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The top most famous festivals in the world

These festivals from around the world are celebrated for their cultural, religious, or social significance. Let it be an inspiration for your next backpacking trip.
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AfrikaBurn [South Africa]

Build a temporary town on the stony Karoo plain, ride between lit sculptures after dark, and watch the Clan and Temple burn.
Organized yearly: in April - May
Daily cost: US$110 to 150 [southafrica.net]
Duration: 7 days

Amsterdam Dance Event [The Netherlands]

Pick between industry talks by day and club, warehouse and boat events by night, with plenty of free or low-cost options across Amsterdam.
Organized yearly: in October
Daily cost: €120 to € 220

Ati-Atihan Festival [Philippines]

Move with the beat as Kalibo’s participants, painted in soot, dance through the streets in a rhythmic homage to indigenous roots.
Organized yearly: in January
Daily cost: €30 to €90
Duration: 9 days

Auckland Lantern Festival [New Zealand]

Follow glowing paths through a hilltop park after dark, passing giant zodiac figures, drum-led lion dances and food stalls run by Asian communities.
Organized yearly: in February
Daily cost: US$51 to 125
Duration: 4 days

Baisakhi [India]

Join farmers in Punjab as they mark the harvest with communal meals, temple visits, and energetic folk dancing.
Organized yearly: in April
Daily cost: USD27 to 87 [incredibleindia.org]
Duration: 1 day

Bastille Day [France]

Join crowds gathering for parades and nighttime displays, as public spaces fill with music, celebration, and a sense of shared French identity.
Organized yearly: in July
Daily cost: €50 to €120 [france.fr]
Duration: 1 day

Berlin Pride [Germany]

Celebrate diversity with colorful processions, parties, and advocacy events that transform Berlin’s streets into a space for visibility.
Organized yearly: in June
Daily cost: €70 to €140 [numbeo.com]
Duration: 10 days

Boryeong Mud Festival [South Korea]

Dive into mud-based activities along the coast, where travelers mix with locals in playful competitions and open-air concerts.
Organized yearly: in July
Daily cost: €55 to €95 [english.visitkorea.or.kr]
Duration: 10 days

Burning Man [the USA]

Ride a bike across a dry lakebed to far-flung sculptures, hop on a mobile dance floor, and watch the wooden Man burn.
Organized yearly: in August - September
Daily cost: US$155 to 295 [burningman.org]
Duration: 9 days

Calgary Stampede [Canada]

Watch bull riding and chuckwagon racing in the grandstand, then visit the Treaty 7 tipi camp, ride the midway and queue for downtown pancakes.
Organized yearly: in July
Daily cost: US$113 to 228
Duration: 10 days

Cannes Film Festival [France]

Observe the film industry converge on the Riviera, where exclusive screenings and high-profile events draw global attention and limited public access.
Organized yearly: in May
Daily cost: €80 to €150 [numbeo.com]
Duration: 12 days

Carnevale di Ivrea [Italy]

Witness a unique orange-throwing spectacle, where locals in historic dress reenact a centuries-old rebellion through a dramatic street battle.
Organized yearly: in February
Daily cost: €30 to €80 [italia.it]
Duration: 5 days

Carnevale di Viareggio [Italy]

Watch elaborate floats parade along the coast, with satirical designs and lively crowds transforming the waterfront into a moving gallery.
Organized yearly: in February
Daily cost: €50 to €120 [turismo.intoscana.it]
Duration: 10 days

Carnival of Barranquilla [Colombia]

Follow four days of parades on Vía 40, from flower-strewn floats and folk dance troupes to the Tuesday burial of Joselito.
Organized yearly: in February
Daily cost: US$60 to 177 [colombia.travel]
Duration: 4 days

Carnival of Rio de Janeiro [Brazil]

Follow the drums from Centro to Ipanema, mixing free street blocos with an all-night Sambadrome parade and rehearsals in the samba schools’ home communities.
Organized yearly: in February
Daily cost: US$125
Duration: 5 days

Chinese New Year [Malaysia]

Feel the city transform with fireworks, temple visits, and family gatherings that fill homes with festive energy and symbolic dishes.
Organized yearly: in January - February
Daily cost: USD35 to 70
Duration: 15 days

Christmas Markets [Germany]

Browse handcrafted gifts and seasonal treats in illuminated town squares, surrounded by the scents and sounds of winter festivities.
Organized yearly: in October - December
Daily cost: €70 to €120 [germany.travel]
Duration: 24 days

