Festivals in Asia to look forward to in 2023

If last year was any indication of Asia's reawakening, then rest assured that 2023 is going tobe a tad wilder.

Festivals in Asia are on the rise with both homegrown and international event brands filling up the calendar, so to make sure you don't miss out, we've prepared a chronological list of our favourite events.

From the notoriously exciting cave rave of Vietnam to the lushing green jungles of Thailand, out to the beautiful waterfronts and even floating on the Malacca Strait between Malaysia and Singapore, the entries below will surely put you in party mode once the flyers catch your eye.

Mark those calendars and get ready to pack those bags; festival season 2023 is here.

This list will be regularly updated as dates, locations and line-ups are announced.

Spreading four Saturdays in February with extra events such as pre-parties and after-parties, get ready to save the dates and spend your upcoming weekends on the shore of Kamala Beach. For the first event, Paco Osuna and Mason Maynard took on headliner duties with Stella Bossi taking charge of the afterparty… and that was just round one.

Grab your tickets here.

Far Out Left is back for its 2023 edition, continuing to contribute to and spread awareness towards the underground music scene via a local and international line-up that focuses on experimenting and portraying new textures of sounds. Last gracing the festival circuit in 2019, Far Out Left is once again ready to present a sensational two-day festival.

Early bird passes have sold out, but Phase I passes are still available here.

Five words for Rustival: techno, soundsystem, boat ride, nature, camping. On an island isolated from civilisation (bye-bye cellphones, public transportation and the luxury of toilets), Rustival invites you to lose yourself in the music without any distractions. Filled with two days of non-stop music from local heroes including Busy Boi, Nanogram, Nick The Book, Zora Chan and more plus sound bath and community chanting sessions, the second edition of the event is bound to provide a "pleasant listening experience in the middle of nowhere".

For more info and to sign up, click here.

This year’s The Alex Blake Charlie Sessions will present its line-up of opening acts from February 21-24, followed by the main festival on February 25. In addition, for the very first time, the event will feature a pop-up book cafe, an art lane and film screenings about women made by women. Their 2023 line-up will surely excite many. Deb Never was just recently added and joins previously announced acts Soccer Mommy, Luna Li, Didi Han and more who will gather in Singapore.

Tickets are categorised into three sets; take your pick or simply pick ‘em all here.

Hong Kong’s biggest outdoor music and arts festival is making a comeback. From March 3 to March 5, Central Harbourfront will be filled with music and enjoyment as a plethora of acts takes over Clockenflap’s stages. We’ve previously reported on their first-phase line-up announcement, but rest assured there’s still more to come.

For Clockenflap 2021 unrefunded ticket holders, your passes are still valid for this year’s festivities. More information here.

Asia’s largest festival on the go and at sea returns after a three-year hiatus. The last trip took place in 2019 and featured What So Not, DJ HYO of Girls’ Generation, Lil Jon. This year, the three-day and two-night cruise comes with a waterslide park, a zip line that overlooks the sea and a line-up that stretches from hip-hop, house, electro and live performances to accompany you on your floating voyage.

Head over to IT'S THE SHIP’s website for more info.

The Homegrown Festival is not your typical music festival but an adventurous playground for various disciplines to gather and introduce the multiple layers of contemporary Indian culture. Its growing line-up is set to bring more names from the next generation of South Asian artists to the surface. With more than 40 acts constituting five stages and four after-parties, the all-embracing two-day event in Mumbai invites you in for immersive experiences in the realms of music, art, fashion, film, technology, gaming, education, culinary, innovation and more.

Phase I tickets to The Homegrown Festival can be bought here.

The sixth edition of Secret Weekend is coming in late March, presenting an array of activities to immerse in; from workshops to watersports and, of course, sonic pleasures at Hola Beach, Vietnam. The team has just released its full line-up, which comprises an assembly of the finest live acts, takeovers, performances and DJs spread across its stages; The Octopus, The Spaceship and “Secret Stage”. Headliners include Singapore’s Dean Chew and Poland’s Radikal Guru.

For full details on the line-up and what’s in store at Secret Weekend6, head here.

Created and promoted by Karma Klique, the third volume of Karma Krachao is coming back for another session this March. Presenting its high-end curation of techno and acid, this year’s line-up includes Kaipod, Powder, Yoshi Nori, Tristan Kino and Yoongying. Of course there’s also the afterparty, where Sweed and Sunju Hargun will accompany you in the heart of Bangkok’s Old Town with their sublime sets.

