1. South by Southwest
Austin
After going virtual in 2021, the annual conference and festival returned to Austin for 10 days in March—albeit with numerous health safety precautions and COVID-19 vaccination/testing policies. Like many other major events on this year’s list, SXSW didn’t kick its virtual attendees to the curb. Instead, organizers tapped technology platform Grip to help remote guests discover new exhibitors, products, and sponsors via interactive floorplans and one-on-one virtual or in-person meetings. Many other firsts took place this year, including the debut of a blockchain track, sponsored by Blockchain Creative Labs, and Dolly Parton’s first SXSW performance and appearance to promote her Web3 experience, WelcometotheDollyverse.com. Additionally, brands like Amazon Prime Video, Twitter, Cheetos, Paramount+, and Porsche hosted clever, interactive activations to engage the event’s 417,000-plus attendees. Next: March 10-19, 2023
See more: SXSW 2022: How Brands Drew Attention at the Festival's Big Return IRL
After going virtual in 2021, the annual conference and festival returned to Austin for 10 days in March—albeit with numerous health safety precautions and COVID-19 vaccination/testing policies. Like many other major events on this year’s list, SXSW didn’t kick its virtual attendees to the curb. Instead, organizers tapped technology platform Grip to help remote guests discover new exhibitors, products, and sponsors via interactive floorplans and one-on-one virtual or in-person meetings. Many other firsts took place this year, including the debut of a blockchain track, sponsored by Blockchain Creative Labs, and Dolly Parton’s first SXSW performance and appearance to promote her Web3 experience, WelcometotheDollyverse.com. Additionally, brands like Amazon Prime Video, Twitter, Cheetos, Paramount+, and Porsche hosted clever, interactive activations to engage the event’s 417,000-plus attendees. Next: March 10-19, 2023
See more: SXSW 2022: How Brands Drew Attention at the Festival's Big Return IRL
Photo: Pooneh Ghana for Rolling Stone
2. Lollapalooza
Chicago
Drawing 400,000 to Chicago’s Grant Park for four days of music, food trucks, and brand activations, the 2022 festival featured more than 170 live performances across eight stages and was headlined by Dua Lipa, Machine Gun Kelly, Metallica, Green Day, and Doja Cat. Sponsoring brands like Dunkin, Google Pixel, and T-Mobile, among others, offered a slew of immersive experiences. This year’s event brought in about $300 million for Chicago’s economy but has generated more than $2 billion for the city since 2010. Next: Aug. 3-6, 2023
Drawing 400,000 to Chicago’s Grant Park for four days of music, food trucks, and brand activations, the 2022 festival featured more than 170 live performances across eight stages and was headlined by Dua Lipa, Machine Gun Kelly, Metallica, Green Day, and Doja Cat. Sponsoring brands like Dunkin, Google Pixel, and T-Mobile, among others, offered a slew of immersive experiences. This year’s event brought in about $300 million for Chicago’s economy but has generated more than $2 billion for the city since 2010. Next: Aug. 3-6, 2023
Photo: Roger Ho for Lollapalooza
3. Austin City Limits Music Festival
Up from #4
Austin
For the first time ever, Austin’s famous music festival wasn’t just available to those with tickets, thanks to a partnership with Hulu. Performances from the first weekend of the two-weekend festival were available to watch for free on the streaming platform. This year’s lineup included headliners The Chicks, Pink, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lil Nas X, and Kacey Musgraves, plus other popular artists like Paramore, Noah Cyrus, and SZA, to name a few—totaling 1,500-plus performances over six days. Brands like American Express, Coke, Tito’s, and Wrangler pulled out all the stops to entertain the event’s 450,000 attendees. Next: Oct. 6-8 and Oct. 13-15, 2023
See more: Austin City Limits 2022: Inside the Music Festival's Top Brand Activations
Austin
For the first time ever, Austin’s famous music festival wasn’t just available to those with tickets, thanks to a partnership with Hulu. Performances from the first weekend of the two-weekend festival were available to watch for free on the streaming platform. This year’s lineup included headliners The Chicks, Pink, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lil Nas X, and Kacey Musgraves, plus other popular artists like Paramore, Noah Cyrus, and SZA, to name a few—totaling 1,500-plus performances over six days. Brands like American Express, Coke, Tito’s, and Wrangler pulled out all the stops to entertain the event’s 450,000 attendees. Next: Oct. 6-8 and Oct. 13-15, 2023
See more: Austin City Limits 2022: Inside the Music Festival's Top Brand Activations
Photo: Matthew Niemann
4. Coachella
New to the List
Indio, Calif.
