What is the greatest music festival of all time?

Glastonbury is ranked #1 as the greatest music festival of all time, having defined festival culture for over five decades with legendary performances from David Bowie to Beyoncé.

What was the most influential music festival?

Woodstock (1969) was the most culturally influential festival, establishing the blueprint for modern music festivals and becoming synonymous with the counterculture movement.

What is the largest music festival in the world?

Donauinselfest in Vienna is the world's largest free music festival with over 3 million attendees annually. For ticketed events, festivals like Tomorrowland and Rock in Rio draw hundreds of thousands.

How are these festivals ranked?

Festivals are scored on four criteria: Musical Influence (20%), Legendary Performances (35%), Longevity (15%), and Attendee Experience (30%), with performance and experience weighted highest.

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The Definitive Ranking

Greatest Music Festivals Ever

From Woodstock's revolution to Tomorrowland's spectacle — the complete history of festivals that shaped music culture

301 Festivals Ranked

1950s–2025

All Genres

Active & Historic

Ranking Methodology

Each festival scored across four dimensions, with highest weight on attendee experience

Musical Influence (15%)

Innovation & impact

Legendary Performances (30%)

Historic sets & artists

Longevity (10%)

Sustained relevance

Experience (45%)

Atmosphere & production

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Showing 25 of 301 Festivals

301

Festivals Ranked

70+

Years of History

237

Still Active

Historic Legends

Rankings based on comprehensive analysis weighted toward legendary performances (35%) and attendee experience (30%), with musical influence (20%) and longevity (15%). Data compiled from historical records, industry analysis, and cultural studies.