Events
A year under palms
Festivals, carnivals, seasons and spectacles from every destination on the map, sorted by month. Most repeat every year in the same weeks; the ones that follow a lunar calendar move a little. Check the exact dates before you book.
Region
January
- Cartagena ColombiaHay Festival Cartagena Writers and thinkers in the old town’s cloisters in late January.
- Costa Rica Costa RicaFiestas de Palmares Two weeks of bull riding, concerts and parades in January.
- Dubai United Arab EmiratesDubai Shopping Festival Six weeks of sales, fireworks and drone shows from late December.
- Southern California United StatesRose Parade Pasadena’s New Year’s Day parade of flower-covered floats.
February
- Aruba Dutch CaribbeanAruba Carnival Two months of parades ending with the Grand Parade in Oranjestad before Lent.
- Costa Rica Costa RicaEnvision Festival Music, yoga and art in the jungle at Uvita in late February.
- Curaçao Dutch CaribbeanCuraçao Carnival A month of tumba music and parades ending with the Gran Marcha before Lent.
- Dubai United Arab EmiratesDubai Food Festival Restaurant weeks and beach canteens through February and March.
- Goa IndiaGoa Carnival Four days of floats and King Momo in Panaji before Lent.
- Mallorca SpainAlmond blossom Early February turns the plains around Santa Maria and Sóller white and pink for three weeks.
- Maui United States, HawaiiMaui Whale Festival Talks, a run and a whale day in Kihei during peak season.
- Mauritius MauritiusCavadee Tamil devotees carry decorated arches to the temples in January or February.
- Nice & the Côte d’Azur FranceNice Carnival Two weeks of floats and flower battles on the promenade in February.
- Nice & the Côte d’Azur FranceMenton Lemon Festival Sculptures built from 140 tonnes of citrus in the Biovès gardens.
- Perth & Rottnest Island AustraliaPerth Festival Theatre, music and film across the city in February and March.
- Perth & Rottnest Island AustraliaRottnest Channel Swim A 20 kilometre open water swim from Cottesloe to the island.
- Tenerife Spain, Canary IslandsCarnival of Santa Cruz Second only to Rio, a month of parades, murgas and the burial of the sardine.
- Zanzibar TanzaniaSauti za Busara East Africa’s biggest music festival, four nights in the old fort in February.
March
- Bali IndonesiaNyepi The Balinese day of silence: no lights, no traffic, no flights, after a night of ogoh-ogoh monster parades.
- Cartagena ColombiaCartagena International Film Festival The oldest film festival in Latin America, screenings in plazas in March.
- Dubai United Arab EmiratesDubai World Cup The world’s richest horse race at Meydan on the last Saturday of March.
- Koh Lanta & Koh Lipe ThailandLaanta Lanta Festival Old Town’s street festival of food and sea gypsy music in March.
- Málaga & the Costa del Sol SpainMálaga Film Festival Spanish-language cinema takes over the Cervantes theatre and the red carpet runs down Calle Larios.
- Maldives MaldivesRamadan and Eid Local islands slow down by day and celebrate at night; resorts run as normal.
- Marrakech MoroccoRamadan Dates shift each year; the medina is quiet by day and comes alive after sunset.
- Miami & Palm Beach United StatesUltra Music Festival Three days of electronic music in Bayfront Park in late March.
- Miami & Palm Beach United StatesCalle Ocho Festival The biggest Latin street party in the country, in Little Havana.
- Perth & Rottnest Island AustraliaSculpture by the Sea Seventy sculptures on Cottesloe beach for three weeks in March.
- Tulum & the Riviera Maya MexicoSpring equinox at Chichén Itzá The serpent of light descends the pyramid on 20 and 21 March.
April
- Costa Blanca SpainMoors and Christians, Alcoy Three days of costumed parades and mock battles in late April, the biggest of many along the coast.
- Crete GreeceOrthodox Easter Candlelit midnight services, fireworks and lamb on spits the next day, the biggest feast of the year.
- Curaçao Dutch CaribbeanSeú harvest parade Easter Monday folk parade in Willemstad.
- Koh Lanta & Koh Lipe ThailandSongkran Thai New Year, 13 to 15 April, a three day water fight in every street.
- Málaga & the Costa del Sol SpainSemana Santa Holy Week processions carry two-tonne thrones through the old town to brass bands.
- Palawan PhilippinesHoly Week Processions across the island and full boats to the beaches afterwards.
- Seychelles SeychellesCarnaval International de Victoria A three day international carnival parade in the capital.
- Southern California United StatesCoachella Two April weekends of music in the desert near Palm Springs.
- Sri Lanka south coast Sri LankaSinhala and Tamil New Year Mid April, when the country stops for games, sweets and family visits.
May
- Aruba Dutch CaribbeanAruba Soul Beach Festival Concerts and beach parties over the late May weekend.
- Madeira PortugalFlower Festival Floats of flowers and a carpet along the seafront in Funchal.
- Nice & the Côte d’Azur FranceCannes Film Festival Twelve days in May when the Croisette closes to the world and opens to the press.
- Sicily ItalyInfiorata di Noto The Baroque town lays a carpet of flowers down Via Nicolaci on the third weekend of May.
- Sri Lanka south coast Sri LankaVesak Lanterns and free food stalls for the Buddha’s birthday on the May full moon.
June
- Aruba Dutch CaribbeanDera Gai The San Juan harvest festival with yellow and red costumes on 24 June.
