Events & Festivals
Discover travel events, festivals, and cultural celebrations around the world.
Hoi An Lantern Festival
On the 14th day of each lunar month, Hoi An's ancient town turns off its electric lights and glows entirely by the light of hundreds of colorful silk lanterns floating on the Thu Bon River. The monthly festival preserves a tradition dating back centuries and creates an enchanting atmosphere throughout the UNESCO heritage town.
Best Weather Season
Dry season for exploration
Athens Epidaurus Festival
Greece's premier cultural event presents ancient Greek tragedies and comedies in the perfectly preserved ancient theaters of Athens and Epidaurus from June through August. Watching a classical performance under the stars in the 2,500-year-old Epidaurus amphitheater is an unforgettable cultural experience.
Summer Music Festivals
Glastonbury and major festivals
Dubrovnik Summer Festival
Croatia's most prestigious cultural event transforms the UNESCO-listed old city of Dubrovnik into an open-air stage each July and August, with over 80 theatrical, musical, and dance performances in spectacular historic venues. The 45-day festival has showcased world-class art within Dubrovnik's ancient walls since 1950.
Palio di Siena
The Palio di Siena is a historic bareback horse race held twice each summer in Siena's shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, where the city's contrade (districts) compete in a fierce, centuries-old rivalry amid pageantry and medieval tradition.
Rambu Solo (Toraja Funeral Ceremony)
Rambu Solo is the elaborate Torajan funeral ceremony of Sulawesi — a days-long rite of music, dance, processions and ritual sacrifice that is among the world's most distinctive cultural spectacles, drawing anthropologists and travellers from around the globe.
Burning Man Festival
An annual gathering in the Nevada desert celebrating art, self-expression, and radical community each August.
Edinburgh Festival
World's largest arts festival
Edinburgh Fringe
Ferragosto
Italy's beloved mid-August holiday when the entire country takes a collective summer break, filling beaches, mountains, and historic towns with celebrating Italians. Originally a Roman festival honoring Augustus, Ferragosto is now a national holiday marked by fireworks, outdoor feasting, and community gatherings.
Indonesian Independence Day
Indonesia's Independence Day on August 17th is celebrated with patriotic ceremonies, traditional games, and community festivities across the archipelago. Unique neighborhood competitions like panjat pinang (greasy pole climbing) and sack races bring communities together in joyful celebration.
Kuta Beach Festival
La Tomatina
World's largest tomato food fight
Obon Festival
A traditional Buddhist festival honoring the spirits of ancestors, celebrated with bon odori folk dances, lantern lighting, and family gatherings across Japan. The festival typically spans three days in mid-August and features beautiful fireworks displays.
Singapore National Day
Singapore's National Day on August 9th commemorates independence with an elaborate parade at the Padang featuring military displays, mass performances, and a breathtaking fireworks show over Marina Bay. The annual celebration showcases the nation's progress and multicultural unity.
