Calendar of the most extraordinary festivals

They do exist, these magical days when an entire country is transformed: when colored powder swirls through the air in India, thousands of small lights dance on the water in Thailand or the sun god is celebrated with drums and dances in Peru. This page is an invitation to rethink your travel calendar – not according to the seasons, but according to emotions, rituals and cultural highlights.

Here you will find a curated overview of the most impressive, colorful and sometimes simply bizarre events in the world. From silent full moon ceremonies to tomato fights in Spanish alleyways – for every month, for every mood, for every type of explorer.

Whether you want to travel specifically around an event or simply be inspired: this festival calendar shows you when and where it is worth diving deep into the soul of a country and the heart of its people.

And who knows? Maybe your next travel date will be an unforgettable experience that you found not in the flight plan, but in the rhythm of world cultures.

Select a month:

15 January (variable around this date) – Pongal
Location: Tamil Nadu
Country: India
A harvest festival in honor of the sun. Families cook desserts made from rice and milk together.

Last Sunday in January – World Nomad Games (annual or biennial)
Location: alternating locations, originally in Cholpon-Ata
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Traditional competitions of Central Asian nomadic peoples – from horse racing to eagle hunting.

Up Helly Aa (last Tuesday in January)
Location: Lerwick, Shetland Islands
Country: Scotland
Viking festival with torchlight processions, songs and the spectacular burning of a Viking ship.

Harbin Ice and Snow Festival (early January – February)
Location: Harbin
Country: China
A huge ice and snow sculpture festival with illuminated palaces and slippery adventures at -30 degrees.

Ati-Atihan Festival (second week of January)
Location: Kalibo, Panay
Country: Philippines
A joyous festival in honor of Santo Niño with tribal costumes, singing, dancing and black face painting.

Timkat (January 19, sometimes 20th)
Location: Gondar and Lalibela
Country: Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s Orthodox Epiphany festival – water consecration ceremonies, priests in bright robes, drums and dancing.

February 3 (variable) – Setsubun
Location: nationwide
Country: Japan
“Bean Day”, during which demons are symbolically driven away with roasted soybeans.

Carnival (variable, February or March, 40 days before Easter)
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Country: Brazil
The most famous carnival in the world: parades, samba, costumes and 24/7 celebrations.

Carnaval de Oruro
Location: Oruro
Country: Bolivia
A UNESCO World Heritage Site – colorful parade with dancers in devil masks, drums and Andean spirituality.

Chinese New Year (variable, usually late Jan. or Feb.)
Location: nationwide
Country: China (and anywhere with a Chinese community)
Two weeks of dragon parades, fireworks and family traditions to celebrate the lunar new year.

Tapati Rapa Nui (first half of February)
Location: Easter Island
Country: Chile
A two-week festival with competitions, tattoos, dancing and traditional songs – to preserve the Rapa Nui culture.

Desert Festival (early February)
Location: Jaisalmer
Country: India
A festival in the middle of the Thar desert with camel dances, turban competitions, music and the magic of Rajasthan.

Lemon Festival (mid-February to early March)
Location: Menton
Country: France
Giant sculptures of lemons and oranges in fantastic shapes – fragrant, flashy and unique.

Sapporo Snow Festival (first week of February)
Location: Sapporo
Country: Japan
Gigantic snow sculptures, illuminated at night – a winter wonderland of ice.

March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day
Location: Dublin (and in Irish communities worldwide)
Country: Ireland
Cheers to Ireland’s national saint – with parades, green beer and lots of music.

End of March (variable) – Holi
Location: nationwide
Country: India
The festival of colors marks the end of winter. People throw colored powder at each other – and worry with good humor.

Las Fallas (March 15-19)
Location: Valencia
Country: Spain
Monumental papier-mâché figures are ritually burned at the end of the week – accompanied by music and fireworks.

Strong Beer Festival (from Ash Wednesday for approx. 3 weeks)
Location: Munich
Country: Germany
Less well-known than Oktoberfest, but at least as traditional – with extra strong bock beer.

