10 festivals you need to check out this summer

Lucca is a series of concerts as opposed to an out-and-out festival, but given the acts coming to town, we’re disinclined to nitpick. Its Tuscan location makes it the festival of choice for those intent on hopping around Italy this summer, with Livorno, Florence and Pisa all just a short train/bus/scooter journey away. 2 June-23 July. Prices vary by concert. summer-festival.com

What’s cooler than being cool? No, Andre, it’s not ice cold, it’s Iceland, and more specifically, Secret Solstice. The Reykjavik festival is steeped in Nordic mysticism and boasts a line up of big name talent. The real draw, however, is the location, with parties in a lagoon, a glacier and a volcano. 17-19 June. Tickets from £89. secretsolstice.is

Groovefest boasts two festivals, one in the Dominican Republic, another in Malta. We’ve gone for the Maltese version. Why? Tickets are affordable, and the island’s rustic local charm makes it a great festival for those looking for a little culture to go with their musical festivities. Hot Since 82 are one of the big names, and also quite a good reminder to pack your suncream. 29 April-1 May. Tickets £89. groovefestevents.com

Last year Belgium’s best rock festival celebrated its 40th anniversary, and in 2016, it continues its trend of attracting big names to the party. We recommend staying at the Hive Resort. OK, it’s not as buzzing as the main campsite, but with tent, tipi and even lodge packages available, it’s a luxurious way of seeing McCartney, The 1975 et al in style. 30 June-3 July. Four-day tickets priced at €236. rockwerchter.be

A festival in an old steel factory? Yes please. Colours of Ostrava takes place just outside the Czech Republic’s third-biggest city, and is an absolute treat. A laid-back festival, it’s family friendly without skimping on the atmosphere, and gets some huge names in a variety of genres. 14-17 July. Four-day tickets €84.23. colours.cz

For the generation of festivalgoers who were in their late teens and early 20s when festivals really became a big thing in the UK (in terms of scale and numbers), Festival No.6 is something of a breath of fresh air. It attracts a (slightly) older crowd than some, without suffering the seemingly inevitable lull in atmosphere, and the selection of acts isn’t half bad either. The pretty Welsh town of Portmeirion plays host to a broad range of activities including huge banquets, lively discussions and debates, paddle boarding and pirate training. Technically, that last one’s meant for kids, but we have sharp elbows and we fully intend to use them. 1-4 September. Adult weekend ticket with camping, £180. festivalnumber6.com

Latitude boasts a vertiginous line up this year, including alt-rockers The National and 2015’s crown princes of indie, The Maccabees. With arguably its best ever line up – compared to Glastonbury’s somewhat dour offering – 2016 is the year to go to Latitude. Weekend packages remain reasonable, and with each passing year it continues to both fascinate and entertain. Well, we find dyed sheep entertaining. Don’t know about you. 14-17 July. Adult weekend tickets start from £205. latitudefestival.com

Latitude’s sister festival takes place just south of Dublin, and is a great option for those hoping to use the Irish capital as a springboard towards seeing more of the Emerald Isle this summer. What better way to dip your toes into all things Ireland than a weekend spent in the company of Kendrick Lamar, Róisín Murphy and Tyler, the Creator? Ok, well it’s probably not the traditional way of seeing Hibernia, but it is a very, very good way. And we’re happy with that. 15-17 July. Weekend tickets priced at €159.50. longitude.ie

Our favourite festival of 2015 is back again and if it’s anything like last year, there’s every chance it will be our favourite of 2016 too. Sheffield gets somewhat sleepy in the summer, with the students gone/backpacking/not stealing traffic cones. But for three days in July, the Steel City comes alive once more. Those seeking A-list acts will be disappointed, but if you like to discover new music (as well as enjoying some great established names), Tramlines is perfect. There’s a main stage outside the centre, but most of the fun happens in various venues around the city, including the legendary Leadmill. 22-24 July. Tickets priced £42.60 for the full weekend. tramlines.org.uk