By Abhya Adlakha
In a world brimming with cultural riches, nothing quite captures the essence of human joy and tradition like a festival.
From the beer-soaked streets of Munich to the tomato-drenched alleyways of a small Spanish town, from the pulsating rhythms of Rio’s Carnival to the silent glow of a thousand lanterns rising into a Thai night sky, festivals have the power to transform ordinary places into extraordinary realms of experience. They’re living, breathing testaments to the diversity of human expression and the universal desire to come together in celebration.
For the intrepid traveller, these festivals offer more than just a chance to party (though there’s certainly plenty of that). They’re opportunities to step outside the comfort zone of tourist trails and into the swirling center of a culture’s most cherished traditions.
In the coming year, as the world continues to open its arms to travellers once again, there’s never been a better time to plan a festival-hopping adventure. We’ve curated a list of the most unmissable global festivals that should be on your bucket list in the coming year.
Oktoberfest: Munich, Germany
When? 21 September, 2024 – 6 October, 2024
Munich’s Oktoberfest is the ultimate celebration of beer, bratwurst, and Bavarian culture. This 15-day fair, held annually from late September to early October, transforms Munich’s Theresienwiese into a wonderland of massive beer tents, amusement rides, and market stalls. With roots stretching back to an 1810 royal wedding celebration, Oktoberfest is living history at its most delicious.
So, don your lederhosen or dirndl and join over 6 million revellers as they down nearly 7 million litres of specially brewed Oktoberfest beer—enough to fill three Olympic-sized swimming pools!
La Tomatina: Buñol, Spain
When? 28 August, 2024
From beer to tomatoes, the next stop brings you to the harming Spanish town of Buñol for the world’s biggest food fight. On the last Wednesday of August, this sleepy village erupts into a frenzy of flying fruit as 20,000 participants hurl over 150 tons of ripe tomatoes at each other in a gloriously messy hour of chaos.
La Tomatina’s origins are shrouded in mystery—was it a political protest gone awry or simply a rowdy food fight that stuck? Whatever the case, this uniquely Spanish fiesta has been painting the town red since 1945.
Rio Carnival: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
When? February/March, 2025
No list of global festivals would be complete without mentioning the granddad of them all: Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival. This pre-Lenten celebration explodes across the city each February or March, filling the streets with pulsating samba rhythms, elaborate costumes, and an infectious energy that captivates over two million revellers daily.
The highlight is undoubtedly the Samba Parade, where Rio’s top samba schools compete with stunningly elaborate floats and dance routines. But the real magic of Carnival lies in the countless street parties, or “blocos,” that pop up across the city. Here, locals and tourists alike dance, sing, and celebrate life with unbridled joy. It’s a dizzying, glitter-coated whirlwind that will leave you breathless—and already planning your return trip.
Burning Man: Black Rock Desert, Nevada
When? 25 August, 2024 – 2 September, 2024
For a festival experience unlike any other, venture into Nevada’s Black Rock Desert for Burning Man. Originating in 1986 on Baker Beach in San Francisco, since 1991, Burning Man has become a permanent fixture in Black Rock City in northwestern Nevada. This annual gathering isn’t just an event—it’s a temporary city of 70,000 “Burners” dedicated to art, self-expression, and radical self-reliance.
Held the week before Labor Day, Burning Man challenges participants to survive in the harsh desert while creating awe-inspiring art installations, hosting workshops, and fostering a unique gift economy. The festival culminates in the burning of a massive wooden effigy, symbolizing rebirth and renewal. Burning Man isn’t for the faint of heart, but for those willing to embrace its principles, it offers a transformative experience that lingers long after the desert dust settles.
Yi Peng Lantern Festival: Chiang Mai, Thailand
When? 15 November, 2024 – 16 November, 2024
For a moment of transcendent beauty, time your visit to Chiang Mai, Thailand for the Yi Peng Lantern Festival. Held annually in November, this celebration sees thousands of glowing paper lanterns released into the night sky, creating a breathtaking spectacle of floating lights.
Rooted in ancient Lanna culture, the festival symbolizes the release of misfortune and the welcoming of good luck. Beyond the mass lantern release, the city comes alive with candle-lit displays, traditional performances, and the release of small floats carrying candles and flowers down local waterways. It’s a deeply spiritual experience that offers a moment of quiet reflection amidst the usual festival frenzy.
Coachella: Indio, California
When? 11 April 2025 – 20 April 2025
Held over two weekends each April in California’s Coachella Valley, this music and arts festival has become a tastemaking juggernaut, influencing everything from fashion trends to the next big thing in music.
While the lineup of A-list performers and up-and-coming acts is the main draw, Coachella offers much more than just music. Wander through larger-than-life art installations, sample cuisine from top chefs, and spot celebrities mingling in the crowd. With its perfect blend of desert beauty and cutting-edge cool, Coachella isn’t just a festival—it’s a cultural phenomenon.
Day of the Dead: Mexico
When? 1–2 November, 2024
The festival world tour concludes with a celebration that proves remembrance can be as vibrant as life itself. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, transforms cemeteries and city squares into colourful festivals honouring departed loved ones each November 1st and 2nd.
Far from morbid, this holiday is a joyous affair filled with ornate sugar skulls, marigold-decked altars, and costumed parades. Families gather to share meals with their ancestors, believing the veil between the living and dead thins during these days. Whether you’re in Mexico City or a small village, you’ll find the air thick with the scent of copal incense and the sound of mariachi music.
Mardi Gras: New Orleans, Louisiana
When? 4 March, 2025
No list of global festivals would be complete without mentioning the raucous, vibrant celebration that is New Orleans’ Mardi Gras. This iconic carnival, dating back to the 17th century, transforms the Big Easy into a whirlwind of parades, music, and unbridled revelry in the weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday.
But Mardi Gras is more than just parades. The French Quarter becomes a non-stop party, with revellers in elaborate costumes and masks filling the streets. Jazz spills out of every bar and restaurant, while the aroma of Creole and Cajun cuisine wafts through the air. Don’t miss trying traditional Mardi Gras treats like king cake, a colourful pastry with a tiny plastic baby hidden inside – finding it in your slice is considered good luck!
