World festivals to plan for: a month-by-month guide (Jul–Dec)

Holidays aren’t just a reason to unwind—they’re a direct line into culture and tradition. Each celebration, whether a riot of color, a bustling festival, or an ancient rite, opens a window onto local customs, historical roots, and beliefs. Travel during big festivities and you’re no longer a bystander: you step into a live performance that takes over entire cities and even countries.

This guide to global festivities points you to the most vivid and meaningful events on the planet. From Rio’s legendary carnival to Mexico’s Day of the Dead, from Europe’s cozy Christmas markets to India’s explosive Holi—these are experiences worth seeking out if you’re chasing journeys with a twist. You’ll find tips on how to prepare, what to bring, and how to make each trip land even harder. The first part of this article is available on the Turistas website.

July

The San Fermín Festival (Pamplona, Spain) is one of the country’s most famous and colorful celebrations, held each year in Pamplona, Navarre, from July 6 to 14 in honor of the city’s patron, Saint Fermín. Its calling card is the heart‑pounding encierro—running with the bulls through the city’s narrow streets—which draws crowds of spectators and participants from around the globe. Tradition, devotion, revelry, and a dose of danger merge here in a way few events can match.

The encierro unfolds every morning at 8:00 a.m. from July 7 to 14. Runners set off on Santo Domingo Street and cover roughly 850 meters through the Old Town to the bullring, keeping pace ahead of the herd while trying to avoid collisions. It’s risky and electrifying in equal measure, attracting seasoned runners and curious first‑timers eager to test their nerve.

Beyond the run, religious and cultural processions fill the week. A key moment is the July 7 procession in honor of Saint Fermín, accompanied by folk music and traditional dances. Each evening after the morning run, the Pamplona arena stages a bullfight (corrida), where leading matadors from across Spain perform before thousands—an undeniably theatrical close to the day’s drama.

The Montreal Jazz Festival (Canada) is the world’s largest jazz gathering, held annually in late June and early July. For 10 days, the city becomes a living stage where jazz legends and rising artists share everything from classic standards to fusion, blues, soul, and experimental sounds. It’s the kind of musical marathon that makes the whole city hum.

Listed by Guinness World Records as the biggest jazz festival on earth, it welcomes around 2 million attendees and more than 3,000 musicians from across the world each year. The program features over 500 concerts, about two‑thirds of them free, spread across outdoor venues throughout Montreal.

The festival is welcoming to all ages, with special activities for families and children—workshops and interactive spaces where young visitors can explore musical basics and try their hand at improvisation. It’s easy to see why the event keeps winning over new audiences.

The Palermo Festival (Palermo, Italy) is among the city’s foremost cultural and religious occasions, held every July in honor of Saint Rosalia, Palermo’s patron. Locals and visitors converge for processions, services, street performances, and spectacular fireworks—an immersion into Sicilian spirit and devotion.

The central ritual is the procession of Saint Rosalia’s statue. The celebration opens with a grand parade as the statue is carried through Palermo on an ornate float, moving along the city’s main streets to music, hymns, and prayers amid dense crowds of worshippers. Services and religious rites continue in the Cathedral, and many pilgrims climb Monte Pellegrino to the caves linked with the saint’s life and miracles.

One of the festival’s most striking moments is the evening fireworks over the waterfront at Foro Italico—an exclamation mark at the end of the day that draws thousands and wraps the city in a sense of wonder.

August

The Edinburgh Festival of the Arts (Scotland) is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious cultural events, staged every August in the Scottish capital. Founded in 1947, it has become a byword for international arts, drawing performers, musicians, theater and dance companies, and audiences from across the planet. Expect a packed program of plays, concerts, opera, ballet, contemporary dance, exhibitions, and more—a citywide showcase that turns historic venues into creative canvases.

Artists from every corner of the world bring a vivid multicultural mix, adding breadth and depth to the lineup. Viewers can take in Scottish and British productions alongside international projects, a blend that keeps the program fresh and full of discovery.

Events unfold in Edinburgh’s landmark spaces, including Usher Hall, the Royal Theatre, the Playhouse, and singular historic settings like Edinburgh Castle. The venues themselves inject atmosphere and gravitas, elevating even intimate performances.

