Month by Month Festival Calendar

The best strange parties, major championships, famous carnivals and wacky celebrations across the world, on a month-by-month basis.

From January to December, major cultural events and strange festivals happen all over the world. Here is a calendar of the events that you can read about on Suite101.

International events and festivals by month

January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September; October; November; December

January Events, Festivals and Sporting Championships

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: Australia Day

Sydney, New South Wales, Austalia: Sydney Festival (arts)

Munich, Bavaria, Germany: Fasching

Nuoro Province, Sardinia, Italy: Festa di Sant’Antonio Abate

Inazawa, Honshu, Japan: Hadaka Matsuri

Muscat, Oman: Muscat Festival

Auckland, New Zealand: Heineken Open Tennis

Wellington, New Zealand: Summer City Festival of Free Outdoor Entertainment

Wellington, New Zealand: Cuba Street Carnival

Glasgow, Scotland: Celtic Connections Music Festival

Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland: Up Helly Aa Viking Fire Festival

Bangkok, Thailand: Thailand Film Festival

Denver, Colorado, USA: National Western Stock Show

February Events, Festivals and Sporting Championships

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: Rio Carnival

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: FESPACO - Pan African Film & Television festival

Haworth, Yorkshire, England: Steam Gala Weekend

Metz, Lorraine, France: Pilgrimage of St Blaise

Nice, Cote d’Azur, France: Carnaval de Nice (Nice Carnival)

Berlin, Germany: Internationale Filmfestspiele (Berlinale)

Munich, Bavaria, Germany: Starkbierzeit

Catania, Sicily, Italy: Festa di Sant Agata

Ivrea, Piedmont, Italy: Battle of the Oranges

Nine Mile, Jamaica: Bob Marley’s Birthday Bash

Wellington, New Zealand: International Rugby Sevens

Wellington, New Zealand: Cuba Street Carnival

Wellington, New Zealand: Summer City Festival of Free Outdoor Entertainment

Glasgow, Scotland: Celtic Connections Music Festival

Daytona Beach, Florida, USA: Daytona 500 (NASCAR racing)

New York City, New York, USA: Restaurant Week

Punxutawney, Pennsylvania, USA: Groundhog Day

March Events, Festivals and Sporting Championships

Mendoza, Argentina: Vendimia Festival of Argentinian Wine

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: Cracker Comedy Festival

San Ignacio, Belize: La Ruta Maya Canoe Race

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: FESPACO - Pan African Film & Television festival

Bognor Regis, Sussex, England: Clown parade

London, England: Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race (sport)

Munich, Bavaria, Germany: Starkbierzeit

Guatemala: Semana Santa

Budapest, Hungary: Budapest Spring Festival

India: Holi

Turin, Piedmont, Italy: Cioccolato Festival of Chocolate (food)

Dublin, Republic of Ireland: St Patrick’s Day

Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland Cup Week (horse race)

Auckland, New Zealand: Polynesian Pasifika Festival

Avila, Castilla y León, Spain: Semana Santa (Holy Week)

Valencia, Spain: Las Fallas

Cusco, Peru: Lord of the Tremors

Glasgow, Scotland: Glasgow International Comedy Festival

Cardiff, Wales: St David’s Day

April Events, Festivals and Sporting Championships

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Buenos Aires Book Fair

Bogota, Columbia: Ferio de Libro de Bogota/ Bogota Book Festival

Valledupar, Columbia: Vallenato Music Festival (music)

England: St George’s Day

Aintree, Liverpool, England: The Grand National (sport)

Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England: Shrovetide Football (sport)

London, England: The London Marathon (sport)

London, England: Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race (sport)

Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England: World Snooker Championships (sport)

Europe: Heineken Cup Final (rugby union)

Paris, France: Paris Marathon (sport)

Berlin, Germany: Festtage in der Staatsoper

Skiros, Greece: Feast of St George

Budapest, Hungary: Budapest Spring Festival

Kaunas, Lithuania: Kaunas Jazz Festival (music)

