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Explore our guide to the best music festivals lighting up Nottingham this summer - experience live outdoor music in one of the county's amazing parks, discover new music in the city centre, or round up the kids for some great family entertainment at Thoresby Park! There's something to suit all tastes, from indie, rock and metal to house, dance, pop and country.
 This weekend: Dot To Dot Festival
 Sun 25 May
Various venues
Girlband, Bloodworm, Blood Wizard, Grain Mother, Davoli, Marvin's Revenge, Skitz and Swallowtail lead the charge of more than 80 local acts playing at Dot To Dot Festival this weekend.
It's set to be a fantastic celebration of new music, with the hottest emerging artists and the best homegrown talent playing across live music venues, from the mighty Rock City to grassroots independent Old Bus Depot.
This weekend: Bearded Theory
 Until Sun 25 May
Catton Park
Bearded Theory is a multi-award winning creative and performing arts festival, set in the beautiful grounds of Catton Park in the heart of the National Forest. The line-up includes punk rock pioneer Iggy Pop, celebrated legendary band Manic Street Preachers, Paul Heaton with special guest singer Rianne Downey, and English rock institution The Sisters of Mercy.
There will be eight zones full of music, dancing and activities, from main stage The Pallet to a perfect Woodland hideaway between the trees, as well as latest additions like the photogenic late night rave spot Big Ed, and new second stage The Meadow.
Next weekend: Live music at Wollaton Park
 Fri 30 May - Sun 1 June
Wollaton Hall & Deer Park
Whether you're a dance music aficionado or country music fan, there's something for everyone at Wollaton Park next weekend!Â
Friday 30 May: Ibiza Orchestra
A night of iconic Ibiza anthems performed by the 26-piece orchestra, with special guest Example.
Saturday 31 May: Sausage & Cider Festival
Dozens of cider and sausage flavours, plus tribute performances, and a DJ set from Chris Moyles.
Sunday 1 June: Summer in Nashville
The best new country acts, and incredible tributes to Shania Twain, Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen.
Download Festival
 Fri 13 - Sun 15 June
Donington Park
The UK's biggest rock and metal festival is back for its 22nd edition! Headlining the festival are Green Day, Sleep Token and Korn, with Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Shinedown, Bullet for my Valentine, Within Temptation, The Darkness and many more joining the line-up.
Held at the hallowed grounds of Donington Park, there's also loads more to experience beyond the bands, including brewery bars, blacksmithing workshops, axe throwing, fire cooking demos, yoga, and wrestling.
Splendour Festival
 Sat 19 & Sun 20 July
Wollaton Hall & Deer Park
Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Travis and Nottingham's own Jake Bugg will headline Splendour Festival, along with Clean Bandit, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Natasha Bedingfield, Echo & The Bunnymen, Seasick Steve, The Levellers, The Fratellis and many more. This year's UK Eurovision entry, Remember Monday, are also joining the line-up.
Performances will span six stages across Wollaton Park, including the daytime disco Day Fever for the very first time. Nottingham City residents can receive a 10% discount by entering their council tax number and postcode when booking.
Gloworm Festival
 Fri 8 - Sun 10 August
Thoresby Park
The three-day Gloworm Festival has been specially created for grown ups and their little people! Come along and enjoy your favourite TV stars, boogie on down to some brilliant bands, and join in some of the many workshops and activities the festival has to offer.
Join Paul Chuckle, Justin Fletcher, Bodger & Badger, and Andy and the Odd Socks on the Main Stage, and enjoy tributes to Sabrina Carpenter, Dua Lipa, Blur, and Arctic Monkeys. There's also a circus, creative play zone, characters from Paw Patrol, CBeebies bedtime stories, and much more!
Could Be Real Tribute Festival
 Fri 4 July
Newstead Abbey
Get ready for another unforgettable night of music and nostalgia as the Could Be Real Tribute Festival makes its highly anticipated return to the picturesque grounds of Newstead Abbey.
Attendees will be transported through decades of music with tribute performances including: Blur, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, The Killers, Adele, and more.
Nottingham City residents can receive a 10% discount by entering their council tax number and postcode when booking.
Foolhardy Folk Festival
 Sun 24 August
Nottingham Arboretum
The line-up for the Foolhardy Folk Festival, curated by acclaimed English folk singer Beans on Toast, sees him bringing some of his favourite performers to join him for an uplifting celebration of folk music at Nottingham Arboretum.
Performing on the bandstand will be Grace Petrie, The Young’uns, Funke and the Two Tone Baby, Ruth Lyon, Nick Parker, Ben Brown, Ann Liu Cannon, Leo Baby, Emily Alice... and of course Beans on Toast himself!
Once again, it will be a family-friendly celebration of music, trees and revelry. Alongside the wonderful music, there will be a beer festival, street food vendors, and kids corner.
Wonderland Festival
 Sat 5 July
Newstead Abbey
The magical Wonderland Festival comes to Newstead Abbey this summer. This house and disco inspired festival will be a day filled with infectious beats, iconic performances, and unforgettable vibes!
With a huge line-up including Roger Sanchez, Heather Small, Craig Charles and Gok Wan, don't miss your chance to dance and groove through the trees.
Nottingham City residents can receive a 10% discount by entering their council tax number and postcode when booking.
Hacienda
 Sat 6 September
Wollaton Hall & Deer Park
The iconic Hacienda will be back in Nottingham, bringing a star-studded line-up of house and electronic legends to one of the UK’s most stunning outdoor venues. This open-air event promises a unique fusion of historic grandeur and world-class dance music.
Hacienda’s return brings an unmissable celebration of club culture, featuring some of the most influential artists and DJs in dance music history, including Armand Van Helden, Groove Armada, Inner City Live, K-Klass Live, Alison Limerick, Greg Wilson, and DJ Paulette.
Nottingham City residents can receive a 10% discount by entering their council tax number and postcode when booking.
Aljaž & Janette: A Night To Remember
 Wed 4 June
Royal Concert Hall
A Night To Remember is the brand-new show from Strictly favourites Aljaž & Janette, featuring unforgettable dancing, great music and plenty of laughter!
Aljaž and Janette have graced UK stages across the country for over six years, always delivering great shows with spectacular jaw dropping dances that have left audiences wanting more. They return with their very own live big band, fronted by boogie woogie legend Tom Seals, and a terrific ensemble cast of dancers and singers.
Luminarium: Myriad
 Sat 24 May - Sun 1 June
Highfields Park
Back for 2025, Architects of Air bring another world premiere to Lakeside Arts - Myriad. Step inside this wonderful, inflatable world, and experience the magic of light, colour and shape.
Myriad is a vibrant, sensory, and immersive sculpture for visitors to explore. Covering an impressive 900 square metres, the Luminarium offers an intricate labyrinth of tunnels and domes filled with radiant colours. Loved by children and adults alike, this is a unique experience for the whole family.
New on sale: Long Way Chat
 Sat 30 August
Motorpoint Arena
Experience the thrill of adventure with Long Way Chat, an exclusive live event inspired by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s iconic motorcycle journeys: Long Way Round, Long Way Down, Long Way Up and their most recent series Long Way Home (all streaming on Apple TV+). This immersive show brings fans face-to-face with the stories behind the cameras, offering a dynamic blend of storytelling, film footage, and behind-the-scenes insights from the road.
Hosted in an intimate setting, Ewan and Charley, along with their long-time collaborators, David Alexanian and Russ Malkin, take to the stage to relive the highs and lows of their global expeditions.
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