8 Unmissable Festivals in the U.S. in 2025: Coachella, Burning Man, and More

As we shake off the winter blues and look ahead to the summer of 2025, it’s time to start planning for some of the biggest and best music festivals the USA has to offer.

With a festival offering that’s as diverse as the United States itself, from the sun-drenched California desert to the electric streets of Chicago, America’s festival scene is packed with legendary events featuring everything from rock and pop to electronic and hip-hop.

If you’re wondering which music festival to attend in 2025, look no further.

Here’s our comprehensive guide to the must-attend U.S. Music Festivals of the year.

Get ready.

Glowsticks ✅

Face paint ✅

eSIM ✅

_{Wait, why do I need an eSIM?}

Anyone travelling outside their home coverage area could benefit from an eSIM. An eSIM is a tiny digital SIM card built into your phone, letting you connect to mobile networks without needing a physical SIM. It's highly likely that the device you're using to read this article is eSIM ready.

You just scan a QR code to download a plan and you’re connected in minutes—no shops, no swapping, no stress, and most importantly - no roaming charges!

United States 15 GB

Lycamobile US

15GB

$39.00

15 Days

Unlimited Local Mins

Unlimited Intl Mins

Unlimited SMS Texts

Lyca registration required – activation is simple and details will be emailed to you.

Buy now

Top Seller

And, full disclosure: Sim Local offers a range of eSIM plans to anyone who needs to stay connected during their U.S. trip.

You can waste a lot of time looking for friends at music festivals. But now you can keep using your phone, just like home, with unlimited data, calls, and texts.

Download a plan just before your trip and connect instantly!

_{Biggest music festivals in the U.S.}

Here are the eight biggest music festivals in the United States. In chronological order (because OCD).

_{1. Coachella – Indio, California}

_{April 11–13 & April 18–20, 2025}

2025 Line-up: Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone

Past Performances: Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, Lady Gaga, Radiohead

Recent crowd size: 400,000

Arguably the most famous music festival in the world, Coachella returns to the Empire Polo Club for two weekends of music, art, and celeb-spotting.

Whether you're there for the big-name headliners, the underground gems, or just the Instagrammable outfits, Coachella continues to be the ultimate trendsetting event, with the music acts almost playing second fiddle to the influencers present in recent years.

Having said that, Coachella always boasts a killer lineup.

Expect an eclectic mix of pop, indie, hip-hop, and electronic acts, all set against the backdrop of the California desert.

But please, leave that Native American headdress behind…

_{2. Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) – Las Vegas, Nevada}

_{May 16–18, 2025}

2025 Line-up: Martin Garrix, Tiësto, Fisher, Sara Landry, SLANDER

Past Performances: Martin Garrix, Tiësto, Zedd, The Chainsmokers

Recent crowd size: 60,000

America’s biggest electronic dance music festival, EDC Las Vegas is a neon-lit wonderland of massive stages, pyrotechnics, and world-class DJs.

Hosted at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, EDC is a 24/7 party featuring everything from house and techno to bass and trance, making it the ultimate festival for dance music lovers.

We can’t think of a better setting for a weekend of madness than the real-life adult playground of Vegas.

_{3. Governors Ball – New York City, New York}

_{June 6–8, 2025}

2025 Line-up: Hozier, Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler The Creator

Past Performances: Drake, Florence + The Machine, Travis Scott, Dua Lipa

Recent crowd size: 150,000

New York’s biggest music festival is back, and sure to bring a star-studded lineup to Flushing Meadows, Corona Park.

Governors Ball is known for its eclectic mix of hip-hop, pop, rock, and electronic music, all set against the iconic backdrop of the Big Apple.

Reflecting that NY State of Mind and the city’s heritage, Governors Ball works with local graffiti artists to basically dress up the entire festival in incredible street art.

With multiple stages and an unbeatable city atmosphere, this festival is a must for music lovers looking to base themselves in the city that never sleeps.  

_{4. Bonnaroo – Manchester, Tennessee}

_{June 12–15, 2025}

2025 Line-up: Olivia Rodrigo, Queens Of The Stone Age, Avril Lavigne

Past Performances: Paul McCartney, Lizzo, Tame Impala, Post Malone

Recent crowd size: 75,000

If you’re looking for a festival with a true community spirit, Bonnaroo is the one.

