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Planning your 2026 travels? I’ve rounded up some of the best festivals around the world to help you figure out where to go and when!
You’ll find massive music festivals, countrywide water fights, religious festivals, and so much more. These events are a fantastic way to get under the skin of a different country and experience a unique slice of local culture.
From well-known cultural events to quirky parties you may have never heard of, these are some of the most interesting world festivals coming up this year. Is there anything you’d add to the list? Don’t forget to leave a comment at the end of this post!
Last Updated: 15 Oct 2026
19 of the Best World Festivals
Decided to travel to attend a big festival? Time to start planning! Check out this awesome festival packing list, research top tips about your chosen event, book your flights, and get ready to party!
Chinese New Year, China
Next dates: 17 February 2026
Chinese New Year is celebrated at festivals around the world! Beijing is one of the most iconic places to witness the Lunar New Year, with the Forbidden City decked in lights and parades and performances across the city.
Hong Kong has one of the most impressive fireworks displays over Victoria Harbour, alongside flower festivals, horse races, and the spectacular Night Parade.
If you can’t make it to China for New Year, many cities around the world host festivals to celebrate. Chinatown in London, the 13th arrondissement in Paris, New York City, Sydney, San Francisco, and many others have huge Chinese New Year parades! Tet is one of the biggest festivals in Vietnam and one of the best Chinese New Year Festivals in the world.
Rio Carnival, Brazil
Next dates: 13 – 21 February 2026
Rio Carnival is probably one of the most famous festivals in the world, and for good reason. It’s the world’s biggest carnival, with over two million people on the streets each day!
For a week leading up to Lent, Rio de Janeiro erupts with colourful parades, parties, and open-air performances. Every neighbourhood in the city hosts its own street party; more than 300 of them!
The main event is the Sambadrome Parade: a HUGE parade with dances and floats from Rio’s different samba schools. CLICK HERE to check ticket prices and availability for the next Rio Carnival Sambadrome Parade.
Alternative Carnival destinations
Rio is the most famous – but other parts of Brazil also host Carnival celebrations. The capital city of Brasília and the huge city of São Paulo are both worthy contenders.
Carnival is also a big deal in many other countries. Barranquilla Carnival in Colombia is often called the second biggest after Rio, with several enormous processions and huge street parties. In Europe, Italy’s Venice Carnival deserves a spot on every festival traveller’s wish list.
Mardi Gras, New Orleans
Next dates: 17 February 2026
Mardi Gras shares Carnival’s origins and falls on the Tuesday before the first day of Lent (Ash Wednesday). Mardi Gras is the final day of revelry. It means Fat Tuesday in French, and is traditionally the day with the most extreme celebrations. And nowhere on earth celebrates that revelry like New Orleans!
Parades take over the city, and one of the most popular traditions is for the costumed performers to throw beads, doubloons, or other trinkets, known as “throws”, into the crowd.
Traditionally, this is the day to get “naughty” behaviour out of your system before going into Lent. So expect to see plenty of excess and drunkenness. Check out this fab first-timers guide to Mardi Gras in New Orleans for more info.
Pingxi Lantern Festival, Taiwan
Next dates: 3 March 2026
One of the world’s most iconic festivals is the Taiwan Lantern Festival, held in the Pingxi district. Held on the last day of the Lunar New Year, the festival draws thousands of visitors to the village to write their wishes on paper lanterns and release them into the sky.
The tradition comes from lanterns once used as signals that villages were safe. Today, they carry wishes and hopes for the new year to people’s ancestors.
Holi, India
Next date: 4 March 2026
Thanks to its rich heritage and blend of religious cultures, India is home to countless gorgeous festivals. One of the most popular – and beautiful – is Holi. Also known as the Festival of Colour, one of Holi’s main parts is throwing coloured paint.