The finale is a grand music‑and‑fireworks show in Princes Street Gardens. As the Royal Scottish National Orchestra plays, fireworks bloom over the castle—a high‑note finish that lingers long after the last chord.

La Tomatina (Buñol, Spain) is the famed tomato fight held annually in Buñol—the world’s largest mass “battle of tomatoes,” where thousands hurl ripe fruit at one another. This joyful, tongue‑in‑cheek spectacle takes place on the last Wednesday of August and draws visitors from far and wide.

For one hour, the central square, Plaza del Pueblo, and surrounding streets become a crimson arena. Each year more than 120 tons of tomatoes—brought in specifically for the day—fuel the frenzy. The fruit is overripe by design, so it squishes easily and reduces the risk of injury.

Before the start, streets are hosed down to make cleanup easier. Participants wear simple, old clothes—tomato stains are notorious—and many use protective goggles to keep the juice out of their eyes. Despite the apparent chaos, basic safety rules apply. When the signal sounds at the hour mark, throwing stops, and fire trucks and volunteers wash the streets clear.

The Cologne Light Art Festival (Germany) turns the city into a luminous landscape each year. Monumental light installations, projections, and fireworks reimagine urban space, with architectural mapping across façades and a signature light show over the Rhine. When sound and color merge on the city’s skyline, the effect is pure spectacle.

Famous buildings such as Cologne Cathedral and the Museum Ludwig become open‑air canvases. Artists and designers from various countries create original projections that blend light, color, and form into memorable visual experiences.

Music accompanies many of the shows—from orchestral scores to contemporary performances—amplifying the mood of each installation. The result is a distinctive audiovisual journey that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

September

Oktoberfest (Munich, Germany) is the world’s biggest beer festival, drawing millions each year. It traditionally runs from late September into the first weekend of October, filling roughly two weeks with beer, Bavarian music, folk dancing, fairground rides, and hearty local fare. It’s much more than a beer bash—it’s a cultural ritual with deep roots.

The heart of the action is the network of beer tents on the Theresienwiese fairgrounds. About 14 large tents and over 20 smaller ones—each tied to a Munich brewery—serve traditional Bavarian brews crafted specifically for Oktoberfest. Beer is poured into the famous one‑litre mugs (Mass), and the food side is just as central: classic Bavarian dishes abound.

Beyond beer and food, the festival grounds are packed with attractions—carousels, Ferris wheels, roller coasters, shooting galleries, and more. From vintage rides to modern thrills, there’s plenty for all ages, which is why families make up such a familiar part of the crowd.

The Wine Festival (Düsseldorf, Germany) celebrates German vintages along Königsallee, one of the city’s most iconic streets. Held annually in August, it gathers winemakers from across the country—especially from regions like Rheingau, Mosel, and Palatinate—so visitors can sample a wide spectrum of styles while soaking up the festive mood.

Stands from numerous producers offer tastings of white, red, and rosé wines, along with specialties such as dessert wines, Riesling, and Sekt. Winemakers happily share the stories behind their bottles—their origins, nuances, and production traditions.

Food is part of the pleasure: from classic German bites to refined nibbles. Cheese boards, grilled sausages, gingerbread, Bavarian snacks, and other pairings make unhurried tasting feel effortless.

Live music rounds out the atmosphere—jazz, classical performances, and local folk tunes lend the festival a relaxed, celebratory feel. It’s as much about conviviality as it is about what’s in the glass.

October

The Festival of Lights in Berlin (Germany) is among the country’s most dazzling cultural events, staged every October. Landmarks, monuments, and streets turn into an open‑air gallery of color and motion as artists from different countries use cutting‑edge lighting and projection to transform familiar architecture. It’s hard not to see the city with fresh eyes.

Each edition takes on a new theme, prompting designers and artists to create one‑off works spanning cultural and historical subjects to ideas around sustainability and the environment.

3D mapping and interactive shows raise the bar further, with volumetric, dynamic projections that recast entire façades. Some installations invite audience participation—changing colors or triggering light effects—so viewers become part of the artwork.

Diwali (India) is one of the country’s most important and radiant holidays, celebrated by millions worldwide. It symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Observed by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists—its customs vary by region and faith—Diwali usually falls in October or November and lasts five days, peaking on the third day when countless lamps are lit.