Secure your tickets for both events here.

Head over to the Himalayas for Grasslands Festival 2023, with both local and international acts spread out across two days and three stages — The Electronic Stage, Club House and Live Stage. The line-up includes top names from a diverse range of electronic music genres; Aayna, Aloka, Krunk Kulture's Rafiki aka Sohail Arora and DJ Nida just to name a few. Another act you shouldn’t miss on day two is French/Spanish artist Manu Chao who pioneered the Latin alternative movement in the 80s.

Get your tickets to Grasslands Festival in Nepal here.

Sawasdee krab to Thailand, summer and Thai Break 2023. Picking up right where it left off in 2019, Thai Break 2023 has announced its 14-day-and-night escape from the mundane to celebrate life, music and breathtaking scenery. Visiting both Bangkok and Koh Mak, get yourself on the cruise to see the amazing beaches and exciting sets from various DJs from Germany and Thailand such as Domenic D’Agnelli, Barbara Preisinger, Jirus, Thaistick and more.

Click here to be a Thaibreaker.

Returning to Hong Kong in 2023 with a brand new venue, the UK’s electronic dance music festival is set to take place on April 1 and 2. At its new Central Harbourfront location, you’re bound to revel in the atmosphere to the fullest as the spacious waterfront echoes out your favourite tunes by top-notch names in electronic music.

Line-up announcements incoming; stay ready for the latest updates here.

The 25-meter high natural limestone cave, Mỏ Luông, comes back alive for the annual gathering of Equation in April. BongBongQuayQuay, Di Linh, Powder, Wata Igarashi and Cora are set to play at the much-awaited festival, which also offers a wide selection of other activities such as sound healing and yoga. With the Savage Hanoi crew taking charge, you know you’re in for an unforgettable experience soundtracked by a fine line-up.

Get your tickets to the infamous cave rave here.

Hosted as a celebration of Thailaind’s traditional New Year, the S2O Festival is one of the most anticipated events of the year. This year, it promises to be bigger and better with headliners Tiësto, Nicky Romero, Vinai, Valentino Khan, Borgeous b2b Makj, Lucas & Steve and more ready to unleash their energetic sets to accompany your friendly water fights.

More on S2O Festival here.

Loud Heat, Positive Vibrations, All Love. If that's your thing, this is the festival for you. Koh Phangan calls you to enjoy two days and three stages of Asia's underground music scene forerunners; Zwi, Chalo, Sunju Hargun, Rom Rom and more. Located at Koh Ma Beach Resort, the event coincides with Songkran (the Thai New Year) and provides a space where attendees can reconnect with one another and the natural surroundings, "uniting lovers and warriors on these shores as one tribe" that celebrates life through music.

See you on the sand floor — more info here.

With Afrojack, Joris Voorn, Kölsch and more set to perform at the second edition of Ultra Taiwan, we suggest you secure your passes ASAP. FYI, the second wave of Early Bird tickets is already 75% sold-out. It’ll be a Sunday to remember at Taipei’s Dajia Riverside Park.

Keep yourself updated on Ultra Taiwan here.

The last time Organik showed up, the island’s unique festival opened a new home for all guests in Taiwan’s tropical forestry. This year marks its tenth edition and a brand new venue — “Secret Island”. 51 hours of non-stop music by the ocean, a stellar line-up that includes Sunju Hargun, Amor Satyr, Diskonnected, Sedef Adasi and more, an additional “Ambient Stage” that allows you to connect to nature; how can you say no?

Stay updated on what’s to come from Organik by following their Instagram.

Rainbow Disco Club (RDC) welcomes its global fanbase back to Japan in 2023. Coming back after three years, the festival presents a boundaryless dancefloor with performances from first-rate DJs and producers such as Jeff Mills, DJ Nobu and Eris Drew, Ben UFO, Yu Su and more, alongside spellbinding visuals and lighting. With a line-up like that, no wonder only Category 3 tickets are left!

Check out the details for RDC here.

Kicking off at 10am on Saturday, May 20 and powering through til 5pm on Sunday, May 21, Star Festival presents a diverse line-up that’s bound to entice electronic music enthusiasts of all genres. From drum’n’bass guru Goldie, multifaceted producer Nosaj Thing to the ever-eclectic Kyoto native Fumiya Tanaka and more, attendees are invited to camp out in the idyllic wilderness of Fumin-no-mori Hiyoshi in Kyoto and recharge while absorbing the bounty of beats.

