Explore the World’s Greatest Festivals
DISCOVER CELEBRATIONS, TRADITIONS AND UNFORGETTABLE EVENTS
24 Hours of Le MansFRANCE
Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaUNITED STATES![Arirang Mass Gymnastics Festival [Mass Games]](https://i0.wp.com/thetravellantern.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/mass-gymnastics.jpg?w=1108&ssl=1)
Arirang Mass Gymnastics Festival [Mass Games]NORTH KOREA
Bastille DayFRANCE
Batalla del VinoSPAIN
Bisket JatraNEPAL
Boryeong Mud FestivalSOUTH KOREA
Burning ManUNITED STATES
Calgary StampedeCANADA
Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo (Argentine polo finals)ARGENTINA
Carnaval de OruroBOLIVIA
Cheese ChasingUNITED KINGDOM
CoachellaUNITED STATES
Comic ConUNITED STATES
Dakar RallySAUDI ARABIA
Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos)MEXICO
DiwaliINDIA
Equinox at Chichen ItzaMEXICO
Fiesta de la CandelariaPERU
Formula one Grand Prix of MonacoMONACO
Galway International Oyster Seafood FestivalIRELAND
Gion MatsuriJAPAN
GlastonburyUNITED KINGDOM
Greenwich Village Halloween ParadeUNITED STATES
HogmanayUNITED KINGDOM
HoliINDIA
Honen FestivalJAPAN
Indianapolis 500UNITED STATES
International Ice and Snow Festival (Harbin)CHINA
International Jazz FestivalCANADA
Inti RaymiPERU
JunkanooBAHAMAS
Just for LaughsCANADA
Kandy Esala PeraheraSRI LANKA
Kentucky derby RaceUNITED STATES
King’s day (Koninginnedag & Koningsnacht)NETHERLANDS
Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling TournamentTURKEY
Koh Pha Ngan Full Moon PartyTHAILAND
KrampusnachtAUSTRIA
La Tomatina (The Tomato Fight)SPAIN
Les Fallas de ValenciaSPAIN
Lewes Bonfire NightUNITED KINGDOM
Los diablos DanzantesVENEZUELA
Loy Krathong – Thailand Lantern FestivalTHAILAND
Lunar New Year (China)CHINA
Maha Kumbh Mela (Once Every 12 Years)INDIA
Maha Kumbh Mela (Once Every Four Years)INDIA
Marathon des sablesMOROCCO
Mardi Gras – New OrleansUNITED STATES
Monkey Buffet FestivalTHAILAND
Mt Hagen sing-sing FestivalPAPUA NEW GUINEA
NaddamMONGOLIA
Naghol (Land Diving)VANUATU
New Years Eve (Times Square)UNITED STATES
Nyepi & Ogoh-ogoh ParadeINDONESIA
OktoberfestGERMANY
Olympic GamesWORLDWIDE
Pageant of the Masters Show (Festival of the Arts)UNITED STATES
Paro TsechuBHUTAN
Pingxi Lantern FestivalTAIWAN
Rickshaw Run (India version)INDIA
Rio de Janeiro CarnivalBRAZIL
Roskilde Music festivalDENMARK
Roswell UFO FestivalUNITED STATES
Royal ascot Horse RacingUNITED KINGDOM
Sakura (The Cherry Blossom Festival)JAPAN
Sanja MatsuriJAPAN
Semana SantaSPAIN / LATIN AMERICA
Shuni‑e (Omizutori)JAPAN
Songkran – Thailand New YearTHAILAND
South By Southwest (SXSW)UNITED STATES
St. Patricks Day FestivalIRELAND
Sundance Film FestivalUNITED STATES
Tango FestivalARGENTINA
Tapati FestivalCHILE
Temple of Abu Simbel IlluminationEGYPT
Tet nguyen dan (Vietnam New Year)VIETNAM
Thanksgiving paradeUNITED STATES
The Ati-Atihan FestivalPHILIPPINES
The Battle of the OrangesITALY
The Edinburgh Fringe FestivalUNITED KINGDOM
The Great Food FestivalSINGAPORE
The Great Red Crab MigrationAUSTRALIA
The Mevlana festival (Whirling Dervishes)TURKEY
The Mongol RallyUNITED KINGDOM / MONGOLIA / RUSSIA
The Ouidah Voodoo Festival (Fête du Vodoun)BENIN
The Palio di Siena Horse RaceITALY
The San Fermin Festival & Running of the bullsSPAIN
The Super BowlUNITED STATES
The UK Stonehenge Summer SolsticeUNITED KINGDOM
The Wildebeest MigrationTANZANIA / KENYA
Timkat FestivalETHIOPIA
Up Helly AaUNITED KINGDOM
Venice Art BiennaleITALY
Venice CarnivalITALY
Vesak Poya – The Festival of Lights (Sri Lanka)SRI LANKA
Vienna Opera ball & CarnivalAUSTRIA
White Nights Festival & Scarlet Sails ShowRUSSIA
WimbledonUNITED KINGDOM
Winter OlympicsWORLDWIDE
World Bog Snorkeling ChallengeUNITED KINGDOM
World CupWORLDWIDE
World Sacred Music FestivalMOROCCO
World Sacred Spirit FestivalINDIA
Þjóðhátíð (Westman Islands Festival)ICELANDNo existing festivals in this selection.
