From Lollapalooza to the Cherry Blossom festival, here is a list of India’s top music festivals to look forward to

Discover upcoming music festivals in India featuring diverse genres and international artists like Coldplay, Maroon 5, and more.

On a seemingly relaxed Sunday morning in late September, I woke up to a text that read ‘We’re counting you in for the Coldplay concert’, and thus began the rollercoaster ride of excitement, and anticipation, followed by disappointment and indifference. Thousands of people around the country went through the same emotions. Live music gigs and festivals have gained popularity in recent years with fans travelling across borders to catch their favourite artistes like K-pop band BTS, Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons and more perform live. These concerts are as much about the experience as they are about the music. 

Attending a concert or a music festival where you know only a few songs or a couple of bands or artistes from the line-up is a great way to discover new music, while making memories. While many of us have missed the window to book tickets to watch Coldplay or Diljit Dosanjh perform live, there is still time to grab tickets to Maroon 5’s debut performance in India. Apart from that, here are some music festivals and performances that you could try your luck with. 

Lollapalooza – March 8-9, 2025, Mumbai: A music festival that has seen highs and lows for the last 30 years, Lollapalooza pioneered the concept of bringing diverse musical genres together in one line-up, becoming the first to expand to multiple days, introduce a second stage, and blend art with activism. After its first and second stint in India were a roaring success, the third edition was announced in September with a line-up featuring American punk rock band Green Day (headlining the festival), and 35 other artistes including Shawn Mendes, Louis Tomlinson, Humankind, Glass Animals, Isabel LaRosa and many others taking over four stages over two days.

“Our teams dedicate nearly an entire year to this effort, taking into account the global touring routes of artistes, discovering new sounds and performers, and researching to match potential artiste names with the Indian consumer palate and appetite,” says Owen Roncon, chief of business, live events, BookMyShow, adding that innovation plays a crucial role in elevating the festival experience.

“We introduced the VerTech Stage System last year. It is a cutting-edge system that enables larger-than-life performances and enhances both the audience’s and artistes’ experiences,” he adds. The VerTech Stage System is an all-steel, high-capacity stage structure with integrated towers for extra stability. It supports up to 50 tonnes, making it well-suited for large-scale live events in demanding environments. As expected, the tickets for the upcoming edition of Lollapalooza sold out five months before the festival.

Echoes of the Earth — December 7-8, 2024, Bengaluru: Considered the greenest music festival in India, Echoes of the Earth is hosting its seventh edition this year with an eclectic mix of genres, instruments, and cultural influences. “The younger generations have become more aware of the environment. There is a trend among them to be more eco-conscious and responsible, and we have been speaking about being eco-conscious since the beginning. Now, we cater to a large community of music enthusiasts and the number keeps growing every year,” says Roshan Netalkar, festival director, Echoes of the Earth, adding that the sixth edition of the festival saw 23,000 atendees. This year’s music line-up features artistes like Mount Kimbie, Satori, French 79, Yīn Yīn and more. 

The theme this year is Symphony of Seasons. The festival grounds will be divided into zones, each representing a season’s mood. The Electro Live Stage will symbolise summer’s energy, while the Electronic Stage reflects monsoon’s renewal. The Big Tree Stage will embody spring’s awakening, and the World Fusion Stage will evoke winter’s resilience. These zones will feature innovative waste-to-art installations and designs by multiple artists. For example, one of the installations is a community-crafted bee sanctuary made from repurposed materials such as corks and reclaimed wood.