PAUSE Picks: Festivals to Attend 2026 Vol. II

Whether you’re chasing the biggest festivals or discovering something new, here’s our second edition and edit of the must-know events taking place this summer.

EXIT is expanding its footprint this summer with EXIT 2 Montenegro, a new initiative bringing two free-to-attend festivals to Montenegro’s Adriatic coastline. Stretching from the sands of Ulcinj’s Long Beach to the historic shores of Budva, the events aim to combine world-class music with the country’s coastal landscapes, offering festivalgoers a fresh destination on the European summer calendar.

Blending live performances with local culture and beachside settings, EXIT 2 Montenegro positions the Balkan nation as one of the season’s emerging festival hotspots, inviting visitors to experience both its vibrant music scene and picturesque coastline.

Love Trails Festival returns for its sold-out 2026 edition, celebrating a decade of bringing together trail running, music and the outdoors.

Set against the backdrop of the Gower Peninsula, the UK’s first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this year’s festival promises its most ambitious programme to date. Across five days, attendees can expect trail running, hiking, wellness experiences, beach yoga, bird watching, community-led talks and coastal exploration, alongside live performances from nimino, Mr Scruff and Nubiyan Twist, plus a lineup of DJs and outdoor experiences that continue to make Love Trails one of the UK’s most distinctive summer festivals.

Since launching in 2022, Panorama Festival has quickly established itself as one of Europe’s leading electronic music events, welcoming more than 50,000 attendees from over 40 countries during last year’s edition.

Returning to the sun-soaked region of Puglia this summer, the festival will host an international lineup featuring Solomun, Peggy Gou, Mochakk, Pawsa, Mau P, BLOND:ISH b2b Vintage Culture, as well as a special back-to-back-to-back set from Jamie Jones, Seth Troxler and The Martinez Brothers. The programme also includes Josh Baker, ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, Gennaro, Kimonos, Rolbac and Saraga, further cementing Panorama Festival’s place as one of the standout destinations on this year’s European festival circuit.