15 Cultural Festivals Worth Travelling For

Every country in the world has its own culture, which is sometimes celebrated through annual festivals, events and traditions. Engaging in traditions and customs is not always available to tourists, but visiting cultural festivals can be a unique insight. You can join in with the celebrations, chat with locals about their culture and traditions, and bolster your appreciation for the world's diversity. Time your visit with a joyful celebration and travel to the world's best cultural festivals. 

Top 15 Cultural Celebrations You Need to Experience

15. Gerewol Festival – Chad

Dates: September/October (varying dates)

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of communities and cultures across Africa, so it makes sense that there are also many cultural festivals each with their own significance. The Gerewol Festival in Chad is thought to be one of the largest and most recognised festivals on the continent. The Gerewol Festival sees the Wodaabe people come together to complete a traditional ritual in which the males dress in ornate clothing, makeup and jewellery and compete to attract and court females. While the festival usually occurs in a remote part of Chad, members of the public can still visit and get to know the rituals and culture of the Fulani ethnic group, of which the Wodaabe people belong.

14. La Tomatina

Dates: Last Wednesday in August

La Tomatina occurs every last Wednesday of August in a small town called Buñol in Spain and is essentially a giant food fight where crowds throw tomatoes at each other. Sounds strange, but it has become a cultural tradition in the town since the 40s when it started as a two-person food fight. If you do plan to attend, make sure you wear clothing that you don’t mind getting pelted with tomatoes, and appropriate shoes as the pavement is often drowned by a sea of tomato juice. While this festival may seem a little bizarre and intriguing, it has deep cultural roots and it’s unlikely you’ll find a festival quite like this anywhere else. 

13. Mardi Gras

Dates: 4th March 2025

Taking place on Shrove Tuesday, Mardis Gras is a spectacular affair of colourful parades, traditions and celebrations. Head to New Orleans for the best celebrations – the celebration is thought to have originated here – and enjoy street parties, parades, and unique traditions. 

Mardi Gras is what we know in the UK to be Shrove Tuesday or ‘pancake day.’ Thought to have originated in New Orleans in the US, Mardi Gras is a spectacular affair of colourful parades, traditions and celebrations– while many of us in the UK will be getting the pancake ingredients out on Shrove Tuesday, thousands of people across New Orleans and the rest of the world will be participating in fun and lively events that you’ll definitely want to be a part of, from street parties to fun parades and traditions. 

12. World Nomad Games – Kyrgyzstan 

Dates: September

Akin to the Olympics, the World Nomad Games take place every 2 years in Kyrgyzstan, although they have been hosted in Turkey and Kazakhstan previously. The games usually include local cultural events like archery and horse-riding, and several countries across the world compete. It’s a great way to celebrate and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural heritage of the host country– what’s more, there is so much more to the games than just sport, so you’ll find something for everyone. The next World Nomad Games will be in 2026 and Kyrgyzstan will once again be the host, so if you’re planning a trip to Western or Central Asia in 2026, why not time your trip alongside the games?

11. La Tamborrada 

Dates: 20th January

Countries across the world celebrate their patron saint day, notable celebrations of which include St Patrick’s Day and of course La Tamborrada. In a fantastic display of celebration for San Sebastian’s patron saint, the city hosts an annual drum festival and parade which is also thought to celebrate the cultural identity of natives and locals. Held in the Old Town district of San Sebastian, the parade will offer a deeper insight into the local culture and heritage of the city, and is certainly not something you’ll want to miss out on. 

10. Masskara Festival

Dates: Last Sunday in October

The MassKara festival is held in Bacolod in the Philippines, and is essentially just one large celebration of happiness and positivity, and is used to represent and symbolise the strength of people against hardships or tragedies. The festival is best characterised by colourful and vibrant clothing and masks, dancing and parades. If you find yourself in The Philippines at the end of October/ beginning of November, it’s one of the best times to visit the Philippines, as the country becomes rife with celebrations for both the Masskara festival and Halloween festivities like no other across the world. 

9. Holi Festival 

Dates: February/March

The Hindu Festival of Colour, or Holi Festival, is one of the largest festivals held in India, and usually involves people throwing colourful paint at each other to mark the end of winter and celebrate love, among other things. The festival has strong ties to Hindu mythology and religion, as it is thought to also celebrate Hindu legends and gods. The best part is that you can be involved in Holi even if you don’t follow the Hindu faith, so you should definitely consider travelling to India at the end of Feb/beginning of March. 

