21 Best Music Festivals In The USA

Few things are more exhilarating than stepping foot into a music festival prepared for 3+ days of dancing, local food vendors, and memories that will last through the next year. Modern-day music festivals have been gaining popularity in the U.S. ever since the 1960s with the massive Woodstock Music & Art Fair. Since then, it's grown into something bigger than the original festival-goers 50 years could've ever imagined. Music festivals have slowly but surely become a full-blown tradition across the country. 

Today there are over 800 different music festivals across the United States that can appeal to any and all musical preferences. These events specialize in everything from EDM and pop to hip-hop and country music. Plus, there is more to America's festivals than just intoxicating live music from some of your favorite performers. You can find unique attractions, lots of shopping, and incredible culinary gems at most American music festivals, too. 

Do you remember that bubbling sense of excitement and wonder kids feel when they go to Disneyland? Music festivals have the power to rekindle that type of euphoria. Be one of the millions of people who are privy to this magical experience by grabbing tickets to one of the following 21 best music festivals in the USA.

New York is truly a haven for music at all times of the year, but that energy is even more palpable during the summer months when the Governor's Ball Music Festival goes down. Even though it's only been running since 2011, Gov Ball has already made a name for itself. Hundreds of thousands of people ran to Flushing Meadows Corona Park this year, which was the first time the fest was held at this new venue. 

The list of artists that gathered in New York from June 9 to June 11 for Gov Ball 2023 was nothing short of amazing. World-renowned performers like Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Odesza, Diplo, and Joey Bada$$ all made an appearance, along with Gov Ball's first-ever K-pop performance by Aespa. In total, sixty different artists from various genres, like rap, indie, and dance, played over the weekend.

Thanks to its prime location in New York City, Governor's Ball also provides some of the most mouth-watering festival foods you can find. You can get a taste of some of NYC's most iconic restaurants and treats at Gov Ball. The vendors in 2023 included offerings from The Halal Guys, Mao's Bao, Big Mozz, and Doughnuttery. 

If you're looking for a place to dance to electronic dance music for days on end, you might be on the hunt for Ultra Music Festival. The Ultra Music Festival was born in 1999 and quickly gave rise to a wave of similar functions around the globe. Today, there are iterations of Ultra across countries in South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. That fact alone should clue you into how epic Ultra really is. 

In the United States and around the globe, the most well-known version of Ultra is the origin point for the festival — Miami. The event takes place in late March every year and always creates a buzz around how groundbreaking their set-up is. This electronic music festival is particularly known for its huge, out-of-this-world stages and stellar visuals during the shows. The festival also features a wild variety of art installations and even a cool sustainability program, so there is much more to do at Ultra than just dance.

Rolling Loud is the world's top rap and hip-hop festival and the lineup never fails to rouse excitement. The great thing about Rolling Loud is that it's become so popular that it's held in multiple locations around the world including Miami, California, Portugal, Germany, Rotterdam, and Thailand. Most adaptations of Rolling Loud take place in the summer, making it a solid summer fest. 

The very first Rolling Loud took place in Miami in 2015. Despite the unforgiving Florida summer heat, over 200,000 festival-goers annually head out to Hard Rock Stadium for Rolling Loud annually. In 2023, Playboy Carti, Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky, Ice Spice, Bryson Tiller, and Offset will perform at Rolling Loud Miami. Some secret special guests still have yet to be announced, too, so you never know who else might show up to perform.

Country lovers might feel left out when they read about all the pop and EDM events out there, but there is an incredible, well-crafted festival in the U.S. for them, too. It's called Stagecoach. This country music bonanza takes place at the end of April and it's the perfect way to welcome in springtime if you're in the mood for some country tunes. 

This music festival is actually held in the same exact same location as Coachella at the Empire Polo Club. It's a very convenient music event to reach for people on the West Coast. Stagecoach usually manages to snag the most popular country artists of the year to play, plus some additional musicians from other genres. 

This year's headliners included well-known country stars such as Luke Bryan, Kane Brown, and Chris Stapleton. There were also a bunch of well-loved artists from other genres who made an appearance, like Elle King, Nelly, and Diplo. Stagecoach also has fun attractions across the grounds, like a huge Ferris wheel to get a bird's eye view over the happenings and Guy Fieri's Stagecoach Smokehouse.

Burning Man is one of the more out-there music and arts festivals in the U.S., but it's also one of the most famous in the festival scene. The 37-year-old festival takes place in the middle of the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, so it definitely provides an intense setting. However, this harsh climate and long run time lasting from August 27 to September 4 mean that this music festival requires much more planning than other ones. 

Technically, Burning Man identifies itself as a global movement and it's more like its own world or community built from the ground up than just a simple festival. The festival lasts for nine days in this treacherous terrain and doesn't provide the traditional set you'll find at most popular festivals. There isn't a lineup like traditional music festivals, rather everything comes as a bit of a surprise and it is all created by the community, including you!

