The USA is home to some of the biggest music festivals in the world. Ranging from jazz to EDM, there is no shortage of music festivals in the United States. Here is the ultimate list of the largest music festivals in the USA.
South by Southwest
Attendance: 161,000
Location: Austin, Texas
South by Southwest, otherwise known as SXSW, is a major music and cultural festival put on by Southwest Airlines. The festival is located in Austin, Texas which is a city known for its unique culture by itself. In the last few years, there have been over 2000 acts each year. With over 160,000 people attending each year, South by Southwest has earned its spot on a list with the largest music festivals in the United States.
Along with being a major music festival, South by Southwest is also known for being a major film festival that is highly regarded in the film industry. They also hold a Gaming Awards ceremony where the best video games of the year are given awards. Less than half of the attendees to SXSW are under the age of 34 so that might be something to consider if you’re looking to go there strictly to party.
Official South by Southwest Website
Electric Daisy Carnival
Attendance: 300,000-400,000
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
The Electric Daisy Carnival is a three-day festival catering to the EDM genre. The Electric Daisy Carnival was founded in a warehouse in Los Angeles and has grown to be a festival that draws hundreds of thousands of electric dance lovers. The festival is held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. EDM fanatics flock to Las Vegas annually for one of the largest EDM festivals in the world.
Along with the electric dance music, the Electric Daisy Carnival has a unique carnival-themed venue adding to the one of a kind experience. One of the biggest draws to the festival is its close proximity to the Las Vegas Strip. Being so close to the strip also gives festival-goers the option to hit the city if they decided they need a change of pace. Lodging is also a plus because people have the option to book a hotel room at any of the Las Vegas Strip hotels. With a festival the size of the Electric Daisy Carnival, you are bound to keep busy and have the time of your life.
Official Electric Daisy Carnival Website
Lalapalooza
Attendance: 400,000
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Lollapalooza is another globally renown festival held in the United States. It is one of the most well-known festivals in the world which means the best artists in the world flock there to play in front of one of the rowdiest crowds you can find at a festival. Lollapalooza is only a four-day music festival but still manages to get 400,000 attendees every year. If you are interested in attending Lollapalooza, you need to act fast and grab your ticket right when they become available because the tickets sell out extremely fast. It is said that the tickets sell out in hours or even minutes some years. Basic weekend passes are roughly $300.
Since it was such a huge success in the United States, Lollapalooza has branched out to countries such as Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, and Sweden. Something to consider before buying tickets is that there is no camping which means you will have to get a hotel room or Airbnb in the middle of Chicago which also means you will be spending a lot of money on lodging. Regardless of the cost, Lollapalooza will be an incredible experience.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Attendance: 450,000
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is an annual festival dating back to the 1970s. It is known for its music and celebrating the culture of New Orleans. It has historically been known for its jazz music but in more recent years it has spread to cover many genres. The festival spreads over 2 weekends so there is plenty of time to explore the city of New Orleans and to get the most of your time there.
There are over 14 stages that you can explore to find the perfect vibe for you and your crew. Though many of the people attending the festival listen to a lot of music, it is arguable that most people come to the Jazz and Heritage Festival to experience the culture and enjoy the vast amounts of unique food options. Almost half of the people attending the festival are considered to be locals so you can truly dive into the culture and experience this one of a kind festival.
Austin City Limits
Attendance: 450,000
Location: Austin, Texas
Austin City Limits is an extremely well-known music festival held in Austin, Texas over a span of two weekends. With the skyline of Austin right behind the main stage, it makes up an incredible sight to behold. For a 3-day general admission pass, you have to pay $265 which is a pretty good deal for the artists that will be there and the venue you get to experience. There are eight stages in the venue that have a wide variety of genres being played throughout the entire festival.
Many of the best local restaurants bring food trucks to bring the best food possible to the festival. Austin City Limits is often compared to South by Southwest, which is also located in Austin, but Austin City Limits has more than double the people in attendance. With the combination of the world-class artists, the local cuisine, and the beautiful venue, you can expect to have an incredible time at Austin City Limits.
Coachella
Attendance: 500,000-600,000
Location: Indio, California
Coachella may be one of the first major festivals you think of in the United States. This makes sense because it is one of the largest festivals in the world as well as having some of the most elite headliners in the world performing. Seeing the pictures of the big ferris wheel and all of the people wearing unique costumes is the perfect combination for wanderlust. People come from all over the world and are willing to pay thousands of dollars to attend this one of a kind festival.
Music isn’t the only draw to Coachella because it is also known for its vast art displays that oftentimes make the festival feel like a fairytale. Coachella is held in the Coachella Valley which is roughly 2 hours from Los Angeles. Coachella originated in 1993 but it didn’t start to get global attention until 2013. The festival is held on the Empire Polo Club grounds which is 78 acres but when you account for the parking and camping venues, the size of the whole operation is 642 acres.
Summerfest
Attendance: 800,000
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Summerfest has claimed to be the largest music festival in the world. Summerfest is held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin over a time span of two weeks. With over 800 acts spread over 12 stages, you can surely find an artist that fits your vibe. Many of the biggest artists in the world have performed at Summerfest. The festival is held on the shores of Lake Michigan, right next to downtown Milwaukee making it a truly unique location for such a large festival. Summerfest has also been said to be one of the most affordable major festivals in the United States.
You can buy single-day festival passes for only $23 dollars. Although the festival passes are cheap, in order to see the major headliners, you must buy separate tickets. This is a festival for all ages and does not have any camping so if your plan is to go to Summerfest and get absolutely trashed then maybe you should think twice and book a different festival.
The United States has some of the largest music festivals in the world. If you want to attend a world-renowned music festival, the list above is a great start to planning your trip. Attendance at large-scale festivals varies from year to year but this is the current list of the largest music festivals in the USA.