Holi is a Hindu celebration of good over evil, and of the arrival of spring. The colour throwing comes from the story of Krishna and Radha, in which the blue-skinned god colours Radha’s face with jets of water to make them equals. Today, it’s a seriously fun festival where the atmosphere is one of overwhelming joy. A must for every festival lover!
READ MORE: Girl’s Guide to Holi in India
Cherry Blossom Festival, Japan
Next dates: March/April
At the end of March and the beginning of April, Japan’s brief Cherry Blossom Season – known as Sakura Matsuri – sweeps across the country. Cherry blossoms are Japan’s national flower, and Buddhist teachings have given the fleeting season a spiritual context of mindfulness and living in the moment.
Because nature is unpredictable, do your research. Keep an eye on the Cherry Blossom Forecasts when booking your trip, and allow time to be flexible.
Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Japan:
- Nakaragi no Michi Path, Kyoto
- Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo
- Matsuyama Castle, Ehime Prefecture
- Senkoji Park, Onomichi City
Semana Santa, Guatemala
Next dates: 29 March – 5 April 2026
Semana Santa is Spanish for Holy Week; the week just before Easter at the end of Lent. The Spaniards brought the tradition of Semana Santa to Guatemala, and 500 years later it’s one of the country’s most important religious festivals.
Antigua is home to one of the world’s most impressive Holy Week celebrations, blending Spanish traditions with indigenous cultural beliefs in a way that makes it unique. The streets and church interiors are decorated with intricately designed alfombras. These are “carpets made from coloured sawdust, and they create a colourful backdrop for the numerous processions and lavish floats that fill the city.
Other places to celebrate Semana Santa in Latin America
- Ouro Preto, Brazil
- Copacabana, Bolivia
- Quito, Ecuador
- San Miguel del Allende, Mexico
- Tañarandy, Paraguay
Songkran, Thailand
Next dates: 13 – 15 April 2026
One of the most unique – and fun – world festivals I’ve ever experienced is Songkran in Thailand. This celebration of Thai New Year involves sprinkling and throwing water at one another. This represents purification and washing away sins and bad luck.
Over time, the festival has evolved into more of a giant water fight. People take to the streets armed with buckets, water guns, and jet sprays! You can still find quieter religious celebrations inside temples, but the Thai people have found the perfect combination of spirituality and fun in their country-wide water fight.
Naadam Festival, Mongolia
Next dates: 11 – 15 July 2026
For one of the world’s most unique festivals, head to Mongolia for the lesser-known but fascinating Naadam Festival. A celebration of the country’s nomadic culture, Naadam focuses on three main sports: archery, horse racing, and wrestling.
Men and women compete to show off their prowess in sports and skills deeply rooted in Mongolian culture and history. The festival also blends these sports with arts and culture, with singing and dancing performances punctuating the games.
Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe, UK
Next dates: 7 – 30 August 2026
The famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe was created to run alongside the more high-brow Edinburgh International Festival, on its “fringe”.
Both run for most of August every year, taking over the entire city in a celebration of the arts. Theatres host shows from around the world, the streets fill with performers, venues pop up in the most unlikely places, and the whole city buzzes with creativity and fun.
While the International Festival focuses on theatre, opera, and dance, the Fringe is more “anything goes”. Comedy, music, circus, cabaret, musicals, spoken-word poets, theatre… pretty much everything you can think of!
READ MORE: First Timer’s Guide to the Edinburgh Fringe
All Edinburgh Summer Festivals
It’s not all about the Fringe. Over the summer months, Edinburgh plays host to a bunch of fab festivals and events. But the biggest spectacle is the Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo. It was one of my all-time travel highlights and a must for every travel festival wish list.
RECOMMENDED TOUR: Full-Day Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Scottish Highlands Tour
La Tomatina, Spain
Next dates: 26 August 2026
One of the craziest festivals in the world, La Tomatina takes place every year in the town of Buñol, Spain. Essentially, all the local residents get together to throw tomatoes at each other in a gigantic food fight. The festival is held on the last Wednesday in August and is preceded by a week of festivities.
