If you’re jetting off on holiday in the coming months, there’s a good chance you’re looking for some rest and relaxation – but for many, escaping the everyday and having a good time means throwing yourself into a summer festival and soaking up the atmosphere.
With the British weather notoriously unreliable and UK festivals often degenerating into a mudbath, revellers are increasingly looking abroad for their party fix.
Manchester Airport connects the North with over 200 destinations across the globe and offers a gateway to some of the best summer festivals across Europe and North America. Here we round up 10 of the biggest festivals you can reach with a direct flight from Manchester – whether you’re looking to bag a last minute trip, or making plans for next year.
Tomorrowland – July 19 – 28
Direct flights from Manchester to Brussels with Brussels Airlines
Arguably Europe’s best known dance festival, Tomorrowland turns 20 next year. Almost half a million people will visit over the course of the festival near Brussels, with the extravagantly-decorated main stage providing the perfect backdrop for some of the dance scene’s biggest names like Swedish House Mafia and David Guetta.
Burning Man – August 25 – September 2
Direct flights from Manchester to Las Vegas with Virgin Atlantic
The organisers of Burning Man describe it as ‘a temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance’, which pops up each summer in the Nevada desert, north west of Las Vegas. The event doesn’t involve any headliners or scheduled performances – instead, it’s the attendees who shape the agenda at Burning Man, which takes its name from the burning of a large wooden effigy, representing ‘the man’, at the end of the festival.
Sziget Festival – August 7 – 12
Direct flights from Manchester to Budapest with Jet2.com, Ryanair and TUI
Sziget Festival takes place annually on an island in the River Danube, just north of Budapest, and brings together some of music’s biggest stars from a variety of genres. Headliners this year include Stormzy, Sam Smith, Liam Gallagher and Martin Garrix.
Fête de la Musique – June 21
Direct flights from Manchester to Paris with Air France and easyJet
A Summer Solstice festival spread across France, but centred on Paris, the Fête de la Musique is the largest free music festival in Europe. Visitors to the French capital won’t be greeted with world-famous headliners, but can expect to find the streets, parks and boulevards filled with colourful artistic displays and impromptu performances of live music.
Secret Solstice – June 20 – 22
Direct flights from Manchester to Reykjavik with easyJet, Icelandair, Jet2.com and TUI
If you’re looking for a more organised event to dance the night away on the Summer Solstice, Reykjavik’s Secret Solstice has you covered. A party under the Midnight Sun with three days of continuous sunlight, it celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a mix of Icelandic and international artists.
Ibiza
Direct flights from Manchester to Ibiza with easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair and TUI
Ibiza has long held a reputation as Europe’s party capital, and everyone who is anyone in the world of dance music will be making an appearance over the summer. Among the highlights, BBC Radio 1 returns to Ibiza Rocks Hotel for its renowned Dance X Pool Party on July 29 and superclub Ushuaia hosts Scottish DJ Calvin Harris on August 2.
Wacken Open Air – July 31 – August 3
Direct flights from Manchester to Hamburg with easyJet and Eurowings
Heavy Metal enthusiasts will be descending on the genre’s biggest festival in late July and early August. It will take place in the small town of Wacken, just north of Hamburg, where it has been held each year since 1989. This year’s edition sees headliners Scorpions, Korn and Amon Amarth take the stage.
Roskilde Festival – June 29 – July 6
Direct flights from Manchester to Copenhagen with easyJet, Norwegian, Ryanair and Scandinavian Airlines
Roskilde is one of the busiest, and oldest, pop festivals in Europe, dating all the way back to 1971. It takes place about 20 miles west of the Danish capital Copenhagen and although its roots are in hippy culture, the mix of acts on offer nowadays is much more mainstream. Headliners this year include the Foo Fighters, Doja Cat and Charli XCX.
Hideout – June 23 – 27
Direct flights from Manchester to Zadar with Ryanair
A summer festival with a difference, Hideout’s revellers party on the sands of the stunning Zrce Beach near Zadar, Croatia, echoing Thailand’s infamous Full Moon parties. The festival has only been running for around a decade but is already attracting some of the EDM scene’s biggest stars and ravers this year will enjoy performances from the likes of Eliza Rose, Alan Fitzpatrick and Manchester’s own Interplanetary Criminal.
North By Northeast (NXNE) – June 12 – 16
Direct flights from Manchester to Toronto with Air Canada and Air Transat
A self-described ‘discovery event’, Canada’s NXNE festival has a reputation for giving a platform to the stars of tomorrow. The Lumineers, Grimes and Post Malone all made breakthrough performances here before being signed to big record labels. Performances take place in small to medium sized venues across Toronto, giving festivalgoers the chance to explore the city.
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