UK/Euro Festivals: Belladrum Success, 25th Mera Luna, Flow Festival Record

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival celebrated its 21st edition since launching in 2004 in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, July 31-Aug. 2.

Belladrum is the largest camping family music festival in Scotland, created for everyone from ages 1-100. It has a daily capacity of 25,000, and 95% of guests camp on site. It has always stuck to its Scottish roots, and has grown every years for the past two decades.

In this 21st birthday year, headliners included Texas, Supergrass and Paul Heaton.

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival 2025 also demonstrated the power of live events on the local economy, as this year generated over £100,000 ($135,000) for grassroots charities in the region, including Kiltarlity Village hall, who bring their ‘Afternoon Tea Tent’ to Belladrum each year and use funds raised to support the local village hall and activities.

“Since it’s very first outing way back in 2004, Belladrum has always been a festival for all generations with a carefully curated line-up that appeals to all ages,” commented event producer Dougie Brown.

“But for our 21st birthday we wanted the celebrations to be extra special and invited back firm festival favourites including iconic Scottish band Texas who previously headlined the event in 2011, and some of the most exciting acts of the moment with CMAT making her Bella debut. The diverse musical line-up featured alongside an incredible programme for the whole family with over 100 free activities from wrestling to poetry, BMX shows, pottery, karaoke, yoga & wellbeing, whisky cocktail making classes, and so much more,” he added.

Early bird tickets for next year’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, starting at £231 ($310) have almost sold out, according to promoter Kilimanjaro Live.

25 Years Of M’era Luna

Over in Germany, M’era Luna celebrated its 25th anniversary at airfield Hildesheim, Aug. 9-10, welcoming 25,000 guests, who saw a lineup led by And One, Eisbrecher, Heilung, Subway To Sally, Apocalyptica, Lord of the Lost, Blutengel, and more.

Aside from music, workshops, lectures, and readings have long since become an integral part of M’era Luna’s DNA, which today represents Europe’s largest gothic festival, and was sold out six months in advance this year.

Stephan Thanscheidt, CEO of promoter FKP Scorpio, said it was an “emotional birthday celebration for a very special family.” And he expressed his “sincere wish to continue hosting M’era Luna in Hildesheim for the next 25 years.”

For next year’s edition, scheduled Aug. 8-9, 2026 Within Temptation, OMD, In Extremo, Floor Jansen, Front Line Assembly, IAMX, Combichrist, L’Âme Immortelle, Nachtmahr, KMFDM, Megaherz, Agonoize, and Aesthetic Perfection have already been confirmed.

Presale kicks off today, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. German time on meraluna.com.

92,000 Daily Visitors At Flow

Flow Festival, which takes place in the Finnish capital Helsinki, celebrated a record number of 92,000 daily festival-goers this year, Aug. 8-10. Charli xcx, Fontaines D.C., Khruangbin led the lineup this year

Flow Festival 2026 will return to the unique festival site of Suvilahti, Helsinki, August 14-16, 2026. Three-day super early bird tickets go for sale Aug. 11, at 9 a.m. local time, starting at €219 ($255).

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