An eclectic, "anything goes" vibe — Sziget Festival 2024 reviewed

For the uninitiated, Sziget Festival is no ordinary music event; it’s a week-long immersion into a pop-up mini-city on Budapest’s Óbuda Island. Celebrating its 30th edition this year, Sziget hosted more than 1,000 performances across 50 stages, drawing an international crowd from over 100 countries. Given the amount on offer, it’s not hard to see why visitors flock to the Hungarian capital. On top of music, there’s everything from street theatre to art workshops to a full-scale circus (AKA Cirque du Sziget). The atmosphere, as always, felt like stepping into a parallel universe where freedom, self-expression, and an eclectic soundtrack reign supreme.

Electronic music stood tall in the billing this year with headliners including Skrillex, Fred again.., Honey Dijon and Nia Archives, promoter partners such as elrow, Awakenings, STMPD and Rampage, and a particularly stacked line-up at the rave-ready Yettel Colosseum stage. It’s a uniquely circular structure made of pallets that transported festivalgoers into a heady rave experience. On Wednesday, Richie Hawtin, KI/KI and Hector Oaks delivered a blistering, techno-filled night, while house-focused sets from Honey Dijon, Chloé Caillet and ANOTR dialled up the euphoria on Thursday. The arena always seemed packed to the brim, creating an almost claustrophobic yet electric energy. It’s rare for such a huge festival to craft a space that feels this intimate, where every beat reverberates through your body as you dance shoulder to shoulder with strangers. After headlining performances on the Main Stage had ceased, this arena kept the energy alive into the early morning hours.

For the electronic enthusiasts, Monday’s closing day was the most anticipated event, with world-conquering besties Skrillex, Fred again.., and Four Tet all appearing. While fans were holding their breath for a possible joint set—similar to their Coachella magic—the collaborative moment never quite materialised.

Skrillex's set was a storm of nostalgia and new energy swirling as one, riding a gauntlet between dubstep and brostep. The crowd was packed for his 7:15PM slot, with a sea of vibrant characters bouncing to his famous tracks. The fiery stage design, with minimal visuals and heavy red lighting, felt like a scene out of Mad Max, where Skrillex’s relentless mixing took us from the iconic 'Bangarang' to fresh releases like 'Rumble'. He didn't engage much, but his shouted statement about Eastern Europeans being the best at partying resonated with the crowd.

Fred again..’s set that followed was a complete contrast—more intimate, less intense. Starting with an emotional piano solo under a perfect half moon, Fred’s soulful, romantic electronica was a treat, but the energy ebbed and flowed. He often paused to chat with the audience and called for a classic “crouch down” moment during one track. His emotional live-mixing of 'Jungle' and 'Rumble' from a raised platform in the middle of the crowd was a beautiful moment, though it lacked the raw power of Skrillex’s set.

While the Main Stage hosted big names, the vibe didn’t always hit as hard as expected. More magic was found tucked away in other corners of the festival. The Revolut Stage, a sub-headliner stage, delivered consistently high-energy shows that had everyone dancing, unlike the occasionally static crowd at the Main Stage. The atmosphere there was always more intimate and electric.

That’s where Four Tet held it down after Fred again.., with a thick throng of revellers marching on the same journey. The minimalist setup promised music would be in the forefront instead of catchy visuals and lightshow, encouraging people to move not stare. The set was typically danceable from Four Tet, with shuffling percussion, vocals that were both urgent and blissed-out, and some soul-warming synths. Skrillex did join to roars of approval, but the magic of the evening never fully caught fire, with no Fred again.. stepping in for that potential Avengers esque moment. This left some feeling a little underwhelmed, though perhaps unfairly, given it wasn’t billed.

But Sziget’s appeal isn’t just the music; it’s the world it creates on this small island. From day one, the festival’s infrastructure has always impressed me, and 2024 was no exception. Days could be traipsing around a fun fair, falling into a physical theatre performance, or enjoying the beach and boat party. And that feels a bit sandy for a week-long festival, there’s famous Hungarian bath houses close by, accessible with the Sziget CityPass, which will leave you feeling fresher than you’ve ever felt before. The food stalls were plentiful, with something for every taste, and the small but essential details were on point, such as the toilets always being clean and well-maintained—a rare achievement for a festival of this scale.

CEO Tamás Kádár mentioned earlier this year that Sziget is continually evolving to improve the guest experience, and those shone through, with the sense that Sziget pours a lot into this tangible. As festivalgoers, we were well looked after, whether through the new "support zones" for mental health assistance or the revamped City Center that made navigating the festival easier. CEO Tamás Kádár mentioned earlier this year that Sziget is continually evolving to improve the guest experience, and those shone through, with the sense that Sziget pours a lot into this tangible.

Whether you’re looking for electronic beats in a unique setting, world-class headliners, or simply a place to escape reality for six days, Sziget offers it all. As it looks towards its next chapter, we hope it embraces what makes it special and continues to evolve in alignment with its eclectic, “anything goes” vibe, creating more unforgettable moments.

Early bird tickets for Sziget 2025 are available here