After being canceled for two straight years, the West Coast’s acclaimed music festival made its anticipated return. Headliners included Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, and Swedish House Mafia, with welcomed surprise appearances by Shania Twain and Justin Bieber. Despite a less-than-ideal situation that had #RevolveFestival trending for the wrong reasons, the rest of Coachella’s lavish on-site parties, pop-ups, and brand activations went off without a hitch and hosted 750,000 festivalgoers (matching pre-pandemic attendance) at the Empire Polo Ground. The event embraced the latest tech trends, with every ticketholder receiving a free “In Bloom” NFT. Organizers also assembled the first-ever NFT scavenger hunt on the festival grounds; NFTs found by guests could be redeemed for digital and physical experiences at the festival, among other prizes. Next: April 14-16 and April 21-23, 2023
See more: Coachella 2022: Peek Inside the Festival's Buzziest Parties & Brand Activations
Indio, Calif.
After being canceled for two straight years, the West Coast’s acclaimed music festival made its anticipated return. Headliners included Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, and Swedish House Mafia, with welcomed surprise appearances by Shania Twain and Justin Bieber. Despite a less-than-ideal situation that had #RevolveFestival trending for the wrong reasons, the rest of Coachella’s lavish on-site parties, pop-ups, and brand activations went off without a hitch and hosted 750,000 festivalgoers (matching pre-pandemic attendance) at the Empire Polo Ground. The event embraced the latest tech trends, with every ticketholder receiving a free “In Bloom” NFT. Organizers also assembled the first-ever NFT scavenger hunt on the festival grounds; NFTs found by guests could be redeemed for digital and physical experiences at the festival, among other prizes. Next: April 14-16 and April 21-23, 2023
See more: Coachella 2022: Peek Inside the Festival's Buzziest Parties & Brand Activations
Photo: Getty Images for Neon Carnival for DIRECTV
5. TD Toronto Jazz Fest
New to the list
Toronto
Returning as a live event after being canceled last year was the perfect way to kick off the TD Toronto Jazz Fest's 35th anniversary. The 10-day festival brought out 500,000 jazz enthusiasts to indulge in 150-plus performances from famed artists like Smokey Robinson, Gregory Porter, and Michael Kaeshammer. Select concerts were even recorded and available remotely, with special Q&As with band members included for at-home attendees. Next: June 23-July 2, 2023
Toronto
Returning as a live event after being canceled last year was the perfect way to kick off the TD Toronto Jazz Fest's 35th anniversary. The 10-day festival brought out 500,000 jazz enthusiasts to indulge in 150-plus performances from famed artists like Smokey Robinson, Gregory Porter, and Michael Kaeshammer. Select concerts were even recorded and available remotely, with special Q&As with band members included for at-home attendees. Next: June 23-July 2, 2023
Photo: Adam Seward for TD Toronto Jazz Fest
6. Beaches International Jazz Festival
Toronto
The Beaches International Jazz Festival is a monthlong music festival held each July in the lakeside Beaches community of Toronto. Since its inception in 1989, it’s become one of the biggest free jazz festivals in Canada. After hosting a series of drive-in concerts in lieu of a large event last year, the 2022 iteration saw the return of the festival’s typical programming, with more than 100 performances spread throughout Woodbine Park, Queen Street East, Jimmie Simpson Park, and Beach United Church—plus the inaugural Beaches Salsa Festival. Next: July 6-30, 2023
The Beaches International Jazz Festival is a monthlong music festival held each July in the lakeside Beaches community of Toronto. Since its inception in 1989, it’s become one of the biggest free jazz festivals in Canada. After hosting a series of drive-in concerts in lieu of a large event last year, the 2022 iteration saw the return of the festival’s typical programming, with more than 100 performances spread throughout Woodbine Park, Queen Street East, Jimmie Simpson Park, and Beach United Church—plus the inaugural Beaches Salsa Festival. Next: July 6-30, 2023
Photo: Courtesy of Beaches International Jazz Festival
7. Summerfest
Milwaukee
Despite last-minute changes to the lineup due to a number of artists dropping out—namely Justin Bieber, who was forced to postpone his performance and tour amid his Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis—this year’s festival drew 445,611 to its usual venue, American Family Insurance Amphitheater. Although 2022 attendance one-upped last year’s by 8.8%, the annual event hasn’t quite recovered from the effects of the pandemic (it typically drew 700,000-plus festivalgoers). Even still, big-name artists on the lineup included Avril Lavigne, Backstreet Boys, Machine Gun Kelly, Halsey, Lil Wayne, Steve Aoki, and more, amid the 54-year-old music festival’s 800 performances. Next: ​​June 22-24, June 29-July 1, and July 6-8, 2023
Despite last-minute changes to the lineup due to a number of artists dropping out—namely Justin Bieber, who was forced to postpone his performance and tour amid his Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis—this year’s festival drew 445,611 to its usual venue, American Family Insurance Amphitheater. Although 2022 attendance one-upped last year’s by 8.8%, the annual event hasn’t quite recovered from the effects of the pandemic (it typically drew 700,000-plus festivalgoers). Even still, big-name artists on the lineup included Avril Lavigne, Backstreet Boys, Machine Gun Kelly, Halsey, Lil Wayne, Steve Aoki, and more, amid the 54-year-old music festival’s 800 performances. Next: ​​June 22-24, June 29-July 1, and July 6-8, 2023