8. Venice Carnival

Dates: February/March 

Thought to date back to the late 12th century, Venice Carnival celebrates Venetian culture, victory and history, and has become a tradition in the city ever since. The festival takes place over a 2-week period, and is characterised by costume and mask wearing, parades, citywide festivities and colourful celebrations that have carried through from the 12th century to now. The atmosphere in Venice during this time is quite like no other, and if asked whether travelling to Venice for the carnival is worth it, the answer will of course be yes. 

7. Chiang Mai Lantern Festival

Dates: November

Probably one of the most breathtaking celebrations, the Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai should be at the top of everyone’s bucket list. During the event, thousands of lanterns are released into the sky, and are thought to be a way of honouring Buddha, and to bring about good luck and good fortune. The lantern lighting isn’t the only part of the festival, however, as there are also celebrations like street parties taking place. Chiang Mai Lantern Festival is one of the best known festivals in Thailand, and is definitely not one you want to miss. 

6. Rio Carnival

Dates: February/March

Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is perhaps best known as being the home of ‘carnival, and the city sure knows how to celebrate it, with its native annual carnival celebration being the largest in the world. If you’re wondering what Rio Carnival entails, think of millions of people parading in colourful costumes, Brazilian samba dancing, street parties and more, usually across a number of days before the beginning of Lent. The atmosphere in Rio is truly unmatched, and there’s surely nowhere better to be at the beginning of Lent than in Rio. 

5. Oktoberfest

Dates: End of September-Beginning of October

Oktoberfest, the event that everyone wants to experience at some point in their lives– this time, we head to Germany, specifically Munich. The well-known German city is the host of this iconic festival, which usually involves drinking a lot of beer, normally from steins or ‘mugs,’ and wearing dirndls or lederhosen, which are traditional German clothing. Aside from the beer tents and strong ties to German tradition, there is food, rides, parades and celebrations, with the event marking important German culture and history since the 19th century. Access to Oktoberfest is highly sought after, with people timing their Germany trips to coincide with the celebrations– it’s safe to say, Oktoberfest is certainly worth travelling for.

4. Songkran

Dates: April 13th-15th

Buddhist New Year or Songkran is the primary celebration in Thailand, and occurs over 2-3 days that are filled with cultural celebrations, parades and parties. Not only is this large-scale event held in Thailand, but across South East Asia too, so you have an even better chance of being able to partake in the festival. Songkran is usually celebrated by throwing water, whether from buckets, water pistols or by being sprayed with water by a Thai elephant. If you’re thinking of heading to Thailand, it’s definitely worth timing your trip around November or April to partake in Songkran or Lantern Festival. 

3. St Patrick’s Day

Dates: 17th March

One of the most recognisable and iconic festivals worldwide, St Patrick’s Day is celebrated across the world but most traditionally in Ireland. St Patrick’s Day does what it says on the tin in that it is a day to celebrate Ireland’s patron saint St Patrick, but is also a way to celebrate Irish culture. St Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century, and according to legend, he used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity. He is also said to have banished all the snakes from Ireland, though this is likely a metaphor for driving out pagan beliefs. You’ll typically see people dressing up in folkloric green costumes and wearing shamrocks; parades and parties, and lots of pints of Guinness being poured. Dublin is one of the best places to be during this holiday, but you’re also sure to find St Patrick’s Day celebrations across the world.

2. Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Dates: August 

Taking place over 3-weeks, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is a fantastic display of culture, arts and performance, and the largest of its kind in the world. Every August, Edinburgh becomes alive with vibrant colours, electric performances from a variety of acts, and excited and enthusiastic spectators. Everyone around the world has likely heard of the iconic Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and you may even be able to perform at the festival or support an act. So, whether you’re a visitor to the festival or you plan to perform, Scotland’s most famous citywide celebration is certainly worth travelling for. 

1. Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos)

Dates: 1st-2nd November 

Arguably one of the most recognisable and world-famous festivals, the Day of the Dead is celebrated every year in Mexico– as it sounds, the Day of the Dead is a cultural tradition that sees people celebrate the lives of those who have passed on with vibrant displays of colour, parades, dancing and face painting. Day of the Dead is perhaps most recognisable by the calaveras or ‘sugar skull’ face painting that many people don during this time. You can experience this tradition anywhere in the world, but nowhere does it better than Oaxaca or Mexico City.