Packing up your bags and heading to sunnier climes for a week of bass bins and beaches has become as much a part of the British summer as tan lines and fruit cider. There's nothing quite like seeing your favourite artists smashing up a foreign stage to really get the energy popping.

The past few weeks have been an embarrassment of riches as each and every festival unveils their first wave lineup. There are now so many festivals packed into the months from April - September that it can all get a bit overwhelming. So many artists, so many dates, so many countries, but don't worry we're here to help you make sense of it.

This year we'll be showcasing our favourite festival across three areas: home, away and unique. In this second edition we'll be focusing on the festivals that are worth the horrors of a RyanAir flight and dodgy Air BnB. These are the dance music meccas dotted across Europe that will welcome you in with open arms, lush bass and a can of Estrella.

 

Read our first instalment taking in the best and brightest of UK festivals here

 

Time Warp

7th April | Mannheim, Germany

What better way to kick off festival season than with an all day techno rager in Germany? The lineup is under wraps, but over a staggering 24 years Timewarp has established itself as the biggest force in European techno, good enough reason to book that flight to Mannheim.

Tickets & info

 

Lost & Found

3rd - 6th May | Malta

Annie Mac is once again Queen of the castle as she takes over Malta for another episode of Lost & Found. This year she's bringing all her mates with her including Diplo, Jamie xx, Four Tet, J Hus, Bicep, The Black Madonna, Hot Since 82, Jackmaster, Kölsch, The Martinez Brothers, Patrick Topping, Tiga, Artwork, CamePhat and Denis SUlta.

Tickets & info

 

Sonar

14th - 16th June | Barcelona, Spain

Speaking of institutions, Barcelona's Sonar is celebrating its 25th Birthday this year. The conference / festival has long been at the cutting edge of electronic music, art and culture. This year they're pulling out all the stops with a lineup that includes 2manydjs, Ben Klock, Helena Hauff, LCD Soundsystem, Richie Hawtin and Wiley.

Tickets & info

 

Kala

20th - 27th June | Albania

 

A brand new festival in a brand new location, Kala will be bringing a week of vibes to Albania's coastline. The intimate lineup includes Moodymann, The Black Madonna, Underground Resistance, Peggy Gou, Mister Saturday Night, Ross From Friends, Tom Misch and Roy Ayers.

Tickets & info

 

Love International

27th June - 4th July | Tisno, Croatia

 

The spiritual successor to the original Croatian dance festival, The Garden. Love International picks up where 10 years of The Garden left off - namely blissed out boat parties and rowdy nights in Barbarellas. This year they're welcoming Avalon Emerson, Ben UFO, Crazy P, Floating Points, Move D, Shanti Celeste and Young Marco.

Tickets & info

 

Kappa Futur Festival

7th - 8th June | Turin, Italy

A heavy duty lineup on one of the most unique main stages in the scene. Adam Beyer, Joseph Capriati, Solomun, Derrick May, Ilario Alicante, Luciano and Marco Carol are the first to be revealed with plenty more on the way. As an added bonus, the city of Turin is one of the best undiscovered gems in Italy.

Tickets & info

 

Melt

13th - 15th July | Ferropolis, Germany

Melt festival takes everything up a notch. Where better to listen to be best in rock and dance than under the under the imposing frames of some of the world's biggest man made structures. From jumbo cranes to mini oil rigs, the Ferropolis is an outdoor museum dedicated to massive metal. This year The XX, Fever Ray, Mura Masa, The Internet, Mount Kimbie, The Blaze and George Fitzgerald are confirmed.

Tickets & info

 

Dekmantel

1st - 5th August | Amsterdam, Netherlands

 

The dance festival scene is a crowded market in Amsterdam, but year in year out, Dekmantel manages to rise above the noise. It's easy to see why, consistently one of the best programmed events of the year, a knowledgable crowd and interesting aesthetic combine for none stop good vibes. This year you're spoiled for choice with Call Super, DJ Nobu, DJ Stingray, Four Tet (live), Jamie xx, Joy Orbison, Goldie, Ricardo Villalobos, The Bug, Orbital and Palms Trax locked in.

Tickets & info

 

Defected Croatia

9th - 14th August | The Garden, Croatia

3,000 house heads will convene in Croatia for six glorious days of house music heaven on the shores of the Adriatic. Lineup includes an array of Defected and Glitterbox favourites including Dimitri From Paris, Masters At Work, Crazy P, Dennis Ferrer, Soul Clap, Basement Jaxx, Claptone and Honey Dijon. 

Tickets & info

 

Sonus

19th - 23rd August | Pag, Croatia

Like Timewarp, but on a sun-kissed Coratian beach, Sonus ticks all the right boxes for the techno fan looking a tan. This year you've got Adam Beyer, Butch, Eats Everything, Jackmaster, Jamie Jones, Kölsch, Loco Dice, Maceo Plex, Marco Carola, Solomun and Sven Vath. 💪

Tickets & info

 

Lisb-On

31st August - 2nd September | Lisbon, Portugal

Over the past few years Lisbon has been quietly building a reputation as the party city of choice for the discerning traveller. The intimate Lisb-On will no doubt further cement this reputation. The lowkey gathering attracts a decidedly top shelf lineup including Maceo Plex, Larry Heard, Tama Sumo and Antal.

Tickets & info

 

Dimensions

29th August - 2nd September | Pula, Croatia

Outlook's little brother is turning five this year. The techno, disco and house focused festival takes place the week before Outlook in the same historic fort in Pula. Serious ravers can no doubt manage both, but if you had to choose, Dimensions is our pick for this year (despite having an absolute blast at Outlook 2017). Holding nothing back this year they've secured Kraftwerk, Moodymann, Hunee, Maurice Fulton, Pearson Sound, Bonobo, Alexander Nut, Nils Frahm and Mala.

Tickets & info