The Best International Festivals of 2016

Summer is coming. And to prepare you for the five-month festival season, we've compiled the ultimate guide that is your one-way ticket out of the real world. We're here to take you on a journey through mystical wonderlands, sun-soaked desert islands and Arctic mountains.

Mañana Cuba

Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

When

4 to 6 May

Why go

Located in the musical heart of the Caribbean in the incredible Heredia Complex, Mañana Cuba assembles some of the most respected Afro-Cuban artists in the country, as well as a strong contingent of international electronic acts. The festival will take place across a handful of selected stages and cultural institutions that perfectly reflect Santiago de Cuba's glittering charm. Only a two-day festival, it leaves time for you to explore the island and the surrounding cities of Baracoa, Guantanamo and Holguín where you can meander through rustic, historical town centres, parks and cafés.

Lineup

Nicolas Jaar / Phrased / Plaid / Quantic / Jesse Royal / Jose Marquez / Soundwave Records / Gappy Ranks/ Jeremy Sole

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Sasquatch!

Gorge Amphitheatre, George, Washington

When

27 to 30 May

Why go

Taking place annually on Memorial Day weekend, this is a festival you won't forget. Sasquatch! showcases an impressive compilation of alternative musical gurus. The festival is set against the backdrop of Washington's mountainous landscape and most attendees camp in the fields nearby.The emphasis is on indie rock bands and singer-songwriters but also includes alternative rock, hip hop, EDM and comedy acts. Feast your eyes on the line-up.

Lineup

Florence and the Machine / The Cure / Disclosure / Major Lazer/ Alabama Shakes/ ASAP Rocky / Sufjan Stevens / M83 / Grimes / Jamie XX / Tycho / Four Tet / Savages / Matt Corby

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Bonnaroo

Manchester, Tennessee

When

9 to 12 June

Why go

A music and arts festival in Manchester, Tennessee attracting 80,000 devoted fans every year. Venues include the Kalliope, 70,000 watts of ecstatic light show; The Foundation; a colourful cool-off and meeting point and The Groove, a natural oasis and refuge from the whirlwind of Bonnaroo. There are a range of camping options including a VIP campground. Not only does it have more than 150 musical performances, there are also tonnes of other ways to get involved, including comedy, cinema and sustainability workshops.

Lineup

J. Cole / Ellie Goulding / Death Cab for Cutie / Macklemore & Ryan Lewis / Tame Impala / Bryson Tiller / Band of Horses / Two door cinema club / Sam Hunt / Lucius/ Hermitude / Twin Peaks

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Meadows in the Mountains

Polkovnik Serafimovo, Smolyan, Bulgaria

When

10 to 13 June

Why go

Featuring three days of live acts and DJs across the musical spectrum, this festival is set in the jaw-dropping vistas of Bulgaria's Rhodopes Mountains. Taking place in the small village of Polkovnik Serafimovo, this festival has been going for six years yet still maintains a sense of magic, mystery and community. It's an adventure to get there (which might include donkey carts) and an adventure when you've arrived (which might involve staying with a local family).

Lineup

Chelou/ Henry Wu (Rhythm Section)/ Jake the Ripper / Last Japan/ Bruno Schmidt / Saoirse/ Zulu / Lucas Crowe / Lion Club / Subculture Sage (Twisted Hearts)

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Worldwide Festival

Théâtre de la Mer, Sète, France

When

4 to 10 July

Why go

Worldwide Festival in Sète is an unmissable event for fans of electronic music.The magical Théâtre de la Mer will be the heart of the festival, offering a unique vantage point for a week of sunsets and open-air concerts. After the beach, live acts will kick off the evening before handing over to the dancefloor. Enjoy the celebrated South of France art de vivre while basking in the festival's music, sunshine and delicious cuisine.

Lineup

Four Tet / Ben UFO / Mala in Cuba / Anderson .Paak / Kamasi Washington / Dynamite MC / Motor City Drum Ensemble / Yousef Kamall Trio live

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Obonjan

Obonjan, Croatia.

When

18 July to 10 September

Why go

Croatia is a sun-soaked festival hotspot. And this summer the co-founders of Hideout and Unknown have taken the scene to the next level. Deserted for a decade, Obonjan (pronounced O-bon-yan) is a "curated island destination" that brings together everything you love in one beautiful natural setting. It's not strictly a festival, rather a destination party island where you can sleep under the stars and wake up to the sound of waves. There are only 800 guests at a time so get in there early.

Who is Playing

Roy Ayers / DJ Shadow / Dilated Peoples / Matthew Herbert / Saul Williams / Policia

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Splendour in the Grass

Byron Bay, Australia

When

22 to 24 July

Why go

Offering a mini-holiday smack-bang in the middle of Australian winter, Splendour in the Grass is a music festival in North Byron Parklands. Strong believers that a little bit of everything make a good festival, it offers a collaboration of some of the most brilliant minds from around the world with comedy sketches and debates. Great for getting your brain massaged and intellectually stimulated.

Lineup

The 1975 / At the Drive-In / Sigur Rós / Lana Del Rey / Leon Bridges / James Blake / Santigold / Jake Bugg / Flume / The Cure

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Into the Valley

Rättvik, Sweden

When

29 July to 31 July

Why go

House and electronic music festival Into The Valley lies 280km northwest of Stockholm. The festival takes place in a dramatic limestone quarry (the result of a gigantic meteor collision) and is nestled in a forest surrounded by a turquoise lake. Complete with the finest DJs, exhilarating sound systems, lights and visuals, this is an out-of-this-world experience.

Lineup

Ben UFO / Four Tet / La Fleur / Nina Kraviz / John Talabot / Fred P / George Fitzgerald/ Hunee / Omar S/ Dixon / Paranoid London

Soundwave

Tisno, Croatia

When

4 to 8 August

Why go

Set in the enchanting Garden Tisno, Soundwave is revered for its eclectic range of headline acts and laidback attitude. Festival goers spend their days relaxing by the Adriatic Sea to some of the world's best broken beat, reggae, afro, acid jazz, hip-hop and soul. We like to think of it as a sublime holiday that seamlessly merges with a musical escape.

Lineup

Pharoahe Monch / Calibre / Mala / Gentleman's Dub Club / Channel One Sound System / Riot Jazz / Romare / Clap Clap / Rogan / Shanty / Henry Wu

The SoundYouNeedFestival

Malta

When

26 to 29 August

Why go

TheSoundYouNeedFestival in Malta is a music festival that breaks away from the standard electronic format to deliver one of the most carefully curated line-ups of the season. Set in one of Europe's most idyllic settings, this open-air festival is set between clifftop pre-historic sites and a glinting seaside. With music venues scattered across the island, the festival will bring you three days of island sun, pool parties, boat parties and the best new music.

Lineup

Flight Facilities / Bondax / Hermitude / Jungle / Karma Kid / Kidnap Kid

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Odyssia Festival

Cariocas Beach, Alkionas, Greece

When

31 August to 4 September

Why go

The picturesque cove of Cariocas Beach is the perfect setting for this new music festival welcoming a collection of house and disco DJs to Greece. With a secluded bar and shore-sided stage in a bay which has remained a secret until now, this hidden gem of a festival is paradise for those wishing to escape. Attendees are advised to stay in the nearby Loutraki resort.

Lineup

DJ Harvey / Body & Soul / Gilles Peterson / Benji B, Boo Williams / Maurice Fulton / Midland / Kyle Hall / Delano Smith / Detroit Swindle / Jeremy Underground / Josey Rebelle

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