For more info on Star Festival, head here.

Are you ready for 48 hours of non-stop music amidst the splendour of nature in South Korea’s mountainous Gangwon-do province? The Air House returns in May, putting forth a strong line-up featuring globally renowned names such as Manfredas and Rhadoo who will be supported by a slew of Korea’s favourite names like Jesse You, Radio Revolution and more. Pack up that camping gear and make your way to the ‘nature underground music festival’ you’ve been waiting for.

Find all you need to know on The Air House here.

Teaming up with Ulaanbaatar-based underground music label, The Majesty Mongolia, INTRO Music Festival will be held for its third time in 2023. All you need to know so far is that it will present 15 international DJs and has already acquired Boiler Room official rights. First held in Beijing in 2009, this year's INTRO Music Festival will take place at Mongol Shiltgeen. Its previous endeavours have travelled to Shanghai, Shiedao, Xiamen and Amsterdam for 13 consecutive years, hosting more than 200 artists and 80,000 electronic music fans.

More details here.

Held in the heart of the Omine mountains, Moment 2023 presents a two-day outdoor festival with a line-up that showcases the country’s top DJs such as DJ Nobu, Kaoru Inoue and Aoki Takamasa. Joining them as international acts will be Munich-based artist Polygonia and Shoal from Utrecht. With additional speakers and a covered bar area that transforms into a second stage, seems like Moment 2023 will be one for the books.

More info on Moment 2023 here.

Rural returns for its 15th reiteration and this time it’s headed back to the mountains. Taking place at Naeba Greenland in Niigata, the event will host over 35 names across its two stages; HEXA (for lovers of deep, electronic resonances) and PENTA (hosting artists from downtempo house and techno, bass and ambient tendencies). The line-up is a perfectly curated mix of both local and international representations, featuring Bristol duo Giant Swan, Japanese techno guru Wata Igarashi, Higher Intelligence Agency, Solar and more.

Tickets and info on Rural here.

Fuji Rock Festival returns to the stunning Naeba Ski Resort, ready to host up to 150,000 attendees. The three-day event’s theme this year is “Feel Great at Fuji Rock”, and how can you not with a line-up like that?! Among the heavyweight international acts such as The Strokes, Lizzo, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Yo La Tengo are must-not-miss acts; Yung Singh, Balming Tiger, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and more to be announced. Advance Ticket sales will go on until June 1 before General Ticket Sales start the next day.

Check out updates on Fuji Rock Festival here.

Burning Man a bit too far from reach? Spirit of Gobi should be right up your alley. The contemporary art and electronic music festival held in the majestic Gobi Desert aims to develop sustainable art tourism in the region while presenting an array of work by contemporary artists and musicians. Last year's headliners consisted of Konstantin and Leafar Legov of Berlin's Geigling label alongside Amsterdam's Manoman.

Keep tabs on announcements from Spirit of Gobi's 2023 edition here.

Since 2018, DMZ Peace Train Music Festival has been promoting peace and unification straight from the Korean demilitarised zone (DMZ). The event features a broad spectrum of genres ranging from folk and punk rock to world and electronic music. Upholding its slogan “Dancing for a Borderless World”, this year’s line-up includes the likes of homegrown duo HYPNOSIS THERAPY, TootArd from the Occupied Syrian Golan Heights and Chinoiseries creator Onra among others, with Seoul Community Radio also slotted for a stage takeover.

For more info on DMZ Peace Train Music Festival, head here.

Singapore’s first-ever camping festival is ready to roll in September. Initiated by Ice Cream Sundays and FuFu Creative, Sunda Festival offers a completely immersive weekend with its on-site accommodation, so you won’t be far from the impressive line-up of regional DJs and live acts spread across three stages at the Sarimbun Scout Camp. Among those already announced are Chalo (Live), Dean Chew ft. Kaye, Fraktal (Live), Kuniyuki (Live), Wax’o Paradiso, Yadin Moha and more.

Tickets for Sunda Festival available here.

“A festival for the earth, by the earth”. With a mission to celebrate the synergy between music, art, well-being and nature, while promoting sustainable and mindful practices, GAIA Festival aims to be a melting pot of cultures, ideas and experiences. The festival will host three stages and over 25 acts spanning a multitude of genres, a multi-disciplinary art exhibition featuring 20+ artists and 200+ artworks from across the country, 10+ facilitators for well-being workshops and adventure activities all executed in a sustainable approach.

