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Festival

Two musicians performing on stage - one playing violin whilst standing on the other's back. Colourful backdrop with red and yellow patterns.
Saint Levant © Christian Hjorth

In 2025, festivals have become defiantly political. Roskilde is one of the most powerful

A sea of people — Music and countercultural movements have a hand-in-hand relationship spanning decades. As authorities increasingly police traditional on-street protests, dancefloors and crowds are again becoming crucial spaces for solidarity, writes Ella Glossop, reporting from Denmark’s largest festival.

  • Music
  • Ella Glossop
A group of people sitting around a campfire in a dark forest, with trees and flowers in the background illuminated by the fire's glow.
© Angelina Nikolayeva

At Belgium’s Horst, electronic music, skate and community collide

More than a festival — With art exhibitions, youth projects and a brand new skatepark, the Vilvoorde-Brussels weekender is demonstrating how music events can have an impact all year round.

  • Music
  • Isaac Muk
Elaborate theatrical performance on stage with dancers in red costumes and dramatic lighting.

Block9 reveals its Glastonbury Festival 2025 plans

Party and protest — The nightlife hub will feature a bigger-than-ever Saturday daytime block party across The NYC Downlow and Genosys, and a huge collaboration with artist-activist group Led By Donkeys.

  • Music
  • Isaac Muk
Energetic music performance on stage with colourful lighting, smoke and audience.

Southbank Centre reveals new series dedicated to East and Southeast Asian arts

ESEA Encounters — Taking place between 17-20 July, there will be a live concert from YMO’s Haruomi Hosono, as well as discussions around Asian literature, stage productions, and a pop-up Japanese Yokimono summer market.

  • Culture
  • Zahra Onsori

First acts for Boomtown 2025 revealed

Sex Pistols ft. Frank Carter, Azealia Banks and Nia Archives join Sean Paul, The Wurzels and Boney M at the award winning festival.

  • Music
  • Ben Smoke

In photos: Boomtown 2024 after dark

Traffic cones on the sesh. A Donald Trump drag king. Gurning Teletubbies. It’s a mild night at Boomtown Fair, and photographer Bekky Calver was there to capture the action.

  • Photography
  • Ben Smoke

In photos: Three decades of Glastonbury Festival’s people and subcultures

A new photobook explores the unique cultural experience and communal spirit found at the UK’s largest festival.

  • Photography
  • Isaac Muk

Why have a quarter of The Great Escape’s line up pulled out?

At least 126 acts have withdrawn from the Brighton festival in protest at the inclusion of Barclays as a sponsor because of the bank's alleged links with atrocities in Gaza, Ben Smoke explains.

  • Activism
  • Ben Smoke

Harsh drug policing at festivals is endangering lives

Reform now — Tough fines and arrests for drug possession and supply is pushing festival-goers towards unsafe measures to consume or smuggle in their substances, reports Rebecca Tidy.

  • Activism
  • Rebecca Tidy

How Brainchild defied the odds with this year’s festival

Dancing through the rain — This year, a pandemic and flash floods posed unprecedented challenges for the not-for-profit festival’s organisers – but this did little to dampen the spirits of attendees.

  • Brainchild
  • Ben Smoke and Daisy Schofield

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