It’s that time of year – late winter – to start thinking about booking EDM and techno festivals and events across the globe. Where will you go in 2025? Portugal? Netherlands? Morocco? Belgium? So many choices, which is why we’ve started Dispatches’ annual list of the best.
A list that will be updated into the fall.
Of course, the biggest festivals such as Tomorrowland and Tomorrowland Winter sell out in minutes, so we’ll skip those this year. Yes, we know there are waiting lists, but we’ve never known anyone who got tickets that way.
So, let’s look at the first festivals of 2025 that actually do have tickets:
Elevate Festival 2025
5 thru 9 March, Graz, Austria
This boutique festival is more of a gathering of the enlightened Renaissance people in the lovely uni town of Graz than a Molly-fueled rave. Yes, there is a rave and there are EDM acts including the Blessed Madonna. But there are films, talks by human rights experts, climate researchers and activists from all over the world. All the discussions and film program of the festival are free. And by the way, festival events are at various venues across Graz.
We think this is just what we need in these dark times.
Full festival tickets are sold out, but you can get day tickets here starting at 15 euros. Weekend passes are 69 euros and don’t include the rave on 8 March, which is 35 euros.
DGTL Amsterdam
18 thru 20 April, Amsterdam
In the Dutch tradition, this is more than a music festival. DGTL (get it? digital?) promises to explore immersive stage designs, cutting-edge electronic music, art, sustainability “and a weekend filled with creative surprises.” Acts include a mix of rising talents and EDM icons such 999999999, Mall Grab and Honey Dijon.
The website doesn’t really work, so it’s frustrating trying to get details. Of course, the ticket portal works, with weekend tickets starting 169 euros. (All the early bird tickets are going, going, gone.)
Be sure to check out the WTF? video above. Hey, it’s the Netherlands ….
Sunny Side Festival 2025
Malta 16 thru 18 May at various locations around Malta
After cold, gray Amsterdam, let’s go to the sunny island of Malta for the house/techno Sunny Side Festival. This is different from most of the other festivals in that it’s not held in one big area. SSF takes over multiple venues on the island including UNO (club – 2 stages), Treehaus & Tropicana Beach Parties and more, so check the website for details.
Acts include Alex Dima, CARISTA, Dungeon Meat, Felipe Valenzuela, Hamish & Toby, Harry Mccanna, Magda, Margaret Dygas, Maxime DB, Sam Bangura, Sonja Moonear and more.
Three-day passes start at 99 euros and you can get yours here.
PS – The SSF website states you can take a bus, taxis or use one of several ride-sharing apps including Uber to get from event to event.
MOGA Caparica
28 May to 1 June, Costa da Caparica, Portugal
MOGA Caparica’s 2025 edition has announced the first artists for the 5th edition of this EDM festival in Portugal this May, a beach festival on the Atlantic coast with three stages.
Taking place 28 May thru 1 June, the festival is expected to host about 28,000 festival goers over the five days. Acts include sets from Arapu, Dan Ghenacia, DJ Harvey, Jamie Jones, Luciano, Traumer and many more artists who have been revealed in this initial announcement.
Early bird tickets start at 120 euros for a three day pass, and they’re still available here. But they will not last because this a beach festival in Portugal. Come on …
If you miss this one, there’s always MOGA Essaouira in Morocco coming up in October. Stay tuned for details.
Awakenings
11 thru 13 July, Hilvarenbeek, The Netherlands
This dance/EDM festival is a coming of age tradition in the Netherlands, with kids coming back with their parents.
The iconic three-day techno weekender will take place 11 thru 13 July, with approximately 100,000 techno enthusiasts expected to attend the event in Hilvarenbeek, just south of the college town of Tilburg near the Belgium border.
There are big Names for 2025 including OG Carl Cox, Adriatique, Richie Hawtin, Indira Paganotto, FJAAK, 99999999, Adam Beyer, Charlotte de Witte and Marco Carola. Basically everybody who’s anybody.
Day tickets start at 63 euros and weekend camping passes start at 235 euros. You get get tickets here, but this will sell out fast. Just sayin’.
