Origin Festival
Where: Cape Town, South Africa
When: January/February Annually
The first major festival of the year, presented by the people of Nano Records (and Good Time Events). Origin Festival boasts two dance floors and a wide variety of visionary arts over 3 days.
Rainbow Serpent Festival
Where: Victoria, Australia
When: January Annually
The Ozzie doof falls over Australia Day long weekend and features a variety of electronic music, art installations, workshops and attractions. Did you know, in Australia there are more kangaroos than people?
Hill Top Festival
Where: Goa, India
When: February Annually
The Indian psychedelic scene is thriving and Hill Top has been in the mix for 5 years. Party on the beaches of Goa to some hard psychedelic trance. Did you know, Goa has over 7000 bars?
Earth Frequency Festival
Where: Queensland, Australia
When: February
Combining elements of ‘transformational festival, tribal gathering, doof and boutique festival’, Earth Frequency turned 10 in 2015.
Parvati Peaking Festival
Where: Parvati Valley, India
When: March Annually
Situated in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, Parvati Peaking takes place up in the hills of Parvati Valley. The small Indian festival has grown steadily over the last 3 years.
Maitreya Festival
Where: Victoria, Australia
When: March Annually
Maitreya has faced some obstacles but hosts 2,500 bush doof attendees at their festival.
Doof Festival
Where: Israel
When: April Annually
The Doof Project was born back as an underground party organization in 1996 with the formation of their label, Doof Records, coming later in 2002. Now veterans of the scene, the Doof Festival has taken place since 2004 and from their early 1 day parties it has grown to 3 days and 4 nights. Did you know, Israel is only 20,000 km², about the size of Kruger National Park?
Festival Ometeotl
Where: Mexico
When: April Annually
Mexico, the land where chocolate, chillies and corn where discovered! Named after Aztec gods Ometecuhtli and Omecihua, Ometeotl looks like a great psychedelic festival in a field of grass, hosting thousands of Mexicans and international guests. Have a tequila for us!
Shivaneris Easter Festival
Where: Brazil
When: Over Easter Annually
Ah, Brazil, the largest country in South America. The multi-stage Easter festival hosts 1000 attendees on a sunny remote location.
Respect Festival
Where: Brazil
When: May Annually
Respect has helped shaped the psychedelic scene in Brazil for 10 years with over 18 parties during that time. Did you know, Brazil supplies around 1/3rd of the world’s coffee?
Burning Mountain Festival
Where: Switzerland
When: June Annually
The unique location lies in the Engadin Valley of the Swiss Alps, one of the highest inhabited valleys of Europe, home to 1000 people.
Tree of Life Festival
Where: Izmir, Turkey
When: June/July Annually
The festival is organised by an Israeli and Turkish team, with a breathtaking venue, Karagol Lake.
Midnight Sun Festival
Where: Norway
When: June/July Annually
The Norweigian festival takes place on the Arctic Island of Værøy in Lofoten, which features almost endless daylight during that time of the year.
Shankra Festival
Where: Switzerland
When: June/July Annually
An incredible setting in Lostallo (Graubunden) featuring monstrous mountains covered in snow and trees. Did you know, Switzerland has one of the lowest crime rates in the world?
Noisily Festival
Where: UK
When: July Annually
Noisily takes place in the heart of rural England and is a growing party, taking place of the gap left by Glade Festival.
Antaris Projekt
Where: Germany
When: July Annually
Celebrating 21 years, Antaris Projekt (Against War! For Friendship, Peace and Freedom) is one of the earlier parties in the [German] season and is known to be a welcoming environment for the whole family and foreign visitors. Did you know, Germany is Europe’s second largest beer drinking country!
Freqs of Nature
Where: Germany
When: July Annually
Formed by ex-Full Moon crew, Freqs has billed themselves a ‘experimental arts and music’ festival. Although not strictly a trance festival, this will definitely provide a different experience from the other German festivals.
Freqs of Nature
One Love Festival
Where: Switzerland
When: July Annually
Newcomer One Love takes place in the Swiss Alps, near the town of Filisur. Our reviewer, Troy, described the venue as a ‘timber mill plant next to an ice like clear river’.
S.U.N Festival
Where: Hungary
When: July Annually
The first edition of the young S.U.N (Solar United Natives) Festival took place in 2013 after a number of the Ozora team decided to split up. Did you know, Hungary is one of the oldest countries in Europe!
Summer Never Ends Festival
Where: Switzerland
When: July/August Annually
The idea was sparked a decade ago – a psychedelic wonderland featuring four dance floors, an art exhibition, various workshops and more. 10 000 people partying in the Swiss Alps.
Mozamboogy
Where: Mozambique
When: July/August
Roughly 7 hours drive from Johannesburg in South Africa, Mozamboogy takes place on the exotic beach front resort Malongane. The tranquil location also has a plethora of things to do including scuba diving hot-spots in coral reefs, 4×4 and hiking trails, campsites, dolphins on the beach and more.