The Palio di Siena Horse RaceITALYWHEN: 2 July & 16 AugustSiena’s historic horse race brings its neighbourhoods together for three exhilarating bareback laps around the Piazza del Campo.Lewes Bonfire NightUNITED KINGDOMTorchlit parades, dramatic bonfires and fireworks fill Lewes in a distinctive celebration of Bonfire Night.Boryeong Mud FestivalSOUTH KOREAMud pools, playful attractions, body painting and live music transform Daecheon’s coast into a spirited celebration.The Ati-Atihan FestivalPHILIPPINESTraditional costumes, tribal music and street dancing honour Santo Niño in one of the Philippines’ most vibrant celebrations.HoliINDIAColour, music and family gatherings mark the arrival of spring and celebrate the triumph of good over evil.Songkran – Thailand New YearTHAILANDThailand welcomes its traditional New Year with an exuberant water fight, cleansing rituals and wishes for good fortune.Maha Kumbh Mela (Once Every 12 Years)INDIAPilgrims gather at the meeting of sacred rivers for bathing rituals, spiritual teachings and a profound expression of faith.St. Patricks Day FestivalIRELANDParades, music and community celebrations bring Ireland together in honour of its best-known patron saint.The Edinburgh Fringe FestivalUNITED KINGDOMComedy, theatre, music and performance take over Edinburgh, bringing established artists and emerging voices to stages across the city.Loy Krathong – Thailand Lantern FestivalTHAILANDFloating baskets and glowing lanterns carry wishes into the night in Thailand’s beautiful lunar celebration.DiwaliINDIALamps, candles and family celebrations illuminate the festival of lights, honouring the triumph of light over darkness.Mardi Gras – New OrleansUNITED STATESNew Orleans fills with colourful floats, costumes, music and street celebrations as its carnival season reaches its joyful finale.Rio de Janeiro CarnivalBRAZILWHEN: Before Lent; dates varySamba, dazzling costumes and spectacular parades bring Rio’s streets and carnival celebrations to life.Fiesta de la CandelariaPERUMusic, dance and religious traditions honour the Virgin of Candelaria on the shores of Lake Titicaca.Carnaval de OruroBOLIVIAOruro’s carnival blends vibrant costumes, traditional dance and religious devotion in a distinctive Bolivian celebration.White Nights Festival & Scarlet Sails ShowRUSSIAThe white nights festival is a celebration of the ‘midnight sun’ — in which in extreme latitude regions the sun does not fully set and stays visible all day long on the summer solstice.The Wildebeest MigrationTANZANIA / KENYAThe greatest natural show on the planet — the Wildebeest Migration is a year round event in which millions of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of game migrate in a circular motion across the vast plains of Africa in an endless journey seek out fresh grazing grounds, water, partners…The Great Red Crab MigrationAUSTRALIAThe great red crab migration of Christmas Island is a migration phenomenon in which tens of millions of large red crabs emerge from the shade of the rainforest and head in unison to the ocean — traversing some 1400 meters across roads, rocks and utilising specially designed ‘crab…Venice CarnivalITALYThe prestigious Venice Carnival is world-famous for its iconic masks, as some 3 million people gather in the cities beautiful San Marco square over the course of two weeks to not just celebrate the century old Venetian tradition of wearing masks to allow for liberty, but to enjoy a…Vienna Opera ball & CarnivalAUSTRIAThe world’s most elegant Opera ball, the Vienna opera ball concludes the Viennese carnival season with the cities opera house transformed into a glamorous dance hall where following the glamour of an opening ceremony and a resounding rendition of the Austrian National anthem 150 young…Temple of Abu Simbel IlluminationEGYPTThe Sun festival – the illumination of the Abu Simbel temple is a bi-annual event in which the immortal monuments to the Egyptian King Ramses II and his wife on the side of the Abu Simbel temple are cast out of their yearly shadow by the dawns ascending sun.Sakura (The Cherry Blossom Festival)JAPANThe most romantic festival in the world, the iconic Sakura rings in the cherry blossom season across Japan as the countries beautiful cherry trees flower and for two weeks in April turn the parks, castles and mountains of Japan into a scenic wonderland.The UK Stonehenge Summer SolsticeUNITED KINGDOMCelebrated for thousands of years, the Summer solstice (the day with the longest period of daylight as one of Earth’s poles reaches its maximum tilt) at England’s famous Stonehenge is both a religious and historical festival and a chance to explore and unpack the mystery that is…Gion MatsuriJAPANWHEN: JulyHeld annually since 869, Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri originally sought to appease the heath gods and bring purification to the city to avoid an epidemic and plague – something which is much needed in modern times – and has evolved to incorporate the original principle of good health…Semana SantaSPAIN / LATIN AMERICACelebrated in almost all Spanish speaking countries Semana Santa celebrates the last week of Jesus life, including the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, with either solemn processions or colourful celebrations, floats, re-enactments, parades and reading of religious rites to…Equinox at Chichen ItzaMEXICOGreeting the Serpent of light and shadow, the Equinox at the pyramid of Kukulcan see’s the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza come alive and, as a result of the shadows cast by the descending sun, the