As we settle into the chilly weather and the end-of-year countdown has begun, it’s time to celebrate the year we have survived and plan for a vivacious start to the new year. And is there any way to do that other than rocking out to your favorite tunes played by global superstars?
Music festivals to look out for
No matter what genre of music soothes you, there is a music festival lined up in the upcoming few days. Join us to start planning your year-end or new-year rocking escapade.
SOUNDSTORM 2025
Image © MDLBEAST
Born in Saudi, Soundstorm brings together top international and local artists across immersive stages for an electrifying 3-day music festival that “rises from the sand, alive with movement, light, and sound” in Riyadh.
It’s three days of high-octane fun with fellow festival-goers, from buzzing F&B spots and interactive activities to full festival-glam experiences, all set against the energy of over a hundred thousand attendees celebrating music on a massive scale.
- When: From 11 to 13 December 2025.
- Headliners include Post Malone, Cardi B, Halsey, Calvin Harris, Benson Boone, Major Lazer & more.
- Location: Banban, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Tickets & booking: Tickets from USD 64 via the NOFOMO app.
Image © Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
- Easy-going local must-visits in the area includes: Kingdom Centre Skybridge with views over Riyadh’s city lights; and Al Faisaliah Tower & Mall, for fine dining with spectacular vistas of the city.
NEON Countdown
Make your way to Thailand to spend the last week of the year, or the first week of the new one, on stunning Thai shores like Ko Samui and Krabi, and ring in the new year bidding adieu to the blues with enthralling beats at NEON Countdown in Bangkok.
The festival brings together thousands of music lovers for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve party with top-tier DJs, neon lights and colour, huge soundscapes and fireworks, set in a beachside celebration of good vibes and groovy music.
- When: On 30 & 31 December 2025.
- Headliners are yet to be announced. The performers who have announced thus far includes Alesso, Nicky Romero, Amelie Lens, and KSHMR.
- Location: Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Tickets & booking: Tickets from USD 130; book via Ticket Melon.
- Before you leave, be sure to book a “Chao Phraya Princess Cruise” to sail down the Chao Phraya River and be serenaded by live musicians against the setting Sun on the horizon.
Lollapalooza India
Come 2026, get ready for one of the biggest global music festivals to set the tone for your new year in the heart of the Indian city of stars. Lollapalooza India, the two-day spectacle, is set to gather more than 40 performers across four vibrant stages, spanning pop and rock, indie, and hip-hop, turning Mumbai into India’s ultimate live-music playground.
- When: 24 and 25 January 2026.
- Headliners: Watch Linkin Park, the superstars of your adolescent years, make their debut in India. Joining them are Kehlani, YUNGBLUD, and Playboi Carti, among others.
- Location: Mahalaxmi Race Course, Mumbai, India.
- Tickets & booking: Ticket prices start from USD 79 and can be booked from BookMyShow.
- Before you leave, opt for a ride down Marina Drive at golden hour for a sweeping view of Mumbai’s iconic “Queen’s Necklace,” where the curved coastline lights up in a chain of golden streetlamps, creating one of the city’s most memorable and cinematic waterfront scenes.
REW!ND Fest DXB 2026
Image © BlaBlaDubai
Plan a New Year’s getaway to glamorous Dubai in January for a chance to jam out and relive the golden eras of pop, synth, and dance with REW!ND Fest DXB.
This open-air, one-day retro festival is set beside the Arabian Gulf, making it ideal for pool-deck dancing, festival food, roaming performers and nonstop nostalgia.
- When: 7 February 2026.
- Headliners: Bananarama, Nik Kershaw, Heaven 17 and more.
- Location: Bla Bla Dubai
- Tickets & booking: Ticket prices start from USD 112 and can be booked from Platinumlist.
- If you have not visited Bluewaters Island yet, find your way there for an evening of waterfront dining, scenic views, and a relaxed, luxurious atmosphere perfect for unwinding.
Start planning your festival getaway now. Tickets sell fast, flights fill up, and winter is the perfect time to chase good music and even better memories. Pick your destination, grab your passes, and let the countdown to an extraordinary 2026 begin.
