Global Recurring Events Calendar
Month-by-month guide to 42+ recurring global events — festivals, cultural celebrations, natural phenomena, sport championships. Every event compounds year after year: plan 3-12 months ahead + book flights + hotels early.
July
The Great Wildebeest Migration
Masai Mara + Serengeti, Kenya + Tanzania
Africa's greatest wildlife event — 1.5M wildebeest + zebras crossing the Mara River
Wimbledon Championships
London (SW19), UK
Tennis' oldest + most prestigious Grand Slam — 2 weeks of grass court + strawberries & cream
August
The Great Wildebeest Migration
Masai Mara + Serengeti, Kenya + Tanzania
Africa's greatest wildlife event — 1.5M wildebeest + zebras crossing the Mara River
La Tomatina
Buñol (Valencia region), Spain
The world's biggest food fight — 150,000 kg of tomatoes across 20,000 people, 1 hour
September
Oktoberfest Munich
Munich, Germany
The world's largest beer festival — 6 million visitors, 14 beer tents + 200-year tradition
The Great Wildebeest Migration
Masai Mara + Serengeti, Kenya + Tanzania
Africa's greatest wildlife event — 1.5M wildebeest + zebras crossing the Mara River
Iceland Northern Lights Season
Nationwide (Reykjavík base), Iceland
The Aurora Borealis over Iceland — 8-month season with peak September-March
October
Oktoberfest Munich
Munich, Germany
The world's largest beer festival — 6 million visitors, 14 beer tents + 200-year tradition
Diwali (Festival of Lights)
Nationwide (Jaipur + Varanasi peaks), India
Hindu festival of lights — 5-day celebration with fireworks, diyas + rangoli
The Great Wildebeest Migration
Masai Mara + Serengeti, Kenya + Tanzania
Africa's greatest wildlife event — 1.5M wildebeest + zebras crossing the Mara River
Iceland Northern Lights Season
Nationwide (Reykjavík base), Iceland
The Aurora Borealis over Iceland — 8-month season with peak September-March
Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos)
Oaxaca + Mexico City + Michoacán, Mexico
Mexico's celebration of the dead — altars, marigolds, sugar skulls + midnight cemetery vigils
November
Diwali (Festival of Lights)
Nationwide (Jaipur + Varanasi peaks), India
Hindu festival of lights — 5-day celebration with fireworks, diyas + rangoli
Iceland Northern Lights Season
Nationwide (Reykjavík base), Iceland
The Aurora Borealis over Iceland — 8-month season with peak September-March
Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos)
Oaxaca + Mexico City + Michoacán, Mexico
Mexico's celebration of the dead — altars, marigolds, sugar skulls + midnight cemetery vigils
Christmas Markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) Germany
Nuremberg, Cologne, Vienna, Munich, Germany + Austria
Europe's classic Christmas experience — glühwein, gingerbread + 200+ markets across Germany
December
Iceland Northern Lights Season
Nationwide (Reykjavík base), Iceland
The Aurora Borealis over Iceland — 8-month season with peak September-March
Harbin International Ice + Snow Sculpture Festival
Harbin (Heilongjiang), China
The world's largest ice festival — full ice cities, life-size buildings + 1M+ visitors
Whale Watching Sri Lanka (Mirissa)
Mirissa + Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka
World's largest blue whale gathering — Mirissa 6-month season, 95%+ sighting rate
Christmas Markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) Germany
Nuremberg, Cologne, Vienna, Munich, Germany + Austria
Europe's classic Christmas experience — glühwein, gingerbread + 200+ markets across Germany
Snow Monkey Season (Jigokudani)
Yamanouchi (Nagano), Japan
Wild Japanese macaques bathing in a hot spring — 4-month winter season, iconic photography
January
Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore + Southeast Asia, China + Southeast Asia
World's largest annual migration — 3 billion trips + lion dances + fireworks
Iceland Northern Lights Season
Nationwide (Reykjavík base), Iceland
The Aurora Borealis over Iceland — 8-month season with peak September-March
Harbin International Ice + Snow Sculpture Festival
Harbin (Heilongjiang), China
The world's largest ice festival — full ice cities, life-size buildings + 1M+ visitors
Whale Watching Sri Lanka (Mirissa)
Mirissa + Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka
World's largest blue whale gathering — Mirissa 6-month season, 95%+ sighting rate
Snow Monkey Season (Jigokudani)
Yamanouchi (Nagano), Japan
Wild Japanese macaques bathing in a hot spring — 4-month winter season, iconic photography
February
Rio Carnival
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The world's greatest party — samba school parades, street blocos + 6 days of carnival
Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore + Southeast Asia, China + Southeast Asia
World's largest annual migration — 3 billion trips + lion dances + fireworks
Iceland Northern Lights Season
Nationwide (Reykjavík base), Iceland
The Aurora Borealis over Iceland — 8-month season with peak September-March
Harbin International Ice + Snow Sculpture Festival
Harbin (Heilongjiang), China
The world's largest ice festival — full ice cities, life-size buildings + 1M+ visitors
Whale Watching Sri Lanka (Mirissa)
Mirissa + Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka
World's largest blue whale gathering — Mirissa 6-month season, 95%+ sighting rate
Snow Monkey Season (Jigokudani)
Yamanouchi (Nagano), Japan
Wild Japanese macaques bathing in a hot spring — 4-month winter season, iconic photography
March
Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Season Japan
Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka + nationwide, Japan
The world's most anticipated flower season — 1-2 week bloom sweeping Japan south to north
Rio Carnival
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The world's greatest party — samba school parades, street blocos + 6 days of carnival
Holi (Festival of Colours)
Nationwide (Vrindavan + Jaipur peaks), India
The world-famous festival of colours — powder-throwing celebration of spring
Iceland Northern Lights Season
Nationwide (Reykjavík base), Iceland
The Aurora Borealis over Iceland — 8-month season with peak September-March
Cherry Blossom (Beotkkot) Korea
Seoul, Jinhae, Busan, South Korea
Korea's cherry blossom season — 2-week bloom, Jinhae's Gunhangje Festival + Yeouido tunnel
Whale Watching Sri Lanka (Mirissa)
Mirissa + Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka
World's largest blue whale gathering — Mirissa 6-month season, 95%+ sighting rate
Snow Monkey Season (Jigokudani)
Yamanouchi (Nagano), Japan
Wild Japanese macaques bathing in a hot spring — 4-month winter season, iconic photography
April
Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Season Japan
Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka + nationwide, Japan
The world's most anticipated flower season — 1-2 week bloom sweeping Japan south to north
Songkran (Thai New Year)
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, nationwide, Thailand
The world's biggest water fight — 3-day Thai New Year celebration
Cherry Blossom (Beotkkot) Korea
Seoul, Jinhae, Busan, South Korea
Korea's cherry blossom season — 2-week bloom, Jinhae's Gunhangje Festival + Yeouido tunnel
Whale Watching Sri Lanka (Mirissa)
Mirissa + Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka
World's largest blue whale gathering — Mirissa 6-month season, 95%+ sighting rate
June
Wimbledon Championships
London (SW19), UK
Tennis' oldest + most prestigious Grand Slam — 2 weeks of grass court + strawberries & cream
French Open (Roland-Garros)
Paris, France
The clay court Grand Slam — 2 weeks in Paris + Philippe Chatrier + Coupe des Mousquetaires
Other recurring events
Gray Whale Watching Baja California
San Ignacio Lagoon, Guerrero Negro, Mexico
Thingyan Water Festival Myanmar
Yangon, Mandalay + nationwide, Myanmar
Semana Santa Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
Notting Hill Carnival
London, UK
SXSW (South by Southwest) Austin
Austin, Texas, USA
Sapporo Snow Festival
Sapporo (Hokkaido), Japan
Semana Santa (Holy Week) Sevilla
Seville, Spain
Iceland Midnight Sun
Nationwide (Reykjavík base), Iceland
Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
Nationwide, South Korea
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Fall Foliage New England
Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, USA
Naadam Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar + nationwide, Mongolia
Tour de France
Nationwide route (Paris finale), France
Venice Carnival (Carnevale di Venezia)
Venice, Italy
St. Patrick's Day + Festival Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
Bali Nyepi (Day of Silence)
Bali, Indonesia
Loi Krathong + Yi Peng (Thai Lantern Festival)
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Vesak (Buddha's Birthday)
Colombo, Bangkok, Yangon + nationwide, Buddhist Asia
Cinco de Mayo
Puebla, Mexico
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Edinburgh, UK
La Mercè Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
Autumn Leaves (Kōyō) Japan
Kyoto, Tokyo, Nikko + nationwide, Japan
Burning Man
Black Rock Desert, Nevada, USA
Running of the Bulls (Sanfermines)
Pamplona, Spain