Destination photographFrance · Food & wine
Sarlat-la-Canéda
Fête de la Truffe
Truffle markets, cooking demonstrations and tastings.
16 Jan – 17 JanPublished
Full guide ↗EUROPE · 2027 / 2028
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Destination photographPhoto: Chensiyuan
Spain · Local tradition
San Sebastián
Tamborrada
Costumed drumming fills the city for its patron saint celebration.
20 JanAnnual date
Full guide ↗
United Kingdom · Fire & spectacle
Lerwick, Shetland
Up Helly Aa
Torchlit procession and ceremonial burning of a Viking galley.
26 JanPublished
Full guide ↗
Italy · Carnival
Venice
Carnevale di Venezia
Elaborate masks and costumes in canalside streets and squares.
23 Jan – 9 FebPublished
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Italy · Carnival
Viareggio / Lucca
Carnevale di Viareggio
Enormous moving papier-mâché floats with satirical characters.
30 Jan – 20 FebPublished
Full guide ↗
Croatia · Historic & religious
Dubrovnik
Festivity of Saint Blaise
Banners, traditional dress and a procession through the old city.
2 Feb – 3 FebAnnual date
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Slovenia · Carnival
Ptuj
Kurentovanje
Shaggy, bell-wearing Kurent figures and folklore parades.
3 Feb – 9 FebPublished
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Hungary · Carnival & fire
Mohács / Pécs
Busójárás
Horned wooden masks, sheepskin costumes and winter-ending bonfires.
4 Feb – 9 FebRule-based estimate
Full guide ↗
Italy · Carnival
Ivrea
Battle of the Oranges
Historic carnival with a spectacular three-day orange battle.
7 Feb – 9 FebPublished
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France · Carnival
Nice
Carnaval de Nice
Giant floats, illuminated processions and flower battles.
9 Feb – 28 FebPublished
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France · Carnival & flowers
Menton
Fête du Citron
Huge sculptures and parade floats decorated with citrus fruit.
13 Feb – 28 FebPublished
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Switzerland · Carnival
Basel
Basler Fasnacht
Lanterns, masked bands and a citywide carnival beginning at 4am.
15 Feb – 17 FebPublished
Full guide ↗
Spain · Fire & spectacle
Valencia
Las Fallas
Giant satirical sculptures, fireworks and the final-night burning.
15 Mar – 19 MarAnnual date
Full guide ↗
Ireland · Parade & culture
Dublin
St Patrick’s Festival
Large creative parade, street celebrations and Irish cultural events.
13 Mar – 17 MarPublished
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Spain · Historic & religious
Seville
Semana Santa
Elaborate religious floats and atmospheric old-town processions.
21 Mar – 28 MarPublished
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Spain · Local tradition
Seville
Feria de Abril
Flamenco dress, horse carriages, dancing and illuminated fairground.
13 Apr – 18 AprRule-based estimate
Full guide ↗
Netherlands · Flowers & parade
Haarlem / Dutch bulb region
Bloemencorso Bollenstreek
Spring-flower floats travel from Noordwijk to Haarlem.
17 AprPublished
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Switzerland · Fire & tradition
Zurich
Sechseläuten
Guild parade and the burning of the snowman-like Böögg.
19 AprPublished
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Spain · Food, wine & tradition
Jerez de la Frontera
Feria del Caballo
Horse parades, flamenco, sherry and festive casetas.
24 Apr – 1 MayPublished
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Festival photographPortugal · Flowers & parade
Funchal
Madeira Flower Festival
Floral installations, colourful costumes and flower parades.
29 Apr – 30 MayPublished
Full guide ↗
United Kingdom · Fire & performance
Edinburgh
Beltane Fire Festival
Night-time fire, drumming and ritual theatre on Calton Hill.
30 AprAnnual date
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Italy · Historic & religious
Cagliari
Festa di Sant’Efisio
Sardinian costumes, decorated carts and a historic pilgrimage.
1 May – 4 MayAnnual date
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Belgium · Historic & religious
Bruges
Procession of the Holy Blood
Costumed historical and biblical procession through the medieval city.
6 MayPublished
Full guide ↗
Spain · Flowers & heritage
Córdoba
Fiesta de los Patios
Residents open spectacular flower-filled courtyards.
Early–mid May; dates pendingWindow only
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Spain · Flowers & art
Girona
Temps de Flors
Flower installations transform courtyards, churches and old-town spaces.
May; dates pendingWindow only
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Italy · Flowers & tradition
Genzano / Castelli Romani
Infiorata di Genzano
A large carpet of intricate flower-petal pictures fills the main street.