image of the grand serpent of Kukulcan – a godly snake that reaches into the heavens…Les Fallas de ValenciaSPAINOfficially celebrating St Joseph’s day, Valencia’s festival of fire – the Les Fallas de Valencia – is a 19 day celebration which features progressively louder daily firework displays, parades, firecrackers, a morning wake up call from a brass band, gun powder explosions, music, the…Honen FestivalJAPANThe ‘Penis Festival,’ Japan’s Honen Matsuri festival, held in the small town of Komaki, has been celebrated for the last 1,500 years and seeks to bring a good harvest and for those that wish for it fertility — with the good wishes summoned through the parading of a giant wooden 400kg…Maha Kumbh Mela (Once Every Four Years)INDIAThe largest public gathering and biggest collective declaration of peace and faith, the Maha Kumbh Mela is a Hindu pilgrimage held four times over the course of 12 years, in which tens of millions of pilgrims flock to bath in one of four sacred rivers in the belief that the sacred…Paro TsechuBHUTANBhutan’s festival of dance, the Paro Tshechu honours the buddist and yogi Padma Sambhawa who introduced Buddhism to the Himalayas with a four day celebration inside a local Dzong that starts with three days of sacred dances and rituals performed by monks wearing elaborate and colourful…Shuni‑e (Omizutori)JAPANThe festival of Fire and Water, Shuni‑e is a 14-day Buddhist festival held in the ancient wooden temples of the Nigatsudo Hall of Japan’s Todaiji Temple, in which both sacred water believed to have healing powers is drawn from the Wakasai well — which runs dry except on the day of the…Nyepi & Ogoh-ogoh ParadeINDONESIASshhh! – Nyepi is the annual day of silence primarily celebrated on the island of the gods in Bali where on the 3rd day of the 6 day New year Celebration the entire island comes to a silent standstill with roads, airports, restaurants and even electricity closed to allow for prayer…International Jazz FestivalCANADAThe world’s biggest Jazz Festival, the Montreal International Jazz Festival see’s over 2 million people gather across downtown Montreal over the course of 11 days to enjoy over 700 free and paid concerts from 3000 musicians that showcases and celebrates the best of Jazz.King’s day (Koninginnedag & Koningsnacht)NETHERLANDSFormerly Queens Day Koninginnedag or King’s Day is the Dutch annual national celebration of the King’s birthday, where everything great about the Netherlands is celebrated.Marathon des sablesMOROCCO‘The toughest footrace on earth’ the Marathon Des Sables is an endurance race across the Sahara desert lasting for a week and seeing competitors traversing the length of six regular marathons consecutively in high heat, high winds and high blistery conditions.Bisket JatraNEPALThe ‘festival after the death of the serpent’ Bisket Jatra marks the start of the ancient Nepalese solar New year – and is Nepal’s noisiest, chaotic, and rowdiest festival.Naghol (Land Diving)VANUATUThe origin of Bungee Jumping, land diving or Naghol is held on Pentecost island in Vanuatu and sees Vanuatuan Males jump from a self-constructed 90ft tower with nothing but vines attached to their ankles to support themselves.Los diablos DanzantesVENEZUELAThe Los diablos Danzantes or ‘Dancing Devils of Corpus Christ’ is a Venezuelan UNESCO recognised religious festival, in which ritual dances are performed by the Yare dancing devils – a group of religious worshippers kitted out in bright red eccentric devil costumes ‑with the Yare…Þjóðhátíð (Westman Islands Festival)ICELANDThe unpronounceable Þjóðhátíð festival, more commonly known as the Westman Islands Festival, is Iceland’s National Holiday, and how else would you celebrate a National Holiday in Iceland with a four-day outdoor camping festival where you can enjoy not only big stage concerts, bonfires…Cheese ChasingUNITED KINGDOMWHEN: May Bank HolidayCheese Chasing, or the Cooper Hills cheese roll, is the best of eccentric British festivals, where competitors — separated by gender and age — race (or tumble) down one of England’s steepest and muddiest hills on the annual May Bank Holiday in pursuit of capturing a 10kg…Winter OlympicsWORLDWIDEThe natural partner to the Olympic games, the Winter Olympics showcases the best of snow and ice competitors as every four years top winter athletes from across the globe gather to compete for medals and national glory.Formula one Grand Prix of MonacoMONACOOne of the triple crowns of motorsport races the Monaco Grand Prix is coated in history, elegance, and spectacle — as drivers races across Monaco before finishing along the French Riviera, where the famous yachts of Monaco harbour, packed with the elite and royals, greet the winner.World Sacred Music FestivalMOROCCOFez’s world sacred music festival celebrates the diversity, artists and culture of both local Moroccan artists and international acts, with concerts, performances and readings taking place in historic plazas, ancient gardens and outdoor squares.Sanja MatsuriJAPANSanja Matsuri is the biggest festival in Japan and a celebration of the founders of the Sensoji Buddhist Temple, with 100 portable shrines (called mikoshi) and three larger shrines paraded through the streets of the famous Asakusa district of Tokyo over the course of three days — where…Arirang Mass Gymnastics Festival [Mass Games]NORTH KOREAThe toughest one to attend on this list, the five week long Arirang Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance or ‘Mass Games’ is a gymnastics, artistic and cultural festival which unites North Korea, as 100,000 specially chosen performers execute synchronised gymnastic and dancing…Royal ascot Horse RacingUNITED KINGDOMThe best of British horse racing, Royal Ascot combines British civility and elegance with the excitement of Horse Racing as the famous race course plays host to 36 races spread over 5 days as the best horses in the world compete for over £8 million in prize money in the famed King…Venice Art BiennaleITALYThe ‘Olympics of the art world’ the Venice Biennale comprises a large-scale six-month exhibition that showcases the best of both art (odd years) and architecture (even years) in the serene setting of Venice.Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling TournamentTURKEYDating back to 1360, the officially recognized longest running athletic competition seeks to find the best wrestler in Turkey.Olympic GamesWORLDWIDEThe world’s summer Olympic Games see’s the world’s top athletes from more than 200 nations compete across 28 sports for the chance to win not just an Olympic medal, but create history and become a national and international hero.Calgary StampedeCANADAYeeha! — The ‘greatest show on earth’ the world famous Calgary stampede celebrates the best of the Rodeo and mid-western life, with a 10-day spectacular featuring the best of rodeo events, musical performances, workshops, chuckwagon races, and rodeo themed shows and parades, with the…Pageant of the Masters Show (Festival of the Arts)UNITED STATESThe highlight of the Laguna Beach festival of the arts, the pageant of the masters display is a 90 minute unique production in which the great pieces of art, from Van Gogh to Rembrandt, are bought to life under the night sky in a spectacular amphitheater by over 1000 live performers —…Roswell UFO FestivalUNITED STATESCommemorating the infamous ‘Roswell Incident’ the Roswell UFO festival is the place for sceptics and believers alike to explore, celebrate and discuss other worldly life.The Ouidah Voodoo Festival (Fête du Vodoun)BENINThe Fête du Vodoun or the Voodoo Festival of Benin both celebrates the voodoo idea everything is spirit and commemorates the 60 million who lost their homelands and freedom during slave trading.Bastille DayFRANCEThe national day of France – Bastille day officially commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris, which turned into a major turning point in the French Revolution of and led to unity of the French people in 1790.The San Fermin Festival & Running of the bullsSPAINThe World’s Largest Fiesta, the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona is also home to the renowned Running of the Bulls festival where daring revellers do their best to outrun six fighting bulls through half a mile of the streets of Pamplona, which are being led by six tamed bell-oxen to the…NaddamMONGOLIA“Eriin gurvan naadam” or the “the three games of men,” Naddam celebrates the nomadic culture and Mongolian independence with the three ‘manly’ sports of wrestling, horseracing and archery, alongside traditional dances, tricks, and performances.Up Helly AaUNITED KINGDOMOne of Scotland’s most bizarre festivals the Up Helly Aa is a celebration and spectacle of the Shetland Islands Viking history.Burning ManUNITED STATESBurning Man is not a festival, rather a temporary event or community established in the Nevada black rock desert dedicated to community, art, gifting, participation, self-expression, and self-reliance.World Bog Snorkeling ChallengeUNITED KINGDOMConceived like all great ideas in a small country pub, the World bog snorkeling challenge sees brave and barmy competitors required to snorkel two lengths of the 55m welsh bog.Mt Hagen sing-sing FestivalPAPUA NEW GUINEAA festival unlike any other, the Mt Hagen sing-sing is a celebration of the culture, history, dance, costumes and music of tribes and villages from all over Papua New Guinea.OktoberfestGERMANYWHEN: Mid-September–early OctoberThe worlds largest beer and folk festival, the iconic Oktoberfest see’s more than 6 million people consume more than 8 million litres of beer over the course of two and a half weeks.Greenwich Village Halloween ParadeUNITED STATESNew York City’s Carnival – the Greenwich Halloween parade is the worlds premier Halloween spectacle and the only night time parade in New York, with more floats, marching bands and more than 50,000 impromptu costumed revellers, dressed as everything from Zombies to Robots, parading…Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos)MEXICOMexico’s Día de los Muertos is a celebration of life with a theme of death and seeks to honour and demonstrate love and respect for deceased family members, as those we have lost loved ones remember them through the leaving of photos and possession at a temporary altar called an…New Years Eve (Times Square)UNITED STATESThe Universal Symbol of the start of a New Year, celebrating New Years Eve in the sparkling lights of New York’s Times Square with over a million other revellers and a billion people watching around the world is a memorable, if chilly, way to bring the way the New Year.Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo (Argentine polo finals)ARGENTINAThe World Cup of Polo, the Campeonato Argentino Abierto turns the mild reputation of polo on its head as the best players and horses compete in a high pace, frantic and frankly dangerous tournament to determine the world’s greatest polo players and team.JunkanooBAHAMASFeel the Beat – Junkanoo is the biggest street parade across the Caribbean, with thousands of Bahamians outfitting themselves in colourful, energetic and funky handmade costumes to dance through the streets of Nassau, accompanied by brass bands and traditional African music, which…HogmanayUNITED KINGDOMHogmanay is Scotland’s passionate 3 day New Years eve celebration featuring street parties, torchlight parades, music, costumes, concerts, dancing, a firework finale and even a dip in the Scottish ocean.Dakar RallySAUDI ARABIAThe biggest and most dangerous rally in the world, the Dakar Rally see’s professionals and amateurs head out into the wilderness — relying on their own supplies — to compete in specialized off-road vehicles in an unforgettable and challenging off road-endurance event, on a 10 ‑15 day…KrampusnachtAUSTRIAEver wondered what happens to the children who make it onto St Nicholas naughty list? – they get a visit from the evil demon of Santa, Krampus, who according to legend is a horrific half-goat, half demon creature, covered in fur and with coals for eyes and large prodding horns, who…International Ice and Snow Festival (Harbin)CHINAThe Worlds biggest winter festival, Harbin’s ice and winter festival takes advantage of the ‑25 °C weather as 10,000 workers cut, haul and shape over 220,000 cubic metres of ice into towering structures, including castles, palaces and trains and plays host to a series of ice related…Pingxi Lantern FestivalTAIWANMarking the first day of the Lunar New Year, Taiwan’s beautiful and photogenic Pingxi Lantern Festival see’s 100,000 burning lanterns released into the night sky, covered in the words, wishes pictures, and prayers of their releases – a time also for family and reflection the highlight…The Mevlana festival (Whirling Dervishes)TURKEYThe hypnotic Whirling Dervishes are the hallmark of Konya’s Mevlana Festival, which commemorates the life, teachings and death of Jalal ad-Din Rumi, Konya’s revered Islamic theologian, with an eleven-day series of ceremonies and celebrations including the hypnotic Whirling Dervishes dance.Kandy Esala PeraheraSRI LANKAThe festival of the Tooth – Sri Lanka’s Esala Perahera honours the sacred tooth relic of buddha and the four ‘guardian’ Gods Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Goddess Pattini which are housed in the divine temple of the tooth in Kandy.Comic ConUNITED STATESEmbracing everyone’s inner Geek, the television, film, and comic book extravaganza of Comic-Con, allows fans to not just meet and greet their heroes and partake in a series of action panels, but also learn the latest updates from Hollywood and discover the inside information about how…WimbledonUNITED KINGDOMThe most prestigious and oldest of Tennis’s four Grand Slams, the Wimbledon championships – or simply Wimbledon – is the world’s premier tennis event, as over the course of two weeks in English Summer, 128 of the worlds best tennis players, combined with 64 double teams battle it out…GlastonburyUNITED KINGDOMThe largest greenfield music festival in the world and a hallmark of the British art calendar, Glastonbury see’s the biggest internal rock and pop acts in the world, combined with thousands of supporting dance, comedy and music artists descending on the peaceful village of Pilton…The Super BowlUNITED STATESThe biggest watched single-day sporting even in the world, the Super Bowl is the winner take all culmination of the National Football League (NFL), as at the end of a grueling season of American Football two of the 32 competing teams, from the two 16team conferences battle it out to be…Indianapolis 500UNITED STATESThe ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ and unquestionable the most important and prestigious event of the IndyCar calendar, the Indianapolis 500 sees 33 starters in “Indy Cars” race at speeds of 240 Miles per hours over 500 miles and 200 laps of Indiana’s Motor Speedway stadium against a…La Tomatina (The Tomato Fight)SPAINWHEN: Last Wednesday in AugustThe world’s greatest food fight and the pinnacle for tomato lovers and foodies, the internationally renowned La Tomatina focuses and pure unadulterated enjoyment, as 20,000 people from all over the world gather in the small town of Buñol and for the course of one amazing hour hurl 120…World CupWORLDWIDEThe most prestigious and most followed sporting event in the world, the FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of competitive football as the best teams from 32 nations battle it out once every four years in an elimination tournament to be crowned the world champions.Sundance Film FestivalUNITED STATESThe largest independent film festival in the United States, the Sundance film festival celebrates the best of independent film as hundreds of thousands of cinema buffs , film makers, critics and budding directors head to three small towns in Utah for a 10 day marathon of film…Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaUNITED STATESThe largest balloon festival in the world, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta see’s more than a million people come and watch 600 hot air balloons ascend into the morning crisp autumn New Mexico skyline, against the back drop of the Rio Grande.The Mongol RallyUNITED KINGDOM / MONGOLIA / RUSSIAThe ‘greatest adventure on the planet’ – or perhaps more accurately ‘motoring stupidity on a global scale’, the Mongol Rally is an intercontinental charity car rally that challenges participants to find the worst car they can (1 litre or less and no younger than 10 years) and drive it…CoachellaUNITED STATESThe ‘Indie’ music festival, the Coachella music and arts festival is a consecutive three-day weekend celebration of both popular and established musical artists and indie and local music, that also features art installations and cultures, as well