Highlights from Global Calendar Events
Discover a unique selection of cultural and traditional events from around the world. Explore festivals, celebrations, and traditions that reflect the richness of our global heritage.
Note: Event dates can vary annually, for the most current information, consult the official websites of the event organizers.
| Event Name | Date | Country | Region | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta | October | United States | North America | The largest hot air balloon festival with colorful displays in New Mexico. |
| Apokries (Greek Carnival) | February/March | Greece | Europe | A pre-Lenten celebration with costumes, music, and traditional feasting. |
| Aste Nagusia (Big Week) | August | Spain | Europe | A cultural festival with traditional Basque music, sports, and cuisine. |
| A Fiera di l’Alivu (Olive Fair) | July | France | Europe | A festival celebrating the olive harvest with Corsican food and crafts. |
| Boryeong Mud Festival | July | South Korea | East Asia | A fun-filled festival featuring mud slides, baths, and games. |
| Carnival of Binche | February | Belgium | Europe | UNESCO-recognized festival with costumed performers and traditions dating back centuries. |
| Carnival of Mamoiada | February | Italy | Europe | A unique carnival with masked figures representing Sardinian traditions. |
| Carnival of Nice | February | France | Europe | A grand celebration with parades, floats, and traditional flower battles. |
| Carnival of Trinidad and Tobago | February/March | Trinidad and Tobago | Caribbean | A vibrant celebration of music, dance, and costumes. |
| Carnival of Venice | February | Italy | Europe | A historic festival featuring elaborate masks and costumes in Venice. |
| Castells (Human Towers Festival) | Various Dates | Spain | Europe | Teams build human towers, showcasing strength and teamwork. |
| Cure Salée (Festival of the Nomads) | September | Niger | Africa | A Tuareg festival marking the end of the rainy season with camel races. |
| Dia de los Muertos | November 1–2 | Mexico | Latin America | Day of the Dead celebration honoring loved ones with altars, food, and flowers. |
| Diwali (Festival of Lights) | October/November | India | South Asia | A Hindu festival symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. |
| Eid al-Adha | Varies | Levant Region | Middle East | A major religious festival marked by communal feasting and giving. |
| Eid al-Fitr | Varies (Islamic calendar) | Multiple countries | Global | A Muslim festival marking the end of Ramadan with prayers, feasts, and charity. |
| Eunoto (Warrior Graduation) | Varies | Kenya, Tanzania | Africa | A rite of passage for Maasai warriors, featuring traditional dances and rituals. |
| Feria de Abril (April Fair) | April | Spain | Europe | A week-long festival with Andalusian costumes, music, and dancing. |
| Festa della Madonna | Various Dates | Italy | Europe | Religious festivals honoring the Virgin Mary with processions and feasting. |
| Festa Season | Summer | Malta | Europe | Celebrations honoring patron saints with fireworks and processions. |
| Festival of the Courtyards | May | Spain | Europe | A floral decoration competition in Andalusian-style courtyards. |
| Fête de Saint-Jean | June 24 | France | Europe | Celebrations with bonfires and traditional Corsican music. |
| G?anafest (Folk Music Festival) | June | Malta | Europe | A festival celebrating Maltese folk music and traditions. |
| Gion Matsuri | July | Japan | East Asia | One of Japan's most famous festivals, celebrated with grand processions and floats. |
| Green Corn Festival | June–July | United States | North America | A Native American ceremony celebrating the first corn harvest. |
| Haka Powhiri | Varies | New Zealand | Oceania | A Maori welcome ceremony featuring traditional dance and song. |
| Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) | March–April | Japan | East Asia | A tradition of viewing blooming cherry blossoms, symbolizing beauty and renewal. |
| H?d?rellez Spring Festival | May 5–6 | Turkey | Middle East | A spring festival symbolizing renewal, celebrated with music and rituals. |
| Highland Games | Summer (varies) | Scotland | Europe | Traditional Scottish sports, music, and dance competitions. |
| Holi (Festival of Colors) | March (varies) | India | South Asia | A Hindu festival celebrating spring, love, and colors through playful activities. |
| Imilchil Marriage Festival | September | Morocco | North Africa | A festival for arranged marriages with Amazigh music and traditions. |
| Imzad Festival | Varies | Algeria, Niger | Africa | Celebrating the traditional Tuareg string instrument, the Imzad. |
| Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) | June 24 | Peru | South America | An ancient Inca festival honoring the sun god, celebrated with traditional rituals. |
| Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) | June 24 | Peru | South America | A traditional Inca festival honoring the sun god with rituals and dances. |
| Krampusnacht | December 5 | Austria, Germany | Europe | A pre-Christmas tradition featuring costumed Krampus figures. |