It may seem like a massive waste of food, but the town of Buñol buys in overripe, poor-quality tomatoes, especially for the event. Since the tomatoes aren’t good for eating, locals don’t see it as a waste. And the festival looks like serious, messy fun!
READ MORE: Check out Vicky Flop Flop’s guide to Tomatina for loads of info and tips.
Burning Man, USA
Next dates: 30 August – 7 September 2026
Burning Man is probably one of the most unique festivals around the world. Held every summer in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, this famous festival attracts travellers from around the world.
It’s officially an art festival, but Burning Man is much bigger than that! The desert location becomes a temporary city, filled with costumed attendees enjoying complete freedom and creative expression. It’s a kind of “anything goes” atmosphere, dedicated to anti-consumerism and self-expression, and culminating in the burning of a huge effigy of a man.
Oktoberfest, Germany
Next dates: 19 September – 4 October 2026
An enormous beer festival, Oktoberfest is now celebrated worldwide. But the official festival takes place in Munich, Germany – and it’s all about Bavarian culture and beer.
More than six million people attend every year, making it one of the world’s biggest folk festivals. Alongside beer stalls, you’ll find Bavarian food, parades, music, and a funfair. Definitely a must for any beer lover’s diary!
If you can’t make it to Munich, the good news is there are plenty of Oktoberfest events across the UK, too. They might not be as big as the original, but they’re still good fun!
RECOMMENDED TOUR: Munich Oktoberfest Ticket, Tour, Lunch and Drinks
Diwali, India and Nepal
Next dates: 8 November 2026
Diwali is the Hindu Festival of Lights and one of Hinduism’s most popular festivals. Like Holi, it celebrates the “victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance”.
Hindus around the world celebrate by decorating their homes with oil lamps and candles, and offering puja (prayers) to the goddess Lakshmi. Although India is more famous for Diwali, the celebration is also huge and beautiful in Nepal, where it’s known as Tihar. If you’re lucky enough to visit either country in October, try to time your visit to coincide with this stunning festival.
Día de los Muertos, Mexico
Dates: 31st October – 2nd November every year
One of my favourite world festivals is the Día de los Muertos in Latin America, and particularly Mexico. Recently, movies like Spectre and Disney’s Coco have given the festival worldwide fame. But while the colourful costumes and skull face paint are eye-catching parts of Day of the Dead, the festival is about much more than that.
It’s a three-day holiday in which families gather together to remember and pray for loved ones who have died. Many visit the cemeteries to make offerings, decorating the graves with marigolds and candles.
Some families even hold parties in the cemeteries, and the atmosphere is generally joyful and celebratory rather than sad. Many traditions and beliefs surround this festival, so take the time to really understand the events when you visit. But of course, don’t miss the parades and parties as well!
MORE INFO: Click here to watch my YouTube video of Día de Muertos
International Sahara Festival, Tunisia
Next dates: 19-22 December 2026*. Check here for the latest info.
*Dates are often announced less than a month in advance.
In the oasis town of Douz in the Tunisian Sahara, palm trees outnumber residents 25 to one! But once a year, the tiny town attracts over 50,000 visitors to the International Festival of the Sahara. Originally a Bedouin marriage market, it is now a fascinating world festival celebrating the culture of the Sahara Desert and Bedouin life.
Singing, dancing, feasting, camel racing, and craft fairs spread across the four-day desert festival. The only downside is that the festival dates, which change every year, can be notoriously hard to find – so keep an eye on the official Tunisia tourism website for details.
Krampusnacht, Germany and Austria
Dates: Krampusnacht always falls on 5 December
If all the festive celebrations of December get a bit much for you, head to Germany or Austria to find the ultimate antithesis to Santa: Krampus. This creepy dude is half-goat, half-demon, and he’s the one who punishes children who have misbehaved.
