Every year, across all corners of the globe, people come together in exuberant celebrations that blend tradition, culture, music, and spectacle. These festivals, ranging from the spiritually profound to the wildly carnivalesque, showcase humanity's shared penchant for joy, artistry, and communal unity. These monumental gatherings are often the heart and soul of a culture, providing fascinating insights into its traditions and values.
In this whirlwind tour around the world, we bring to you 20 of the most spectacular and unforgettable festivals. Each one tells a unique story, resonating with the rhythm of the people and the place. So, brace yourself for a vibrant journey that promises a feast for the senses and a rendezvous with the extraordinary!
Samba dancers showcase their vibrant and energetic performance at the legendary Rio Carnival.
Rio Carnival
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
A celebration of Brazilian culture with vibrant costumes, infectious rhythms, and exuberant parades. Over 2 million people flood the streets each day, while Samba schools, community-based groups, compete in the Sambadrome with choreographed routines. The next festival dates are from February 09th to February 17th, 2024.
Mardi Gras
Location: New Orleans, USA
A mix of public parades, street parties, and private masked balls. It’s known for vibrant costumes, bead necklaces, and a general atmosphere of revelry, alongside traditional foods like gumbo and king cake. The next Mardi Gras is on February 13, 2024.
Oktoberfest
Location: Munich, Germany
This folk festival attracts more than six million people from around the world who enjoy the atmosphere, traditional Bavarian music, and beers from Munich’s six main breweries. Traditional foods such as pretzels, sausages, and sauerkraut are also enjoyed. The next Oktoberfest is from September 16, 2023, to October 3, 2023.
Burning Man
Location: Nevada, USA
This week-long event is a celebration of art, self-expression, and community. Its culminating symbol is the burning of a large wooden sculpture ("the Man"). The event is based on ten principles, including radical self-reliance and radical self-expression. The next event is from August 27 to September 04, 2023.
La Tomatina
Location: Buñol, Spain
An hour-long tomato fight is part of a week-long festival in honor of the town's patron saints. More than a hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets. The next La Tomatina is on August 30, 2023.
View of crowds of people covered in color during Holi, a Hindu spring festival. Photo by Bhupesh Pal.
Holi
Location: India
Celebrated to mark the arrival of spring, participants throw colored powders at each other in a playful, joyful celebration. The next Holi celebration is on March 25, 2024.
Glastonbury Festival
Location: England
This five-day festival covers many types of music, as well as other arts like dance and comedy. Major artists from around the world perform on multiple stages. The next festival runs from Wednesday 26th to Sunday 30th June, 2024.
Electrifying the crowd, a DJ sets the rhythm of the night at the world-renowned Coachella Music Festival. Photo by Arthur Edelmans.
Coachella
Location: California, USA
Held over two consecutive weekends, it features genres like rock, pop, indie, and electronic music. Besides music, it offers art installations and sculptures. Many attendees embrace the festival fashion, which often trends towards bohemian style. In 2024, Coachella Weekend 1 will take place April 12-14, with Weekend 2 on April 19-21.
Lantern festival in Taipei. Photo by Vernon Raineil Cenzon.
The Lantern Festival
Location: Pingxi, Taiwan
As part of the Chinese New Year celebration, participants release paper lanterns into the night sky, often with handwritten wishes for the upcoming year. The next Lantern Festival is on February 24, 2024.
Dia De Los Muertos parade at León, Mexico. Photo by Amaury.
Dia De Los Muertos
Location: Mexico
An occasion to remember and honor deceased loved ones, marked by vibrant altars, marigold flowers, sugar skulls, and processions. The next Dia De Los Muertos is from November 1, 2023, to November 2, 2023.
Songkran Water Festival
Location: Thailand
This Thai New Year celebration involves massive water fights in the streets. It's also a time for Thais to visit temples, cleanse Buddha images with water, and spend time with family. The next Songkran Water Festival is from April 13, 2024, to April 15, 2024.
Cannes Film Festival
Location: Cannes, France
An invitation-only festival that previews new films from around the world. The festival is famous for its red carpet and the awarding of the Palme d'Or, the highest prize awarded to competing films. The next Cannes Film Festival is from May 14-25, 2024.
San Fermin Festival
Location: Pamplona, Spain
Its most famous event is the "running of the bulls," where bulls are let loose on the city's streets. It also includes traditional music and dance, as well as giant puppet parades. The next San Fermin Festival is from July 6 - 14, 2024.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Artists of every variety fill the city’s streets and venues with performances for three weeks. It's an open access festival, meaning anyone can perform, leading to a diverse array of shows. The next Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs from August 4, 2023, to August 28, 2023.
Wonderland of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in China. Photo by Kent Zhong.
Harbin Ice and Snow Festival
Location: China
One of the world's largest ice festivals, featuring enormous, beautifully illuminated ice sculptures, ice lantern shows, and ice sports events. The next Harbin Ice and Snow Festival runs from December 20, 2023, to early March, 2024.
New Year's Eve at Copacabana Beach
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Over two million people gather on the beach to celebrate New Year with massive firework displays, live music shows, and traditional religious rituals. The next celebration is on December 31, 2023.
Carnevale
Location: Venice, Italy
Known for its unique and elaborate masks, this festival involves parades, balls, and entertainment. The masks, once used to hide identity and social status, are now a celebrated art form. The next Carnevale is between Saturday, January 27, and Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
Illuminating the night sky, spectacular fireworks explode above an ecstatic crowd at the iconic Tomorrowland Festival. Photo by Daniels Joffe.
Tomorrowland
Location: Boom, Belgium
This electronic dance music festival is one of the biggest and most recognized music festivals worldwide. Known for its extravagant stages, high-profile DJs, and devoted fans. The next event, Tomorrowland Winter 2024, will take place from March 16 to March 23, 2024, in Alpe d'Huez.
Cherry Blossom festival at Matsuno, Japan. Photo by Sora Sagano.
Cherry Blossom Festival
Location: Japan
Celebrations are held all over Japan to welcome spring. It's a time for "hanami," traditional cherry blossom viewing parties, where people picnic under the blooming trees. The next Cherry Blossom Festival is in late March to early April and lasts around 10 days.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Location: New Mexico, USA
This event attracts nearly 600 hot air balloons, making it the largest gathering of its kind in the world. Known for the "mass ascension" where all balloons lift off at once, creating a sky filled with color. The next fiesta is from October 7, 2023, to October 15, 2023.
While these are 20 of the largest and most renowned festivals globally, remember that every corner of the world has its own unique way of celebrating life, culture, music, and tradition. There's a multitude of lesser-known but equally fascinating festivals out there, offering unique experiences and cultural insights. So keep exploring, and you might just find your own favorite hidden gem among the world's celebrations.