Why Nova Rock is one of the best festivals in Europe

For nearly 20 years, during the first weeks of June, Pannonia Fields in Nickelsdorf, Austria, has been transformed to host 240,000 rock and metal music lovers.

This year, together with the participants of our group trip, we set out to discover this unique festival. Today we want to tell you about our experience and why, in our opinion, Nova Rock is one of the best festivals in Europe.

1. THE LINE UP.

With 3 stages and more than 80 bands over the course of 4 days, Nova Rock is already winning just by the quality and quantity of music on offer. Unlike other festivals, which limit the variety of genres offered in favor of a more "sectoral" approach, Nova Rock really does have something for every taste: in this edition we ranged from the pop punk of Avril Lavigne to the metalcore of Parkway Drive, and from the ska music of the Interrupters to german hip hop. All stages are easily accessible, we could always access the pit and sometimes even reach the front row without any stress.

2. SERVICES.

Do you think "real" bathrooms, with toilet paper, soap and towels, do not belong in the festival world? You are wrong! At Nova Rock we found very clean bathrooms just a few steps away from the main stage. And we never queued once!

Other amenities we greatly appreciated include the supermarket, inside which you can find fruits, vegetables, cold drinks, ice cream and more at fair prices, and the adjacent "grill & chill" area, a true oasis where you can relax in a hammock or barbecue with friends.

And as if that was not enough, there was plenty of seating and shaded areas in the stage area to relax and have a drink without the fear of missing out on the bands.

Oh and for only €3 it was possible to rent a power bank to charge your phone.

3. THE STAFF.

It is difficult to estimate the number of people involved in putting on an event like Nova Rock, surely we are talking about hundreds and hundreds. Yet all the people our group dealt with were extremely kind, helpful and professional.

The under-stage stewards, in addition to safely "catching" all the crowdsurfers arriving at the barrier, handed out water and made sure everyone in the front rows was okay. Then when a girl felt sick in the audience, they did not hesitate to throw themselves into the crowd and get her to safety in a matter of seconds. All behaviors and procedures that would seem routine if we were not so badly accustomed to what are Italian standards....

Another special mention to the medical staff, who took care of yours truly even for a simple but pounding headache, always with a positive attitude geared towards the genuine well-being of the festival participants.

4. THE ACTIVITIES

If one went to the festival and was not interested in any of the bands in the line up, they would still have enough things to not get bored for any of the 4 days.

Upon our arrival we came across one of the many headbanging classes that would take place over the course of the weekend, complete with a final competition and award ceremony for the winner.

In another area, Casa Bacardi put on nonstop music, makeing anyone who happened to be in the area dance to tropical house, dance and other genres suitable for all sunset lovers, while other stages alternated DJ sets of alternative music and parties of all kinds. What about roller disco instead? Free skates and access, live DJs and lots of fun.

5. ATMOSPHERE AND SAFETY

Inside the festival we found an extremely relaxed atmosphere. Lots of positive-minded people wanting to enjoy the music and create a welcoming environment for everyone. Although it still remains a rock and metal music festival, it is an extremely safe destination, even for families with children.

In conclusion, Nova Rock is truly a gem among the many festivals we have experienced over the years, and we are so proud to have chosen it as the destination for our first group trip!

We are thrilled to announce that we will be returning to Nova Rock in 2025 for a killer line up! Slipknot, Korn, Linkin Park, Electric Callboy and many, many more! Find out about the trip here.