as major international artists.Just for LaughsCANADAThe king of comedy festivals, Just For Laughs is a two-week spectacle of the worlds finest comedians, with Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles and surrounding comedy clubs and theatres playing host to 2000 of the best comedians on the planet — in both free and paid performances.24 Hours of Le MansFRANCEThe world’s oldest active racing event, the 24 hours of Le Mans is a test of speed, engineering and endurance, as over the course of 24 straight hours teams of three drivers in a single car battle it out to see who can cover the most distance on the closed public roads and race tracks…South By Southwest (SXSW)UNITED STATESThe biggest multi-media and genre celebration on the planet — South by Southwest (or SXSW) combines events of music, film, comedy, gaming, and interactivity, with exhibitions, showcases, screening, networking, technological development and more, as under the banner of one roof over the…The Battle of the OrangesITALYThe battle of the oranges is a celebration of freedom and liberty, that sees thousands of people flock to the small town of Ivrea, Italy and over the course of three days engage in an orange based food fight between nine combat teams (who seek to attack or defend Ivrea) across both the…Inti RaymiPERUThe Festival of the Sun, Cusco’s popular (thanks to the re-discovery of Machu Pichu) Inti Raymi festival both celebrates and re-enacts the Inca Empire’s winter solstice festival and the traditional Inca New Year– with processions, dances, ceremonial readings, music, parade’s, rituals…Kentucky derby RaceUNITED STATESThe ‘Run of the Roses’ The Kentucky Derby is the most exciting two minutes in sport and the pinnacle in competitive horse racing as twenty of the best horses mounted by the world’s best jockeys compete across 10 furlongs of the famous Churchill Downs racecourse to be crowned not just…Thanksgiving paradeUNITED STATESThe worlds largest parade and the official kick off of the American holiday season, the Thanksgiving parade in Manhattan see’s the famous streets of New York come alive as an assortment of floats, falloons, balloonicles and over 60 giant helium balloons.Tapati FestivalCHILEThe biggest Polynesian festival in the world and a celebration of the Rapa Nui culture.Timkat FestivalETHIOPIAMarking the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan, the Timkat Festival is a three-day celebration across the whole of Ethiopia that features singing, speeches, mass, dancing and a re-enactment of the baptism of Jesus.Galway International Oyster Seafood FestivalIRELANDThe world’s greatest and longest running Oyster festival – the three day long Galway International Oyster Seafood festival celebrate the start of the new Oyster season and everything that’s great about Oysters.Koh Pha Ngan Full Moon PartyTHAILANDThe Infamous full moon party see’s the shores of the idyllic Haad Rin beach on Koh Pha Ngan play host to a monthly ground vibrating, noisy, chaotic alcohol fuelled and simply fun festival-like party under the full moon.Lunar New Year (China)CHINAThe Lunar New Year is the biggest and brightest festival in China as families from across the entire region come together to celebrate the Chinese New Year over the course of almost 23 days.Tango FestivalARGENTINAThe worlds biggest tango festival – the Tango festival of Buenos Aires is not only a celebration of Argentine culture and tango, but is a combination of the best two tango events on the planet as the nine day La Festival — which features numerous shows, instruction, performances…Batalla del VinoSPAINThe ‘battle of the wine’ or ‘wine warfare’ is a chaotic, sticky and ultimately (depending on how much wine you drink) jolly battle.World Sacred Spirit FestivalINDIASet amongst the majestic and candle lit Nagaur and Mehrangarh Forts, the world sacred spirit festival is not only one of the worlds leading folk festivals and a showcase of some of the worlds greatest artists, but a spiritual, enlightening and awakening festival.Rickshaw Run (India version)INDIA Pushing basic engineering to the limit, the Rickshaw run is a two — three week manic, challenging, adventurous and thrill-seeking charity team ‘race’ across the whole of India.Tet nguyen dan (Vietnam New Year)VIETNAMVietnam’s Tet, which celebrates the Lunar New year Celebrations, is Vietnam’s loudest and most significant festival.Monkey Buffet FestivalTHAILANDHonouring the most famous residents of the Thailand town of Lopburi, the Monkey Buffet festival truly lives up to its name – as every November amidst the ruins of the iconic Phra Prang Sam Yot temple 3,000 long tailed macaque monkeys feast on a specially prepared massive banquet in the…Roskilde Music festivalDENMARKThe ‘Community Music Festival’ the Danish music festival of Roskilde features not just 175 bands and the best of food, parties, mud and art, but also a strong emphasis on togetherness, spirituality and community.Vesak Poya – The Festival of Lights (Sri Lanka)SRI LANKAThe festival of Lights (Sri Lanka) — The Buddhist ‘Christmas,’ Vesak Poya is a festival of togetherness and light celebrating the three most important events of Buddha’s life – birth, enlightenment, and death — with the release of colourful lanterns, light statues and numerous open…The Great Food FestivalSINGAPOREThe favourite festival of ‘foodies’ Singapore’s Great food festival see’s more than 50 of the worlds greatest chefs descend onto Sentosa Island in the little red dot and showcase hundreds of their best dishes for as little as $10 a pop.No existing festivals in this selection.