Photo: Courtesy of Summerfest
8. Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
Montréal
For the 42nd edition of the world’s largest jazz festival (the first in person since 2019), tens of thousands of Canadians came out to downtown Montréal to experience music from more than 350 renowned artists. Ludovico Einaudi, Pink Martini, and Woodkid were among a few of the sold-out indoor concerts, while many other artists christened Club Montréal TD, a brand-new outdoor stage located on the Esplanade of Place des Arts that organizers unveiled for this year’s event. Next: June 29-July 8, 2023
For the 42nd edition of the world’s largest jazz festival (the first in person since 2019), tens of thousands of Canadians came out to downtown Montréal to experience music from more than 350 renowned artists. Ludovico Einaudi, Pink Martini, and Woodkid were among a few of the sold-out indoor concerts, while many other artists christened Club Montréal TD, a brand-new outdoor stage located on the Esplanade of Place des Arts that organizers unveiled for this year’s event. Next: June 29-July 8, 2023
Photo: Victor Diaz Lamich/Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
9. Outside Lands
San Francisco
Held annually at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park to celebrate all things music, food, wine, beer, art, and cannabis, Outside Land’s 2022 music lineup featured Green Day, Post Malone, SZA, Jack Harlow, Weezer, Phoebe Bridgers, and more than 85 other acclaimed and emerging artists. For a second year, the SoMa Tent replaced the signature comedy and variety stage (Barbary) to bring nonstop house music to the three-day event’s 220,000 attendees. The rest of the event’s programming included live paintings from street artists, a slew of bites and sips from local businesses, the return of the House by Heineken experience, and cannabis workshops at Grass Lands. Next: Aug. 11-13, 2023
Held annually at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park to celebrate all things music, food, wine, beer, art, and cannabis, Outside Land’s 2022 music lineup featured Green Day, Post Malone, SZA, Jack Harlow, Weezer, Phoebe Bridgers, and more than 85 other acclaimed and emerging artists. For a second year, the SoMa Tent replaced the signature comedy and variety stage (Barbary) to bring nonstop house music to the three-day event’s 220,000 attendees. The rest of the event’s programming included live paintings from street artists, a slew of bites and sips from local businesses, the return of the House by Heineken experience, and cannabis workshops at Grass Lands. Next: Aug. 11-13, 2023
Photo: Alive Coverage/Outside Lands
10. Electric Daisy Carnival
Las Vegas
A must-attend for electronic dance music junkies, the Electric Daisy Carnival takes over Las Vegas Motor Speedway each year to deck the outdoor space with over-the-top structures and LED lights, thousands of guests dressed in neon hues, and top EDM artists ready to give the show of a lifetime. This year’s event hosted upward of 400,000 attendees and more than 300 performers, including ILLENIUM, Porter Robinson, Zedd, and Charlotte de Witte, with a special appearance by Snoop Dogg. The three-day festival offered many memorable moments, especially from artist Grimes, who dropped ZASH NFTs to fans in the crowd via satellite during her DJ set. Next: May 19-21, 2023
A must-attend for electronic dance music junkies, the Electric Daisy Carnival takes over Las Vegas Motor Speedway each year to deck the outdoor space with over-the-top structures and LED lights, thousands of guests dressed in neon hues, and top EDM artists ready to give the show of a lifetime. This year’s event hosted upward of 400,000 attendees and more than 300 performers, including ILLENIUM, Porter Robinson, Zedd, and Charlotte de Witte, with a special appearance by Snoop Dogg. The three-day festival offered many memorable moments, especially from artist Grimes, who dropped ZASH NFTs to fans in the crowd via satellite during her DJ set. Next: May 19-21, 2023
Photo: AGPfhoto/Alex G Perez/AGPfoto.com
11. Spoleto Festival USA
Charleston, S.C.
This annual spring performing arts festival continues to be one of the largest of its kind, with 17 days worth of events taking over historic theaters, churches, and outdoor spaces in Charleston, S.C. The festival spotlights established and budding artists, and features more than 150 performances of opera, dance, theater, classical music, and jazz. This year’s iteration marked the event’s first full season since 2019, drawing 48,000 attendees from 49 states and nine countries. Next: May 26-June 11, 2023
This annual spring performing arts festival continues to be one of the largest of its kind, with 17 days worth of events taking over historic theaters, churches, and outdoor spaces in Charleston, S.C. The festival spotlights established and budding artists, and features more than 150 performances of opera, dance, theater, classical music, and jazz. This year’s iteration marked the event’s first full season since 2019, drawing 48,000 attendees from 49 states and nine countries. Next: May 26-June 11, 2023
Photo: William Struhs
