There is something special about planning a trip around a festival instead of just a checklist of landmarks. You are not just passing through anymore. You are showing up on the exact days a place is loudest, brightest, most itself. That is when streets fill with music, food stalls appear out of nowhere, and strangers pull you into their celebrations before you even know what is happening.
For many travellers, that is the moment they fall in love with a country. Not in a quiet museum, but in the middle of a crowd, covered in paint or confetti, thinking, “I have no idea what the announcer just said, but I am so happy to be here.”
Planning a trip around festivals can feel intimidating at first. Where do you even start. Which events are worth crossing an ocean for, and which ones are more fun to watch online. That is where a bit of curation helps. There are thousands of world festivals, but some stand out because they mix story, history and pure joy in a way that stays with you long after the flight home.
Think of this list as a small, honest guide to ten global cultural events that are worth planning a whole itinerary around. You do not need to see all of them at once. Pick one, build a trip around it, then let that experience shape your next adventure.
Holi is the colour festival you have probably seen on social media, but nothing compares to standing in the middle of it. Celebrated mainly in March, people take to the streets with bright powders, music and laughter. You throw colour, you get colour thrown at you, and for a few hours nobody cares what you look like or where you are from.
It is one of the best cultural festivals to attend if you want that feeling of complete, joyful chaos. Underneath the fun, though, Holi is rooted in legend and the arrival of spring, so you are stepping into a tradition that has been evolving for centuries.
If energy had a capital city, it might be Rio during Carnival. Samba schools spend months preparing. Costumes sparkle, drums pound, and floats roll through the Sambadrome while the whole city parties. Even if you do not have parade tickets, the street blocos make the whole place feel alive.
For many people, Carnival is the definition of top world festivals for travelers who love music, dance and late nights. It is loud, it is crowded, it is intense, and it is unforgettable if you lean into it with an open mind and comfy shoes.
Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, is celebrated in China, Singapore, Malaysia and many other places across the region. Cities fill with lanterns, families gather for reunion dinners, and dragon dances weave through busy streets. Fireworks crack late into the night.
As far as traditional festivals go, this one is rich with symbolism. Each year and animal sign comes with its own beliefs and customs. As a visitor, you get to see how modern city life and long standing ritual sit side by side in a way that feels oddly natural.
Despite its name, Día de los Muertos is not a dark event. It is bright, moving and strangely comforting. Families create altars with photos, marigolds and favourite foods of loved ones who have passed. In places like Oaxaca and Mexico City, you will see parades, painted faces and candles lighting up cemeteries at night.
It is one of those global cultural events that reminds you that grief and celebration can share the same space. You are invited, gently, to witness how another culture honours memory and love in a way that does not hide from death.
In Munich every autumn, tents go up, bands tune their instruments, and people gather at long tables for beer, pretzels and songs they somehow all seem to know. Oktoberfest is often misunderstood as “just drinking”, but it is also folk music, traditional outfits and multi generational crowds sharing the same bench.
For travellers, it is a great entry point into European world festivals. You get culture, history and a social atmosphere that makes it easy to chat with strangers from everywhere. Just book ahead and maybe practise your “Prost” beforehand.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world. Homes and streets are decorated with oil lamps, candles and fairy lights. Fireworks pop, families exchange sweets, and temples glow.
Among traditional festivals, Diwali stands out for its atmosphere of warmth and togetherness. Walking through a city or small town lit up for Diwali feels like stepping into a painting where every window tells a story.
If your idea of fun includes a giant water fight, Songkran will feel like a dream. Marking the Thai New Year in April, locals and travellers alike hit the streets with buckets and water guns. No one stays dry for long.
Still, it is not only play. At its heart, Songkran is about cleansing and fresh starts. People visit temples, gently pour water over Buddha statues, and show respect to elders. For anyone collecting cultural festivals around the world on their bucket list, this one blends pure fun with quiet meaning in a really satisfying way.
Every August, Edinburgh turns into a giant stage. Comedians, musicians, actors and street performers fill venues big and small. You can watch a polished theatre production, then stumble across a one person show in a basement that makes you laugh until you cry.
If you love creativity, this is one of the best cultural festivals to attend. It is raw, sometimes messy, and full of hits and misses, but that is the charm. You never quite know what you are walking into, and that sense of surprise is addictive.
Masks, gondolas, misty canals and ballrooms. Venice Carnival feels like stepping into another century. People dress in elaborate costumes, wandering through the narrow streets and piazzas while photographers scramble to keep up.
It is surprisingly easy to join in. You can rent a mask, catch a concert, or simply sit in a café and watch the swirl of outfits pass by. For many, this is high on the list of top world festivals for travelers who love elegance more than noise.
There are several lantern events across Asia, but one of the most famous is the Pingxi Lantern Festival in Taiwan. People write wishes on paper lanterns, then send them into the night sky, creating a moving sea of light.
In a world full of loud parties, this is a softer moment. It is one of those cultural festivals around the world where the main memory is not the music or the crowds, but that quiet second when your lantern lifts away and you find yourself hoping it carries your wish a little further.
Looking at all these celebrations at once can feel a bit overwhelming. Start with one simple question. What kind of energy do you want. Wild street party. Deep tradition. Arts and performance. Elegant masked ball.
From there, check dates, weather and costs. Some of these are very traditional festivals rooted in religion or harvest seasons, while others are modern arts events. Some are easier on the wallet than others. A bit of research, plus talking to people who have been, will help you shape a plan that fits your style and budget.
Whichever you choose, try not to stay on the sidelines. Say yes to the invitation to dance, taste the street food, learn the story behind the ritual. The real gift of these cultural festivals around the world is not just amazing photos. It is the feeling that for a little while, you belonged there too.
This content was created by AI