2024 finds music festivals facing a forced evolution. Storylines like a shortage of emerging artists becoming household names and the rise of event tours has put even the most successful fests like Coachella and Governors Ball on the defensive. But anyone who actually goes to music festivals knows while some events might be a little less flashy this year – you don’t see 2024’s most in demand artists like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Olivia Rodrigo, or Ariana Grande on any lineups (yet, at least) – the value is still there to see some of music’s most exciting entities on a single bill. Coachella’s top line of Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat, and Tyler, The Creator feels like a coronation moment for all involved, while events like Sueños and Dreamville are proving that newer festivals are still capable of rising to the top tier.
So pack your bags, get your earplugs and sunscreen, and gather your friends for another great year of music festivals. There’s no place like them, and that’s not changing any time soon.