Chuseok [South Korea]

Experience Korea’s major holiday through traditional meals, ceremonial rituals, and a rare glimpse of local customs in homes and villages.
Organized yearly: in September
Daily cost: USD35 to 90 [english.visitkorea.or.kr]
Duration: 3 days

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival [the USA]

Dance under palm trees and mountain silhouettes, climb oversized sculptures, and ride the Ferris wheel at sunset across two spring weekends.
Organized yearly: in April
Daily cost: US$650 to 1,210
Duration: 3 days

Día de los Difuntos [Ecuador]

Share the warm purple drink and bread dolls of November 2, and watch families tend graves in Quito and Cuenca cemeteries.
Organized yearly: in November
Daily cost: US$25 to 58 [ecuador.travel]
Duration: 2 days

Día de los Muertos [Mexico]

Visit family altars and graveside night vigils, then follow costumed neighborhood parades through Oaxaca and the processions of Mexico City, tasting sweet bread and atole along the way.
Organized yearly: in October - November
Daily cost: US$75 to 110
Duration: 3 days

Día de los Reyes Magos [Spain]

Witness the arrival of the Three Kings with processions, gift-giving, and traditional pastries marking Spain’s main winter celebration for families.
Organized yearly: in January
Daily cost: €50 to €110 [spain.info]
Duration: 1 day

Diwali [India]

Walk through neighborhoods lit by thousands of diyas, share sweets with locals, and watch fireworks light up the night.
Organized yearly: in October - November
Daily cost: USD20 to 50 [incredibleindia.org]
Duration: 5 days

Eid al-Fitr [Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Pakistan, Qatar and UAE]

Experience citywide celebrations as communities mark the end of Ramadan with shared meals, gifts, and a spirit of generosity.
Organized yearly: in March - May
Daily cost: USD70 to 150 [visitdubai.com]
Duration: 3 days

Festa della Repubblica [Italy]

Join Italians in commemorating the republic’s founding, with public ceremonies and a major parade through the heart of the capital.
Organized yearly: in June
Daily cost: €40 to €90 [numbeo.com]
Duration: 1 day

Festa della Sensa [Italy]

Experience Venice’s centuries-old ritual as decorated boats glide across the lagoon, marking the city’s historic bond with the sea.
Organized yearly: in May
Daily cost: €50 to €120 [italia.it]
Duration: 2 days

Festa Junina [Brazil]

Share bonfires and corn with Northeastern families, learn the basic forró step, and sip warm quentão while square dancers in patchwork costumes perform.
Organized yearly: in June
Daily cost: US$31 to 83
Duration: 4 weeks

Festival de Barriletes Gigantes [Guatemala]

Walk the Sumpango field to see circular kites up to 20 meters across, each painted with a message for the dead, and talk with the builders.
Organized yearly: in November
Daily cost: US$30 to 90
Duration: 1 day

Fête de la Bière [France]

Sample regional beers alongside locals, with traditional music and hearty food creating a festive, convivial atmosphere unique to eastern France.
Organized yearly: in June
Daily cost: €51 to €121 [france.fr]
Duration: 3 days

Fête de la Chanson [France]

Listen to heartfelt performances in small spaces, where the focus is on poetic storytelling and the nuances of the French language.
Organized yearly: in June
Daily cost: €85 to €295 [france.fr]
Duration: 3 days

Fête nationale du Québec [Canada]

Join a free French-language concert on the battlefield lawn, sing around the communal fire and wander cobbled streets of flags, poutine and buskers.
Organized yearly: in June
Daily cost: US$78 to 180
Duration: 1 day

Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia [Argentina]

Line the night parade of grape-covered floats, attend the large hillside show beneath the Andes, and tour vineyards while the real harvest is underway.
Organized yearly: in February - March
Daily cost: USD 30 to 60
Duration: 14 days

Gion Matsuri [Japan]

Navigate Kyoto’s grid as enormous wheeled floats roll past, accompanied by traditional music and centuries-old customs throughout the month.
Organized yearly: in July
Daily cost: €40 to €70 [kyoto.travel]
Duration: 31 days

Hanami Cherry Blossom Festival [Japan]

Time your visit for peak bloom to join locals in parks, where shared meals and drinks celebrate the brief beauty of cherry blossoms.
Organized yearly: in March - April
Daily cost: €50 to €120 [japan.travel]
Duration: 1 to 2 weeks

Harbin Ice and Snow Festival [China]