Vilnius, Lithuania: Uzupis National Day

Cusco, Peru: Lord of the Tremors

Lisbon, Portugal: Indie Lisboa (film)

Avila, Castilla y León, Spain: Semana Santa (Holy Week)

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain: Dia di Sant Jordi (St George’s Day)

Durban, South Africa: Rathayatra/ Festival of the Chariots

Appenzell, Switzerland: Landsgemeinde

Thailand: Songkhran

Atlanta, Georgia, USA: Atlanta Dogwood Festival

Perdido Key, Florida, USA: Interstate Mullet Toss

Pleasure Island, North Carolina, USA: Pleasure Island Chowder Cook-Off (food)

Thomasville, Georgia, USA: Thomasville Rose Show and Festival (flower)

Wilmington, North Carolina, USA: North Carolina Azalea festival

St Thomas, US Virgin Islands: Virgin Islands Carnival

May Events, Festivals and Sporting Championships

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Buenos Aires Book Fair

Vienna, Austria: International Music Festival

Vienna, Austria: Vienna Festival

Bhutan: Bumthang

Cameroon: Cameroon Sheep Festival

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Bloor-Yorkville Wine Festival

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Vancouver International Children’s Festival

Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic: Prague Spring Festival (classical music)

Democratic People’s Republic of Congo:Liberation Day

Bentley Bridge Inn, Derbyshire, England: World toe-wrestling championships (sport)

Haworth, Yorkshire, England: 1940s weekend

London, England: Chelsea Flower Show

London, England: FA Cup Final (football)

Europe: Eurovision Song Contest (music)

Europe: UEFA Champions’ League final (sport)

Cannes, Cote d’Azur, France: Cannes Film Festival

Paris, France: Roland Garros/ French Open (tennis)

Berlin, Germany: Karneval der Kulturen

Munich, Bavaria, Germany: Maidult Fair

Athens, Greece: Athens in Bloom

Camogli, Liguria, Italia: Sagra del Pesce (food)

Genoa, Liguria, Italy: Slow Fish (food)

Rome, Italy: Primo Maggio (music)

Syracuse, Sicily, Italy: Ciclo di Spettacoli Classici (Greek theatre)

Vilnius, Lithuania: Carnival

Mexico: Cinco De Mayo

Monaco: Monaco Grand Prix (sport)

Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland International Comedy Festival

Cusco, Peru: Cusco Beer Festival (drink)

Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh Ghost Festival

Speyside, Scotland: Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA: Indy 500 festival (sport)

McMinnville, Oregon, USA: UFO Festival

New York City, New York, USA: Tribeca Film Festival (film)

June Events, Festivals and Sporting Championships

Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia: Alice Springs Beanie Festival

Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia: Darwin Seafood Festival

Vienna, Austria: International Music Festival

Vienna, Austria: Vienna Festival

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Bard On The Beach Shakespeare Festival

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Vancouver International Jazz Festival

London, England: Trooping The Colour

London, England: Wimbledon Tennis Championships (tennis)

Paris, France: Roland Garros/ French Open (tennis)

Berlin, Germany: Christopher Street Day

Berlin, Germany: Karneval der Kulturen

Munich, Bavaria, Germany: Tollwood Music Festival

Athens, Greece: Hellenic Festival

Athens, Greece: Petra International Festival

Reykjavik, Iceland: Independence Day

Vilnius, Lithuania: Carnival

Vilnius, Lithuania: Vilnius Festival (arts)

Fes, Morocco: Festival of World Sacred Music

Cusco, Peru: Inti Raymi

Krakow, Poland: Lajkonik Festival

Lisbon, Portugal: Festa de Santo Antonio

Lisbon, Portugal: Festa de Sao Joao

Lisbon, Portugal: Festa de Sao Pedro

Tavira, Algarve, Portugal: Festa de Cidade

St Petersburg, Russia: White Nights Festival

Glasgow, Scotland: West End Festival

Avila, Castilla y León, Spain: La Ronda De Las Leyendas

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain: Grec Arts Festival

Sweden: Midsummer Celebrations

Aspen, Colorado, USA: Food and Wine Magazine Classic

Aspen, Colorado, USA: Aspen Music Festival (music)

