Best Dance Festivals to Attend in 2023
Nothing beats dancing to the beat alongside thousands of other house and techno lovers. Whether you like it dark and raw in a warehouse, sunny on a beach in Europe or hidden in some green UK forest we have you covered.
Here are some of the best house and techno festivals in the world.
SXM
March 8 – 12 2023
Happy Bay, St Martin
With the whole island’s infrastructure having been rebuilt after a devastating hurricane, SXM hosts stages on beaches and jungle clearings, and they are truly breathtaking. Draped in magical fauna, you can swim in nearby jungle clearings and partake in sunset parties, villa parties, and more. All are stunning ways to have fun in this bit of Caribbean paradise with music from house and techno greats like AMÉ, Apollonia, Archie Hamilton, CamelPhat, Astra Club (DJ Tennis B2B Carlita), Chaim, Deer Jade, Demi Riquisimo, Doc Martin, Dubfire, Francesca Lombardo, Gene On Earth, Gordo, Jenia Tarsol, Konstantin Sibold, and more.
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Time Warp
1st April
Mannheim, Germany
Time Warp is finally making a long awaited and sure to be emotional return to its spiritual home in Mannheim. After four years away, the influential festival returns to Mannheim’s Maimarkthalle with a mix of longtime companions as well as exciting debutants including over 40 headliners such as Sven Väth, The Blessed Madonna, Adam Beyer, Amelie Lens, Richie Hawtin, Charlotte de Witte, Nina Kraviz, Paula Temple, Ricardo Villalobos, Marco Carola, Seth Troxler, Dixon, DJ Koze and more.
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Terminal V
8th & 9th April
Edinburgh, Scotland
There is no bigger party in Scotland, nor the UK, and maybe even Europe that Terminal V. The monster rave brings tens of thousands of people to the Royal Highland Centre across various rooms and stages. Heavyweight names all play with next level production. Do not miss as this year with Amelie Lens, Big Miz, Charlotte de Witte, Ewan McVicar, Folamour (A/V), Kettama + more.
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Caprices
7th-9th/14-16th
Switzerland
Caprices Festival is to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year so expect the biggest and best festival yet. It gets down in the Swiss mountains of Crans-Montana across the two unmissable weekends with stages that have epic views out over the alps. There is high spec production across the festival, hundreds of miles of skiing and snowboarding to be done, gastronomic foods, wellness activities and top class music from the likes of a ground breaking Agoria presents One Life Two Bodies show, Claptone, Dubfire presents Evolv, Jamie XX, Fatboy Slim, Black Coffee, ARTBAT, DJ Tennis, Jeff Mills, Zip, Loco Dice b2b Seth Troxler, Luciano b2b Ricardo Villalobos, Richie Hawtin, Sven Väth and many more.
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Magic Break
April 20-23rd, 2023
Antalya, Turkey
The largest spring festival in the Mediterranean, on the stunning coast of Antalya is held for 4 days and 3 night in the seafront location on the golden (and Blue Flag) beaches of the Mediterranean. This year’s theme, Garden of Hesperides, inspired by stories as old as human history, points to the hope of good days ahead and the celebration of the purest sounds with headliners TBC.
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Sandbox
May 11-13th, 2023
El Gouna, Egypt
Sandbox Festival is one of the world’s most playful and beautiful destination festivals and it is back in El Gouna, on the Red Sea Riviera in Egypt. A world class selection of international DJ talent will soundtrack what is a unique chance to explore the idyllic shores of the Red Sea, and the rich cultural delights of this ancient and idyllic region with headliners like Agents Of Time (DJ Set), Astra Club aka Carlita B2B DJ Tennis, Cici, Dan Shake, Denis Sulta, Desiree, Francesco Del Garda, Hamish & Toby and more.