24 Hours of Le MansFRANCEAlbuquerque International Balloon FiestaUNITED STATESArirang Mass Gymnastics Festival [Mass Games]NORTH KOREABastille DayFRANCEBatalla del VinoSPAINBisket JatraNEPALBoryeong Mud FestivalSOUTH KOREABurning ManUNITED STATESCalgary StampedeCANADACampeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo (Argentine polo finals)ARGENTINACarnaval de OruroBOLIVIACheese ChasingUNITED KINGDOMCoachellaUNITED STATESComic ConUNITED STATESDakar RallySAUDI ARABIADay of the Dead (Día de Muertos)MEXICODiwaliINDIAEquinox at Chichen ItzaMEXICOFiesta de la CandelariaPERUFormula one Grand Prix of MonacoMONACOGalway International Oyster Seafood FestivalIRELANDGion MatsuriJAPANGlastonburyUNITED KINGDOMGreenwich Village Halloween ParadeUNITED STATESHogmanayUNITED KINGDOMHoliINDIAHonen FestivalJAPANIndianapolis 500UNITED STATESInternational Ice and Snow Festival (Harbin)CHINAInternational Jazz FestivalCANADAInti RaymiPERUJunkanooBAHAMASJust for LaughsCANADAKandy Esala PeraheraSRI LANKAKentucky derby RaceUNITED STATESKing’s day (Koninginnedag & Koningsnacht)NETHERLANDSKirkpinar Oil Wrestling TournamentTURKEYKoh Pha Ngan Full Moon PartyTHAILANDKrampusnachtAUSTRIALa Tomatina (The Tomato Fight)SPAINLes Fallas de ValenciaSPAINLewes Bonfire NightUNITED KINGDOMLos diablos DanzantesVENEZUELALoy Krathong – Thailand Lantern FestivalTHAILANDLunar New Year (China)CHINAMaha Kumbh Mela (Once Every 12 Years)INDIAMaha Kumbh Mela (Once Every Four Years)INDIAMarathon des sablesMOROCCOMardi Gras – New OrleansUNITED STATESMonkey Buffet FestivalTHAILANDMt Hagen sing-sing FestivalPAPUA NEW GUINEANaddamMONGOLIANaghol (Land Diving)VANUATUNew Years Eve (Times Square)UNITED STATESNyepi & Ogoh-ogoh ParadeINDONESIAOktoberfestGERMANYOlympic GamesWORLDWIDEPageant of the Masters Show (Festival of the Arts)UNITED STATESParo TsechuBHUTANPingxi Lantern FestivalTAIWANRickshaw Run (India version)INDIARio de Janeiro CarnivalBRAZILRoskilde Music festivalDENMARKRoswell UFO FestivalUNITED STATESRoyal ascot Horse RacingUNITED KINGDOMSakura (The Cherry Blossom Festival)JAPANSanja MatsuriJAPANSemana SantaSPAIN / LATIN AMERICAShuni‑e (Omizutori)JAPANSongkran – Thailand New YearTHAILANDSouth By Southwest (SXSW)UNITED STATESSt. Patricks Day FestivalIRELANDSundance Film FestivalUNITED STATESTango FestivalARGENTINATapati FestivalCHILETemple of Abu Simbel IlluminationEGYPTTet nguyen dan (Vietnam New Year)VIETNAMThanksgiving paradeUNITED STATESThe Ati-Atihan FestivalPHILIPPINESThe Battle of the OrangesITALYThe Edinburgh Fringe FestivalUNITED KINGDOMThe Great Food FestivalSINGAPOREThe Great Red Crab MigrationAUSTRALIAThe Mevlana festival (Whirling Dervishes)TURKEYThe Mongol RallyUNITED KINGDOM / MONGOLIA / RUSSIAThe Ouidah Voodoo Festival (Fête du Vodoun)BENINThe Palio di Siena Horse RaceITALYThe San Fermin Festival & Running of the bullsSPAINThe Super BowlUNITED STATESThe UK Stonehenge Summer SolsticeUNITED KINGDOMThe Wildebeest MigrationTANZANIA / KENYATimkat FestivalETHIOPIAUp Helly AaUNITED KINGDOMVenice Art BiennaleITALYVenice CarnivalITALYVesak Poya – The Festival of Lights (Sri Lanka)SRI LANKAVienna Opera ball & CarnivalAUSTRIAWhite Nights Festival & Scarlet Sails ShowRUSSIAWimbledonUNITED KINGDOMWinter OlympicsWORLDWIDEWorld Bog Snorkeling ChallengeUNITED KINGDOMWorld CupWORLDWIDEWorld Sacred Music FestivalMOROCCOWorld Sacred Spirit FestivalINDIAÞjóðhátíð (Westman Islands Festival)ICELANDNo existing festivals in this selection.