Aspen, Colorado, USA: Aspen Summer Words (literary)

Denver, Colorado, USA: Cherry Creek Arts Festival (arts)

New York City, New York, USA: Restaurant Week

New York City, New York, USA: Coney Island Mermaid Parade

July Events, Festivals and Sporting Championships

Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia: Alice Springs Beanie Festival

Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia: Beer Can Regatta

Calgary, Alberta, Canada: Calgary Stampede

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Caribana

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Bard On The Beach Shakespeare Festival

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Celebration of Light Fireworks Competition

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Vancouver Folk Music Festival

Rarotonga, Cook Islands: Te Maeva Nui Festival

Roskilde, Denmark: Roskilde Music Festival

Buxton, Derbyshire, England: Buxton Festival

London, England: Wimbledon Tennis Championships (tennis)

France: Tour De France (cycling)

Nice, Cote d’Azur, France: Les Nuits Musicales

Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France: Rouen Armada

Bayeux, Calvados, Normandy, France: Fêtes Médiévales de Bayeux

Paris, France: Bastille Day

Paris, France: Festival de Cinema en Plein Air (film)

Sonkajärvi, Finland: World Wife-Carrying Championship (sport)

Munich, Bavaria, Germany: Tollwood Music Festival

Athens, Greece: Hellenic Festival

Athens, Greece: Petra International Festival

Rome, Italy: Estate Romana

Sedilo, Sardinia, Italy: Ardia (horse race)

Siena, Tuscany, Italy: Il Palio (horse-racing)

Taormina, Sicily, Italy: Taormina Arte (arts)

Ustica, Sicily, Italy: International Festival of Underwater Activities (sport)

Vilnius, Lithuania: St Christopher Summer Festival (arts)

Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand International Film Festival

Faro, Algarve, Portugal: Rallye Biker

Balado, Kinross, Scotland: T In The Park (music)

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain: Grec Arts Festival

Nava, Asturias, Spain: Nava Cider Festival

Pamplona, Navarre, Spain: Fiesta de San Fermin/ Running of the Bulls

Pamplona, Navarre, Spain: Running of the Nudes

Montreux, Switzerland: Montreux Jazz Festival (music)

Erdine, Turkey: Erdine Oil-Wrestling Championships

Aspen, Colorado, USA: Aspen Music Festival (music)

Aspen, Colorado, USA: Aspen Ideas Festival

Louisville, Kentucky, USA: Lebowskifest (film)

Telluride, Colorado, USA: Telluride Bluegrass Festival

August Events, Festivals and Sporting Championships

Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia: Henley-On-Todd Regatta

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Canadian National Exhibition

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Bard On The Beach Shakespeare Festival

Rarotonga, Cook Islands: Te Maeva Nui Festival

Copenhagen, Denmark: Copenhagen International Film Festival

Leeds, Yorkshire, England: Carling Weekend (music)

London, England, UK: FA Community Shield

London, England: Notting Hill Carnival

Pilton, Somerset, England: Glastonbury Festival (music)

Metz, Lorraine, France: Mirabelle Festival

Nice, Cote d’Azur, France: Les Nuits Musicales

Paris, France: Festival de Cinema en Plein Air (film)

Athens, Greece: Nights Under The Full Moon

Athens, Greece: Hellenic Festival

Athens, Greece: Petra International Festival

Rome, Italy: Estate Romana

Sassari, Sardinia, Italy: I Candelieri (The Candlesticks)

Siena, Tuscany, Italy: Il Palio (horse-racing)

Taormina, Sicily, Italy: Taormina Arte (arts)

Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Gay Pride Festival

Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand International Film Festival

Olhão, Algarve, Portugal: Festival do Marisco (Festival of Shellfish)

Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh Festivals, including Fringe

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain: Grec Arts Festival

Buñol, Valencia, Spain: La Tomatina

Gotland, Sweden: Gotland Medieval Week

Zurich, Switzerland: Zurich Street Parade (music)

