European music festivals guide 2016: From Spain's Bilbao BBK to Denmark's Roskilde

Not going to Glastonbury? Try one of these European alternatives instead

Bilbao BBK (Tom Hagen)

If anything's sure to provide you with encouragement to get through these winter months, it's a ticket to a summer festival.

No need to dust off those mud-caked wellies, though - why not make 2016 the year you try out a European festival where you'll get to bask in the sunshine as well as a state of music-induced revelry?

With a mound of choice available, making a decision may seem overwhelming but fret not - we're on hand to help make that choice an easy one as we guide you through all the ones you should have on your radar.

Be sure to check back here over the coming weeks as we'll be updating with additional line-up and ticketing information as it rolls in.

Bilbao BBK, Spain  
When: 7-8 July
Line Up: Arcade Fire, Pixies, Tame Impala, Foals, New Order, Hot Chip, Father John Misty, Years & Years, Chvrches, Wolf Alice

Surrounded by mountainous terrain, getting lost in Bilbao BBK's magical atmosphere will be no issue for any festivalgoer. With three days' worth of class acts priced at a slight £77 (minus the camping, it's £69), this is the festival bargain you've been looking for. Did we mention it'll showcase one of Arcade Fire's two confirmed live shows of 2016?

Flow, Finland

(Flow Festival, Jussi Hellsten)

When: 12-14 August
Line Up: Massive Attack & Young Fathers, Iggy Pop, Sia, Jamie xx, M83, Chvrches, Four Tet, Stormzy

Based in Helsinki, Finland's capital is home to Flow - a festival that embraces the creativity of life; as well as a roster of acts ready to deploy their euphoric, dance-laced sounds, a ticket to this festival also grants you access to alternative exhibitions, co-creation workshops and over 30 restaurants. An eclectic option.

Rock En Seine, France

(Rock En Seine, Nicolas Joubard)

When: 26-28 August
Line Up: TBC

With 60 acts playing across five stages, Rock En Seine's success has seen attendance increase by 100,000 over the course of 12 years - impressive for a festival that commenced with a mere two stages. Situated in the heart of Parisian history (Domaine National de Saint-Cloud park, to be precise), three-day passes for an affordable €119 are due to become available soon.

Primavera Sound, Spain

(Primavera Sound)

When: 1-5 June
Line Up: Radiohead, LCD Soundsystem, Sigur Rós, Tame Impala, PJ Harvey, Beach House, Suede, The Last Shadow Puppets

There's a reason Primavera is deemed one of the world's leading festivals: whether you're an indie aficionado, a hip-hop enthusiast or simply enjoy seeking out lesser-known bands on the rise, this Barcelona festival has something for everyone. It's the Glastonbury of Spain - only much, much warmer.

Roskilde, Denmark

(Simon Frøsig Christensen)

When: 25 June-2 July
Line Up: LCD Soundsystem, New Order, PJ Harvey, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foals, Tame Impala, Tenacious D

Roskilde is a festival that demands your attention. Despite annually boasting one of the most impressive line-ups of the lot, you'd be forgiven for straying elsewhere within the main stage's vicinity. Dream City, for example, is an audience-created commune perfect for the free spirits out there while Street City is a hub designed specifically for sports activities (and 'wild partying,' of course).

Sziget, Hungary

(Sziget, Balaz Mohai)

When: 10-17 August
Line-Up: Muse, Bastille, Bloc Party, The Last Shadow Puppets. M83, Sigur Rós , Bring Me the Horizon, Sum 41, Years & Years

'Looking for a place to feel free?' reads the Sziget slogan bound to lure you into buying a ticket - and why wouldn't you? Situated on an island in Budapest, this is not your typical festival. Now in its 22nd year, Sziget is an amalgam of cultures poised to open your eyes to new experiences, bolstered even further by a line up that would get any twentysomething's heart racing.

Melt!, Germany

(Stephan Flad)

When: 15-17 July
Line Up: Two Door Cinema Club, Tame Impala, Disclosure, Jamie xx, Sleaford Mods, Circa Waves, Skepta, Jamie Woon

One of Germany's biggest events, this festival - based in the country's Ferropolis (nicknamed the City of Iron) - may just be shy of its 20th anniversary but is showing no sign of running out of steam. Occurring in an open-air museum located on the site of a former mining operation, Melt! hosts internationally-renowned acts who go on to deliver unforgettable performances to worldwide attendees.

Benicàssim, Spain

When: 14-17 July
Line Up: Muse, The Chemical Brothers, Massive Attack, Kendrick Lamar, Major Lazer, Jamie xx, The Maccabees, Bloc Party, Catfish and the Bottlemen

For those looking to merge a music festival with sunbathing opportunities, your best bet is undoubtedly Benicàssim. Sure, the line-up may usually verge on the commercial, but peer beneath the surface and there are always options that belie the younger crowd who tend to gravitate towards this Spanish festival. All-night parties, pools and a new 'major addition' in the form of a dancing beach-stage tie up what is sure to be a weekend to remember.

Electric Love, Austria

(Simone Tediello)

When: 7-9 July
Line Up: Alesso, Zedd, Tiesto, Chase & Status, Steve Aoki

If you're finding the European options too rock-heavy, Electric Love is for you. Welcoming an impressive array of DJs from around the world (ranging from house and electro to drum and bass), the festival's secluded Salzburg Ring location, tucked away inside the Salzkammergut lake district, solidifies this as the premier dance gathering of the summer.