Nowruz (March 21)
Place: Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Kurdish regions
Country: e.g. Iran
Persian New Year on the spring equinox – a festival of purification, hope and rebirth.

Semana de la Francofonía (usually 3rd week in March)
Location: Montréal
Country: Canada
Week of the French language with concerts, film, literature and culinary specialties.

Festa della Sensa (variable, approx. 40 days after Easter)
Location: Venice
Country: Italy
Ceremonial “marriage” of Venice to the sea – historic ships, traditional costumes and blessing for the lagoon.

April 13-15 – Songkran (Thai New Year)
Location: nationwide, especially wild in Chiang Mai and Bangkok
Country: Thailand
Water march! The New Year is celebrated with exuberant water fights.

Last Friday in April – King’s Day (Koningsdag)
Location: Amsterdam and all of the Netherlands
Country: Netherlands
All of Holland in orange. Flea markets, street parties and boats full of party people.

Semana Santa (Holy Week, variable)
Location: Seville
Country: Spain
Spectacular processions with costumed penitents, giant statues of saints and festive music.

Feria de Abril (usually two weeks after Easter)
Location: Seville
Country: Spain
Pure Andalusian joie de vivre: horse-drawn carriages, flamenco, tapas, sherry and dancing until dawn.

Greenland Dog Sled Race (April, variable)
Location: Kangerlussuaq
Country: Greenland
A race over snow and ice with dog sleds – spectacular and steeped in tradition.

May 1 – Beltane Fire Festival
Location: Edinburgh
Country: Scotland
A modern pagan festival to celebrate summer with fire shows, costumes and rituals.

Last Sunday in May – Monkey Buffet Festival
Location: Lopburi
Country: Thailand
A festival in honor of monkeys – with huge buffets for the animals. WTF factor guaranteed.

Cinco de Mayo (May 5)
Place: Puebla
Country: Mexico / also celebrated in the USA
Day commemorating the victory over the French – celebrated with parades, mariachi music and Mexican pride.

Vesakh (variable, full moon in May)
Location: Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia
Buddhist festival in honor of the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. Temples are illuminated, believers donate food and flowers.

Giro d’Italia (start at the beginning of May)
Location: varies throughout the country
Country: Italy
More than just a cycling race – the Giro is a sporting Italian pilgrimage with pasta, panoramas and passion.

Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling (last Monday in May)
Location: Gloucester
Country: England
World-famous (and completely crazy) event: participants chase a cheese down a steep hill.

24 June – Inti Raymi
Location: Cusco
Country: Peru
Inca festival in honor of the sun god. Historical costumes, ritual dances and lots of symbolism.

June 21 – Midsummer (Scandinavia)
Location: mainly Sweden
Country: Sweden
Dancing around the maypole, wreaths of flowers, herring and schnapps – this is how the north celebrates the brightest night of the year.

Duanwu Festival (Dragon Boat Festival, 5th day of the 5th lunar month)
Location: nationwide
Country: China
Dragon boat races, glutinous rice cakes (zongzi) and a festival in honor of a poet.

Fête de la Musique (June 21)
Location: Paris (originally), now worldwide
Country: France & global
Music on every street – from amateur musicians to big concerts, all free of charge.

Kaljakellunta – Beer Floating (end of June / July, weather permitting)
Location: Vantaa River, Helsinki
Country: Finland
Floating down the river in rubber boats with beer and music – a semi-official festival that went viral.

July 14 – Bastille Day
Location: Paris and the whole of France
Country: France
France celebrates its revolution with military parades and fireworks. Highlight: the parade on the Champs-Élysées.

Last Saturday in July – Gion Matsuri
Location: Kyoto
Country: Japan
One of Japan’s oldest and largest festivals with elaborately decorated floats.

Fiesta de San Fermín (July 6-14)
Location: Pamplona
Country: Spain
Known for the “Running of the Bulls” – pure adrenaline or madness? That’s up to you.

Naadam Festival (July 11-13)
Location: Ulaanbaatar
Country: Mongolia
The “festival of three games” (archery, wrestling, horse racing) showcases the nomadic soul of the country.