- Bali IndonesiaGalungan Bamboo penjor poles arch over every road for ten days; dates move with the Balinese calendar.
- Capri & the Amalfi Coast ItalyRegatta of the Maritime Republics Amalfi hosts every fourth year, with a rowing race and a costumed parade.
- Capri & the Amalfi Coast ItalySant’Andrea, Amalfi On 27 June the statue is run up the cathedral steps by bearers at full sprint.
- Costa Blanca SpainHogueras de San Juan, Alicante Giant satirical sculptures fill the streets for a week and burn on the night of 24 June.
- Madeira PortugalAtlantic Festival fireworks Saturday firework competitions over the bay through June.
- Mallorca SpainSant Joan bonfires Midsummer night on the beaches of Palma and Alcúdia, fires, fireworks and a swim at midnight.
- Maui United States, HawaiiKapalua Wine and Food Festival Chefs and winemakers on the west side in June.
- Palawan PhilippinesBaragatan Festival Puerto Princesa’s founding festival of street dancing and food in June.
- Tenerife Spain, Canary IslandsCorpus Christi carpets La Orotava lays carpets of coloured volcanic sand and flowers through the streets.
July
- Bali IndonesiaBali Kite Festival Giant traditional kites over Sanur in the windy months.
- Capri & the Amalfi Coast ItalyRavello Festival Concerts on the terrace of Villa Rufolo from July into September.
- Maldives MaldivesIndependence Day Parades and fireworks in Malé on 26 July.
- Marrakech MoroccoMarrakech Popular Arts Festival Berber dancers and musicians in the Badi palace ruins.
- Moorea & Tahiti French PolynesiaHeiva i Tahiti A month of dance, drumming and canoe races in Papeete in July.
- Moorea & Tahiti French PolynesiaTiurai and the Bastille Day fireworks French national day celebrations across the islands.
- Sicily ItalyFesta di Santa Rosalia Palermo’s patron saint parades on 14 July with fireworks over the harbour.
- Southern California United StatesComic-Con San Diego’s pop culture convention takes over downtown in late July.
- Zanzibar TanzaniaZanzibar International Film Festival Screenings in the old fort and on the beach in the first half of July.
- Zanzibar TanzaniaMwaka Kogwa The Shirazi new year in Makunduchi, with mock fights using banana stalks.
August
- Costa Blanca SpainMisteri d’Elx A medieval sung mystery play performed in the basilica of Elche every August since the 15th century.
- Crete GreeceChania Rock Festival Late summer concerts in the old harbour’s Venetian arsenal.
- Curaçao Dutch CaribbeanCuraçao North Sea Jazz Festival International headliners at the end of August.
- Málaga & the Costa del Sol SpainFeria de Málaga Nine days in mid August, flamenco dresses in the streets by day and a fairground by night.
- Maldives MaldivesManta season Hanifaru Bay peaks in August and September.
- Sri Lanka south coast Sri LankaKandy Esala Perahera Ten nights of drummers, dancers and elephants in Kandy in July and August.
- Tenerife Spain, Canary IslandsRomería de San Roque Ox carts, folk costume and free wine in Garachico on 16 August.
September
- Costa Rica Costa RicaTurtle arribadas Mass nesting at Ostional peaks from August to November around the new moon.
- Mallorca SpainNit de l’Art One September evening when Palma’s galleries and palaces open late and the old town becomes one long opening party.
- Mauritius MauritiusPère Laval pilgrimage Thousands walk to the shrine in Sainte-Croix on the night of 8 September.
- Sicily ItalyCous Cous Fest San Vito Lo Capo hosts an international couscous competition every September.
October
- Crete GreeceRaki season After the grape harvest, villages fire up the stills and invite anyone passing to taste.
- Moorea & Tahiti French PolynesiaHawaiki Nui Va’a The three day outrigger canoe race between the Leeward Islands.
- Seychelles SeychellesCreole Festival A week of music, food and dance across the islands in late October.
November
- Cartagena ColombiaIndependence celebrations Parades, beauty contests and street parties around 11 November.
- Koh Lanta & Koh Lipe ThailandLoy Krathong Floating candle baskets on the November full moon.
- Marrakech MoroccoMarrakech International Film Festival Late November screenings in the square and the Palais des Congrès.
- Maui United States, HawaiiMakahiki season The Hawaiian season of peace and games from November to February.
- Mauritius MauritiusHoli and Divali The Indian festivals of colour and light are national celebrations here.
- Seychelles SeychellesSUBIOS underwater festival Films and photography from the reefs, held in November.
- Tulum & the Riviera Maya MexicoDay of the Dead Altars, marigolds and the Xcaret festival in the first days of November.
- Tulum & the Riviera Maya MexicoRiviera Maya Jazz Festival Free concerts on the beach at Playa del Carmen at the end of November.
December
- Goa IndiaSunburn Festival India’s biggest electronic music festival, at the end of December.
- Goa IndiaFeast of St Francis Xavier Pilgrims fill Old Goa on 3 December for the saint whose body lies in the basilica.
- Madeira PortugalNew Year fireworks Funchal’s bay display is one of the biggest in the world, watched from cruise ships and hillsides.
- Miami & Palm Beach United StatesArt Basel Miami Beach The art world descends in the first week of December.
- Palawan PhilippinesPasko The Filipino Christmas starts in September and peaks with parol lanterns everywhere.