Best of the European music festivals: From Bilbao BBK Live to Snowbombing, party hard anywhere this festival season

This year, Europe’s best live extravaganzas can be found across a spread of incredible locations, so take your pick from these top events and mix your music with a little aprés-ski action, beach time or art galleries.

Bilbao BBK Live, Spain

More dash than cash? Bilbao BBK has your name all over it.

The Spanish music fest is an absolute bargain, with three-day tickets just £85, including camping.

The action all happens at night, so during the day you’re free to hit the beach, explore Bilbao’s dynamic arts scene or just start the boozing early.

Now in its eighth year, the fest pulls in crowds of up to 40,000 and in addition to the four main stages, there are also two dance tents, a pop tent and a chill out area.

Line-up: Green Day, Kings of Leon and Depeche Mode are headlining.

Fatboy Slim and Editors will also be performing.

When: July 11-13.BOOK:  

bilbaobbklive.com 

Snowbombing, Austria

Be honest – do you prefer the après-ski action to any actual sport?

Then this is the fest for you. Sure, you can spend your days skiing and snowboarding on the Austrian slopes of Mayrhofen if you like, but you’ll want to save most of your energy for the evenings, when there will be parties, concerts and DJs in various scenic Alpine settings – think an igloo, a forest clearing and plenty of mountainside cabins.

Even better, TNT has teamed up with Snowbombing so that you can stay at our TNT Village, where a package that includes dorm beds and a wristband to the event costs just £314pp.

More at tntmagazine.com/snowbombing

Line-up: Kasabian, Carl Cox, Example and Katy B.WHEN: April 1-6.

Book: snowbombing.com 

Motel Mozaique, Netherlands 

Genuinely alternative artsy fests don’t come along very often, so snap up tickets to this Rotterdam event ASAP.

Everything from gigs to theatre to art shows are on offer here, all of which take place in various venues across the city.

This is definitely a fest with community spirit, too – last year a collective of artists arranged breakfast for 200 people in the middle of Rotterdam’s largest shopping street.

Line-up: AlunaGeorge, Daughter, Sinkane, TEEN and Jah Wobble & The Modern Jazz Ensemble.WHEN: April 5-6.

Book:  motelmozaique.nl 

Berlin Festival, Germany

Berliners know how to throw a good party, but this one is on a big scale by anyone’s standards.

The two-dayer takes place on the decommissioned Tempelhof Airport’s airfield as well as the two hangars on-site until midnight, and then switches to Club Xberg, which is held at downtown’s Arena Berlin. During the day, the fest’s Art Village host workshops and exhibitions. 

Line-up: Blur, Pet Shop Boys and Turbostaat are playing the main stage. DJ acts Justice and Sebastian will be playing until the small hours at Club Xberg.

When: September 6-7.

Book:  berlinfestival.de