Cities and villages glow with rows of lights, and streets shine with garlands and lanterns. Many mark the occasion with worship, traditionally honoring Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Ganesha, god of wisdom and good fortune. Homes are adorned with flowers and vivid rangoli patterns at the threshold, and rituals (puja) are performed to invite happiness and well‑being.

November

Day of the Dead (Mexico) is one of the country’s most vivid and meaningful traditions, observed on November 1 and 2. Rooted in ancient Mesoamerican culture and blending Indigenous and Christian elements, it honors deceased ancestors. Far from somber, it’s a joyful homecoming: families remember their loved ones, believing that during these days, the souls of the departed return to spend time among the living.

Families build ofrendas (altars) at home or in cemeteries to pay tribute to the dead, decorated with photographs, candles, flowers—often marigolds—and the favorite foods, drinks, and belongings of those being remembered. The altars are vibrant and symbolic of unity between the living and the dead. On the eve of the holiday, families tidy graves and adorn them with flowers, candles, and photos. On the night of November 1, people gather in cemeteries with food to share a meal “with” their ancestors. Nighttime vigils glow with thousands of candles, in an atmosphere of respect and joy.

Loy Krathong (Thailand) is one of the country’s most beautiful and symbolic celebrations—a festival of water and light devoted to gratitude and purification. It takes place on the night of the full moon of the 12th lunar month, usually in November on the Gregorian calendar. The centerpiece is the release of “krathongs”—small, flower‑adorned boats carrying candles and incense—onto rivers, canals, lakes, and ponds, a gesture of thanks to the water spirits and a farewell to the past.

People often place coins or small clippings of nails or hair into the krathong, symbolically letting go of misfortune and inviting renewal. Sending a krathong on its way is believed to bring luck and sweep away negative energy.

Fireworks streak across the sky throughout the night, creating an otherworldly glow. Many cities stage light and laser shows, alongside music, dance, and street performances that keep the mood festive.

Across the country, markets and fairs spring up, and both locals and visitors gather along waterfronts to set krathongs afloat, sample traditional Thai dishes, and enjoy cultural performances.

The Festival of Lights (Yorkshire, UK) brightens towns across the county during the winter season, when long nights set the stage for warmth and wonder. It centers on light as a creative tool for transforming public space, bringing together contemporary art, installations, and technological innovation.

Expect striking light sculptures, projections, and interactive works by local and international artists animating streets, parks, and heritage buildings. Laser shows and 3D mapping on well‑known façades create illusions of movement and metamorphosis—a reminder of how powerfully light can reshape place.

December

Christmas markets (Germany, Austria) transform cities and villages into winter fairy tales from late November through December. Wooden stalls brim with mulled wine, crafts, and seasonal treats, and the glow of lights and decorations makes even familiar squares feel enchanted. These markets are among the oldest and most beloved traditions in both countries, drawing locals and travelers eager to tap into the holiday spirit, sample regional flavors, and find one‑of‑a‑kind gifts.

Expect rows of timbered booths, dressed in classic style and offering a broad range of goods. Thousands of lights, garlands, and Christmas trees set a magical scene, while historic landmarks and central squares shine with festive illumination.

There’s plenty for families: ice rinks, carousels, Ferris wheels, Christmas trains, and craft workshops for children. Choirs, carolers, and street musicians provide a steady soundtrack in the evenings—bells, hymns, and familiar tunes wrapping the markets in a warm, nostalgic cadence.

Hogmanay (Edinburgh, Scotland) is Scotland’s traditional New Year celebration, with the capital as the beating heart of the action. It’s one of the world’s largest and most spectacular year‑end festivals, famous for its street parties, torchlit processions, and fireworks.

The torchlight procession—one of Hogmanay’s signature moments—takes place on December 30, as thousands carry flames through Edinburgh’s streets, culminating on Calton Hill with a light show and concert. On December 31, the city center becomes a vast open‑air party with music from local and international artists, dancing, and crowds that feel both celebratory and close‑knit. Few places ring in the new year with such theatre.

This calendar can help you plan travel around what moves you most—be it culture‑packed programs, food and drink festivals, or time‑honored carnivals.