The whole thing is really shrouded in a layer of mystery from the outside besides the finale of the event – literally burning a huge wooden statue of a man. Burning Man is a better fit for experienced festival-goers who want to have a new type of experience. It's definitely not for the faint of heart or unprepared attendees. If you plan on taking the plunge for the first time, make sure you abide by all of the festival's recommendations for safety and remember that you are in an unpredictable desert.

Shaky Knees is an Atlanta festival in May that's perfect for all the indie folks and rockers. The music festival just had its 10th anniversary in 2023 and it was a huge deal. Over 60 different bands performed to commemorate the milestone of the festival and they put on an insanely memorable performance. 

The thing that's cool about Shaky Knees is that they have the big headliners (like, the Killers, Muse, and the Lumineers in 2023) and lesser-known artists (such as Arlie, Snail Mail, and Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol). It's also a great choice if you enjoy eating just as much as dancing at a festival. Shaky Knees features an array of diverse food offerings that can cater to most dietary restrictions. The festival provides a very comfortable space with plenty of amenities like photo booths, phone charging stations, and more VIP experiences available, too. 

Electric Forest is the type of festival that feels like wandering into a fantastical dream. It's more than just a music festival, it's an immersive experience complete with a magical forest waiting for visitors to explore every inch. Located in Rothbury, Michigan, Electric Forest kicked off back in 2011 as a more mystical alternative to other festival options on the market at the time. 

Since its inception, the fest has grown into such a popular event that it literally sells out in the blink of an eye. Thankfully, there is an official wristband exchange where you can grab certified tickets after the first batch goes. In 2023, Electric Forest attracted approximately 40,000 people to wander the grounds from June 22 to June 25. 

This four-day camping festival goes all night long with activities, shows, and so many out-of-the-box performances that you won't be able to look away from. While you shouldn't expect the nights at Electric Forest to be quiet, they will be filled with lots of welcome surprises. Electric Forest might not seem like it'd be a family-friendly spot, but it is actually an all-ages festival and you'll definitely see kiddos running around. If you do plan on hitting Electric Forest family-style, make sure you bring along the proper festival gear, like protective headphones, extra sunscreen,  and plenty of water. 

At the Austin City Limits Music Festival, you can spend two separate weekends in October catching more than 100 high-energy sets. Every year, this Austin fall essential organizes nine different stages to accommodate the onslaught of talent. While most music festivals in America adhere to one general genre, Austin City Limits breaks the mold with its lineup and it entices an eclectic mix of guests to the party. 

All different types of performers make an appearance at the Texas music festival. In 2023, you'll be able to catch Kali Uchis, Maggie Rogers, Shania Twain, Alanis Morissette, Niall Horan, Tove Lo, Labrinth, Tash Sultana, and many more all performing at Austin City Limits. The festival will go down from October 6 to October 8 and then again on October 13 to October 15, so there are multiple chances to get in on all the fun.

Chicago's Pitchfork Music Festival at the end of July focuses on showcasing rock and alternative music. Originally established in 2006, Pitchfork is somewhere between one of the OG festivals and one of the more modern events to hit the scene. It has a lot of quirky little features that make it stand out among the crowd of music festivals.

The 2023 event runs from July 21 to July 23 and the lineup will feature artists like Bon Iver, Koffee, Big Thief, King Krule, The Smile, and Alvvays, along with more than 40 other bands. While there is always an awesome lineup at Pitchfork, there is much more to do at this music festival than just nod along to the music. 

Many of the top eateries in Chicago scramble for a chance to set up shop at Pitchfork. There is a craft fair and live artist interviews. Plus, the fest has some of the coolest shopping opportunities ever, like an on-site vinyl fair where you can shop for records before seeing your favorite musician and a poster fair where you can buy artist prints. 

Riot Fest is the ultimate punk rock festival in the United States. It's held at Douglass Park in Chicago every September, which makes for a pretty amazing venue in the heart of the busy city. For one glorious weekend from September 15 to September 17, all the long-time favorites and up-and-coming artists from the punk rock scene will perform at Riot Fest. 

In 2023, you'll be able to catch headliner sets by the Foo Fighters, The Cure, The Postal Service, Death Cab For Cutie, and Queens of the Stone Age. Plus, there will be plenty of more shows during the day leading up to the main events. There will also be a smorgasbord of excellent food for guests, no matter their dietary restrictions, as well as carnival rides and other types of interesting vendors. 

If you can't afford a music festival ticket this summer, no worries, Riot Fest has you covered. Just sign up to participate in the "Do Your Part" initiative where you can help clean up the park to earn tickets to Riot Fest in exchange for your assistance. There are clean-up events until right before the festival, but spots fill up fast so try to sign up as soon as possible.