of the summer), was held outdoors at Place des Festivals and was completely free. The usual two-week schedule was truncated into five days and included performances from jazz staples Ranee Lee and Dawn Tyler Watson, as well as songwriter-producer Daniel Lanois, blues rocker Steve Hill & the Devil Horns and more. Last year's cancellation marked the first time in 40 years that the fest did not take place. Next: June 30-July 9, 2022
Unlike previous years, the 41st edition of the festival, which took place in September (instead of the summer), was held outdoors at Place des Festivals and was completely free. The usual two-week schedule was truncated into five days and included performances from jazz staples Ranee Lee and Dawn Tyler Watson, as well as songwriter-producer Daniel Lanois, blues rocker Steve Hill & the Devil Horns and more. Last year's cancellation marked the first time in 40 years that the fest did not take place. Next: June 30-July 9, 2022
Photo: Courtesy of Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
7. Outside Lands
San Francisco
Following the success of last year’s virtual Inside Lands festival (which was a mix of new in-studio performances and archived sets), promoters brought back the in-person experience to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park last month. The three-day outdoor event featured headliners the Strokes, Lizzo and Tame Impala. The festival’s signature comedy and variety stage known as the Barbary was missing from the programming and was replaced by the SOMA Tent, a new experience that was inspired by underground clubs and late nights of San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood. Next: Aug. 5-7, 2022
Following the success of last year’s virtual Inside Lands festival (which was a mix of new in-studio performances and archived sets), promoters brought back the in-person experience to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park last month. The three-day outdoor event featured headliners the Strokes, Lizzo and Tame Impala. The festival’s signature comedy and variety stage known as the Barbary was missing from the programming and was replaced by the SOMA Tent, a new experience that was inspired by underground clubs and late nights of San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood. Next: Aug. 5-7, 2022
Photo: Courtesy of Outside Lands
8. Electric Daisy Carnival
Las Vegas
Started in 1997, EDC Las Vegas has become a staple in the electronic dance music festival community, drawing more than 450,000 fans and generating an estimated $1.3 billion for the local economy. This year, after a nearly 2 1/2-year hiatus, it celebrated its 25th anniversary with a three-day event in October at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway that featured headlining acts from Kaskade, 3LAU, DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal) and more. This year, the festival also became the first music festival to be held on Roblox, premiering in a new persistent experience dedicated to music and imagination dubbed World Party. Next: May 20-21, 2022
Started in 1997, EDC Las Vegas has become a staple in the electronic dance music festival community, drawing more than 450,000 fans and generating an estimated $1.3 billion for the local economy. This year, after a nearly 2 1/2-year hiatus, it celebrated its 25th anniversary with a three-day event in October at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway that featured headlining acts from Kaskade, 3LAU, DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal) and more. This year, the festival also became the first music festival to be held on Roblox, premiering in a new persistent experience dedicated to music and imagination dubbed World Party. Next: May 20-21, 2022
Photo: Courtesy of Insomniac
9. Igloofest
Montreal
At the beginning of 2020, Montrealers braved the coldest nights of the year to attend the festival’s 14th edition, which spanned nine nights between four weekends, from mid-January to early February. In response to criticism, last year’s event featured more diverse programming with a lineup that included many genres—from EDM to house and hip hop to techno, along with a growing presence of women artists. The 2021 edition, which took place in February, was completely digital and free, with shows streamed from venues including La Ronde and the Old Port. Next: Jan. 13-Feb. 5, 2022
At the beginning of 2020, Montrealers braved the coldest nights of the year to attend the festival’s 14th edition, which spanned nine nights between four weekends, from mid-January to early February. In response to criticism, last year’s event featured more diverse programming with a lineup that included many genres—from EDM to house and hip hop to techno, along with a growing presence of women artists. The 2021 edition, which took place in February, was completely digital and free, with shows streamed from venues including La Ronde and the Old Port. Next: Jan. 13-Feb. 5, 2022
Photo: Courtesy of Igloofest
10. Spoleto Festival USA
Charleston, South Carolina
The 17-day international arts event, which features renowned performance artists showcasing their music, dance and theater talents, was canceled in 2020, resulting in a loss of about $4.5 million. The downsized 2021 edition, which took place in late May/early June, had limited capacity and more outdoor events as a safety precaution. Instead of hosting across 10 venues, there were four, including River’s Green on the College of Charleston campus and the Dock Street Theater. Next: May 27-June 12, 2022
The 17-day international arts event, which features renowned performance artists showcasing their music, dance and theater talents, was canceled in 2020, resulting in a loss of about $4.5 million. The downsized 2021 edition, which took place in late May/early June, had limited capacity and more outdoor events as a safety precaution. Instead of hosting across 10 venues, there were four, including River’s Green on the College of Charleston campus and the Dock Street Theater. Next: May 27-June 12, 2022
Photo: Courtesy of Spoleto Festival USA
