The following is a list of notable events and releases that occurred in 2011 in mainland European music.

Events

January

• 17 – The 2011 Grammis Awards take place in Sweden. Robyn walks away as the big winner of the night receiving awards in four categories: Best Female Artist; Best Composer; Best Album for Body Talk; and Best Song for Dancing on My Own.^[1]
• 30 – The Netherlands national final for the Eurovision Song Contest was held (Nationaal Songfestival). The song Je vecht nooit alleen (You will never fight alone) is chosen for Dutch band 3JS.^[2]

February

• 13 – Melissa Horn begins a tour of Denmark
• 18 – Slovakian national broadcaster Slovenská televízia announces that girl-group TWiiNS will represent the country at the 56th annual Eurovision Song Contest with the song I'm Still Alive.^[3]
• 18 – Germany decide upon the song Taken by a Stranger in the final of Unser Song für Deutschland to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest. Lena Meyer-Landrut will attempt to retain her title following Germany's win of the contest in 2010.^[4]
• 19 – Spain decides to send Lucía Pérez to Düsseldorf with the song Que me quiten lo bailao in the final of Destino Eurovisión.^[5]
• 19 – Italy decides to send Raphael Gualazzi to Düsseldorf with the song Follia d'amore in the final of the Sanremo Festival 2011.^[6]
• 19 – Kylie Minogue begins the European leg of her Aphrodite World Tour in Denmark, with dates following in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland and the United Kingdom.^[7]
• 26 – The so-called 'Super Saturday' takes place where six nations choose their participants for the Eurovision Song Contest. Musiqq, Mika Newton, Nina, A Friend In London, Zdob şi Zdub and Getter Jaani will represent Latvia, Ukraine, Serbia, Denmark, Moldova and Estonia respectively.
• 28 – Roxette begins its Charm School World Tour in Kazan, Rusia, in front of 8.000 people. 55 shows are set for Europe.

May

• 14 – The finale of the 56th Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Düsseldorf, Germany. It is won by pop duo Ell & Nikki, representing Azerbaijan with the song "Running Scared".

Undated

• A Winged Victory for the Sullen form.

Albums set to be released

January

• 28 – Violent Sky by Lisa Miskovsky

February

• 8 – Good News by Lena Meyer-Landrut
• 11 – Charm School by Roxette
• 11 – Thank God for Sending Demons by Me and My Army
• 14 – Love CPR by September
• 18 – Das wär dein Lied gewesen by Ina Müller
• 18 – Kick death's Ass by Andreas Mattsson
• 28 – Wounded Rhymes by Lykke Li^[8]

March

• 16 – Unseen by The Haunted
• 29 – Surtur Rising by Amon Amarth

April

• 15 – The Unseen Empire by Scar Symmetry
• 25 – Bloodbath over Bloodstock by Bloodbath
• 27 – Satan i gatan by Veronica Maggio

May

• 30 – Khaos Legions by Arch Enemy

June

• 6 – A Dying Man's Hymn by Sky Architect
• 15 – Sounds of a Playground Fading by In Flames
• 17 – Ljubav živi by Ceca
• 20 – Original Me by Cascada

October

• 10 – Biophilia by Björk
• 25 – Audio, Video, Disco by Justice
• 25 – Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay

Unspecified date

• Untitled by Agnes Carlsson^[9]
• The Seven Temptations by Doda

Festivals

Exit Festival

• Arcade Fire
• Pulp
• Jamiroquai
• Portishead
• Grinderman
• M.I.A.
• Editors
• House of Pain
• Santigold
• Bad Religion
• Kreator
• Underworld
• Deadmau5
• Groove Armada
• Magnetic Man

Metaltown Festival

• System of a Down
• Raubtier
• Parkway Drive
• Cradle of Filth
• At the Gates
• The Black Dahlia Murder
• Graveyard
• Soilwork
• Ghost
• Volbeat
• Watain
• Korn
• Khoma
• Cavalera Conspiracy
• All That Remains
• Doctor Midnight & The Mercy Cult
• F.K.Ü –
• Deicide
• Bring Me the Horizon
• Arch Enemy
• Avenged Sevenfold
• Anvil
• Bullet
• Human Desolation
• Madball
• Corroded

OFF Festival

• Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
• Liars
• Meshuggah
• Current 93
• Actress
• Omar Souleyman
• Gablé
• Kury
• Kyst

Open'er Festival

• D4D
• Coldplay
• Paristetris
• Paolo Nutini
• Caribou
• Fat Freddy's Drop
• The Streets
• Pulp
• Foals
• Cut Copy
• Abraham Inc.
• Youssou N'Dour
• Primus
• The Wombats
• M.I.A.
• Hurts

Way Out West 2011

• Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
• The Avett Brothers
• Explosions in the Sky
• Fleet Foxes
• The Jayhawks
• Janelle Monáe
• Pulp
• Robyn
• Twin Shadow
• Thåström
• Warpaint
• Wiz Khalifa

Deaths

• 1 January – Marin Constantin, 85, Romanian composer.
• 4 January – Stina-Britta Melander, 86, Swedish opera singer.