Paradise City

Brussels, Belgium
June 30 - July 2

Belgium's Paradise City puts sustainability front and centre. Using renewable energy, conducting biodiversity assessments and selling 100 percent vegetarian food are just some of the initiatives that have helped the festival attain the highest possible rating from non-profit organisation A Greener Festival. The stacked music programme isn't bad either—Helena Hauff, Moodymann and Fred P all feature—and an increased capacity and new stage means that 2023 should be the biggest and boldest edition yet.

RA Pick: Two masters of the back-to-back, Ben UFO and Moopie, take to the decks.

Bass Coast

British Columbia, Canada
July 7 - July 10

There's a charming contrast of the senses at this British Columbia festival. Deep low-end booms from stages set against a serene backdrop of creeks and mountains. Located in the breathtaking Nicola Valley outside the city of Merritt, Bass Coast is Canada's annual meeting ground for fans of drum-heavy sounds, including dub, juke, drum & bass, jungle, footwork and percussive techno. Balancing out these club flavours are live graffiti shows, performance art and environmental workshops. In short, there's more to the festival than just bass. Every year, the production is curated according to a theme and this year's is "Avant Garden," which suggests an experimental take on flowers and plants–a perfect motif for an al-fresco party.

RA Pick: Marcellus Pittman will bring joyous house and disco to the fan-favourite Slay Bay stage.

Love International

Tisno, Croatia
July 12 - July 19

With a loyal contingent who return year on year, an idyllic location on the shores of the Adriatic and late-night parties at the unbeatable open-air club Barbarella's, Love International is a very special festival. It takes place at The Garden in Tisno, Croatia, a holiday resort turned festival hotspot that makes for a sunny and logistically simple week-long party. There are boat parties, sunrise sessions, afternoons lazing by the sea and so much more, soundtracked by some of dance music's best DJs and live acts. Artists making their Love International debut this year include Mariin, Sally C and Paula Tape.

RA Pick: Courtesy's blend of '90s trance and fast Copenhagen techno.

Butik Festival

Tolmin, Slovenia
July 13 - July 16

It's difficult to think of a more striking festival location than Soča Valley. Nestled in the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia, this UNESCO-recognised region boasts crystal-clear lakes, lush forests and rugged mountain terrain. It's also the home of Butik, which pairs the natural beauty of its surroundings with an endearing musical programme and a focus on caring for the local community. Moving from three days to four for 2023—and delivering a lineup spanning everyone from The Ghost and Loa Szala to Nene H and Sedef Adasï—this summer's edition promises to be a consciously minded weekend of beatific dancing.

RA Pick: Jennifer Cardini back-to-back Pablo Bozzi for the rarest Italo disco cuts.

Unsound Adelaide

Adelaide, Australia
July 14 - July 16

For its tenth anniversary, Unsound Adelaide has curated an impressive lineup of live music and audiovisual shows that embody the festival's focus on technology, art and cutting-edge electronic sounds. Among the many highlights are Kode9's audiovisual bonanza Escapology, Mabe Fratti performing with a quartet, Robin Fox's new laser display, Space Afrika's audiovisual antics and a rare live show from Huerco S and Oneohtrix Point Never. From radical modular rigs and ambient explorations to cerebral dance music, this year's programming should satisfy both ravers and tech fanatics.

RA Pick: Argentinian DJ Tayhana, whose hybrid club sound touches on cumbia, reggaeton, gabber and more.

rural

Niigata, Japan
July 15 - July 17

Japanese festival rural guarantees sensory overload. The organisers—a group of friends who put on their first rave in 2009—have chosen some epic spaces to party at over the years. This year's event, on the coast of Honshu Island in Niigata, is no different (it's also where the Fuji Rock festival takes place). Homegrown talents (Wata Igarashi, Chee Shimizu) will line up alongside international guests (Sandwell District, Vladimir Ivkovic). Making their debuts will be Terrence Dixon and Higher Intelligence Agency, who will play live. An intimate, holistic and family-friendly vibe awaits, complete with excellent music and intricate decor from flower-art designers Mitsurin Tokyo.

RA Pick: Minimal techno innovator Fumiya Tanaka.

Audioriver Festival

Płock, Poland
July 28 - July 30

The words "beach" and "rave" should be enough to propel you in the direction of Poland's Audioriver Festival. The event is celebrating its 15th anniversary by the shores of the picturesque river town of Płock. A slew of artists will perform across eight stages, including Shygirl, KI/KI, Moderat, Mandidextrous, LSDXOXO, Avalon Emerson and Skin On Skin. More weighty sonics will come courtesy of UK artists like Turno or Polish vanguards Rhythm Baboon and Lux Familiar, while hard, fast techno is on the menu with Italian duo 999999999. You can also catch Baasch, whose track "Miasto" protested the oppression of queer people in his country.

RA Pick: Jungle on the beach with Mixtress should be a journey to remember.

The Great Beyond

Minnesota, United States
July 28 - July 31

The Great Beyond is a camping festival that takes place in the natural surrounds of the Minnesota River Valley Sanctuary. Curated by the heads of Berlin's Enemy Records, Intellephunk and Dustin Zahn, the festival takes the label's hypnotic essence and sprinkles it across three days of forward-thinking programming. The lineup features the best in psychedelic techno, with slots for the likes of Decoder, Marco Shuttle and Aurora Halal.

RA Pick: Last year, Juana sent The Great Beyond into a spin with a knotty blend of hard techno that occasionally showcased a jacking Midwestern flair. She's back this year to do it again.

WHOLE - United Queer Festival

Gräfenhainichen, Germany
July 28 - July 31

In 2022, after a three-year hiatus, WHOLE - United Queer Festival returned to Gräfenhainichen's open-air industrial museum, Ferropolis. Within this "city of iron," thousands of people convened for the world's biggest queer-focused electronic music festival. This year, the festivities continue with even more queer collectives and a sprawling list of DJs from across the globe. Don't miss Berlin-based favourites Gabrielle Kwarteng and DJ Gigola, as well as artists from across the pond like Russell E.L. Butler, Shaun J. Wright and The Carry Nation.

RA Pick: As her 2023 album has proven, DJ Gigola wields immense power, both in her productions and behind the decks.

Body Movements

London, United Kingdom
July 29

Founded by Saoirse and Little Gay Brother's Clayton Wright, Body Movements is a one-day festival that prioritises the queer community and platforms LGBTQIA+ dance music crews. The festival's third edition will host more than 30 queer collectives across 16 Hackney Wick venues, all within a ten-minute walk from each other. Expect high vibes, serious club fashion and an up-for-it crowd dancing to sounds from across the spectrum of electronic music—think Avalon Emerson, BADSISTA, Octo Octa, TYGAPAW and so much more.

RA Pick: SUZIO cofounder Manuka Honey's hot and sexy take on club sounds from the Latin diaspora and beyond.

Find our full festival listings for July here