Add These New Year's Festivals to Your Destination Vacation
2020 seems to be the year that time forgot. Covid took over, destroying plans and life as we all know it. Because of the pandemic, most of last year's NYE celebrations were canceled or held on a smaller scale, so it almost seems like they didn't even happen at all.
Many celebrations are back on this year, and plans are large since last year was such a bust. So in case you wanted to go big this year and were perhaps looking for a destination location to ring in the New Year, we've rounded up 10 of the best festivals happening around the world.
Sunburn GOA
Though not on NYE, Sunburn GOA is still unmissable. Happening Dec 27-29, Sunburn touts itself as the largest dance festival in Asia. This year's lineup features trance favorite Armin Van Buuren, Loco Dice, psytrance heroes Vini Vici, queen of banging techno Deborah De Luca, India's king of bass Nucleya, Woo York performing live, and Ben Klock.
Northern Bass
Now it looks like regular passes for this event sold out, but there is a waiting list, so try your luck. Northern Bass is a three-day festival in New Zealand, in the summer hot spot Mangawhai. The lineup for this is heavy on bass music superstars like Andy C, Chase & Status, Alix Perez, Doc Scott, Lenzman, and Rene LaVice, to name a few.
Rhythm and Alps
Rhythm & Alps is a music and camping festival in New Zealand, this time in Wanaka, part of the Southern Alps. The lineup features the likes of Shy FX with Stamina MC, Concord Dawn, Bradley Zero, Dom Dolla, and The Upbeats. Of course, that's just a smidge of those slated to perform, but that lineup alone would get my booty out there! And with the picturesque scenery to boot.
Zamna Festival
Because last year's event was canceled due to Covid, Zamna Festival is back bigger and better than ever. Featuring six events over ten days, this immersive festie takes place in the middle of the jungle of Tulum, Mexico.
Your headliners for NYE will be Ukrainian techno duo ARTBAT, presenting UPPERGROUND, which pays homage to their new label. Then you have a variety of headliners, from house aficionado Claptone to techno duo Tale Of Us, who'll bring their Afterlife brand to three stages. Then the Circoloco party features Peggy Gou and Dixon, while Black Coffee also headlines a night. Closing out the event is Renaissance, the legendary club and record label celebrating its 30th anniversary with OG residents Sasha and Digweed.
Odisseia NYE 2021/2022
After a two-year break, Neopop Festival and Fuse Records join forces to bring you Odisseia NYE, Mission of the Lifetime, in Lisbon, Portugal.
The lineup features Maceo Plex, a man known for his diverse DJing, production style, and long-running residency at Pacha, Ibiza. Also on deck is Ben Klock, a German DJ, and producer who lives and breathes techno. The Klockworks label founder often holds it down at Berlin's infamous Berghain.
Rounding out the lineup is DJ, producer, and radio presenter Chris Liebing. The scene veteran has long been a leading figure in techno and is well known for sets that pump the energy and twist the speakers.
Freakquency Berlin
Berlin will host Freakquency New Year's Eve 2021-2022, a three-day, two-night event taking over four floors at Osthafen Berlin. This event boasts 22 of the best psytrance DJs the world has to offer over three days. Performers like chart-topping progressive and psy kingpin Ace Ventura; award-winning producer and DJ Liquid Soul; and Ritmo, who throws down the best in goa and psytrance, will grace the stage along with 19 of their friends, making Freakquency one banging NYE party.
Verknipt
The Netherlands comes through with a two-day event that'll ring in your new year properly. Verknipt NYE and NYD is an innovative party focusing on house, techno, and tech-house. You've got acts like Angy Kore, Noneoftheabove, and Benny Rodrigues throwing down on NYE while Deep Dimension, Nico Moreno, and Randomer hold it down on NYD.
Origin NYE
Named the most isolated city in the world, Perth, Australia, hosts a one-day NYE rager. Origin NYE has curated a lineup of hometown heroes to help ring in the New Year, each bringing the bass-laden beats. Get down to the sounds of Pendulum, ShockOne, Flowidus, Godlands, Ren Zukii, Sammythesinner, Tina Says, and V O E, as they all drop their own blend of drum and bass.
Bassfest NYE 21-22
Bassfest returns to Magna Sheffield for one huge NYE party. So far, only the five headliners are listed, but they alone make this one awesome party. Rapper and MC Bru-C, along with his fellow collaborators, the bassline collective Bad Boy Chiller Crew, were the first two acts to be announced. When these guys are involved, it will be a bloody good time. Also on the lineup are duo Chase & Status, Hybrid Minds, and Central Cee. But if that's not enough to get you out there, don't worry, the full lineup should be released any day now, and rumor has it that it's going to be BIG.
Hospitality in the Drumsheds NYE
Calling all drum and bass fans! Hospitality is taking over The Drumsheds to bring you a night full of drum and bass goodness. It's been 13 years since Hospitality threw a NYE party and this year seemed to be the perfect time for them to do it again. With a lineup so full of bass, you'll feel the earthquake as your booty shakes. This is the party for you if you can't get enough of that grimey D&B. Some of your selectas for the night include Andy C, Tonn Piper, Camo & Krooked, S.P.Y., King of the Rollers, and Danny Byrd and Grafix, both of whom will be supported by Dynamite MC. Trust me when I say this lineup is full of delicious drum and bass talent.
Field Day Sydney
Start your 2022 off right by attending Field Day Sydney. After a brief hiatus due to the pandemic, Field Day returns and continues to go against the grain of the usual NYE events by hosting one on New Year's DAY. This outdoor event features a lineup full of Australian performers bringing the latest and greatest in-house hip-hop, indie, and dance. Organizers have labeled this event Post Apocalyptic Restart to the Year, or PARTY for short, which is very apropos on so many levels. Catch acts like Allday, Choomba, Hot Dub Time Machine, and Masked Wolf, partying like it's 1999 and giving your 2022 a great start.
If you're not able to travel internationally and are already in the US, the country is stacked with festivals spanning coast to coast.
Decadence
If you're on the west coast, Arizona and Colorado are each hosting Decadence Festivals. The former features artists like Alan Walker, Alesso, Alison Wonderland, Dillon Francis, Excision, and Kaskade, while the latter has Walker & Royce, Rezz, Steve Aoki, and Zedd.
Countdown
In California, a few noteworthy events take place all over the state. First up is Countdown NYE in San Bernardino, the Insomniac massive taking over NOS Event Center with an alien-themed two-day event. A-track, Claptone, Deadmau5, Diplo, RL Grime, and Tiesto are some of your DJs helping ring in the new year.
Fresh Start
San Francisco's The Midway brings you its annual New Year's celebration, featuring three days of fun, music, and Fresh Start(s). This event has three stages PLUS the Heavy Petting Zoo's art car, with crews such as Opel, Space Yacht, and All Day All Night bringing music from John Summit, Gorgon City, Lane 8, Chris Lorenzo, Eli & Fur, Kyle Watson, J Worra, and Westend. In addition, there'll be food and drinks available from a variety of food trucks and the cafe, Madam Zola's.
Lights All Night
Moving on, we head both to Dallas, TX, and Minneapolis, MN, for the Lights All Night Festival. In Dallas, the Lights All Night Festival is the longest-running EDM festival and this year's lineup features Above & Beyond, DJ Snake, Deadmau5, and Illenium, holding it down over two days.
Moving over to Minneapolis, Lights All Night Festival is also a two-day event, and it'll be held at The Armory. Bob Moses (club set), ATliens, and Feed Me are a few acts scheduled to perform and bring in the New Year in Minnesota.