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The Garden Party
May 27th /28th May
Leeds, UK
The Garden Party is Leeds longest running and most essential electronic music soiree. It is back for another legendary weekender across Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th May at the newly launched Canvas Yard. Now featuring a brand new third stage, the likes of Pawsa, Skream, Paul Woolford, LF System, Special Request, Sherelle, Bradley Zero, Todd Terje, Palms Trax and Dr Banana
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MOGA Festival:
June 1-4th
Caparica, Portugal
The much anticipated third edition of MOGA Caparica returns to Portugal’s stunning Costa de Caparica from the 1st to 4th of June. Located just 20 minutes south of Lisbon, it offers a sun kissed and escapist mix of sunset beach parties with yoga, surfing, brunches and boat parties. Line up will be revealed soon.
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Hideout
25-29th June 2023
Zrce, Pag Island, Croatia
This year’s 1th edition of Hideout is bigger and better than ever. It all goes down across some magical open air beach clubs right by the sea so expect beach, after and boat parties as well s non sot music on the main stages under the sun. There is also a wealth of water sport to enjoy and first wave names including Crucast, Gorgon City, Interplanetary Criminal, Jayda G, Patrick Topping, Solardo, Wilkinson.
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The One in the Woods
July 28 – 30 2023
Location: Orrell Hill Woods, Liverpool
Liverpool’s woodland techno festival returns bigger than ever after a massive debut last summer. This year the local scene and international sounds are all represented with an even bigger line-up in Orrell Hill Woods, Liverpool with the first wave of names coming soon. Previous line ups have included including DJ Hazard, Dillinja, Dax J, Calyx & Teebee, Drumsound & Bassline Smith b2b DJ SS b2b Kenny Ken, Randall, Loxy, Kings of the Rollers, Perc, Fatima Hajji, Miss Trouble, Ragga Twins and many more.
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Les Plagues Électroniques
August 4-6th, 2023
Cannes, France
Billed as Europe’s answer to Coachella, Les Plages Électroniques this year comes in a new format with a renewed visual identity. It goes down across the gorgeous city of Cannes in the South of France with up to 60,000 people expected and headliners like the multi-instrumental internet sensation Mezerg, The Blessed Madonna and her top shelf house and techno selections, Bellaire and his sweet blend of house and disco, and Pedro Winter who will be ringing in the 20th anniversary of his legendary Ed Banger label.
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LooseFest
Sunday 5th – 6th August
Newcastle, UK
After a magnificent edition last year, The North East’s largest and most ambitious music festival is the first to ever take over inner-city green space, the Town Moor. It will welcome 30000 people and some epic stage designs with artists including Sean Paul, Chase & Status, Craig David, Patrick Topping, Ben Hemsley, Joel Corry, Andy C, Sub Focus, Dimension, Example, Sigala and Tinie Tempah as well as some of the biggest DJs around including Franky Wah, Alan Fitzpatrick, Hot Since 82, Kettama, Jax Jones, Sigala and many more.
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Sonus
20th-24th August
Zrce Beach, Croatia
This Croatian festival stalwart celebrates an amazing 10 years of seriously heady and underground festival offerings this year. It prizes great sound systems over everything else and it all goes down on the lush Zrce Beach with acts like Adriatique, ANNA, Diplo, Loco Dice, Paula Temple, Richie Hawtin, Marco Carola and more.
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One Out Festival
16th September
Apps Court Farm, Walton-On-Thames, UK
Regarded as Surreys premier electronic music festival, One Out made a triumphant debut in 2022. This year it builds on that success with a new edition on Apps Court Farm, Walton-On-Thames, just outside Lonond. Expect big production and epic stages and in the past names like Arielle Free, Chloé Robinson, Melé & more.
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MDLBEAST SOUNDSTORM
Dec
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The MDLBEAST team has been transforming the musical landscape in the Middle East. They have their own label and a monstrous festival with no expense spared, hundreds of super sized names and stages designed to blow the mind. Last year there was over 50 hours music in all with two new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™️ set for the Tallest Temporary Stage at 41m and 268cm, and The Most LED Lights in a Display with 60,053,376 in total. Keep your eyes peeled for line-ups.
