The best music festivals in London 2025

Organised by the people behind Percolate and Love International festival in Croatia, mid-September’s electronic music one-dayer Waterworks is a final chance to squeeze every last drop of festival fun out of the summer. Returning to west London’s Gunnersbury Park for its fifth edition, the festival’s line-up features a plethora of talented selectors playing just about every genre of dance music. 

Line-up includes: Two Shell, Yung Singh, Special Request, Palms Trax, Skee Mask, Octo Octa, Eris Drew, Djrum.

Gunnersbury Park, W3 8LQ. Sat Sep 13.

Created by the minds behind Brainchild Festival, Colour Factory, Orii Community and Voices Radio, Jazz on Wick is a new festival for 2025. Taking place across multiple venues in Hackney Wick, the day-to-night celebration of jazz and adjacent astral sounds features neo-soul singer BINA., genre-blending quartet oreglo, multi-instrumentalist Allexa Nava and a special edition of the Orii Jam (complete with special guests TBA). 

Line-up includes: Allexa Nava, BINA., oreglo, Orii Jam feat.special guests, Brainchild DJs, Eglo Records, Voices Radio.

Colour Factory and nearby venues, E9 5EN. Sat Sep 13.

London’s festival scene caters to just about every kind of music fan, and that of course includes metalheads. After debuting in 2022, this three-day black metal bonanza returns to the O2 Academy Islington for its fourth edition this September. Curated by London-based metal label Cult of Parthenope, its line-up promises to showcase ‘some of the finest, rarest and most transcendental’ bands in the genre. 

Line-up incudes: Ritual Death, Bewitched, Kall, Necrophobic, Splendidula, Dark Sonority, Alkhemia, Negative Plane, Shardana, Blood Countess, The Kovenant.

Bringing together a wide spectrum of voices from various disciplines of alternative East and South-East Asian creativity, Margins United is back for its second year in the capital. The line-up centres around Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, a trailblazer in both hyperpop and J-pop who previously collaborated with SOPHIE and Charli xcx. She's joined by DJ Jax Jones, LA’s alt-pop riser Emei and south London rapper Jianbo.

Line-up includes: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Jax Jones, Tohji, Jianbo, DJ Love, Lucy Tun.

Exhibition (and Scala, King’s Cross), W12 7FU. Sat Sep 27.

South east London has a long history of putting on smaller, community-led festivals that hold their weight among the capital’s bigger parties. South Bermonsey Festival is no exception. Taking place across Avalon Cafe, Ormside Projects and Venue MOT – three clubs known as the Bermondsey Triangle, the organised have also promised new off-site locations this year, too. On the bill is Jon K, mad miran, Michael J. Blood, Still House Plants, Kode9, Josey Rebelle, DJ Marcelle, Dennis Bovell, i-sha, DJ Marcelle and V.I.V.E.K. with more names to be announced. 

Got a penchant for cowboy boots, barbecue, and honky tonk? London is hosting a massive two-day extravaganza dedicated to all things Americana this autumn. Brought by the same people behind Black Deer festival and Black Deer Live, Black Deer in the City will have more than 50 musical artists across three live stages – Black Deer Live, Haley’s Bar and the fun sounding Roadhouse. For sustenance, there will be chefs and pit masters serving up authentic Southern-style eats and drinks. And the ambitious can take on the chilli pepper or hot dog eating competitions. Just don’t forget the Rennies. 

Line-up includes: American Aquarium, Chuck Prophet & his Cumbia Shoes, The Picturebooks, The Vintage Caravan, Morganway. 

Tobacco Dock, 50 Porters Walk E1W 2SF. Oct 25-26.

Pitchfork Music Festival is gearing up for another November edition with a jam-packed schedule of eclectic live music encompassing everything from avant-rock and post-punk to psych-pop, UK rap and deconstructed dance music. Gigs take place at plenty of the capital’s most illustrious music and nightlife venues, including Roundhouse, Union Chapel, Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. Joining the likes of Oklou, King Gizzard, Two Shell and Marie Davidson are plenty of up-and-comers who will no doubt be household names in years to come.

Line-up includes: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Oklou, Marie Davidson, Two Shell, Ali Sethi and Nicolas Jaar, Saul Williams, Laurie Anderson. 

Various venues. Nov 4-8.

Every year, the EFG London Jazz Festival brings together the best and brightest of the genre in venues across the city, from capital’s arts venues like Southbank Centre and Barbican, to atmospheric gig spots like Village Underground and Union Chapel. This year is no different. The 2025 line-up promises a bounty of bops, whether you’re looking to discover new artists on the scene (Rita Payés, Nov 19), or want to witness some legends in action (Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nov 15). As well as tons of concerts every day, there’s also sessions, workshops, talks and more to take part in and enjoy. More announcements to come. 

Line-up includes: Tune-Yards, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Hiromi, Fergus McCreadie, Chris Thile and more TBC. 

Various venues. Nov 14-23.