As we presented last week with Top Setlists of 2025, based on how many setlists fans looked up, here are the Top Festivals of this year derived from the same calculation.
Which is really the most scientific metric, if you think about it.
So here, in reverse order are the most popular fests that were clicked around by you, the setlistfm visitor.
10. Fire Aid
2025 started off on a bad foot when wind-whipped flames engulfed two Los Angeles neighborhoods that are home to many in the music industry: Pacific Palisades and Altadena.
The fires killed 31 people and destroyed more than 16,000 homes and businesses, disrupting the lives of tens of thousands of Angelenos.
Within weeks, FireAid was organized by the Annenberg Foundation in partnership with music executive Irving Azoff, LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, and typically competing concert promoters like Live Nation and AEG Presents who for this cause worked together.
More than 30 artists performed in two nearby Inglewood concert venues, the legendary LA Forum and the newly built Intuit Dome.
We're talking Alanis Morissette, Anderson .Paak, Billie Eilish, Dawes, Earth Wind & Fire, Finneas O’Connell, Gracie Abrams, Green Day, Jelly Roll, John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Nirvana, No Doubt, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Pink, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rod Stewart, Stephen Stills, Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Tate McRae, The Black Crowes.
Nearly six hours of music, all for a great cause. So many great performances went down from Nirvana's surprise set to Lady Gaga to Pink. It was a shame it took such a tragedy to make it happen but it was heartwarming to see everyone come out to support LA.
9. Louder than Life
Billed as “America’s loudest rock & metal festival," 200k fans with (hopefully) earplugs arrived at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville for eight days of Slayer, Avenged Sevenfold, Deftones, Sleep Token, A Perfect Circle, Lamb of God, Spiritbox and Knocked Loose and 150 other acts with an edge.
It was Avenged only headlining festival slot and they made it count. Meanwhile Evanescence brought out Paul McCoy to reprise his original rap on “Bring Me to Life."
Bring Me the Horizon unveiled a live debut of “a bulleT w/ my namE On,” one of the deep cuts from 2024’s Post Human: Nex Gen.
And Slayer was able to finally unleash a full‑bore, flame‑drenched 20‑song return after last year’s weather cancellation.
8. Download
Download 2025 returned to its long‑time home of Donington Park in Castle Donington, England, drawing more than 75,000 rock and metal fans who traveled there to see headliners like Green Day, Korn, McFly, Sex Pistols with Frank Carter, Sleep Token.
Attendees also got to rock out to the likes of Alien Ant Farm, Apocalyptica, Bleed From Within, Jerry Cantrell, Meshuggah, Opeth and Steel Panther.
Sleep Token’s theatrical, castle‑themed production was a highlight thanks to it's actual backdrop. Likewise, Korn's 15‑song headline set more than two decades after first playing the site was mighty special.
The freshly updated Sex Pistols with Frank Carter brought the punk and hardcore vibe to the fest, repeatedly restarting “Pretty Vacant” until the mosh pit hit the chaos level the new singer demanded.
7. British Summer Time
Stevie Wonder addressed the 65k at BST by saying, “we’ve been through the hate; love is far bigger,” and proceeded to knock out page after page of his legendary songbook for the audience, signed sealed and delivered.
The 75-year-old hadn't performed in the UK since 2019 and boy were the Brits happy to receive the Motown icon for his Love, Light and Song UK Tour.
But maybe not as stoked as how Sabrina Carpenter was when Duran Duran joined her to do their '80s banger, "Hungry Like The Wolf."
Perhaps the longest fest of the year, BST Hyde Park ran over nine nights and also featured Olivia Rodrigo, Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan, Kings of Leon, Shania Twain, Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, Van Morrison, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Clairo and many others.
6. Welcome to Rockville
Welcome to Rockville set a new attendance record at Daytona International Speedway with 230,000 fans and more than 150 bands.
Of those, Shinedown brought out members of Lynyrd Skynyrd for a “Simple Man,” sing-along.