Eclipse Festival
Where: Canada
When: July/August Biennially
The weekend-long festival is held in Quebec, Canada every second year. The first outdoor edition of the party was in 2003. Did you know, Canada is the largest consumer of mac n cheese? They love that stuff.
Groove Attack / Solaris Project parties
Where: Israel
When: Different Dates Throughout The Year
Groove Attack celebrated its 4th year of its signature Neverland Festival, Solaris Project’s has numerous parties throughout the year and their joint Atmosphere Festival are all worth checking out if you’re ever in the Middle East.
Unity Festival
Where: Israel
When: Different Dates Throughout The Year
The Dead Sea is known to be the lowest point in the world and features extremely salty water you can float on. Sounds like a great place to a pack a couple thousand trance lovers, right?
Lost Theory Festival
Where: Croatia
When: August Annually
Lost Theory Festival has taken place in Deringaj, nearby Gracac, for the last 3 years. Given that Croatia has become a hot place for tourists to visit, it’s no surprise even the psytrance and high-tech lovers come to fill up the 5 different dance floors at Lost Theory.
Momento Demento (MoDem) Festival
Where: Croatia
When: August Annually
Momento Demento or Mo:dem Festival takes place near the town of Slunj. The festival is a week long dedicated to ecology, with the venue featuring much of Croatia’s natural eye-candy including 18th century windmills and waterfalls.
Free Earth Festival
Where: Greece
When: August Annually
Although the Greek festival skipped 2015, Free Earth will return in 2016 on a new beach looking to top their 1200 attendees in 2014. Did you know, Greece is the sunniest country in Europe?
Ozora Festival
Where: Hungary
When: August Annually
Ozora is a village in Tolna County, Hungary. But it also happens to be the name and location of the decade old festival O.Z.O.R.A. The Hungarian festival is no doubt on any avid psychedelic travelers bucketlist alongside the biennial Boom Festival.
Psy-Fi Festival
Where: Netherlands
When: August Annually
A unique playground of several beaches and islands that host numerous stages and two different camping sites (in the forest or by the lakeside), it’s hard to give this one a miss if you’re in Europe. Plus, the thought of hitting some Amsterdam coffee shops afterwards tickles our fancy!
Freedom Festival
Where: Portugal
When: August Annually
In 2015 Freedom Festival celebrated its 10 year anniversary, alternating with Boom’s year. Although Freedom Festival is not as popular as Boom Festival, it still draws crowds of up to 45 000.
Boom Festival
Where: Portugal
When: August Biennially
Boom Festival is considered the ‘holy grail’ of psychedelic trance parties. Since 1997, the biennial festival takes place in Portugal, featuring musical performances across five stages, lectures, films, workshops and several visual art exhibitions. The main Dance Temple on its own supports a crowd of 15 000 people, with the whole psychedelic lovers from across the globe.
VuuV Festival
Where: Germany
When: August Annually
VuuV Festival (fomerly VooV) is one of the oldest and biggest of the German parties dating back to 1992, with attendance numbers ranging from 10 to 20 thousand. After a slight break from the scene, the annual festival returned in 2014.
Indian Spirit Festival
Where: Germany
When: September Annually
Indian Spirit Festival started out as a small party in 2007 and has grown strong in recent years. Indian Spirit is held at the start of September, much later than the other German parties listed.
Mandallah Festival
Where: Brazil
When: September Annually
The 10 year old South American party takes place in Andradas, known as Land of Wine. A relatively small party, Mandallah has become well known for their laid back environment.
Insomnia Festival
Where: Portugal
When: September Annually
The 3 year old party takes place in a forest near the capital of Lisbon. Did you know, the Portuguese are responsible for inventing the Piri Piri Sauce?
Earthcore Festival
Where: Victoria, Australia
When: November annually
Australian bush doof Earthcore has hosted numerous outdoor festivals, weekly club nights, warehouse parties and raves over the years. In 2008 Earthcore went on hiatus and returned in 2013 for their 20 year anniversary.
Vortex Open Source
Where: Cape Town, South Africa
When: December Annually
The 4 night, 5 day festival takes place in the mystical land of Riviersonderend. Expect some long journey sets from old school legends local and international legends amongst a very natural, forest setting.
Universo Paralello Festival
Where: Brazil
When: Over New Years Annually
The largest psychedelic festival in Brazil, Universo Paralello is an incredible way to spend New Years on Pratigi Beach.
The Experience Festival
Where: Thailand
When: Over NYE
Situated on the island of Ko Tao in Thailand, Experience Festival is hosted in an known for and snorkeling, as well as hiking, rock climbing and bouldering. Did you know, Bangkok is the world’s most visited city?
Rezonance NYE Festival
Where: Cape Town, South Africa
When: Over New Years Annually
Arguably the biggest New Years Eve Festival in South Africa with over 10 000 attendees, Rezonance boasts numerous dance floors with a psytrance-heavy lineup. Plus, December is a great time to visit sunny Cape Town!
