Skip to content

RoamLedgerPlan a trip

a bunch of colorful paper hanging from a line

Cultural events and traditions

Plan a trip around a cultural event, with guides to when it takes place, where to see it, and what to know before you go.

This section covers cultural events and seasonal traditions that can shape when and where you travel. Browse guides to cherry blossom season, Lunar New Year, Songkran, Diwali, and Día de Muertos. Each guide focuses on the event and the details that can help you plan, such as dates, locations, and local etiquette where available. Use those details to see whether an event fits your travel dates and which places to include in your itinerary.

Start by choosing an event that interests you, then check its guide for the timing and location information. Dates can affect how you plan your stay, and the places where an event takes place can help you decide where to base yourself and how to get around. Some events are associated with a specific city or venue; others take place across a wider area. Check the guide to understand the setting and the practical details available for that occasion. Read any etiquette guidance before attending, especially for celebrations in religious or community settings. This list includes festivals, ceremonies, and seasonal events, so the planning information will differ from one guide to another.

Read moreShow less

Coming up

Cherry blossomMar – Apr 2027 · Parks, rivers and castles across JapanRead the event guide Día de MuertosOct – Nov 2027 · Zócalo, Coyoacán and Mixquic, Mexico CityRead the event guide In 277 daysKandy Esala PeraheraAug 7 – 17, 2027 · Streets of Kandy around the Temple of the ToothRead the event guide In 95 daysLunar New YearFeb 6 – 20, 2027 · Hong Kong: Victoria Harbour, Tsim Sha Tsui, Victoria Park and Wong Tai Sin Temple. The same festival is Tet in VietnamRead the event guide In 233 daysInti RaymiJun 24, 2027 · Qorikancha, the Plaza de Armas and the Sacsayhuaman esplanade, CuscoRead the event guide In 241 daysPalio di SienaJul 2, 2027 · Piazza del Campo, SienaRead the event guide In 133 daysHoliMar 16 – 23, 2027 · Vrindavan, Mathura, Barsana, Nandgaon and Baldeo, Braj region, Uttar PradeshRead the event guide In 138 daysSemana Santa in SevilleMar 21 – 28, 2027 · Seville historic centre: processions to the Carrera Oficial and the cathedralRead the event guide In 189 daysCannes Film FestivalMay 11 – 22, 2027 · Palais des Festivals and the Croisette, CannesRead the event guide In 281 daysAwa OdoriAug 11 – 15, 2027 · Central Tokushima city, Tokushima Prefecture, ShikokuRead the event guide In 84 daysUp Helly AaJan 26, 2027 · Lerwick town centre: morning Jarl Squad march along the Esplanade and Commercial Street, evening torch procession from the Hillhead below the Town HallRead the event guide In 14 daysPushkar Camel FairNov 17 – 25, 2026 · Fairground and ghats at Pushkar Lake, Ajmer district, RajasthanRead the event guide In 161 daysSongkranApr 13 – 15, 2027 · Nationwide. The biggest water fights are in Chiang Mai, Bangkok and PattayaRead the event guide In 3 daysDiwaliNov 6 – 10, 2026 · Nationwide, with Ayodhya, Amritsar and Varanasi the best-known places to watchRead the event guide In 302 daysVenice International Film FestivalSep 1 – 11, 2027 · Lido di Venezia (Palazzo del Cinema)Read the event guide In 77 daysTimkatJan 19, 2027 · Gondar (Fasilides Bath), Lalibela and Addis AbabaRead the event guide In 234 daysMidsummer in SwedenJun 25 – 26, 2027 · Nationwide; classic celebrations in Dalarna (Leksand, Rättvik) and village greens, plus Stockholm open-air museumsRead the event guide In 80 daysThaipusam at Batu CavesJan 22, 2027 · Batu Caves temple complex, Selangor, on the edge of Kuala LumpurRead the event guide In 21 daysLoy Krathong and Yi PengNov 24 – 26, 2026 · Old city, Tha Pae Gate and the Ping River, Chiang MaiRead the event guide

DestinationsWhere to go, when to go and how to get around in 221 countries. Every practical fact shows the date we checked it and who checked it.Where to stayNeighborhoods walked end to end: who each area suits, how far it is from the airport train, and the hotels we would book ourselves.PlanVisas and entry rules, travel insurance, eSIMs and rail passes, explained in plain words and rechecked when the rules change.EventsFestivals, concerts and tours with confirmed dates, rooms near the venue and the fastest way on to the next city.StoriesField reports and data stories from the road. We time the queues, count the costs and say what changed since last year.