Summer may soon be coming to a close, but live music fans still have plenty of festivals to look forward to in 2022. From a Kentucky bourbon-themed blowout to long-running stalwarts like Electric Zoo and Austin City Limits, here are the best music festivals to attend before year’s end.
Baja Beach Festival
August 19-21 | Papas and Beer, Rosarito, Mexico
Launched just a few years ago with a mission to celebrate Latin culture, the three-day, two-weekend Baja Beach Fest has proven to be a sold-out success every year. Reggaeton and Latin music fans flock to the paradisiacal Papas and Beer beach club from all over the world, but it’s an especially easy jaunt for Californians who only need to travel an hour south of the Tijuana border. $179-$609
Highlighted headliners: Maluma, Daddy Yankee, Anuel AA, Farruko, Banda MS, Wisin Y Mandel
Reading & Leeds Festivals
August 26-28 | Bramham Park, Leeds | Little John’s Farm, Reading, England
These iconic British festivals take place simultaneously at two locations—Reading’s Little John’s Farm located 40 miles west of London in southeast England, and Leeds’ Branham Park situated halfway between London and Edinburgh in north England. Mud-drenched mosh pits and free-flowing libations are to be expected at both venues, which share a stellar traveling lineup featuring a mix of hot rock and hip-hop acts. Ticket Prices Vary
Highlighted headliners: Megan Thee Stallion, Dave, Arctic Monkeys, The 1975, Run The Jewels, Halsey, Bring Me The Horizon
This Ain’t No Picnic 2022
August 27-28 | Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California
This Ain’t No Picnic is an all-new extravaganza from Goldenvoice, the behemoth festival-focused company behind Coachella and Stagecoach. Set amid the shady oaks of the Brookside golf course adjacent to Pasadena’s famous Rose Bowl Stadium, generation-bridging artists spanning spanning hip-hop, dance and indie rock will perform for tens of thousands across six stages. $299 to $1,199+
Highlighted headliners: The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, Phoebe Bridgers, Jorja Smith, Jungle, Le Tigre, Beach House, Kaytranada
Electric Zoo
September 2-4 | Randall’s Island Park, New York
One of the world’s biggest EDM festivals returns for the first time since 2019. Electric Zoo’s 13th year brings with it a Web3.0-theme, described officially as a “system update” that will incorporate cryptocurrency, NFTs and metaverse features into the festival’s fabric. A lineup partially formed by voting fans who made Martin Farrix the most requested artist and its location amid one of the country’s hottest nightclub markets ensure that Electric Zoo 3.0 will be an EDM extravaganza. Ticket Prices Vary
Highlighted headliners: Diplo, Camelphat, Tchami, VNSSA, Porter Robinson, Peekaboo, Moore Kismet, John Summit, Chris Lake, DJ Snake
Bourbon and Beyond
September 15-18 | Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Kentucky
Culinary-curious festivalgoers craving something beyond canned beer and state fair-adjacent bites will be well-served at Bourbon and Beyond. Whiskey drinkers will note the location in Louisville, a prolific producer of numerous top-shelf bourbons that have received Maxim’s stamp of approval, many of which will be served on-site by expert hometown mixologists. The food-and-drink focus is paired with a stellar lineup spanning veteran rockers to rising Americana artists. $99-$1039.96
Highlighted headliners: Pearl Jam, Chris Stapleton, Kings of Leon, Jack White, Alanis Morissette, Father John Misty
Riot Fest
September 16-18 | Douglas Park, Chicago
Chicago’s Riot Fest has evolved to include alternative, metal and hip-hop, but the signature punk rock attitude that made it worthy of the Original Misfits’ first reunion in 2016 is still alive and ready to riot. In addition to a stacked bill, the three-day fest’s circus-like atmosphere features lucha libre wrestling, carnival rides and “sideshow performers who push the boundaries of good taste,” as Billboard puts it. $99.98-$299.98
Highlighted headliners: Misfits, My Chemical Romance, Nine Inch Nails, Alkaline Trio, Portugal. The Man, Yellowcard, Bauhaus, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ice Cube
Desert Daze
September 29-October 2 | Lake Perris, California
An aesthetic described by Rolling Stone as a contender for “America’s most pleasing,” and an emphasis on camping next to California’s gorgeous Lake Perris will combine with a suitably trippy line-up of stoner rock and neo-psychedelic acts on Desert Daze’s 10th anniversary. Movie screenings, sound baths and 24-hour parties promise to keep attendees constantly occupied. $139-$1,999
Highlighted headliners: Tame Impala, Iggy Pop, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Chicano Batman, Sky Ferreira, Kikagaku Moyo, Shannon & The Clams, The Marias, BadBadNotGood
Austin City Limits Music Festival
October 7-16 | Zilker Park, Austin
This music mega-festival held in its namesake city’s 350-acre Zilker Park is expected to host a mind-boggling 450,000 music fans and more than 100 artists. The late October dates, emphasis on Austin’s vibrant food and art scenes, diverse lineup and sheer size make for one of America’s most famous and beloved music festivals. $320-$5,500
Highlighted headliners: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kacey Musgraves, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Pink, Lil Nas X, SZA, Phoenix, Death Cab For Cutie, Paramore
