As the winter slowly comes to an end, the music scene is also starting to wake up. In a few weeks, the first music festivals will start to take place. Some of the most important music festivals in the world are held in the United States. From Coachella to Lollapalooza, here is our selection of the music festivals every music lover should attend at least once in a lifetime. You still have plenty of time to organize your trip, but don’t leave it for the last minute. Make sure you reserve your tickets for the festival and book your flight as soon as possible, the US is waiting for you!

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The festival season is almost here, and every year the US offers thousands of music festivals. We have selected the top 5 music festivals in the United States that you cannot possibly miss. Start preparing your trip right now and do not forget to apply for your ESTA USA,  a mandatory requirement to fly to the US.

SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, Austin, TX

 

The South by SouthWest festival takes place every year in March in Austin, TX. It is not only a musical event, since it also includes film, tech, games and interactive media. It was held for the first time in 1987 and since then it has grown enormously, until becoming one of the biggest festivals and conferences in the world. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit the city of Austin to attend SXSW (also called South By), as the events take place all over the city. This year, the SXSW Music Festival will take place from March 13th to March 18th. Hurry up if you want to be there.

COACHELLA, Indio, CA

Coachella is a huge musical gathering taking place in April in Indio, CA. In recent years, the festival has become an important bohemian-fashion hotspot, famous for all the celebrities who flock there. However, Coachella has a long story, since it started more than 20 years ago. The music at Coachella covers a wide variety of styles and artists, from popular and well-known artists to emerging singers and groups.  This year, the festival will take place from April 14th to April 23rd and it will feature artists such as Bad Bunny, Gorillaz, Rosalía and Blackpink.

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL, New Orleans, LA

Founded in 1970, the New Orleans jazz & Heritage festival attracts more of half a million of music lovers each year who want to enjoy the cuisine and cultural heritage of Louisiana. It is probably the biggest music festival in the world, and it takes place across the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May. All the music styles are represented at the Jazz Fest (rock, blues, salsa, jazz, hip hop and more), with great artists performing on more than a dozen stages. This year the festival will take place from April 28th to May 7th, and the lineup includes artists like Ed Sheeran, Santana, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and the Steve Miller Band.

 

GOVERNOR’S Ball, New York City, NY

The first edition of the Governor’s Ball Festival was a one-day event and took place only 12 years ago and it was a huge success. Thanks to this it expanded to a 2-day event the next year and currently is one of the most famous summer concerts taking place in the USA. The festival features top artists from different musical genres,  like rock, indie, electronic or hip hop. This year Governor’s ball will take place from Friday, June 9th to Sunday June 11th and it will feature more than 60 artists, including Lizzo, Odesza, Lil Baby and Kendrick Lamar.

LOLLAPALOOZA, Chicago, IL

Lollapalooza started out in 1991 as a touring music festival and has since become one of the  and most important music events in the US. The festival is now permanently based in Chicago, and during 4 days in July, it attracts hundreds of thousands of music lovers. The offer at Lollapalooza includes hip-hop, techno, heavy metal, alternative rock or electronic music. This year, the festival will take place from August 3rd to August 6th. The lineup is still not known, but you can check the official Lollapalooza website for more info.

START PREPARING YOUR TRIP NOW

Now that you know a bit about the top 5 music festivals in the US, you can choose where to go, so make your choice and reserve your tickets as soon as possible. Book your flight and accommodation and do not forget to apply for your electronic travel authorization, the ESTA USA. This travel permit allows you to stay in the United States for 90 days, which gives you the opportunity to visit several of these 5 music festivals. You can apply for your ESTA on the internet, by submitting an online form. After a few hours you should receive your travel permit to fly to the United States. Enjoy the music!