When the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach country music festival end, festival season is over in Indio — but not the rest of Southern California.
For much of the region, the festival season is just beginning, with events scheduled throughout Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties for the next several months.
If you’re interested in festivals closer to the desert, you can find options in Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, or San Bernardino. There are also rock festivals in Long Beach or Orange County, as well as electronic dance music parties held in unique locations, like a pool or near the Queen Mary. With so many festivals to choose from, you’re sure to find something that fits your vibe.
Here’s our picks for the top music festivals happening between May and October in Southern California.
Joshua Tree Music Festival
In 2024, USA TODAY ranked the Joshua Tree Music Festival as No. 1 on its 10 Best Music Festival list. In 2025, it was ranked No. 2 on the same list, and then No. 3 in 2026. What’s the secret to its success? According to founder Barnett English, the festival features more of a community vibe than a large-scale music festival. It hosts 3,000 people during both annual editions (it takes place in October as well), featuring over 55 workshops, live mural artists, local vendors, and activities for children.
Local bands perform among world music acts. The May edition will feature performances by Los Angeles band Thumpasaurus, Brazilian singer and composer Bia Ferreira, Turkish psychedelic rock band ÖLÜM, and many more.
If you go: May 14-May 17, Joshua Tree Lake Campground, 2601 Sunfair Road, Joshua Tree. joshuatreemusicfestival.com
Festival passes
Single-day passes
Day Trip Festival
Does a party at the Queen Mary Waterfront in Long Beach sound fun? How about a two-day festival with multiple stages and DJ sets by acts such as Purple Disco Machine, Cloonee, Elderbrook, Hayden James and many more? That’s what Day Trip Festival Long Beach is all about. Produced by Insomniac, the 21+ festival is equal parts beach party and seaside spectacle.
If you go: June 27-28, Queen Mary Waterfront, 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach. daytripfest.com
Passes:
Vans Warped Tour Long Beach
The days of the Vans Warped Tour, a beloved music festival, are long past, but it still continues in a few cities each year. In 2026, Long Beach will be one of five cities hosting the tour, and it’s the only California stop on the schedule. The lineup features ska-punk, pop‑punk and alt‑rock bands such as Hawthorne Heights, The Used, Joyce Manor, Reel Big Fish, Taking Back Sunday, Jimmy Eat World and many more over two days at Shoreline Waterfront.
If you go: July 25-26, Shoreline Waterfront, 386 East Shoreline Drive, Long Beach. vanswarpedtourlongbeach.com
Passes:
Hard Summer Music Festival
This Los Angeles festival featuring electronic music artists alongside hip-hop favorites, held at Hollywood Park, returns this summer with Kali Uchis, a hip-hop set by DJ Snake, Vintage Culture, Knock2 bsb Zedd, 2hollis, B3K bsb Boys Noize, and many more. Hard Summer is famous for its large stages, vibrant visual productions, and a crowd that comes ready to party.
If you go: Aug. 1-2, Hollywood Park adjacent to SoFi Stadium, 1011 Stadium Drive, Inglewood. hardsummer.com
Weekend-long passes
Single-day passes
Splash House
What’s better than an electronic dance music festival combined with a Palm Springs pool party? Splash House is the best of both worlds over two weekends at the Hilton, Saguaro and Renaissance hotels, with after hours programming at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Lineups for both weekends have yet to be announced, but the 2025 festival featured DJ sets by Boys Noize, Cloonee, a B2B set by Diplo and BLOND:ISH, Disclosure, SOFI TUKKER and more.
If you go: Aug. 7-9 and 14-16 at the Hilton, Saguaro and Renaissance hotels in Palm Springs. splashhouse.com
Passes:
Just Like Heaven
Fans of alternative rock and electronic pop will love this year’s lineup at Just Like Heaven, taking place at Brookside at the Rose Bowl. The festival features artists such as LCD Soundsystem, The Strokes, Chromeo, Feist, Twin Peaks, and more. Just Like Heaven was launched by Los Angeles promoter Goldenvoice, known for organizing the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Stagecoach country music festival. The event celebrates the indie-electronic and alternative music scenes of the 2000s and early 2010s.
If you go: Aug. 22, Brookside at the Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. justlikeheavenfest.com
Passes:
Nocturnal Wonderland
Nocturnal Wonderland has been running since 1995, and has since evolved into a two-day electronic music festival held at Glen Helen Amphitheater since 2013, featuring camping, multiple stages and immersive art experiences. The 2026 lineup has not yet been announced, but Infected Mushroom, Eric Prydz, Sullivan King, Axwell and many others performed in 2025.
If you go: Sept. 19-20, Glen Helen Amphitheater, 2555 Glen Helen Parkway, San Bernardino. nocturnalwonderland.com
Passes:
Ohana Festival
The Ohana Festival in Dana Point is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. This laid-back festival takes place at Doheny State Beach and has showcased some impressive lineups in the past, including Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, The Killers, My Morning Jacket, and many more. A lineup is yet to come, and tickets have yet to go on sale, but when they do, it’s best to purchase festival or single-day passes as far in advance as possible, including shuttle and parking passes, because those sell out fast.
If you go: Sept. 25-27, Doheny State Beach, 25-300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. ohanafest.com
Same Same But Different
If you have eclectic music tastes, the Same Same But Different festival at Lake Perris truly lives up to its name. This festival showcases a diverse lineup that includes rock bands, hybrid-electronic acts, and DJs. The 2026 lineup features artists such as LSDREAM, Of The Trees, Andy Frasco and the U.N., Strawberry Disco Circus, and more. Attendees can enjoy beach access, as well as workshops on meditation, yoga, arts and crafts, cooking, and much more.
If you go: Sept. 25-28, Lake Perris State Park, 18-095 Lake Perris Drive, Perris. ssbdfest.com
Passes
Head Trip
Desert Trip brought the legends, Power Trip turned up the volume, and now Head Trip brings the desert its electronic dance music moment — a one‑off, two-day October festival produced by Goldenvoice at the Empire Polo Club featuring Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia, Skrillex, DJ Harvey, The Blessed Madonna, and more.
If you go: Oct. 10-11, Empire Polo Club, 81-800 Avenue 51, Indio. headtripindio.com
Passes:
Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment for the Desert Sun. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: These 10 SoCal summer music festivals are must-attend for music fans
Reporting by Brian Blueskye, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
