The World's Best
Festivals 2026
From Oktoberfest beer halls to Songkran water fights, Diwali lanterns to Rio Carnival samba. The world's greatest festivals are waiting — buy tickets and book your flights today.
Must-Attend Festivals in 2026
Bucket-list festivals across every culture, continent, and category
Food & Beer Festival
Oktoberfest Munich 2026
📍 Munich, Germany
200+ years of Bavarian tradition. 6 million visitors, 14 giant beer tents, and a 17-day spectacle of lederhosen, dirndl, and extraordinary atmosphere.
Arts & Performance
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
📍 Edinburgh, Scotland
The world's largest arts festival. 3,200+ shows in 300+ venues — comedy, theatre, opera, dance, circus. The hottest tickets in Edinburgh sell out fast.
Cultural Festival
Songkran Water Festival 2026
📍 Bangkok & Chiang Mai, Thailand
Thai New Year celebrated with the world's biggest water fight. Streets of Bangkok and Chiang Mai turn into joyful, soaking chaos. No tickets needed — just join in.
Cultural & Religious
Diwali 2026
📍 India (nationwide)
The Festival of Lights. India transforms into a million glowing lamps, fireworks, and celebrations. Jaipur, Varanasi, and Delhi are the most spectacular locations.
Cultural Carnival
Rio Carnival 2026
📍 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The greatest party on earth. 2 million people per day on the streets of Rio, Sambódromo parade shows, and five days of non-stop samba, colour, and joy.
Cultural Festival
Holi Festival 2026
📍 India (nationwide)
The Festival of Colours. India erupts in clouds of vibrant powder as people celebrate the arrival of spring. Mathura and Vrindavan host the most legendary Holi celebrations.
Religious Festival
Eid Al-Fitr 2026
📍 Worldwide (KSA, UAE, Malaysia)
The end of Ramadan celebrated worldwide. Cities light up, families gather, and an atmosphere of joy, generosity, and festivity fills the Islamic world.
Food Festival
La Tomatina 2026
📍 Buñol, Spain
The world's biggest food fight. 20,000 people throw 150,000 tomatoes in the streets of a small Spanish town. You must purchase a ticket to participate.
Festival FAQs
What are the best festivals to travel to in 2026?
The best festivals to travel to in 2026 include Oktoberfest in Munich (September–October), the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (August), Songkran Water Festival in Thailand (April), Diwali in India (October), Rio Carnival in Brazil (February/March), and Holi Festival across India (March).
Do I need tickets for Oktoberfest?
Entry to Oktoberfest grounds is free, but you will need reservations for seats inside the beer tents, especially for evening sessions. These are highly sought after and should be booked months in advance. Some paid grandstand experiences are also available through ticketing platforms.
When is Songkran 2026?
Songkran 2026, the Thai New Year Water Festival, takes place from April 13–15, 2026 (the official national holiday). Bangkok's Silom and Khaosan Road, and Chiang Mai's old city moat, are the most famous celebrations. No tickets required — just waterproof clothing!
Cultural festivals coming up
Local celebrations worth planning a trip around, with the dates confirmed and what to book first.
Pchum Ben (Ancestors' Day)
Cambodia's 15-day festival for the ancestors — dawn offerings at pagodas and a three-day national holiday
Derry Halloween
Europe's largest Halloween festival — 40 years of folklore, a carnival parade and fireworks inside the walled city
Púca Festival (Samhain)
Halloween at its birthplace — Samhain fire, processions and castle projections in Ireland's Ancient East
Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos)
Mexico's celebration of the dead — altars, marigolds, sugar skulls + midnight cemetery vigils
Diwali (Festival of Lights)
Hindu festival of lights — 5-day celebration with fireworks, diyas + rangoli
Bon Om Touk (Cambodian Water Festival)
Dragon-boat races on the Tonle Sap, illuminated floats and three days of national holiday
Loi Krathong + Yi Peng (Thai Lantern Festival)
Thailand's most beautiful festival — floating lanterns on water + thousands of sky lanterns
Edinburgh's Hogmanay
Scotland's New Year — a torchlight procession, the Street Party under the castle and First Footin' on New Year's Day