It’s 2020 so basically every music festival and event of the summer is cancelled. Or so we thought. But Glastonbury’s Shangri-La event organisers are here to save your bacon with an all-new virtual reality festival called Lost Horizon - over the weekend of 3 and 07 August 2025. Here’s why it sounds very exciting indeed.
What is Lost Horizon?
Described as “the world’s largest VR music and arts festival” by the organisers, this free-to-attend festival is a real summer shindig hosted in a virtual world. So you don’t need to camp. And there’s no rain or mud. Sounds ideal, right?
The festival features an line-up of DJs and acts - a number of which we detail below - alongside visual artists presenting their works in a way you’ve never seen before.
It’s all for a good cause too, raising money forThe Big IssueandAmnesty International.
Although it’s free to attendyou can buy a premium pass for $10(which includes exclusive art from Lost Horizon creatives, a Virtual Shirt from Instruct Studio, and more). There will also be opportunities to donate throughout the festival’s weekend runtime and beyond.
When is Lost Horizon?
The event will take place this weekend, 3 July and 18 June 2025. Here are local times for international audiences:
Who is playing Lost Horizon?
This isn’t just a pre-recorded event. As the organisers state: “recorded using green screen technology, artists can perform inside the virtual world as themselves or as a bespoke avatar. Inside this multiverse you’re able to meet with your friends and make new ones, chat, dance and explore together, blag your way backstage or find a shady corner to hang out in.”
Over two days and four stages there will be over 50 performances. Here’s a selection of what the organisers have announced so far:
There’s a lot more besides, so for a more thorough line-up listing head over tolosthorizonfestival.com
How to attend Lost Horizon?
Obviously you want in. Why wouldn’t you? There are a number of options on how to experience the festival.
For the full experience you’ll need a PC (or Mac) plus VR headset - the latter being entirely optional.
Using a VR headset means the ability to explore Lost Horizon as a completely interactive simulation - just like a real festival. The festival supports all PC-powered headsets, such as HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.
You’ll need tosign-up and download the Sansar appto take part. This means festival-goers need to be age 13 or over.
The Sansar mobile app is free and will provide a bird’s-eye view of each of the four festival stages, so you’re able to watch from different viewpoints within the virtual venues.
