The best festivals offer a way to take us back to where our sense of wonder began. Where losing track of time is all part of the plan.  

From summer camps and woodland hideouts to boundary-pushing dancefloors, the six festivals we’re spotlighting today go beyond the lineup: they create space for curiosity, allowing us to rediscover the best parts of our younger selves. 

Which events below do you most like the sound of? And which festivals would you add to the list? 

Shambala, UK
27th - 30th August

Tucked away in the Northamptonshire countryside, Shambala has earned a reputation for building a temporary utopia. It’s a weekend where outrageous fancy dress isn’t just encouraged, it’s the norm. The festival blends workshops with immersive theatrics like the “Shambolympics,” its own sports day rooted in the art of play. This year will welcome joyful sets from the likes of Nubiyan Twist, Benny Page, and Jamz Supernova, soundtracking a weekend where the prospect of growing up seems like the real absurdity.

Find out more about Shambala

What’s more nostalgic than a children’s summer camp reimagined as a full-blown festival site? Returning to the Appalachian Mountains for its fourth year, ZAP encourages connection by honing in on the shared experience. DIY punk bands play alongside underground artists like Succubass and Juana, while the surrounding nature becomes one of the headliners, too. At ZAP, dancing until sunrise and swapping stories under the stars becomes the weekend’s unofficial curriculum.

Find out more about ZAP

Basilar, Portugal
10th - 13th September

Nestled among Edenic greenery by a natural water reserve, Basilar makes the most of its surroundings by inviting an intimate rekindling of the self against the backdrop of northern Portugal. Curated installations and forest stages create a sensory trail through the woodland, culminating in a techno pilgrimage with sets from artists like Marcel Dettmann and Fadi Mohem. A festival that encourages you to lose all sense of time.

Find out more about Basilar 

This year’s No Bounds pays homage to its roots in warehouse raves. All-day parties and immersive live shows take place alongside art installations, talks, and more. Held across ten venues in Sheffield and Rotherham, the three-day showcase goes against the grain by stretching from cathedrals and art colleges to grassroots staples like Gut Level. Blawan, gyrofield, and Big Ang feature on the genre-spanning programme. No Bounds’ name speaks for itself: a portal beyond convention.

Find out more about No Bounds

Wonderfruit, Thailand
3rd - 7th December

Wonderfruit isn’t built around one idea, it’s a festival experience that creates a whole new world. The revered Thailand event is an open-air playground of holistic wellness, sonic adventures, and local gastronomy. The location hosts an ecosystem of biodegradable structures—everything from the stage engineering to the walkways that connect each space. The broad programming celebrates both global and regional music culture, with Tangerine Dream and Jane Fitz tapped for 2026.

Find out more about Wonderfruit

There’s a reason people return to Echoes of Earth time and time again. From towering 50-foot animal stages built from upcycled scrap metal to kaleidoscopic colours emerging from every branch, Bangalore’s ecosystem comes to life through visual storytelling, arts, crafts, and revolutionary green initiatives. This year marks the tenth anniversary. The lineup is still TBA, but previous chapters have featured the likes of Mount Kimbie and Anish Kumar. Few festivals capture the imagination quite like it.

Find out more about Echoes of Earth

Revisit part one of our festivals series here

Words by Emily Hince