Heiva i Tahiti (all July)
Location: Papeete
Country: French Polynesia
A celebration of Polynesian identity with dance competitions, sports (spear throwing!), singing and traditional outfits.

Festival of the Assumption (August 14-15)
Location: Gozzano (and other locations)
Country: Italy
Processions with statues of the Madonna, fireworks over lakes, rural Catholic folkloric Italy in its purest form.

Last Wednesday in August – La Tomatina
Town: Buñol
Country: Spain
The famous tomato battle: 20,000 people throw overripe tomatoes at each other.

Obon (August 13-16)
Location: nationwide
Country: Japan
Ancestor festival with traditional dances (Bon Odori), lanterns and visits to cemeteries.

Burning Man (last week of August to 1st week of September)
Location: Black Rock Desert, Nevada
Country: USA
A temporary art and utopia site in the desert – community, self-expression and a burning man.

World Bog Snorkeling Championships (last Monday in August)
Location: Llanwrtyd Wells
Country: Wales
Diving goggles on and off into the peat: a curious competition in which you snorkel through a bog trench.

Second Monday in September – Tsukimi (moon viewing festival)
Location: nationwide
Country: Japan
Traditional moon festival with rice balls, pampas grass and a view of the full moon.

Third Saturday in September – Oktoberfest opening
Location: Munich
Country: Germany
O’zapft is! The world’s biggest folk festival begins in September, not October.

Mid-Autumn Festival (variable, full moon in September/October)
Location: China, Vietnam, Taiwan
Country: e.g. China
Festival of moon cakes and lanterns to celebrate the autumn full moon.

Zibelemärit (4th Monday in September or November – depending on the region)
Location: Bern
Country: Switzerland
Onion market with artfully woven braids, leeks and the smell of cheese in the autumn air.

October 31 – Halloween
Location: originally USA, now worldwide
Country: global
Disguises, sweets, pumpkins – originally a Celtic ancestral festival, now a pop culture phenomenon.

First weekend in October – Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Country: USA
Hot air balloons in all shapes and colors fill the sky – a visual spectacle.

Thimphu Tshechu (variable, usually October)
Location: Thimphu
Country: Bhutan
Buddhist mask festival with dances, prayers and spiritual purification – colorful and mysterious.

Full moon in November – Loy Krathong
Location: All of Thailand, especially Chiang Mai and Sukhothai
Country: Thailand
People place “krathongs” made of banana leaves with candles on rivers – as a sign of new beginnings and gratitude.

Yi Peng (at the same time as Loy Krathong)
Location: Chiang Mai
Country: Thailand
Thousands of sky lanterns rise into the night at the same time – a magical moment of wishes and letting go.

November 5 – Guy Fawkes Night
Location: nationwide
Country: United Kingdom
Fireworks, bonfires and burnt straw men commemorate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Día de los Muertos (1 – 2 November)
Location: nationwide
Country: Mexico
Colorful cult of the dead, altars with flowers and favorite foods for the deceased – a celebration of life and remembrance.

Pushkar Camel Fair (variable, usually November)
Location: Pushkar
Country: India
A camel and cattle market that turns into a colorful spectacle with competitions and music.

Kranklball (6 December)
Location: Salzburg & Tyrol
Country: Austria
Another version of Krampus Night – with wild figures, ringing bells and ancient symbolism.

Chichibu Night Festival (2/3 December)
Location: Chichibu, Saitama
Country: Japan
A night-time raft and lantern festival with music, illuminated floats and traditional woodwork.

December 31 – Hogmanay
Location: Edinburgh
Country: Scotland
New Year’s Eve in Scottish – with bagpipes, fireworks and the custom of “First Footing”.

Krampusnacht (December 5)
Location: Alpine regions, especially Austria
Country: Austria
Spooky figures with horns and rods roam the streets – an Alpine pre-Christmas horror.

Dongzhi Festival (December 21 or 22)
Location: China, Taiwan
Country: China
Winter solstice – celebrated with tangyuan (sweet rice balls) with the family.