Top Festivals Around the World

There are few better ways to experience the soul of a place than by attending one of its festivals. Whether rooted in ancient tradition, religious celebration, or sheer artistic expression, festivals provide immersive, unforgettable experiences that transcend language and geography. They’re the pulse of a culture — vibrant, chaotic, beautiful, and often deeply moving.

Here’s a curated journey through some of the world’s most extraordinary festivals that deserve a spot on your lifetime travel list.

🎨 1. Holi – India

When: March (dates vary by lunar calendar)
Where: Across India, especially in Mathura, Vrindavan, and Jaipur

Known as the Festival of Colors, Holi is one of India’s most joyful and visually stunning celebrations. What begins with religious rituals and bonfires the night before erupts the next day into a full-blown street party where color powder, water balloons, and music take over every corner.

Holi celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring, but it’s also a powerful social equalizer — for one day, social divisions melt away in a burst of color and laughter. Foreign visitors are often welcomed with open arms and a handful of bright powder.

🎭 2. Carnival – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

When: February or March (before Lent)
Where: Rio de Janeiro

Rio’s Carnival is the largest festival in the world, attracting millions of revelers each year. It’s a dazzling combination of samba, costumes, floats, and non-stop energy. The highlight is the Sambadrome parade, where samba schools compete in one of the most elaborate and passionate displays of performance art on Earth.

But Carnival isn’t confined to the official parade — the entire city becomes a stage. Street parties known as “blocos” fill neighborhoods with spontaneous music, dancing, and celebration. It’s Brazil at its most flamboyant, creative, and free-spirited.

🔥 3. Burning Man – Black Rock Desert, Nevada, USA

When: Late August to early September
Where: Black Rock City, Nevada

More than a festival, Burning Man is a radical experiment in temporary community, creativity, and self-expression. Held in the stark, surreal landscape of Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, it transforms into Black Rock City — a pop-up metropolis of art installations, mutant vehicles, themed camps, and no money exchange.

The festival culminates in the burning of a massive wooden effigy (“The Man”), symbolizing transformation and impermanence. It’s part art fair, part survival challenge, part spiritual journey — and wholly unforgettable.

🎆 4. Diwali – India & the Indian Diaspora

When: October or November (date varies)
Where: India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and globally

Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is a celebration of light triumphing over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. Homes are adorned with oil lamps (diyas), candles, and fairy lights; families gather for feasts, fireworks, prayers, and gift exchanges.

Though rooted in Hindu mythology, Diwali is celebrated by multiple religions and across many cultures in South Asia. Experiencing it in India — particularly in cities like Varanasi or Jaipur — is a sensory marvel: glowing streets, bursting fireworks, and the spiritual hum of ancient traditions alive and thriving.

🎶 5. Glastonbury Festival – United Kingdom

When: Late June
Where: Somerset, England

Glastonbury is not just a music festival — it’s a cultural phenomenon. Originally inspired by the hippie movement and spiritual ley lines of the land, Glastonbury has grown into one of the most iconic music and arts festivals in the world, hosting legendary performances across genres.

Spanning five days and dozens of stages, it includes everything from world-famous headliners to circus performances, political talks, healing fields, and avant-garde art. Come for the music, stay for the atmosphere — and don’t forget your boots; it’s legendary for mud.

💧 6. Songkran – Thailand

When: April 13–15
Where: Nationwide

Songkran marks the Thai New Year, and it does so with what is essentially the largest water fight on the planet. Originally a gentle ritual of washing away bad luck with water, it has evolved into a nationwide celebration where locals and tourists alike soak each other with buckets, hoses, and water guns.

Aside from the playful chaos, Songkran also features traditional ceremonies, temple visits, and family reunions. It’s both spiritual and exhilarating — and a very welcome relief from Thailand’s April heat.

👹 7. La Tomatina – Buñol, Spain

When: Last Wednesday of August
Where: Buñol, near Valencia

What began as a spontaneous food fight in 1945 has become one of the world’s most unique festivals. Each year, tens of thousands of participants descend on the small town of Buñol to throw over 100 metric tons of overripe tomatoes at each other in a good-natured battle that leaves the streets (and everyone in them) dripping in red pulp.

Though the actual tomato fight lasts only an hour, the energy, music, and partying go on for days. It’s messy, surreal, and completely hilarious.

🐉 8. Chinese New Year – China & Global Chinatowns

When: January or February (based on lunar calendar)
Where: China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Chinatowns worldwide

Also known as the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is one of the oldest and most important festivals in the world. Celebrations last for 15 days, featuring fireworks, family feasts, dragon dances, red envelopes, and a deep reverence for ancestry.

Each year is tied to an animal from the Chinese zodiac, and cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong light up with parades, lantern festivals, and a palpable sense of joy and renewal.

🐎 9. Naadam – Mongolia

When: July 11–13
Where: Ulaanbaatar and across Mongolia

Naadam is a celebration of Mongolia’s nomadic culture, featuring the “three games of men”: wrestling, archery, and horse racing. While its origins are deeply historical, today it’s a spirited national holiday full of color, tradition, and pride.

Wrestlers wear traditional garb, children race horses across vast steppes, and archers display ancient skills. Naadam is not just a sporting event — it’s a cultural showcase wrapped in hospitality, music, and Mongolian spirit.

🌕 10. Lantern Festival – Taiwan

When: February or March (15th day of Lunar New Year)
Where: Pingxi, Taiwan

To end the Chinese New Year, Taiwan’s Pingxi Lantern Festival releases thousands of glowing sky lanterns into the night, each bearing handwritten wishes and prayers. The visual spectacle of soft lights rising en masse into the sky is nothing short of breathtaking.

Rooted in a mix of Taoist, Buddhist, and folk traditions, the festival represents peace, hope, and release. It is deeply serene — and photogenically magical.