Happening Now: Festival Highlights

HAPPENING NOW: FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

By: Frankie Mathieson

From the largest street festival in Europe to a festival exploring art, ideas, sound and technology, wherever you find yourself this summer, something new and exciting is sure to be happening.

Festa Major de Sants, Barcelona

23-31 August

A visual delight, this annual street festival in Barcelona’s Sants district features live music, food, and drink, but it’s the impressive decorations that make it stand out. Every street in the district competes: colourful large-scale papier mache figures, reams of paper chains and hanging decorations transform Sants into a virtual museum. It has to be seen to be believed.

Rock en Seine, Paris

Rock en Seine, Paris, until 24 August

A four day music festival held in Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, a huge park west of Paris, Rock en Seine features an impressive international rock and pop line-up with multiple stages. Highlights this year include Chappell Roan, Kid Cudi, Jorja Smith, London Grammar and Fontaines D.C. Look out for bonus events between stages: exhibitions, talks and more.

Notting Hill Carnival, London

24-25 August

The largest free street festival in Europe with around 50,000 performers taking part in the parade, Notting Hill Carnival is a melting pot of music, dance and performance. You’ll find static sound systems on every corner playing everything from samba to hip hop and the world’s largest steel pan competition. It’s also a great place to try international cuisine.

Edinburgh Fringe Show: Blizzard

Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh, UNTIL 26 AUGUST

‘The world’s greatest platform for creative freedom,’ every August Edinburgh welcomes artists and performers from around the globe and their shows that span genres including cabaret, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus, musicals, opera, magic, concerts and theatre. Quite literally something for everyone.

Show: Blizzard

Long Night of Museums, Berlin

30th August

Lange Nacht der Museen (Long Night of Museums) takes place from 6pm to 2am, with over 70 Berlin museums opening their doors after dark. Each museum celebrates in its own unique way, including culinary surprises - the 2025 motto is ‘love’ and highlights will include an Italo disco at the House of World Cultures with pizza, spritz and espresso martinis.

Arc Music Festival Chicago

ARC Music Festival, Chicago, 29-31 August

Dance music festival ARC returns to the birthplace of house music, Chicago, for its fifth year with artists including Jamie xx, John Summit, Amelie Lens and Honey Dijon taking the stage. Eric Pyrdz will headline Union Park as himself and under his aliases Pryda and Cirez D. Go for the festival’s immersive stage design, forward-thinking production and impressive lineup.

Now or Never | Assembly

Now or Never, Melbourne

Until 31 August

A festival focused on exploring art, ideas, sound and technology, Melbourne’s Now or Never invites visitors to ‘step into new dimensions and imagine a future that’s not just seen but felt, experienced and reimagined’. This year’s program spans more than 140 free and ticketed events, including an epic musical takeover of Melbourne Town Hall.

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The Botanist: Happening Now: Festival Highlights