In several countries, including Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Germany and the Czech Republic, the night before the Feast of St Nicholas is Krampusnacht. Many towns, particularly in Alpine regions, host Krampuslauf (Krampus Run) parades, where men dress as the creepy character. Rural villages in Austria, such as Hall in Tirol, offer some of the best places to see a traditional Krampus parade. In Germany, Munich hosts a large event (although it’s not always on the same date, so check before planning your trip).
Konya Whirling Dervishes Festival, Turkey
Next dates: 10–17 December 2026
A celebration of dance and culture, the Whirling Dervishes Festival is an important religious and cultural event. The festival is held in Konya, Turkey, every year, but the date varies because it follows the Islamic religious calendar. If you are visiting around early December, make sure you add a stop in Konya.
The festival honours Jalal ad-Din Rumi, a revered Sufi saint and founder of the Mevlevi order of Islam. Thousands of Sufi Muslims descend on the small city of Konya, where Rumi’s tomb is found, for the festival. I headed to the tomb in the Mevlana Museum on my Treasures of Turkey tour – it’s a very special place!
Dancers in white or coloured skirts perform an intricate dance for a ceremony known as Sema. The twirling movements create a stunning effect as the skirts whirl, and the festival is spectacular to watch.
RELATED POST: Check out more things to do in Turkey or my guide to the best historic places to visit in Turkey for more inspiration!
Sydney New Year’s Eve, Australia
Date: 31 December
Sydney is the first major international city to greet the new year at midnight, and it hosts one of the world’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebrations.
With the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge providing a spectacular backdrop, the midnight fireworks are among the most spectacular on the planet and a must for any traveller’s bucket list. Take a Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve Cruise like this one for one of the best views of the spectacle.
Not only is this an exciting place to spend New Year’s Eve, but it’s also the start of summer in Sydney. So rather than shivering away in the UK, you can spend New Year’s Day on one of Sydney’s stunning beaches!
Any epic world festivals you’d add to this list? Scroll down to leave a comment and share the best cultural festivals in the world.
Such an amazing list! We have been wanting to go to carnival in Brazil and hopefully will be planning that soon. Holi in India is also such a fantastic experience.
I LOVED Holi in India. There are so many incredible festivals there you could do a post just about India’s events!!
Actually Diwali is the best festival around India which is celebrated by the entire nation.
I know – I’ve included Diwali in this post for that reason :)
The way of celebration by German is really weird.
Haha I think that’s a particularly weird example! But it looks fun!
thanks for the information
Thanks for reading :)
Nice to see Holi and Diwali in the list of coveted festivals of the world
They’re both such iconic festivals aren’t they :)
Thanks for gathering this list, it is great !!! There are couple of festivals I want to explore myself and looking forward as soon as these lock downs are over….
Thanks for reading! Hope you get to visit a few next year :)
Thank you for providing amazing list of world-wide festivals and events. I hope to attend Octoberfest in Germany in the near future. The Burning Man festival in Nevada seem like a ecletic event.
Thanks for reading! Burning Man looks a bit too intense for me I think – Octoberfest is much more my level!!
St Patricks Day in Dublin is a heck of an experience! So much lively jolliness, watching live bands and singing Irish ditties!
I’ll bet – definitely a good one for the festivals bucket list!
Sumptuous list. I would love to add Nyepi in Indonesia though it may not be in tune with a fun and party atmosphere. It’s a day of silence so tourists can experience the Balinese way of meditation and refraining from action. There are colourful religious parades on the few days before and after the Nyepi day.
Hi Pramod! Thanks so much for commenting. I’d never heard of Nyepi before, it sounds very intriguing. Just been googling and looking at pictures, the parades look amazing. Definitely one for my bucket list :)
This year Nyepi falls on Monday, 11 March. With an additional holiday on 12, it’s an extra long weekend here in Indonesia. I will be there to see the parades.