After a long hiatus, major live entertainment events are returning to APAC this year, with plenty to look forward to, from local favourites to internationally-acclaimed festivals. Mark your calendars with Hive Life’s curated lineup of APAC’s highly-anticipated art, culture, and music festivals happening in 2023.
As Asia Pacific reopens its borders to global tourists, major production houses are reviving their operations. 2023 will make its mark with many international and regional live music festivals returning to Asia with new and exciting lineups, bearing good news for APAC’s collective fanbase of global cultural and performance art.
Read on to discover new local concepts, along with other internationally-renowned festivals coming up this year, while scouting the best destinations to visit for music, culture, and art.
Midsumma Festival
Midsumma Festival, Australia’s eminent queer arts and cultural event, has arrived in Melbourne, bringing a string of live performances, games, sports, and many other community initiatives. The 23-day annual summer festivities will feature a diverse mix of LGBTQIA+ artists, musicians, entertainers, and more, presenting its audience with a new concept each day.
The outdoor spectacle hosts over 180 booths accommodating food vendors, and creatives, along with many queer-friendly community organisations and businesses.
The festival will conclude with the extravagant “Victoria’s Pride Street Party,” held on Sunday, the 12th of February, where influential performer and queer advocate, Keiynan Lonsdale, is set to make an appearance.
Date: Till 12 February
Location: St Kilda Rd, Melbourne (click here for other locations)
Price: Free Entry (click here for details)
Clockenflap
Clockenflap is making a comeback after a three-year hiatus. Renowned for embracing diverse music genres and a top-notch lineup of artists from around the globe- Hong Kong’s massive international outdoor music and arts festival will take place at Central Harbourfront on the first weekend of March 2023. The long-awaited hallmark event will feature a world-class fiesta experience in the spectacular outdoors lined with top food and beverage outlets.
The eclectic first-round lineup features Hong Kong’s rising rapper Tyson Yoshi, Japanese indie-rockers Hitsujibungaku, British rock icons Arctic Monkeys as their Friday night headliners, and many other rising artists and internationally-acclaimed musicians.
Date: 3-5 March
Location: Central Harbourfront Event Space, Central, Hong Kong
Price: HK$680 – HK$1,720
Rolling Loud
Rolling Loud, the world’s largest hip-hop music festival, is making its way over to Pattaya, Thailand, this spring, as its first-ever stop in Asia. First launched in 2015, the event continues to make waves over the years of its running. As one of the most intentionally sought-after concerts, it has toured the biggest countries and cities across the globe, including the United States, and Canada.
Rolling Loud is raved about for its remarkable features, from major hip-hop artists to new emerging talents in the music industry. The three-day spectacle has incredible performances lined up, presenting famous rappers Lil Uzi Vert, Rich the Kid, Offset, and many more.
Internationally renowned Cardi B will also be headlining the festival.
Dates: 13-15 April
Location: Legend Siam Pattaya Thailand, 139 หมู่ 8 Sukhumvit Road, Na Chom Thian, Sattahip District Chon Buri 20250 Thailand
Price: THB$12,000-THB$25,000
Ultra Taiwan
Ultra Music Festival, an annual electronic music celebration returns to Asia this year, kicking off in Taiwan’s flourishing entertainment and cultural scene.
Many notable names within the contemporary art space are set to grace the electronic dance music (EDM) stage, with previous editions of the event featuring many celebrated personalities, including Afrojack, Chainsmokers, Martin Garrix, among others.
The festival is set to elevate this year’s lineup with an extraordinary range of musicians across different genres, promising to make its return a memorable one. It is an opportunity not to be missed, make your way to Taiwan to witness some of the best live music performances.
Date: 16 April
Location: Dajia Riverside Park Taipei, Taiwan
Price: TWD$3,400 – TWD$4,000
InFUSION Music & Arts Festival
Brace yourself this summer for a weekend packed with live music, food, and festivities. Vietnam-based entertainment group, BadaBoom, presents the InFUSION Music & Arts Festival, which will be held at the Tien Sa Retreat Da Nang. The event was postponed last year and is set to return this April.
The all-inclusive festival will feature various music performances, water sports, street food delights, and plenty more, while spotlighting many artistic installations. A perfect balance of culture and creatives, the much-anticipated event will showcase a diverse mix of artisans, musicians, and F&B vendors.
Dates: 29 April-1 May
Location: Tien Sa Retreat Da Nang, 01 Yết Kiêu – P. Thọ Quang – Q. Sơn Trà, Da Nang, Vietnam
Price: TBC
SUMMER SONIC FESTIVAL
SUMMER SONIC FESTIVAL, Japan’s longest-running music extravaganza, will return this summer with a two-day celebration packed with a lively atmosphere, an unrivalled mix of performers, and plenty more. First started in 2002, SUMMER SONIC has scaled tremendously, becoming one of the largest festive productions in the country.
Last year, SUMMER SONIC brought Post Malone, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Megan Thee Stallion to the stage, alongside many other big names. 2023’s lineup is expected to be just as powerful, featuring an artful mix of local and internationally acclaimed performing artists, bands, and DJs, who have earned quite a reputation in alternative rock, electronic, metal, and hip-hop.
Get ready to experience some seriously fierce performances, as SUMMER SONIC unveils Blur and Kendrick Lamer as their headliners for this year’s festivities.
Dates: 19-20 August
Location: ZOZO Marine Stadium and Makuhari Messe, Tokyo; Maishima Sonic Park, Osaka
Price: ¥18,000 – ¥34,000
Singapore International Festival of Arts
Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) returns this year, spotlighting the nation’s diverse culture and talents. First launched in 1977, SIFA has since evolved perpetually and continues to inspire the next generations of aesthetes.
Last year, the festival’s theme focused on “The Anatomy of Performance Ritual,” highlighting many original creations and installations produced by not just local innovators, but other famed international artists as well, including Holly Herndon’s live concert, Lucy McRae’s immersive film experience- Delicate Spells of Mind, and plenty more.
Stay tuned to find out more about the endless artistry and culture within the new realm of imagination that awaits you at SIFA 2023.
Date: 19 May- 4 June
Location: School of the Arts Singapore (SOTA) Drama Theatre (click here for other locations)
Price: SG$38 (click here for details)
Featured Banner Image: midsumma.org.au
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