Festival promoters capitalise on ‘golden era’ of EDM

European festival organisers are capitalising on the growth of electronic dance music (EDM) with new dedicated events.

Next year, Primavera Sound Porto in Portugal will hold an extra day on Sunday 15 June dedicated to EDM – the lineup and details of which are yet to be announced.

The 12th edition of the festival will return to the city’s Parque da Cidade between 12–15 June 2025, the week after Primavera Sound Barcelona.

Charli XCX, Central Cee, Jamie xx, Beach House, Deftones, Fontaines DC, HAIM and Turnstile are among the acts that were today confirmed for Primavera Sound Porto 2025.

Elsewhere, FEST Team is planning to launch Bulgaria’s first major EDM festival in Sofia next summer.

Belgian DJ and record producer Lost Frequencies is the first confirmed headliner for the three-day event, named Aura.

Having brought international EDM stars such as Armin Van Buuren, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike to the market, FEST Team CEO Stefan Elenkov told IQ that he’s banking on the genre.

“I really believe we will be recognised as the company that organised the best EDM party in the country,” he says.

The global dance music business saw 17% revenue growth in 2023 to a valuation of $11.8bn

Meanwhile, Belgium has gained a new five-day festival and conference dedicated to EDM called Abrupt.

The inaugural edition took place in Brussels earlier this month and comprised seven concerts, six club nights and numerous debates and workshops.

Organised by the non-profit Arty Farty Brussels, the festival took over iconic music venues and clubs such as Botanique, the C12, Bozar and the Ancienne Belgique.

The increasing popularity of EDM is not just underscored by new events but also by the growth of pre-existing ones.

C2C Festival in Turin, which has spawned 22 editions, has gone from strength to strength in recent years.

Organisers yesterday (6 November) reported the highest attendance yet for the 2024 edition, which was the third consecutive sell-out.

This growth is further evidenced by the IMS Business Report 2024, which declared a ‘golden era’ for the global dance music business after 17% revenue growth in 2023 to a valuation of $11.8bn.

Take a closer look at key numbers and trends that are shaping the global electronic music scene here.

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