Tanzania: Peasant’s Day

Aspen, Colorado, USA: Aspen Music Festival (music)

Aspen, Colorado, USA: Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival

Black Rock City, Nevada, USA: Burning Man

Telluride, Colorado, USA: Telluride Jazz Celebration

Telluride, Colorado, USA: Telluride Festival of the Arts

Telluride, Colorado, USA: Telluride Mushroom Festival

Llantrwyd Wells, Wales: World Bog Snorkelling Championships

September Events, Festivals and Sporting Championships

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia: Floriade

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Toronto International Film Festival

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Canadian National Exhibition

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Bard On The Beach Shakespeare Festival

Bognor Regis, Sussex, England: Bognor International Birdman Competition

Egremont, Cumbria, England: World Gurning Championships

Deauville, Calvados, Normandy, France: Deauville American Film Festival (film)

Berlin, Germany: Berlin Marathon

Munich, Bavaria, Germany: Oktoberfest

Athens, Greece: Hellenic Festival

Athens, Greece: Petra International Festival

Cabras, Sardinia, Italy: Barefoot Race of the Festa Di San Salvatore

Pune, Maharashtra, India: Ganesh Festival

Rome, Italy: RomaEuropa

Rome, Italy: Estate Romana

Lisbon, Portugal: Half Marathon of Portugal

Avila, Castilla y León, Spain: Medieval Market

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain: Festes de la Merce

Denver, Colorado, USA: Taste of Colorado (food)

Denver, Colorado, USA: The Great American Beer Festival

Telluride, Colorado, USA: Telluride Film Festival

October Events, Festivals and Sporting Championships

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia: Floriade

Haworth, Yorkshire, England: Steam Gala Weekend

Les Deux Alps, France: Mondial Du Snowboard

Paris, France: Nouveau Festival International de Danse de Paris (dance)

Munich, Bavaria, Germany: Oktoberfest

Rome, Italy: RomaEuropa

Auckland, New Zealand: Ao Taeroa Hip-Hop Summit

Faro, Algarve, Portugal: Feira de Santa Iria

Avila, Castilla y León, Spain: Fiesta de Santa Teresa

Martigny, Switzerland: Combat des Reines (cow fighting)

Denver, Colorado, USA: The Great American Beer Festival (drink)

Key West, Florida, USA: Fantasy Fest

Newry, Maine, USA: North American Wife-Carrying Championship

November Events, Festivals and Sporting Championships

Anguilla: Anguilla Serenity Jazz Festival

Belize: Garifuna Settlement Day

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Royal Winter Fair

Cook Islands: Tiare Flower Festival

Rarotonga, Cook Islands: Vaka Eiva Canoeing Festival

Wasdale, Cumbria, England: World’s Biggest Liar Contest

Leeds, Yorkshire, England: Leeds International Film Festival

Berlin, Germany: Christmas Markets

Munich, Bavaria, Germany: Christkindlmarkt

Rome, Italy: RomaEuropa

Puno, Lake Titicaca, Peru: La Diablada Festival

Bern, Switzerland: Bern’s Onion Market (food)

Thailand: Loi Krathong

Surin, Thailand: Surin Elephant Round-Up

Lopburi, Thailand: Lopburi Monkey Banquet

Denver, Colorado, USA: 9News Parade of Lights

New York City, New York, USA: New York Marathon (athletics)

December Events, Festivals and Sporting Championships

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Boxing Day Test Match at the MCG (cricket)

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: Christmas on the beach

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: New Year’s Eve fireworks

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: Homebake (music)

Barnstaple, Devon, England: The Santa Run

Metz, Lorraine, France: Christmas Market

Berlin, Germany: Christmas Markets

Munich, Bavaria, Germany: Christkindlmarkt

Rome, Italy: December Toy Fair in Piazza Navona

Swaziland: Festival of the First Fruit

Geneva, Switzerland: L’Escalade

Denver, Colorado, USA: 9News Parade of Lights