With its “Radiate Positivity” mantra, the four-day camping festival in Tennessee offers a mix of rock, hip-hop, indie, and electronic music, alongside comedy, workshops, and all-night dance parties at the legendary “Other” stage.

A highlight of the weekend (along with the fantastic Tennessee BBQ) is always the heritage/reunion slot where the Roo plays host to a legendary artist of the past. 

United States 3 GB

Smartroam

3GB

$9.50

30 Days

Buy now

Make sure you capture the best moments with an eSIM plan!

_{5. Lollapalooza – Chicago, Illinois}

_{July 31 – August 3, 2025}

2025 Line-up: Sabrina Carpenter, Rüfüs Du Sol, Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler The Creator

Past Performances: Foo Fighters, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, The Strokes

Recent crowd size: 400,000

A staple of the American festival scene since 1991 (and immortalised by The Simpsons, who captured the 90s Gen X zeitgeist perfectly), Lollapalooza brings an incredible mix of artists to the heart of Chicago’s Grant Park, spilling out onto the streets of Chi-Town’s central business district.

Expect massive crowds, top-tier performances, and one of the best city festival experiences in the world.

Whether you’re a rock purist, a hip-hop fan, or an EDM enthusiast, Lolla always delivers for its 400,000 visitors.

_{6. Outside Lands – San Francisco, California}

_{August 8–10, 2025}

2025 Line-up: Tyler The Creator, Hozier, Doja Cat

Past Performances: Radiohead, Childish Gambino, The Weeknd, Lorde

Recent crowd size: 225,000

Set in the scenic Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands offers a mix of top-tier music, incredible food, and an environmentally conscious ethos.

If you’re into an ethical foodie vibe that’s more than the music, 100% of the vendors at Outside Lands are local, ranging from Michelin-starred restaurants to one-off pop ups and food trucks.

From indie rock and hip-hop to electronic music, this festival always boasts a lineup as diverse as its audience.

Plus, with attractions like Wine Lands and Grass Lands (a cannabis-centric area), it’s a uniquely holistic San Francisco experience. 

_{7. Burning Man – Black Rock Desert, Nevada}

_{August 24 – September 1, 2025}

2025 Lineup: N/A

Past Performances: Diplo, Carl Cox, Tycho, Rüfüs Du Sol

Recent crowd size: 80,000

More than just a festival, Burning Man is an experience unlike any other.

In fact many people don't even classify this as a festival, but a more spiritual gathering of sorts.

Held in the vast Black Rock Desert, this temporary city is a creative utopia where self-expression, art, and community come first.

There's no official lineup, but expect everything from underground DJs to mind-blowing performances in surreal settings.

Everywhere you look across the desert landscape, you find mind bending art installations, and kitted out ‘Mutant’ vehicles.

Just imagine Salvador Dali meets Mad Max and you’re in the right ballpark.

Burning Man’s mythical barter system has been the source of much talk from those that have never been, but it’s really more of a ‘gifting’ system.

Indeed, the only things on sale on the festival site are the essentials: ice and coffee.

But you’ll have no trouble sourcing what you need if you bring plenty of water and toilet roll.

United States 5 GB

Smartroam

5GB

$13.75

30 Days

Buy now

And yes, you can get mobile signal in The Playa.

_{8. Shakey Knees – San Francisco, California}

_{September 19-21, 2025}

2025 Line-up: Deftones, My Chemical Romance, Blink 182

Past Performances: The Strokes, Florence & The Machine, The Killers

Recent crowd size: 60,000

If you dream about screaming My Chemical Romance and Blink-182 lyrics with strangers, Shaky Knees 2025 is your entire personality in festival form.

Set in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park, this three-day fever dream is where indie kids, alt-rock lovers, and aging emos unite under one very loud, very emotional roof (okay, it’s a field—but you get it).

The lineup? Unholy levels of stacked—Blink-182, My Chemical Romance, Deftones, Vampire Weekend, Alabama Shakes, Lenny Kravitz...the list goes on!

But Shaky Knees is more than just a nostalgic meltdown. It’s also where you’ll discover your next Spotify obsession before they headline in 2026.

For those who make spreadsheets for their stage-hopping strategy (we see you), this fest delivers serious value.

Music, vibes, overpriced tacos—it’s all here. Pack your Doc Martens, bring your film camera, and prepare to lose your voice in the best way.