Explore a city transformed by monumental ice art, illuminated installations, and subzero activities unique to China’s far northeast.
Organized yearly: in January - February
Daily cost: USD40 to 90 [chinatravel.com]
Duration: 30 days

Holi [India, Mauritius and Nepal]

Navigate lively crowds as locals throw color and water, turning city squares and rural lanes into playful, chaotic celebrations.
Organized yearly: in February - March
Daily cost: USD25 to 60 [welcomenepal.com]
Duration: 2 days

Inti Raymi [Peru]

Follow the Sapa Inca from the Qorikancha at dawn through the Plaza de Armas to the ceremony beneath the walls of Sacsayhuamán.
Organized yearly: in June
Daily cost: US$85 to 150 [peru.travel]
Duration: 1 day

King’s Day [The Netherlands]

Dress in orange, sell or hunt for secondhand finds at the vrijmarkt, and catch live music from Koningsnacht onward.
Organized yearly: in April
Daily cost: €60 to €120 [holland.com]

Kumbh Mela [India]

Navigate vast tent cities and witness millions gather for ritual bathing at India’s sacred river junctions.
Organized yearly: in October - April
Daily cost: €20 to €60 [incredibleindia.org]
Duration: 48 days

La Feria de Abril [Spain]

Experience Seville’s week-long fair with traditional music, horse-drawn carriages, and locals gathering in private tents for food and dance.
Organized yearly: in April
Daily cost: €40 to €90 [spain.info]
Duration: 6 days

La Mercè [Spain]

See Barcelona’s streets fill with castellers, fireworks, and open-air performances blending local tradition with contemporary urban culture.
Organized yearly: in September
Daily cost: €50 to €100 [spain.info]
Duration: 5 days

La Tomatina [Spain]

Prepare for a massive tomato battle in Buñol, where thousands gather to hurl fruit and navigate slippery streets during this one-hour event.
Organized yearly: in August
Daily cost: €85 to €180 [spain.info]
Duration: 1 day

Lantern Festival [Sierra Leone, Singapore and Taiwan]

Experience illuminated streets and intricate lanterns as communities mark the lunar new year’s end with parades, crafts, and lively gatherings.
Organized yearly: in February
Daily cost: USD40 to 90 [eng.taiwan.net.tw]
Duration: 1 day

Loy Krathong [Thailand]

Release decorated baskets onto waterways as Thais honor water spirits and let go of misfortune under the year’s brightest moon.
Organized yearly: in November
Daily cost: €25 to €70
Duration: 1 night

Madrid Orgullo (MADO) [Spain]

Celebrate diversity in Madrid with street parties, concerts, and a vibrant parade centered in the city’s LGBTQ+ district each summer.
Organized yearly: in June
Daily cost: €40 to €100 [esmadrid.com]
Duration: 10 days

Mardi Gras [the USA]

Catch beads from marching floats along St. Charles, watch feathered suits parade on Fat Tuesday, and skip Bourbon Street for neighborhood routes.
Organized yearly: in February - March
Daily cost: US$165 to 330 [neworleans.com]
Duration: 2 weeks

New York City Pride [the USA]

Squeeze into the curbside crowd for the afternoon march, then visit the Stonewall Inn and dance on the East River waterfront.
Organized yearly: in June
Daily cost: US$215 to 330
Duration: 1 month

Notting Hill Carnival [the UK]

Follow vibrant processions, sample street food, and experience the rhythms of calypso and reggae in London’s largest annual street event.
Organized yearly: in August
Daily cost: €110 to €170 [visitbritain.com]
Duration: 2 days

Oktoberfest [Germany]

Sit at communal tables, sample regional brews, and take in the spectacle of Munich’s massive folk festival with locals and visitors alike.
Organized yearly: in September - October
Daily cost: €90 to €180 [oktoberfest.de]
Duration: 16 days

Pahiyas Festival [Philippines]

Walk past homes adorned with colorful rice wafers and farm produce, celebrating Lucban’s gratitude for a successful harvest.
Organized yearly: in May
Daily cost: USD25 to 50
Duration: 1 day

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival [Taiwan]

Release a glowing lantern into the night above Pingxi’s hills, joining crowds sending hopes skyward in a fleeting, communal ritual.
Organized yearly: in February
Daily cost: USD57 to 111 [eng.taiwan.net.tw]
Duration: 1 day

Pushkar Camel Fair [India]