Peek the festival’s 2022 aftermovie and find out more on this year’s event here.

India’s pioneering events and bookings agency, KRUNK, has run Bass Camp since 2010 — the country’s one and only festival purely dedicated to (you guessed it) bass-heavy music. Indulge in jungle, drum’n’bass, dubstep, electro, breaks, footwork and more in a number of major Indian cities by international headliners Papa Nugs, Taso, Sully, Surusinghe, Iyre and, of course, a fine selection of the country's beat purveyors.

Find out more about Bass Camp Festival and its programming here.

Yes, another Grasslands event comes your way in October. Grasslands Carnival is a one-day experience specially curated to host attendees with the best of arts and entertainment. Taking place at Hotel Himalaya which prides itself as a tranquil oasis in Kathmandu Valley, the event will feature crowd-favourite names like Rafiki, Tasnneem, Spryk, Surusinghe and more. There will also be a special performance of the Mahakali dance that holds a tonne of tradition, culture and identity of the country by a dance crew that was established more than 80 years ago.

More info on Grasslands Carnival here.

Japan’s legendary all-nighter festival ‘Metamorphose’ is back after an over-decade-long hiatus. Held at Yu-RUN Park Tamaho in Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture, expect to immerse in a kaleidoscope of genres from legendary and cutting-edge artists; hip hop founder Afrika Bambaataa, house and techno heavyweight (plus former Underworld DJ) Darren Emerson, and Gerald Mitchell’s Los Hermanos among the international names featured beside local favourites DJ KrushMore, SMTK and more in the mix.

Get all the info you need on Metamorphose here.

The sixth iteration of Shi Fu Miz returns with an impressive line-up of both global and regional favourites in the realm of electronic music. Taking place on Cheung Chau island just a 30-minute ferry ride from the city, be ready to explore the grasses of Sai Yuen Farm which will be teeming with activities for all ages — not to mention four stages that will host exciting acts such as Antal, Esa, Soichi Terada, Yu Su, Mogwaa, a 宀 Club takeover and more.

Get your tickets to Shi Fu Miz available here.

Mỏ Luông Cave in Mai Châu, Vietnam, comes alive again this year for (Re)treat’s Halloween debut event. With a 32-strong line-up featuring headliners Soichi Terada (live), DJ Masda and Midland, the three-day haunted cave rave also offers dancers a chance to bask in the stellar lighting and visuals by Human Spectrum while dancing in front of Holland Create’s impeccable stage.

For more information on (Re)treat’s Halloween tricks, head here.

Dubbed Bangkok’s first International Independent Music Festival, Maho Rasop 2023 is confirmed to happen on December 2 and 3 at ESC Park Rangsit. Though no names have been announced, we’re sure it’ll be just as successful as last year’s event that showcased the eclectic sounds of DOTT b2 Elaheh, Chalo, Asa Moto and more among the abundance of bands on its line-up.

For detailed updates, visit Maho Rasop’s website here.

ZoukOut is preparing things differently this year; for its 20th milestone edition, the festival will be holding its first-ever sunset-to-sunrise shindig. In addition to anticipating an all-out line-up, be prepared for this; “a large mothership will be descending upon the tribe at the main stage, bringing a cosmic realm from the far reaches of the universe filled with unique and intrinsic forms of harmony.”

Tickets already available for purchase here.

After a successful first event in Bali last year, you can bet Burning Beach will return for another in 2023. The 2022 edition boasted a top-tier line-up of international and local acts, which we were happy to contribute to via our very own Mixmag Asia stage. Decked out with a bunch of activations and collaborations, the festival is sure to be back in Bali this year to cater to its already growing fanbase with a fresh line-up of acts and activities, including a highly-anticipated after-hours agenda.

Bookmark Burning Beach's official website here to stay updated on more announcements.

A must-have on one’s list. Wonderfruit not only showcases Thailand’s celebration of the arts, music, food and wellness, it also incorporates live musical acts and a staggering selection of DJ/producers that allow you to transcend musical boundaries as you make your way through four magical days in The Fields. No date or line-up announcement yet, but that’s never been an issue before.

Keep tabs on Wonderfruit 2023 here and check out highlights from Wonderfruit 2022 in case you missed out.

As more and more noteworthy festivals in Asia announce their dates for 2023, we’ll be adding them to our list, so make sure to bookmark this page.

Katherine Doãn is an intern at Mixmag Asia. Follow her on LinkedIn.