| Kumbh Mela | Every 12 years | India | South Asia | The largest religious gathering in the world, held at sacred rivers. |
| La Diada de Sant Jordi | April 23 | Spain | Europe | A celebration of books and roses, symbolizing love and literature. |
| La Tomatina | Last Wednesday of August | Spain | Europe | A playful tomato-throwing festival in Buñol. |
| Loi Krathong | November (varies) | Thailand | Southeast Asia | A festival of lights where people release floating lanterns on water. |
| Mardi Gras | February (varies) | United States | North America | A festive season culminating in parades, costumes, and feasting in New Orleans. |
| Maslenitsa | February/March | Russia | Europe | A Slavic festival bidding farewell to winter with pancakes and bonfires. |
| Matariki (M?ori New Year) | June/July | New Zealand | Oceania | Celebrating the rise of the Pleiades with feasting and storytelling. |
| Naadam Festival | July | Mongolia | Central Asia | A celebration of Mongolian culture with horse racing, archery, and wrestling. |
| Naadam Festival | July 11–15 | Mongolia | Asia | Celebrates wrestling, archery, and horse racing—“Three Manly Games.” |
| Nalukataq (Blanket Toss Festival) | June | USA (Alaska) | North America | A whaling festival with the iconic blanket toss and feasting. |
| Obon Festival | August (varies) | Japan | East Asia | A Buddhist tradition honoring ancestors with lanterns and dances. |
| Oktoberfest | September–October | Germany | Europe | A world-famous beer festival with Bavarian culture, music, and food. |
| Olive Harvest Festival | October/November | Levant Region | Middle East | Celebrating the olive harvest with food, music, and cultural events. |
| Olngesherr (Elder Ceremony) | Varies | Kenya, Tanzania | Africa | Ceremony marking the transition of Maasai men to elder status. |
| Panigiria (Village Festivals) | Various Dates | Greece | Europe | Religious festivals with dancing, feasting, and music honoring local saints. |
| Perahera Festival | August (varies) | Sri Lanka | South Asia | A Buddhist festival featuring processions of elephants and dancers. |
| Punakha Drubchen | February | Bhutan | South Asia | A colorful Bhutanese festival reenacting historic battles through dance. |
| Pushkar Camel Fair | November | India | South Asia | A vibrant cultural event featuring camel trading, races, and traditional music. |
| Qoyllur Rit’i | May/June | Peru | South America | A pilgrimage to the Andes featuring music, dancing, and Quechua traditions. |
| Rio Carnival | February (varies) | Brazil | South America | A grand parade with samba music, costumes, and street parties in Rio de Janeiro. |
| S’Ardia di Sedilo | July | Italy | Europe | A horseback race honoring Saint Constantine with traditional pageantry. |
| San Fermin (Running of the Bulls) | July 6–14 | Spain | Europe | A thrilling tradition in Pamplona with bull runs and cultural celebrations. |
| Sapporo Snow Festival | February | Japan | East Asia | A stunning display of snow and ice sculptures in Sapporo. |
| Semana Santa | Holy Week (April) | Spain, Latin America | Global | A Christian celebration with grand processions and religious rituals. |
| Shaka Day | September 24 | South Africa | Africa | Honors King Shaka Zulu with celebrations of Zulu heritage and traditions. |
| Songkran (Water Festival) | April 13–15 | Thailand | Southeast Asia | Thai New Year marked by water fights and cleansing rituals. |
| Tamborrada | January 20 | Spain | Europe | A drum festival celebrating Basque traditions and identity. |
| Tarantella Festival | Summer | Italy | Europe | Celebrating the traditional Tarantella dance with music and performances. |
| Tet Festival | January/February | Vietnam | Southeast Asia | Vietnamese Lunar New Year, marked by feasts, family reunions, and traditions. |
| Toonik Tyme | April | Canada | North America | A spring festival celebrating Inuit traditions, games, and music. |
| Tsagaan Sar (Mongolian New Year) | February | Mongolia | Asia | Lunar New Year celebrations with feasting and cultural rituals. |
| Umhlanga (Reed Dance) | August/September | South Africa | Africa | A ceremony celebrating Zulu women and cultural pride with dancing and singing. |
| Up Helly Aa | Last Tuesday of January | Scotland | Europe | A Viking fire festival in Shetland, featuring torch-lit processions and bonfires. |
| Vivid Sydney | May–June | Australia | Oceania | A festival of light, music, and ideas transforming Sydney into a vibrant spectacle. |
| Waitangi Day | February 6 | New Zealand | Oceania | National holiday marking the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, with performances. |
| Whirling Dervishes Festival | December | Turkey | Middle East | Honoring the poet Rumi with Sufi music and the iconic whirling dervishes dance. |
| Yennayer (Amazigh New Year) | January 12 | Algeria, Morocco | North Africa | Celebration of the Amazigh New Year with traditional foods and dances. |
| Yi Peng Lantern Festival | November | Thailand | Southeast Asia | A magical lantern release in Chiang Mai, symbolizing letting go of misfortune. |