Roam among herders, browse animal markets, and catch acrobats and musicians performing in Rajasthan’s holy town.
Organized yearly: in October - November
Daily cost: €30 to €70 [incredibleindia.org]
Duration: 14 days

Rio de Janeiro New Year’s Eve [Brazil]

Dress in white, jump seven waves for Iemanjá, and watch a barge-launched fireworks show from Copacabana sand or the calmer rocks at Arpoador.
Organized yearly: in December
Daily cost: US$128 to 247
Duration: 1 day

Roskilde Festival [Denmark]

Camp with thousands and experience diverse music, communal living, and a non-profit ethos at Denmark’s largest open-air festival.
Organized yearly: in June - July
Daily cost: €40 to €70 [visitdenmark.com]
Duration: 8 days

São Paulo LGBT+ Pride Parade [Brazil]

March down Paulista behind decorated sound trucks, mix dancing with political banners, and continue into the bars along Rua Augusta once the parade breaks up.
Organized yearly: in June
Daily cost: US$42 to 165
Duration: 1 day

Songkran Water Festival [Thailand]

Join crowds in a nationwide water celebration marking the Thai New Year, where splashing and playful chaos take over city streets.
Organized yearly: in April
Daily cost: €20 to €60
Duration: 3 days

St. Patrick’s Day [Ireland]

Join crowds lining the streets for processions, music, and communal gatherings that mark Ireland’s national holiday in every town and city.
Organized yearly: in March
Daily cost: €40 to €120 [ireland.com]
Duration: 1 day

Summerfest [the USA]

Pick your weekend among ten-plus lakeside stages, then eat brats and cream puffs while the sun sets over the water.
Organized yearly: in June - July
Daily cost: US$130 to 250 [summerfest.com]
Duration: 9 days

Sundance Film Festival [the USA]

Chase independent premieres across Boulder, from the wooden Chautauqua hall to downtown theaters, with filmmaker conversations in hallways and standby lines to plan around.
Organized yearly: in January
Daily cost: US$25 to 40
Duration: 11 days

SXSW [the USA]

Hop between Sixth Street showcases and East Austin patio shows, then catch a film premiere or a startup demo downtown.
Organized yearly: in March
Daily cost: US$210 to 440 [sxsw.com]
Duration: 7 days

Sziget Festival [Hungary]

Spend days and nights on an island in the Danube, moving between concerts, art zones, and pop-up parties from across the globe.
Organized yearly: in August
Daily cost: €55 to €110
Duration: 7 days

Tet [Vietnam]

Mark the Vietnamese New Year as homes fill with offerings, streets bloom with flowers, and cities pause for reunions and rituals.
Organized yearly: in January - February
Daily cost: USD40 to 90 [vietnam.travel]
Duration: 7 days

Tomorrowland [Belgium]

Dance with thousands at an electronic music spectacle known for its intricate stage design, themed areas, and international DJ lineups.
Organized yearly: in July
Daily cost: €85 to €150 [visitflanders.com]
Duration: 6 days

Toronto Caribbean Carnival [Canada]

Stand at the curb as feathered bands and soca trucks pass, listen for steel pan and eat jerk chicken and roti from street stalls.
Organized yearly: in July
Daily cost: US$170
Duration: 3 days

Up Helly Aa [the UK]

Watch locals in elaborate costumes march through Lerwick, culminating in the burning of a replica longship to mark the end of winter.
Organized yearly: in January
Daily cost: USD70 to 130 [visitscotland.com]
Duration: 1 day

Venice Carnival [Italy]

Immerse yourself in a world of elaborate costumes, masked gatherings, and ornate events that fill Venice’s streets and palaces each winter.
Organized yearly: in February
Daily cost: €50 to €100 [veneziaunica.it]
Duration: 10 to 12 days

Vesak [Sri Lanka]

Walk city streets lined with glowing lanterns and witness acts of generosity as Sri Lankans commemorate the Buddha’s life.
Organized yearly: in May
Daily cost: €15 to €50 [srilanka.travel]
Duration: 2 days

Vivid Sydney [Australia]

Follow a one-way light trail from Circular Quay through The Rocks to Barangaroo, with projections on the Opera House sails as the focus.
Organized yearly: in May - June
Daily cost: US$93 to 222
Duration: 23 days

White Nights Festival [Russia]

Experience St. Petersburg’s endless twilight with world-class performances and riverside celebrations during the city’s brightest season.
⚠️ Currently not safe to visit
Daily cost: €40 to €90 [russiatourism.ru]
Duration: 3 months

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