Wave your hands in the air like you just don’t care! With 2013 in full swing, it seems like the perfect time to turn our attentions to some of the most fun events to be enjoyed this year – music festivals!

The great thing about music is that, like you, it travels. It translates across all cultures, it unites us and brings people together, and there is no better example of this than a music festival.

Here in the UK we have some pretty amazing festivals, but there are some utterly epic experiences to be had further a field in Europe too. With that in mind, we’ve decided to share our countdown of the best European music festivals of the coming year.

Where are this years coolest foreign festivals?

Primavera Sound Festival

22-26 May 2013 | Barcelona, Spain | Website

5 days of rock, pop and underground dance music set in the beautiful Spanish city of Barcelona. So far, this year’s only confirmed headliner is Blur but there are more to come, and considering last year acts included the Pixies, Pulp, and Arcade Fire you can bet you’re bottom Euro they’re going to be good.

Roskilde Festival

29 June – 7 July 2013 | Roskilde, Denmark | Website
Roskilde is well known as being one of the oldest events on the festival circuit and with headliners as diverse and exciting as Rihanna and Slipknot it also cements itself as one of the coolest too.

Exit

10 – 14 July 2013 | Novisad, Serbia | Website
One of Europe’s biggest and most popular festivals, every year thousands of music lovers flock to Novisad, Serbia for Exit. This years headliners are yet to be announced, but judging by last years acts including Guns N’ Roses, Duran Duran, New Order, and Plan B, you know you’re likely to be in for a treat.

Rock am Ring

7 – 9 June 2013 | Nurburg, Germany | Website
Green Day, 30 Seconds to Mars, and Prodigy are among the first acts to be confirmed for this rock and metal festival held between two sites in across the country. Both venues in south and west Germany boast the same set lists so which ever you choose you won’t miss out on a single, show-stopping act.

Sonar Festival

Barcelona 13 – 15 June 2013 | Barcelona, Spain | Website
This is where the cool kids go to soak up the sun and some trendy tunes. Sonar is an international festival of advanced music and new media arts and this year you can expect to see Pet Shop Boys, Two Door Cinema Club and Kraftwerk.

INmusic Festival

24 – 26 June 2013 | Zagreb, Croatia | Website
Iggy and the Stooges are the first headline act confirmed for this, mainly rock music, festival held on the shores of Lake Jarun in Zagreb, Croatia.

Open’er Festival

3 – 6 July 2013 | Gdynia, Poland | Website
Blur, Queens of the Stone Age, Kings of Leon and The Arctic Monkeys have been confirmed for this years Open’er in Poland. That’s got to be one of the most impressive line ups of 2013 so far and with a the poles reputation for as party animals, you know you’re going to be for one heck of a good time…

The Garden Festival

3 – 10 July 2013 | Tisno, Croatia | Website
A festival with a difference, you can expect terrces and cocktail bars as part of this relatively small boutique festival, but what they lack in size they make up for in quality music. This year you can expect Auntie Flo, Adam Regan and Crazy P among the acts.

Benicàssim

18 – 21 July 2013 | Benicàssim, Spain | Website
One of the more well known and most loved European festivals, Benicàssim always attracts big acts and sun worshipping music fans, and this year is undoubtedly going to be no exception – we just need to hold out a little longer for this years acts to be announced!

Soundwave

18 – 22 July 2013 | Tisno, Croatia | Website
Set on the pristine shores of Tisno, Croatia, Soundwave is a banging collection of the world’s finest dance music. This year revellers will be up all night thanks to the likes of Craig Charles, Anchorsong, Kelpe and Riot Jazz.

Tomorrowland

26 – 28 July 2013 | Antwerp, Belgium | Website
It’s just a short hop across the North Sea to Tomorrowland, where last years line up included Calvin Harris and Fat Boy Slim. This years acts are still to be announced but they’re sure to be good, and they’re always the option for a sneaky stop in Amsterdam on your way home.

Sziget Festival

5 – 12 August 2013 | Budapest, Hungary | Website
Sziget has spent years growing from a relatively low key student event to one of the best known and most loved music festivals in Europe since it was started way back in in 1993. Last year you could enjoy sets from the likes of Placebo, Hurts, Crystal Fighters, The Horrors, Noah and The Whale, but this years acts are still a closely guarded secret – for now.

Oya Festival

6 – 10 August 2013 | Oslo, Norway | Website
Oslo’s biggest and best music festival will this year host music titans Blur as well as Haim and Metz. Other acts are to be announced.

Lowlands

16 – 18 August 2013 | Hellendoorn, Holland | Website
This huge Dutch music fest always has a great mixture of rock, pop and dance music to keep the crowd happy. No line up announced yet.