And Halestorm rolled out five live debuts from Everest, including “Fallen Star,” “WATCH OUT!,” “Rain Your Blood On Me,” and the first full-band performance of “Darkness Always Wins.”
The USA's largest festival provided all of that plus Green Day, Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, and Linkin Park in a NASCAR track. All that was missing was a flock of bald eagles wearing sunglasses. Maybe next year.
5. Lollapalooza Chicago
It's not like Olivia Rodrigo needed to bring out any stars as she headlined Lollapalooza on August 1, but when she had Weezer join her it was a match made in wholesome heaven. Rivers and the fellas accompanied Olivia on their two Blue album classics, "Say It Ain't So" and "Buddy Holly."
Two days later, not that it's a competition, but Sabrina Carpenter invited Earth, Wind & Fire to party with her for a pair of their hits and it was a dance party in Grant Park.
Earlier that Sunday Katseye drew a massive crowd and granted the kids some live debuts.
4. Sonic Temple
This year’s Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival delivered on its promise to be their biggest, most ambitious edition yet: four intense days (May 8–11) at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, starring over 100 acts across multiple stages with Metallica headlining both Friday and Sunday nights with entirely different sets.
As a special treat to the fans, the Bay Area metal masters dusted off "The Shortest Straw," which in 11 years they had only rocked 8 times. At Sonic Temple they played it a 9th, marking the 99th live performance.
Korn headlined Thursday and opened with “Blind” for the first time since 2019. Three Days Grace reunited with original frontman Adam Gontier. And Crossfade got the band back together after a 13-year hiatus and all their merch sold out three hours before they hit the stage.
3. Back To The Beginning
No one has ever seen a farewell like this one. Dozens of hard rock and metal artists curated by Tom Morello to celebrate the life of Ozzy Osbourne, while he was healthy enough to take it all in and even participate.
When have you seen a 76 year-old rocker reunite with his classic band and deliver much of the same power they had 50 years ago, and it rocks? All in light of a parade of superstar bands from Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Slayer and so many others as opening acts.
It was a 10-hour assault of the senses and emotions as all-star lineups that included Aerosmith, Tenacious D., gave love to the Prince of Darkness.
There was even a drum-off between Chad Smith, Travis Barker, and Danny Carey. Whatever party St. Peter had in store for Ozzy when he ascended not long after this bash, had a tough act to follow.
2. Glastonbury
The day her fourth albumVirgin, dropped, Lorde made a surprise appearance at the Woodsies stage and played the whole thing from top to bottom.
“This is f–king sick,” she said, taking it all in.
Fans also got the unexpected treat of watching and hearing Robert Smith duet with Olivia Rodrigo on not one but two Cure classics, "Friday I'm In Love" and "Just Like Heaven."
It went so well the pair allowed the recording to be released with all the proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders.
2025 Glasto will also go down as where Charli burned the Brat flag, Lewis Capaldi got a beautifully well-received second chance after his Tourettes got the upper hand in '23, and where Faces alumni Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood reunited.
1. Coachella
The granddaddy of em all. Or is it the grand Mother?
Mother Monster made a splash this year at the Empire Polo Club in Indio where she live debuted six of her Mayhem tracks for the kids while surrounded by some of the most beautiful and gothic staging ever seen in that desert.
It was operatic high art, and also campy, and fun. But for her Little Monsters it was Everything and they flooded Twitter with praise that extended until the following weekend.
Other highlights - of which there were many - included Ed Sheeran inviting Shaboozey into his secret tiny Old Phone Pub.
Lorde, Billie & Troye popped on stage at various points during Charli XCX's headlining spot. Billie Joe jammed with the Go-Go's, Benson Boone jumped over Brian May.
And if that wasn't enough to give your friends back in Iowa FOMO: Laufey, Maren Morris, Becky G, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Zedd, and LL Cool J performed with the maestro Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil like NBD.
