Whip out those calendars, clear your schedules, and get to booking those tickets. With the heat turning up all across the globe, the festival season is officially on the horizon—bringing with it the impossible high that is synonymous with the summer bash. If we’re talking major festivals, there’s no mistaking that the season always unofficially begins with Coachella, which will see stars such as Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat and Tyler, the Creator headline the ultimate double-weekend fest. Other mega festivals such as Lollapalooza 2024 have also since dropped an electrifying line-up for this year’s August escapade—think SZA, Blink-182, The Killers, Hozier and Stray Kids, and that’s just the main stage.
For those with a blowout bash on their mind, these epic festivals are merely the tip of the iceberg. Some will make long haul travel plans surrounding these aspirational music festivals, whilst others might risk it all just to fly out for all of one weekend. But for those who’ll be attempting the latter? It’ll be worth to consider the scene that’s closer to home. With festivals such as We The Fest in Indonesia to Japan’s Fuji Rock and Wonderfruit in Pattaya, Asia has been a burgeoning hotspot for some of the best summer blowouts in recent times. And as this year’s line-ups begin to fall into place, we’re already clocking the hottest ones to anticipate—and booking our flights in the process.
EDM enthusiasts will have Creamfields Hong Kong on their list—where Martin Garrix and Zhu are set to spin their greatest hits on the deck in April. Come the month of May, some of South Korea’s household hip-hop names such as Zico, DynamicDuo, ph-1 and Lee Young-ji will ascend the Hiphopplaya Festival stage. And once July comes around? The ever-popular Fuji Rock and Summer Sonic will surely be par for the course.
For the melomaniacs out there, this list of destination music festivals will be sure to have you all riled up; each one promising exciting artist appearances; some extremely solid tunes; and a whopping good time. Peruse the best destination music festivals to look forward to in Asia, all below.
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Creamfields Hong Kong 2024
For EDM lovers out there, look to the Hong Kong iteration of the iconic dance music festival that hails from the UK. In less than a month, some of the genre’s biggest names will be spinning atop the deck in the heart of the cosmopolitan city, from Martin Garrix to Illenium and Zhu.
Creamfields Hong Kong 2024 will play out at Central Harbour Front Event Space in Hong Kong from 13 to 14 April 2024.
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Seoul Jazz Festival 2024
Arguably one of the most underrated music festivals in the region, the Seoul Jazz Festival is the place to be for fans of the genre. This year, close to 60 artists will be flying in from all around the world, including French stalwart FKJ, Lauv and Grammy-winner Laufey. Notably, some of the country’s famed indie singers will also be present, such as Paul Kim and Jannabi.
Seoul Jazz Festival 2024 will play out at the Olympic Park in Seoul, South Korea from 31 May to 2 June.
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Fuji Rock 2024
To those in the know, Fuji Rock is an entire experience—one that can only be considered complete if you’re camping in as well. This year’s iteration will see SZA, Peggy Gou, Girl in Red, Jax Jones and Man With A Mission join the line-up, with only more to come.
Fuji Rock Festival 2024 will play out at Naeba Ski Resort in Japan from 26 to 28 July.
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Hiphopplaya Festival 2024
Some of South Korea’s most well-known hip-hop names are due to set the stage ablaze in May. For all of two days, the scene at Hangang Park will be a fired-up one as Zico, DynamicDuo, ph-1, Big Naughty, Lee Young-ji, B.I and Changmo ignite the festival with their smooth rap bars and irresistible beat drops.
Hiphopplaya Festival 2024 will play out at Nanji Hangang Park from 4 to 5 May.
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LaLaLa Festival
Bringing the heat back to Jakarta after five years is the LaLaLa Festival. Slated to hit the Indonesian capital in August, festival-goers can anticipate a diverse mix of artists to ascend the stage. Think Conan Gray, Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora, Bruno Major, So!Yoon! of Se So Neon and The Temper Trap.
LaLaLa Festival is set to play out at JIExpo in Jakarta from 23 to 25 August.
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Summer Sonic 2024
If the West has Coachella, then the East has Summer Sonic. There’s no denying the cult status of the Japan blowout fest—and melomaniacs can always count on a whirlwind time over here. In Tokyo, attendees will get to enjoy the pulsating beats of Italian rock band Måneskin, Major Lazer, Akmu, Bright Vachirawit and imase. Meanwhile the line-up for Osaka promises the hypnotising tunes of PinkPantheress, AJR, Bring Me The Horizon, Olivia Dean and Tyla.
7 / 8
We The Fest 2024
We The Fest has earned itself a stellar track record over the past few years. Just last year, the Indonesian-based fest brought to its shores the likes of The Strokes, The Kid Laroi, The 1975 and Sabrina Carpenter. Whilst this year’s line-up remains to be seen, there’s no denying the anticipation is already high for what is to come.
We The Fest 2024 will play out in Jakarta from 19 to 21st July 2024.
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Rolling Loud Thailand
Most of the popular festivals in Thailand are set to unfold towards the end of the year—with Pattaya being a hotspot for some of the bigger ones. The major hip-hop festival from US, Rolling Loud, have since announced its return to the region with Rolling Loud Thailand, and will only release its line-up later in the year. Some of last year’s artists include Cardi B, Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, Hwasa and Central Cee.
Rolling Loud Thailand will play out at Legend Siam in Pattaya, Thailand from 22 to 24 November.