Late May–June; dates pendingWindow only
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Portugal · Local tradition
Lisbon
Festas de Santo António
Neighbourhood parties, grilled sardines and colourful popular marches.
12 Jun – 13 JunAnnual date
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Czechia · Historic festival
Český Krumlov
Five-Petalled Rose Celebrations
Renaissance costumes, processions, markets and performances.
18 Jun – 20 JunPublished
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Spain · Fire & spectacle
Alicante
Hogueras de San Juan
Satirical sculptures, street celebrations and bonfires.
20 Jun – 24 JunAnnual date
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Portugal · Local tradition & fireworks
Porto
São João
Street parties, playful plastic hammers and riverside fireworks.
23 Jun – 24 JunAnnual date
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Sweden · Local tradition
Stockholm / archipelago
Midsummer
Maypole dancing, flowers and traditional Midsummer meals.
25 Jun – 26 JunRule-based estimate
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Spain · Food & wine
Haro, La Rioja
Batalla del Vino
A huge outdoor wine fight followed by town celebrations.
29 JunPublished
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Italy · Historic & horse race
Siena
Palio di Siena — July
Contrada pageantry and a horse race in Piazza del Campo.
2 JulAnnual date
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Spain · Local tradition
Pamplona
San Fermín
Processions, giants, music and a citywide fiesta alongside bull events.
6 Jul – 14 JulPublished
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France · Local tradition
Bayonne
Fêtes de Bayonne
Red-and-white street celebrations, bands and Basque culture.
14 Jul – 18 JulPublished
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Belgium · Street arts & culture
Ghent
Gentse Feesten
Ten days of performances, street theatre and citywide celebrations.
16 Jul – 25 JulPublished
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Italy · Fireworks & tradition
Venice
Festa del Redentore
Lagoon fireworks, decorated boats and a temporary bridge to Giudecca.
17 JulPublished
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France · Historic festival
Dinan
Fête des Remparts
Medieval costumes, performances, crafts and living-history celebrations.
24 Jul – 25 JulPublished
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France · Fireworks & spectacle
Annecy
Fête du Lac
A choreographed fireworks spectacle over the lake.
7 AugPublished
Full guide ↗
Belgium · Flowers & art
Brussels
Brussels Flower Carpet
A large flower carpet covers the Grand-Place.
No 2027 edition
Full guide ↗Italy · Historic & horse race
Siena
Palio di Siena — August
The second annual Palio with neighbourhood pageantry.
16 AugAnnual date
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Spain · Quirky festival
Buñol / Valencia
La Tomatina
Ticketed mass tomato fight in a small Spanish town.
25 AugRule-based estimate
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Spain · Giants & local tradition
Tarragona
Santa Tecla
Giants, traditional beasts, human towers and fire celebrations.
22 Sept – 24 SeptAnnual date
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Spain · Giants & street arts
Barcelona
La Mercè
Giants, human towers, street performances and fire-running traditions.
Around 24 September; programme pendingWindow only
Full guide ↗
Germany · Food, beer & tradition
Munich
Oktoberfest
Beer tents, folk costume, parades and traditional fairground.
18 Sept – 3 OctPublished
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Festival photographItaly · Food & wine
Alba / Langhe
International Alba White Truffle Fair
Truffle market, tastings and food-focused autumn events.
October–November, possibly early December; dates pendingWindow only
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France · Food & tradition
Espelette / Basque country
Fête du Piment
Pepper market, Basque music and ceremonial food brotherhoods.
Late October; dates pending (31 October exception)Window only
Full guide ↗
Destination photographFrance · Food & wine
Beaujeu / Beaujolais
Les Sarmentelles / Beaujolais Nouveau
Wine tastings, celebrations and the midnight release of the new vintage.
17 Nov – 18 NovRule-based estimate
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France · Seasonal tradition
Strasbourg / Colmar
Christmas markets
Traditional Christmas stalls and illuminated historic streets.
Late November–December; dates pendingWindow only
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Austria · Masks & winter tradition
Salzburg
Krampus runs
Horned masked figures parade through the Advent streets.
Early December; run dates pendingWindow only
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France · Light & art
Lyon
Fête des Lumières
Buildings and public spaces become large-scale light artworks.
Around 8 December; dates pendingWindow only
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United Kingdom · Fireworks & celebration
Edinburgh
Hogmanay
New Year street celebrations and fireworks in the historic centre.
31 DecAnnual date
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Portugal · Fireworks & celebration
Funchal, Madeira
New Year fireworks
Fireworks around the bay and hills welcome the New Year.
31 DecAnnual date
Full guide ↗No festivals match these choices.