24 Hours of Le MansFRANCEAlbuquerque International Balloon FiestaUNITED STATESArirang Mass Gymnastics Festival [Mass Games]NORTH KOREABastille DayFRANCEBatalla del VinoSPAINBisket JatraNEPALBoryeong Mud FestivalSOUTH KOREABurning ManUNITED STATESCalgary StampedeCANADACampeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo (Argentine polo finals)ARGENTINACarnaval de OruroBOLIVIACheese ChasingUNITED KINGDOMCoachellaUNITED STATESComic ConUNITED STATESDakar RallySAUDI ARABIADay of the Dead (Día de Muertos)MEXICODiwaliINDIAEquinox at Chichen ItzaMEXICOFiesta de la CandelariaPERUFormula one Grand Prix of MonacoMONACOGalway International Oyster Seafood FestivalIRELANDGion MatsuriJAPANGlastonburyUNITED KINGDOMGreenwich Village Halloween ParadeUNITED STATESHogmanayUNITED KINGDOMHoliINDIAHonen FestivalJAPANIndianapolis 500UNITED STATESInternational Ice and Snow Festival (Harbin)CHINAInternational Jazz FestivalCANADAInti RaymiPERUJunkanooBAHAMASJust for LaughsCANADAKandy Esala PeraheraSRI LANKAKentucky derby RaceUNITED STATESKing’s day (Koninginnedag & Koningsnacht)NETHERLANDSKirkpinar Oil Wrestling TournamentTURKEYKoh Pha Ngan Full Moon PartyTHAILANDKrampusnachtAUSTRIALa Tomatina (The Tomato Fight)SPAINLes Fallas de ValenciaSPAINLewes Bonfire NightUNITED KINGDOMLos diablos DanzantesVENEZUELALoy Krathong – Thailand Lantern FestivalTHAILANDLunar New Year (China)CHINAMaha Kumbh Mela (Once Every 12 Years)INDIAMaha Kumbh Mela (Once Every Four Years)INDIAMarathon des sablesMOROCCOMardi Gras – New OrleansUNITED STATESMonkey Buffet FestivalTHAILANDMt Hagen sing-sing FestivalPAPUA NEW GUINEANaddamMONGOLIANaghol (Land Diving)VANUATUNew Years Eve (Times Square)UNITED STATESNyepi & Ogoh-ogoh ParadeINDONESIAOktoberfestGERMANYOlympic GamesWORLDWIDEPageant of the Masters Show (Festival of the Arts)UNITED STATESParo TsechuBHUTANPingxi Lantern FestivalTAIWANRickshaw Run (India version)INDIARio de Janeiro CarnivalBRAZILRoskilde Music festivalDENMARKRoswell UFO FestivalUNITED STATESRoyal ascot Horse RacingUNITED KINGDOMSakura (The Cherry Blossom Festival)JAPANSanja MatsuriJAPANSemana SantaSPAIN / LATIN AMERICAShuni‑e (Omizutori)JAPANSongkran – Thailand New YearTHAILANDSouth By Southwest (SXSW)UNITED STATESSt. Patricks Day FestivalIRELANDSundance Film FestivalUNITED STATESTango FestivalARGENTINATapati FestivalCHILETemple of Abu Simbel IlluminationEGYPTTet nguyen dan (Vietnam New Year)VIETNAMThanksgiving paradeUNITED STATESThe Ati-Atihan FestivalPHILIPPINESThe Battle of the OrangesITALYThe Edinburgh Fringe FestivalUNITED KINGDOMThe Great Food FestivalSINGAPOREThe Great Red Crab MigrationAUSTRALIAThe Mevlana festival (Whirling Dervishes)TURKEYThe Mongol RallyUNITED KINGDOM / MONGOLIA / RUSSIAThe Ouidah Voodoo Festival (Fête du Vodoun)BENINThe Palio di Siena Horse RaceITALYThe San Fermin Festival & Running of the bullsSPAINThe Super BowlUNITED STATESThe UK Stonehenge Summer SolsticeUNITED KINGDOMThe Wildebeest MigrationTANZANIA / KENYATimkat FestivalETHIOPIAUp Helly AaUNITED KINGDOMVenice Art BiennaleITALYVenice CarnivalITALYVesak Poya – The Festival of Lights (Sri Lanka)SRI LANKAVienna Opera ball & CarnivalAUSTRIAWhite Nights Festival & Scarlet Sails ShowRUSSIAWimbledonUNITED KINGDOMWinter OlympicsWORLDWIDEWorld Bog Snorkeling ChallengeUNITED KINGDOMWorld CupWORLDWIDEWorld Sacred Music FestivalMOROCCOWorld Sacred Spirit FestivalINDIAÞjóðhátíð (Westman Islands Festival)ICELANDNo existing festivals in this selection.
Featured Festival
AN EXTRAORDINARY CELEBRATION. A CLOSER LOOK
Event Festivals
ICONIC EVENTS. UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS.
Art Festivals
CREATIVITY, CULTURE AND CELEBRATION.
