AVA

Belfast, United Kingdom
June 2 - June 3

Since launching in 2015, AVA Festival has helped put Belfast on the dance music map in a big way. Known for its raucous, up-for-it crowd and lineups that combine Irish talent with stars from further afield, it's become one of the UK's most loved festivals. For this year's edition, local favourites Jordan Nocturne, Holly Lester and Carlton Doom will be joined by headliners like Ben UFO, Peggy Gou and UK rap sensation Central Cee.

RA Pick: Job Jobse's trance bangers are welcome at any festival.

Riverside

Glasgow, Scotland
June 3 - June 4

Celebrating ten years this year, Glasgow's Riverside Festival takes place at the Zaha Hadid-designed Riverside Museum on the River Clyde. While Sunday's lineup is all about techno—courtesy of Slam, SPFDJ, Paula Temple and more—Saturday caters to wider sounds, from the New York club style of AceMoMa and SHERELLE's jungle and footwork, to Avalon Emerson's encyclopaedic journeys across the dance music spectrum. As usual, the Satellite stage will be all about highlighting Scottish artists.

RA Pick: Nothing gets a local crowd going like a pair of local legends, so Eclair Fifi back-to-back Big Miz should be the perfect start to Saturday.

Terraforma

Milan, Italy
June 9 - June 11

Terraforma returns for another three days in the leafy, picturesque grounds of Villa Arconati near Milan. The Italian festival prides itself on its commitment to sustainability and experimentation, with the 2023 edition combining DJ sets and live performances with a lecture and workshop programme. This year boasts a handful of exciting back-to-backs from the likes of OKO DJ and Nosedrip, and Low Jack and STILL. Live performances from some of the best in the game—Actress, Hudson Mohawke, upsammy—are also on the bill.

RA Pick: Hudson Mohawke knows how to put a dynamic live show together.

Soft Centre

Sydney, Australia
June 11

Following a successful move to a new venue last year, Soft Centre returns to Sydney in 2023, hosting the likes of Nerdie, Amnesia Scanner, Violent Magic Orchestra and Deli Girls at the Carriageworks. Incarnated as a cultural space in 2007, the industrial venue is the perfect home for Soft Centre, a multi-sensory festival specialising in leftfield club music, unique collaborations and experimental performances. Highlights on the programme include aya, Hand to Earth, Cutting Room, local selectors like D-Grade and Wingnut, and Gamilaraay rappers T Breezy and Walkerboy, who will perform with Trackwork's label head Utility.

RA Pick: Mad Miran throwing down with her medley of electro, IDM, breakcore and more.

Sónar

Barcelona, Spain
June 15 - June 17

Sónar weekend is now a staple for electronic music fans, who flock to Barcelona in their many thousands each summer. The festival, which sits at the vanguard of music, art and technology, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The buzz and spirit of the iconic event's cultural programme will take over both official and unofficial spaces across the city, with an expansive lineup that covers all corners of electronic music and beyond. For the sixth year, Resident Advisor will host the SonarLab on Friday and Saturday nights, welcoming artists like Nene H, DJ EZ and Anz to the stage.

RA Pick: Prepare to have your mind warped as Aphex Twin returns for the first time in 12 years.

Glastonbury

Somerset, United Kingdom
June 21 - June 25

What to say about one of the world's best-known festivals, where something unexpected lies around every corner? Returning to Worthy Farm in Somerset across five blissful days, Glastonbury was rightly criticised this year for its white, male headliners (Arctic Monkeys, Guns N' Roses, Elton John), but in terms of the electronic programming, pretty much all bases are covered. All roads lead to the South East Corner after dark, where areas like Block9, Shangri-La and The Common play world-class dance music all night long. At sunrise, it's time to head to the stone circle.

RA Pick: Fever Ray's live show is spellbinding stuff.

ICKPA

Berlin, Germany
June 23 - June 26

Curated by Tbilisi nightclub Bassiani, ICKPA focuses on post-Soviet dance music and individual expression, exploring how music and conversations can deepen underground culture. The festival normally takes place in Kyiv, but since Russia's 2022 invasion, it's moved to RSO in Berlin, where it doubles up as a fundraiser for charities in Ukraine. This year's edition will feature a cultural programme of talks and panels to complement the diverse musical lineup, which includes Salome, Jane Fitz and Bambu.

RA Pick: Bassiani resident Kancheli is known for his trippy, '90s-inspired techno. Influenced by Detroit, trance and raw groove, his sets never fail to deliver.

INTRO

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
June 23 - June 26

Mongolia's capital city has been quietly developing a vibrant creative economy in recent years, as an influx of new venues and promoters cater to the country's large youth population. Artists such as Davaajargal Tsaschikher and The Hu, who blend traditional throat singing with contemporary styles, have also put Ulaanbaatar on the music map, drawing curious ears from all corners of the globe. Adding to the city's enticing offerings is INTRO Festival, which, since 2018, has combined international acts with regional talents, serving as a comprehensive destination for cutting-edge techno, drum & bass and experimental rhythms. This year's highlights include Tom Trago, Barker and festival favourite Weng Weng of Lantern Beijing.

RA Pick: Biliguudei is considered a pioneer of Mongolia's underground electronic scene. Whether he's dishing out pummelling techno or dark acid, the man goes hard—consider yourselves warned.

AUDRA

Kaunas, Lithuania
June 29 - July 2

Lithuania's AUDRA Festival feels like a hidden gem. Taking place across several striking industrial spaces in the city of Kaunas, the five-day event combines DJ sets and live performances with contemporary art installations and exhibitions. The lineup is stacked: I. JORDAN, Skin On Skin, Loraine James, Avalon Emerson and Kode9 are all playing in 2023. Also, with Kaunas having been named European Capital of Culture in 2022, it feels like the perfect time to make the pilgrimage.

RA Pick: Bored Lord's effervescent slew of edits.

Dripping

New York, United States
June 30 - July 2

The East Coast is getting a new festival this year. Just 90 minutes from New York, Dripping is a two-night camping event held in the woody expanse of Sparta, New Jersey. Nighttime parties will involve several New York collectives, including False Peak, Big Room Boogie and 29 Speedway, which all specialise in bubbling leftfield sounds. In terms of out-of-town artists, the lineup will run the gamut from the relaxing sounds of Laraaji to the raucous energy of RP Boo, Rrose and DJ Marcelle. The daytime programme also includes a talk with DJ Voices and a reading by writer and therapist Hannah Baer.

RA Pick: A DJ Marcelle set is a rarity. Expect a slew of earth-shattering surprises.

Find our full festival listings for June here

Correction, May 24th: A previous version of this article said Soft Centre's host venue is called The Carriageways. It's actually Carriageworks. The text has also been updated to include additional information about the artists playing at Soft Centre this year.