For a story about where to travel in 2026 for the best live music experiences around the globe, I’m looking to hear from industry experts and locals who can talk about why X or Y concerts/music festivals are worth traveling to – including tips on how to plan such trips.

Primavera Sound in Barcelona, which will mark its 20+ years of influencing the music trends worldwide, is the first and foremost recommendation. The key reason behind the huge crowds is its meticulous planning of the program; on a single night you could catch the rising Scandinavian electronic producers, major U.S. indie headliners, and Afro-pop singers. The event takes place in Parc del Forum which is located by the sea and hence, one can have the view of the ocean when the sun is setting over the main stage, a scene that is usually not offered in most of the big festivals. On the 2026 calendar, another recommendation is to include Tokyo for Summer Sonic, which is an annual music festival with a lineup of artists that seldom go outside Asia for their concerts. The last few years have seen the festival bring in artists such as Post Malone, BABYMETAL, Kendrick Lamar, and The 1975, but the real highlight is the smoothness of the concert experience in Japan. Using the JR Line, you can go directly to Makuhari Messe, and it is very rare that you have to wait more than a few minutes for either admission or concessions, even with tens of thousands of other people.

For 2026, I'd put music travelers at these spots: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for soul, brass bands and food that feels like part of the show; Primavera Sound in Barcelona for big names but easy city logistics; Roskilde in Denmark for friendly camping and great sound; Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland for intimate sets by the lake with a mix of lesser-known acts and legends; Fuji Rock in Japan, which can stake a claim to grooviest mountain festival with superpolite crowds (sky riders also need apply); Tomorrowland in Belgium for what I believe are the most creative stage designs on earth when it comes to electronic music; and Glastonbury if you can get tickets because nothing beats this sprawling juggernaut of surprises. Plan by booking a cancelable hotel before tickets, staying close to transit, adding at least one rest day after the final performance and signing up for festival newsletters for presales; look into trains if you're visiting Europe, and pack earplugs (both toggleable foam and reusable silicone), a refillable bottle for water, a light rain jacket in case of showers and closed-toe walking shoes.

Two destinations stand out in 2026: Tokyo and Austin. The Summer Sonic Festival in Tokyo attracts upwards of 200,000 festival-goers. Still, it's the city itself that makes the journey worth it - tiny live houses in Shibuya, all-night jazz bars in Shinjuku, and a culture that holds music in high reverence. Austin's SXSW is precisely the opposite: chaotic, electric, and just right for seeing bands before they explode. The key to these trips is to handle logistics early. For festivals, accommodations near transit fill up months in advance, and demand can send transit prices spiking by 30-40% on peak days. Organize your motion first - book shuttles, rides, and rail passes before making restaurant or sightseeing reservations - and if you are looking for the most seamless time, give yourself a day's buffer on either side.

Hi - I haven't updated this from last year, but Foxy's is one to consider https://www.islandrootscharters.com/charter-blog/new-years-eve-celebration-at-foxys-on-jost-van-dyke-bvi A long standing tradition where people from all over the world go for New Year's.

Being in business development and commercial real estate, I hear about the goings on of local areas here in the Southeast all the time. Knoxville, TN has been growing so much. We've been having more and more big names, Broadway performances, and artists come to this area. It's been really fun. It's kind of like Stars Hollow but with more of a big city feel. Great restaurants, mountains nearby, fun city scene where you can still get good parking. Highly recommend.