Your 2022 music festival guide

Excited audience watching confetti fireworks and having fun on music festival at night. Copy space.

Nothing feels better than waking up on bright, sunny mornings and welcoming in the warmer weather and longer days leading us right into summer. Whether it puts you in the mood for days by the poolside or evenings down the shore, there’s one other key highlight that everyone should be hyped about this time of year: the 2022 music festivals! 

The lineups that have been released are fully embracing our world returning to a state closer to normalcy since 2020 hit artists and live music venues hard. However, considering the months of isolation gave birth to a ton of new talent and popular releases from industry greats, music fans are chomping at the bit to bring live music back in full swing. While 2021 began this transition, many gatherings still weren’t the same. Now, with things starting to look up a bit more, here is HIP’s 2022 music festivals guide to help you plan ahead for your must-do list:

Coachella – Indio, CA – April 22-24 (weekend 1 was April 15-17)– This massive west coast music festival is coming back a bit earlier than others but is stronger than ever in 2022. As one of the most popular music festivals in the U.S. that has been running for more than two decades, there ought to be high crowds in attendance, considering the event was canceled two years in a row and will bring over 150 acts this month! A few standouts include Fatboy Slim, Flume, Hot Chip , PUP, Rich Brian, and Spiritualized. For those eager to get a jump start on music festival season, Coachella is surely the place to go.

Bonnaroo – Manchester, TN – June 16-19 – Following the pattern that has been consistent for years, the second Thursday of June kicks off Bonnaroo’s long weekend of top-notch performances. There is a huge variety and range of genres to explore at this event, and it’s a given that when music lovers get settled into the campgrounds to experience this festival to its fullest, the energy and excitement between festival-goers are infectious. You also do not want to miss out on seeing Indigo De Souza, Phantoms , Flume, Said the Sky, and others at this one!

Electric Daisy Carnival – Las Vegas, NV – May 20-22 – Commonly referred to as EDC, this festival is best known for its unbeatable electronic dance music. This year, fans can expect Cosmic Gate, Paul van Dyk, Talon, Armin van Buuren, and Tritonal. On top of that, Electric Daisy delivers on another major summertime classic: a carnival (hence the C in EDC). With over a dozen rides that accompany all the adrenaline-inducing music, there is no going wrong with adding this music festival to your calendars.

Shaky Knees – Atlanta, GA – April 29 – May 1 – Another early riser in the 2022 music festival beginnings is this rock ‘n’ roll hotspot bound to satisfy all your headbanging needs. Since 2013, Shaky Knees has featured a diverse collection of up-and-coming artists to renowned stars. HIP favorites such as Spoon, Kurt Vile, Death Cab for Cutie, Band of Horses, and PUP will take the stage at this southeast festival that is right around the corner. 

BottleRock – Napa Valley, CA – May 27-29 – Picture this: five stages, over 75 musicians, and a selection of legendary wine offerings from Napa Valley. If this sounds like a dream, BottleRock is the festival for you. Not only will audiences get to jam out to Spoon, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, and Liily, but they will be able to take in some of the region’s finer things. For this weekend in May 2022, BottleRock is guaranteed to fill all your hunger for both delectable eats and memorable talents.

We hope that our top picks for 2022 music festivals pumped you up for the fun to come with the upcoming months. Which festivals will you be attending? Let us know through Facebook, Instagram , or Twitter. 

Written by HIP Intern Julia Block.